EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman was joined by Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), sponsor of HR 2084 as part of the National Air Quality and Telecommuting Act, and Representative Tom Delay (R-TX), Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Representatives Steve Horn (R-CA), )and Mark Udall (D-CO). The National Environmental Policy Institute announced the launch of a new pilot program, eCommute, which encourages businesses to contribute to environmental quality. The project will help reduce air pollution by providing businesses with tax incentives for allowing employees the option of telecommuting. eCommute aims to reduce air pollution, ease traffic congestion, and improve productivity and the quality of life for area employees and employers.

EPA Administrator Whitman spoke on the environmental impacts the eCommute program would have on air quality. Whitman stressed that the program would "create a growing economy and clean environment" because studies show that employees increase productivity and emissions are reduced. Whitman said the five urban centers were chosen because a large number of workers have especially long commutes and because they have a sufficient number of businesses that lend themselves to telecommuting. Statistics indicate that the program could reduce emissions by 2,613 tons per year for every 100,000 people who participate, according to the EPA.

This 44 pound pile of dirt represents the amount of pollution saved annually by telecommuting one day a week in the DC area.