1. Environmental Awareness New Hire Orientation
Office of Environmental Management

2. Introduction What is “Environmental Awareness?” Why is it important?
How does it affect me and the job I’ve been hired to do?

3. Environmental Awareness 101
Broad:
Being “tuned in” to how decisions and actions of you, your family, your employer, and others affect the ability of the “environment” to sustain and provide for a high quality of life.
Fresh air, clean drinking water, natural resources, etc…
Narrow:
You are now “the Government”
Obligated & expected to be “environmentally aware” and to act in accordance with above…

4. Importance Broad: Narrow:
By not acting in an environmentally aware manner, the resulting damage &/or destruction of the natural systems we depend on will adversely affect our health & well-being
Narrow:
Because your employer said so
It is EVERY EMPLOYEE’S responsibility
You could get hurt &/or fired
See the City’s Environmental Policy document

5. Environmental Awareness and You as a City Employee
Good news, we’ve made it easy…
Processes, procedures, and systems are in-place to help ensure that you:
Learn how the job you do relates to the City’s role as a regional environmental leader,
Get to know the regulations that influence your Department and others you work with,
Understand any job-related hazards,
Know what to do in an emergency.

6. Environmental Compliance Manual
All employees must be instructed and trained on the contents of the Manual
See your Supervisor
COMPONENTS
Materials Management
Incident/Spill Reporting
Regulatory Inspections
Audits

7. Requirements
All New Supervisory & Management Personnel Must Read the Manual within 10 Days of Reporting to Work
Any Employee Below the Supervisory Level Must be Instructed & Trained on the Contents of the Manual

8. Why do we have an Environmental Compliance Manual?
Pollution Prevention, Risk Reduction, & Workplace Safety
Part of EPA Agreement
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny of Municipalities
Key Component of an Environmental Management System (EMS)

9. Where is the Manual Located?
Public Works Service Center
Parks & Recreation HQ
Civic Center
Emergency Communications Center
Police Department HQ
Department of Fire & EMS HQ
Risk Management Office
Environmental Administrator’s Office

10. Requirements
Violations of the Regulations Outlined in the Manual Could Result in the Employee & the City Facing Fines and Possible Civil & Criminal Prosecution
All Issues of Non-Compliance MUST be Reported ASAP

11. Regulatory Requirements Brief Overview
Key Federal Laws & Regulations: “alphabet soup”
OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Title 29 CFR 1910 & 1926
EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
Title 40 CFR
RCRA, TSCA, CAA, CWA, CERCLA, SARA, FIFRA
DOT – Dept. of Transportation
Title 49 CFR

12. Regulatory Overview RCRA (Wastes) TSCA (Toxics)
Solid & Hazardous Wastes
Subtitle D - Solid Waste
Subtitle C - Hazardous Wastes
Subtitle I - Underground Storage Tanks
TSCA (Toxics)
PCBs
Asbestos

13. Regulatory Overview CAA (Air Quality) CWA (Water Quality)
Air permitting
Refrigerants
Chemical Accident Prevention
CWA (Water Quality)
Wastewater Permitting
Storm water
Monitoring of Streams, Rivers, Lakes…

14. Regulatory Overview CERCLA (Historic Contamination)
Superfund Sites
Reportable Quantities
SARA (Community Right to Know)
Emergency Planning
FIFRA (Chemical Bio-cides)
Pesticides
Insecticides

15. Responsibility
Environmental Stewardship & Compliance Expected of All City Employees
Responsibility from Top to Bottom of the Organization
Office of Environmental Management
Regulatory Compliance Assurance
Assists Departments in managing their environmental issues

16. Office of Environmental Management
Division within the Department of Public Works
Environmental Administrator
Duties
Incident/Spill Response
Advising Departments & Facilities
Development of Best Management Practices
Approval of Waste Management Practices
Regulatory Reporting
Training & Educational Support
Keeping On Top of Rules & Regulations
Obtaining Specialized Environmental Services

17. Management-Level Responsibilities
- Waste Management
- Air Management
- Water Management
Department Managers
Supervisors
Environmental Site Coordinators
Employees
Environmental Administrator

18. Responsibilities Employees
Understanding and Using Information Provided to Them in Performing Job Duties that Involve the Management of Wastes, Air Emissions, or Water Impacts
Notifying Immediate Supervisors if Unacceptable Practices or Activities are Occurring
Asking for Help from the Supervisor or Environmental Site Coordinator if Unsure of Appropriate Action(s)

19. Training
Based on Job Function & Level of Involvement with Hazardous Materials
Combination of ‘in-house’ and Contracted Trainers
Environmental Administrator Assists Departments with Training Program Development

20. Waste Water (Sewage) Sanitary Discharges (Waste Water)
Don’t dispose of Chemicals in Sinks, Toilets, Washbasins without Approval of EA or WWTP
Dilution Water May Not be Added to Liquid Wastes
Ask Supervisor if You are Unsure

21. Storm Water Storm Water Separate from Waste Water (Sewage)
Drains to the River
No Disposal of Chemicals, Debris, or Other Materials via Storm Drains
Eliminate Run-off & Erosion
Only Storm Water

22. Regulatory Reporting Responsibility of the Environmental Administrator
(Unless Alternative Arrangements Have Been Made)
Oil and Gas
25 Gallon Reporting Threshold Reportable Quantity
Document Smaller Spills in Dept’s. Incident Log Book
Other Chemicals
Know the Reportable Quantity (RQ) for the chemicals you work with
Notify Supervisor Upon Discovery
Environmental Reporting Line:

23. Engine Idling Policy Do not leave vehicle idling more than 5 minutes
Exception: ONLY if it is necessary for the job
Why no idling?
Wastes gas
Increases harmful air emissions
Creates carbon build-up in the engine

24. Reporting Unknown Materials
Do Not Attempt to Move the Material
Maintain a safe distance!
Use the “Thumb Rule”
Report (if known)
Location
Quantity
Container Type/Condition
Unusual Sights/Odors
Environmental Hazards
Safety Hazards
EA will work with HAZMAT Team to coordinate sampling and proper disposal

25. Reporting Unknown Materials
Immediately Contact Your Supervisor
They will then Contact the Environmental Administrator
Call 911 FIRST, then notify your Supervisor if:
Spill has entered a Storm Water Drain or Stream
May Cause a Fire or Explosion Hazard
Employees or the Public are in danger
Some Other Serious Consequence

26. Reporting Non-Compliance
All Issues of Environmental Non-Compliance Must be Reported to your Department Manager
City Employees may also report anonymously using the Environmental Reporting Hotline:
(24 hrs.)
All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated

27. Responding to Regulatory Inspections
Ask the Inspector(s) for their identification and to please wait in a reception area
Contact your Dept. Manager and the Environmental Administrator (24 hr. mobile phone: )
Dept Manager and EA will meet the Inspector ASAP
Environmental Administrator:
Notify the City Attorney
Document the Inspection
Accompany Inspector at All Times
Provide verbal and written reports to the Assistant City Manager
and Department Manager within 2 days

28. Audits
Each Department Designated in Compliance Manual at Least Every Two Years
Environmental Administrator:
Coordinates Audits & Designates Audit Team
Issues Pre-Audit Questionnaire
Reviews Completed Questionnaire Prior to Audit
Conducts the Audit & Prepares Audit Report
Sets a Schedule for Follow-Up
Documents Closure
Report to the Assistant City Manager and City Attorney

29. Environmental Wrap-up
Questions or Concerns?
Office of Environmental Management
Christopher Blakeman
Environmental Administrator