Environmental Management Systems – Hold the pickles Kansas Air Quality Seminar March 6, 2008 David Carter, RS, EMS-PA K-State Pollution Prevention Institute

EPA’s National Performance Track  Policy  Planning  Implementation and Operation  Checking and Corrective Action  Management Review (

ISO  International standard –Same major categories as Performance Track –17 key elements of an EMS –Based on “Plan, Do, Check, Act” PLAN ACT DO CHECK

ISO Elements  Policy  Planning –Environmental aspects –Legal and other requirements –Objectives, targets and programs  Implementation and operation –Resources, roles, responsibility and authority –Competence, training and awareness –Communication –Documentation –Control of documents –Operational control –Emergency preparedness and response

ISO Elements (cont.)  Checking –Monitoring and measurement –Evaluation of compliance –Nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action –Control of records –Internal audit  Management review

Potential Benefits of EMS  Reduced cost of waste management  Savings in consumption of energy and materials  Lower distribution costs  Improved corporate image - ?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin ?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin ?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin  Framework for continual improvement  Regulatory relief – –the source must state that it has or will have an environmental management system (EMS) before a SEP will be considered (KDHE BAR SEP policy, July 14, 2005)

Definitions  Pollution Prevention (EPA) –  The term ''source reduction'' means any practice which - –reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal  Prevention of pollution (ISO 14001) –Use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or energy to avoid, reduce or control (separately or in combination) the creation, emission or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order to reduce adverse environmental impact –Note: prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination; process, product or service changes; efficient use of resources; material and energy substitution; reuse; recovery; recycling; reclamation, and treatment.

Definitions  Operation/activity – something that an organization does, usually intentionally

Definitions  Environmental aspect – element of an organization’s activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. Aspects = Causes

Definitions  Environmental impact – any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities, products, or services. Impacts = Effects

Definition Exercise  Which of the following is an operation/activity, aspect, or impact? –Air pollution –Burning diesel fuel –Digester operations –Operating/maintaining backup generators –(Electrical) energy consumption –Water consumption –Herbicide application

Environmental Footprint  How a facility’s operations and services affect the environment. The environmental impact of a facility.  Critical element of EMS: identify environmental aspects and determine which ones have significant impacts

Input/Process/Output Diagram InputsProcessesOutputs Materials or Resources Products or Services Wastes Out Operation/Activity

Input/Process/Output Diagram InputsProcessesOutputs Materials or Resources Products or Services Operation/Activity Air from blowers Fuel for emergency generators Energy (electricity) use Biological Treatment (aeration basin) Treated wastewater Air emissions (odor) Air emissions (VOCs) Noise (from air blowers and emergency generators Wastes Out

Environmental Footprint ID  Develop list of environmental aspects and impacts  Use input/process/output diagrams (not required, but recommended)  Consider the following: –Regulated aspects –Non-regulated aspects –Emergency situations/conditions –Positive impacts on the environment

Environmental Footprint ID

Identify aspects and impacts exercise

Pollution Prevention Institute  Kansas State Univ. –Engineering Extension  Pollution Prevention Inst –Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) –EPA grants –PEER Center

Public Entity EMS Resources  One-stop shop for public entity EMS resources  PPI is one of 11 regional PEER Centers – provides resources and assistance to public entities on EMS  Barb Johnson –

Web Resources   m/ems.htm m/ems.htm m/ems.htm  /index.html 

Questions? Contact Information: Barb Johnson David Carter