Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.| Identifier | Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY COMPLIANCE | PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | It is the responsibility of all Trustees and employees of the Environmental Defense Action Fund to familiarize themselves with the Conflict of Interest Policy and to ensure compliance of related parties with it. Additionally, each Trustee and employee will annually be provided with a statement to complete and return indicating that they have read, understand and are in compliance with this Policy. The Chair of the Board of Trustees will report to the Board and the Chair of the Audit Committee will report to the Audit Committee of the Board at least once annually concerning any disclosures of potential conflicts of interest made to them, and any other conflicts-of-interests, which have occurred. Trustees who knowingly or unknowingly violate the Policy are subject to censure or removal, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Employees who knowingly or unknowingly violate the Policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal. |
| REVIEW OF FORM 990 | PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 | EDF uses its Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees to review the Form 990 returns. The Audit Committee has been delegated this authority by the Board of Trustees in its Audit Committee charter and terms of reference. The Organization's financial management group is responsible for gathering the key components and supporting schedule information for the Form 990. The Organization's audit firm of independent public accountants prepares the Form 990 and it goes through a review process to ensure it is completed accurately. The draft Form 990 is returned to the Organization where senior executive management and members of the financial team review the document. The Audit Committee receives a copy of the draft return in advance of a meeting scheduled for its formal review. The Audit Committee meets and approves the Form 990. Prior to filing, the approved draft return is circulated to the Board of Trustees. The audit firm electronically files the final informational return with the IRS. The final Form 990 is also publicly posted in electronic form on the Environmental Defense Fund's website where it is freely available to the public. Copies of it are sent to state governments, funding organizations, major donors, charity monitoring organizations and to anyone else who requests a copy. |
| PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF GOVERNING DOCUMENTS | PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | EDAF makes available three years worth of the following disclosure documents on the Environmental Defense Fund's website: 1. Annual Report 2. Consolidated and consolidating audited financial statements 3. Form 990 informational tax returns and those of related organizations |
| GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND DISCLOSURE | PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COMPENSATION | PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A AND 15B THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, INC., A RELATED PARTY, ACTS AS A COMMON PAYMASTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND. AS SUCH THE COMPENSATION INFORMATION INCLUDED ON SCHEDULE J WAS GENERATED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE USES THE SERVICES OF AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC AND COMPARATIVE SALARY INFORMATION FOR PEER-GROUP ORGANIZATIONS. THE COMPENSATION CONSULTANT PROVIDES INFORMATION FROM SURVEYS, PUBLIC DISCLOSURES OF OTHER CHARITIES, AND PROPRIETARY SOURCES. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THIS INFORMATION, DISCUSSES THE FINDINGS AMONGS THEMSELVES AND NOT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE COMMITTEE HAS A PORTION OF ITS MEETING WHERE IT DOES DISCUSS COMPENSATION AND PERFORMANCE WITH THE PRESIDENT BUT THE DECISION-MAKING SEGMENTS OF THE MEETING ARE HELD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MINUTES OF THE MEETING ARE KEPT AND RETAINED BY THE CHAIR OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. |
| STATEMENT OF PROGRAM, SERVICE ACCOMPLISHEMENTS | PART III, LINE 4 | Environmental Defense Action Fund's (EDAF) role in legislative change complements the advocacy work of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Both Organizations take on different roles in achieving common objectives. EDAF is involved in lobbying and legislative work while EDF supports research, scientific analysis, and policy positioning. CLIMATE and AIR GOALS EDAF seeks to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and avert the public health threat caused by conventional air pollution. Our current efforts are aimed at winning permanent reductions in U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and reducing conventional air pollutants through the implementation of federal clean air regulations and to build a foundation for deeper cuts in US emissions by 2050. VICTORIES ACHIEVED The Clean Air Act survived a pivotal challenge when EDAF and our broad coalition of allies waged a successful campaign to defeat several legislative proposals aimed at stripping or hobbling EPA's power to reduce greenhouse gases. EDAF Executive Director Fred Krupp told CNNMoney.com, "Never in four decades has there ever been this brazen assault on the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect our health." We and our supporters and allies also laid the groundwork for the successful defeat of a legislative resolution that would block extensive reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants in eastern states. Another landmark win for public health and the environment was the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule, which requires power plants to dramatically cut their emissions of mercury and other dangerous air toxins. MAKING THE GULF OF MEXICO WHOLE AGAIN Gulf Coast wetlands are a miracle of nature, protecting industry, cities, fisheries and wildlife. EDF and EDAF are part of a strong bipartisan coalition to restore Gulf Coast wetlands. More than a year after BP's Deepwater Horizon well was capped, the city of New Orleans remains vulnerable to hurricanes, and Louisiana's wetlands, which nurture the Gulf's $23 billion fishing industry, are in bigger trouble than ever. The state loses up to 30 square miles of coastland each year, due to canals and levees that starve the wetlands of sediment and freshwater. The oil spill worsened the ecological disaster, but it also opened up opportunities to rethink how the Mississippi River and its delta are managed. For 35 years, EDF has been at the forefront of efforts to restore Gulf Coast wetlands. In 2011, we joined forces with allies ranging from the Louisiana governor's office to the 17,000-member Houma Nation tribe to press for full restoration of the Gulf. Our goal was to ensure that most of the BP penalties from the oil spill, which could reach $21 billion, go to rebuilding endangered Gulf communities and ecosystems. BP committed an initial $1 billion in 2011 to pay for early restoration projects, in an agreement EDF helped advance. We then helped shape a bill in Washington that would dedicate 80% of BP's fines to economic recovery and wetlands restoration, instead of to the general federal budget. Cosponsored by two Democrats and seven Republicans, the proposed legislation represents a milestone for a politically polarized Congress. As Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) hammered out the bill, we gained support on both sides of the aisle by introducing provisions that were important to both Republicans and Democrats. Our strategy included radio ads pointing out how investing in coastal restoration creates more jobs than oil and gas investments. OCEANS Lobbying activities in support of fisheries management reform and coral reef conservation. |
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