Epa, New Meadowlands Stadium Developers Lay Green Groundwork

Use of environmentally friendly concrete is one objective cited in a memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and

CP Staff

Use of environmentally friendly concrete is one objective cited in a memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Meadowlands Stadium Company, principal owner of the $1.3 billion NFL venue rising in East Rutherford, N.J. Outlining stadium construction targets and operating strategies, the June 2009 agreement stipulates: use of some 40,000 tons of recycled steel; recycling 20,000 tons of steel from the original Meadowlands Stadium, adjacent to its successor, upon demolition; installing seating made from recycled plastic and scrap iron; building on a former brownfield site; and, reducing air pollution from construction vehicles by using cleaner diesel fuel, diesel engine filters, and minimizing engine idle times.

In sum, hitting target goals stands to save emissions equivalent to nearly 1.68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide during the stadium’s construction and first year of operations Û equal to taking 300,000-plus cars off the road for a year or saving emissions from energy needed in one year to power 150,000 American homes. Progress reports submitted every six months by the New Meadowlands Stadium Company to EPA will enable the agency to quantify benefits of the venue’s environmental efforts. The New Meadowlands Stadium will be one of the greenest stadiums in American professional sports, affirms EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. The ambitious, comprehensive plan set forth by the two team ownership groups is a blueprint for new sports venues everywhere.