Manchester wildlife habitat featured in report

Photo by Ann Hansel, Manchester, Iowa
Picture perfect – Manchester employees Scott Zebuhr and Chris Bockenstedt display the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Performance Track Progress Report. The cover of the report features a photo of the wildlife habitat in Manchester.

Creating a wildlife habitat near a manufacturing facility isn't an easy feat. But employees at Rockwell Collins in Manchester, Iowa, have done it well. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently featured the project on the cover of its fifth annual Performance Track Progress Report.

"It's kind of cool to be featured in that report," said Chris Bockenstedt, a value stream facilitator and environmental coordinator in Manchester. "The photo of our project is on every single page of the report, so it's a proud moment for our facility."

A U.S. EPA program, the National Environmental Performance Track program encourages businesses with strong environmental records to go above their legal requirements. Each facility on the Performance Track has different goals and is allowed to implement various projects.

In Manchester, employees worked closely with Pheasants Forever. A habitat organization dedicated to the conversation of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife, Pheasants Forever provided expertise and seed for the 1.3-acre area.

Other than initial planting of the area in 2004, there isn't much maintenance or work to be done on a regular basis, said Bockenstedt. But, thanks to a snapshot submitted by Production Lead Scott Zebuhr in a cover photo contest, Manchester is receiving quite a bit of attention.

To view the entire Performance Track Progress Report, including the featured cover photo, visit http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/downloads/PTPRreport_05final.pdf.