Region 6 Pollution
Prevention Roundtable Meeting Report
Prepared By: Hilario Gamez, Professional Business
Advisor Institute for
Manufacturing and Materials Management
MINUTES
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW 2
OPENING REMARKS 3
P2 ROUNDTABLE TIMELING REVIEW 3
SOUTHWEST NETWORK FOR ZERO WASTE 6
STATE UPDATES
- TCEQ, presented by Grace Hsieh 11
- LCRA,
- TMAC, Hilario Gamez 15
- NMED,
- WERC,
APPENDIX A: LIST OF
PARTICIPANTS 20
APPENDIX B: AGENDA 21
OVERVIEW
The Roundtable meeting was hosted by the Arkansas Department
of Environmental Quality. Roundtable participants will also attended the
Arkansas Watershed Advisory Group’s 2004 conference, “Clean Water – Stronger
Communities”.
Sandi Formica opened the meeting and welcomed the participants. She spoke about the challenges of instituting a P2 program and the misperceptions from various media, enforcement and permitting programs.
After that, Joy Campbell proceeded with introduction of participants and a summary of the previous meetings agreements. She spoke about the importance of the environmental indicators and the various kinds of reporting, stressing the need for a common way of reporting the improvements accomplished by different groups and organizations.
The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was
represented by
Representing the LCRA,
Hilario Gamez -P2 Roundtable moderator, discussed the
history of the
All State representatives made their respective
presentations. Dianne Wilkins of the ODEQ, spoke about the accomplishments of
the Oklahoma Star Program and other ongoing activities such as the SAV’s –
working with printing and packaging NESHAAP.
Joy Campbell closed the meeting with a summary of activities
emphasizing the importance of partnership opportunities with organizations such
as POTW’s and MEP’s.
Opening Remarks
Sandi Formica, ADEQ
Sandi Formica, opened the meeting. Her division is also hosting the Arkansas Watershed Advisory Group’s 2004 conference, “Clean Water – Stronger Communities”. that the roundtable members will be attending.
One of the biggest challenges of instituting a P2 program is overcoming misperceptions from various media, enforcement and permitting programs. After a rough start, the Arkansas P2 program began to take root.
The P2 program has four meetings a year with the agency to
educate staff on P2. They are also
making an agency
They are working to develop a stakeholder group to form relationships and partnerships because it will facilitate getting results. Another challenge is the fact that staffing and funding has not been consistent. As a result they have had to start/stop operations.
Allen discussed the mercury P2 program.
Members of the organization are thinking of how to incorporate compliance assistance. They are also looking for bringing in outside resources for compliance assistance. They are seeking funding for outside resources.
Sandi emphasized that they wanted to create a consistent P2 program. She promoted the watershed management program as one of the best tools for promoting P2.
P2 Roundtable Timeline Review
Joy Campbell, EPA
At the last roundtable we had discussed:
1. Indicators
- Strategy for Region
- Partnerships (partnering with Manufacturing assistance centers)
EPA’s National Strategic Plan:
http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/2003sp.pdf
Goal 5.2.2: P2 to Industry – The P2 grants that we get is tied to this goal.
We use indicators to show our success back to congress. The following are a set of indicators:
Air Emissions Reduced
Hazwaste Reduced
Clean Water
Joy suggested adding the regulatory reduction. As a group we chose to use a P2 Based EMS as an umbrella
Programs that work under that are
- H2E – well known and established program
- Greening the supply chain – effects a broad range of businesses. Major corporations are demanding it.
- Greening the food chain (agriculture to FOG’s) -
We chose this strategy because these are established, and easy to transfer strategies.
Also, we have discussed piggybacking our next P2 conference
with the April pretreatment/POTW meeting in
Partnering opportunities, increasing funding: Packaging it so it can go back to congress.
Measurement is key. Measurement tool that should be able to capture data by state, then by region, then national. This will allow us to get credit for the effectiveness of the work we are doing.
1. RCC - contact Mellisa Gayleon
Is also under goal 5, it covers most of the goals in our region.Congress gives money for Resource Conservation. Had $700,000 for contract money that is undergoing review. States and regions can apply. Sent e-mails to state contacts. Covers all hazardous and solid waste.
2. OSWER innovations grant program for universities and non-profits. Twice per year. Mary Kemp is the lead. Spring/Fall. State innovations environmental resource program (Baltimore, Mariland) automotive shops State Innovation.
Follow up: get exact dates from Melissa.
3. H2E under goal 4 of EPA strategic plan.
4. Regional Administrator/Regional Geographic Initiative a.k.a RA/RGI (discretionary funding) - Typically given out as grants. LCRA had a proposal under this initiative to host a symposium to reduce mercury. Ex. Mercury reduction in coal. Potential link between Louisiana/LCRA.
December - March
5. Performance Partnership Grant
RCRA for combustion, hazardous waste, enforcement
- State
- TCEQ partners with El Paso del Norte
– Line item for RCC
Every fiscal year. It should be coming out soon.
6. Dianne mentioned “State Innovations/Environmental Results program” - Primary for innovations in permitting, but wrapped in P2 and EJ. Contact “Reggie?”
7. PPG (Pollution Prevention Grant, but informally called PPIS)
- Grant for states, require a 50% match.
- State agencies, universities can apply for it.
476,000 per year
Coming out sometime between December and March
8. Set aside grants (aka Source Reduction Grants) – for non-profits/universities. Require at least 5% match. Get about $146,000
Come out Dec.-March about the same time as PPG.
- This money is “EPM money” it can get cut very quickly. It gets swept.
These need to go quickly, so they can’t get awarded.
PBT – advertised nationally.
Air Toxics, P2 program, air toxics reduction projects. 665-6763. TRI, PBT for states.
Roundtable discussion:
Mercury is getting the most attention. Dianne suggested we think of other air toxics
PAHydrocarbons,
Joy suggested that we have “projects in the box”. Have a one page outline of potential projects, with a good title, and a one page explanation.
For Example:
Municipalities – pretreatment, intro into establishing a city
Ex. 2 – Indoor air quality for daycares.
Other Ideas:
SEP’s – Supplemental Environmental Projects (Dr. Jerrold Carney) Chemicals inventory in the schools. Violating companies.
Small Scale Chemistry for Schools - P2,
Follow up: SEP’s to Jerry Kotas with DOE has some good case studies of using SEP’s to reduce energy usage.
Kinds of SEP’s. Can be offered by agency or facilty.
Two ways to get a project funded by SEP
- Get the enforcement officer.
- Legal/Lawyers barriers.
- P2 and pollution reduction categories.
For instance MOP for SEP.
Follow up: Dianne, got the MOPP van funded under SEP. (Grace – Tamara got it funded) for metal finishers.
Southwest Network for
Zero Waste
Presented by
This
presentation gave a summary of the Southwest Network for Zero Waste
Nurtured
World - Presentation by
This slide presentation was made
by
STATE UPDATES
Grace provided an update of the P2 activities at TCEQ. Referred to website www.BorderP2.org
She explained the process of
LCRA
The group is working with school kids educating them on energy conservation practices. There are several tools to save energy. Children get to understand that simple things like turning off the lights at home when not needed will conserve large amounts of energy.
Energy conservation service providers: The utility agrees to sponsor a school providing one facilitator from LCRA to conduct exercises in the classroom.
Also an investigation guide is available as a checklist to measure electricity consumption, and the powerhouse software for kids to use and learn about conservation.
Schools participate and get their own energy audits.
It is recognized that energy conservation and air pollution are always overlooked.
For any questions on the subject, visit the LCRA website.
Nurtured World,
TMAC, Hilario Gamez
In today’s competitive business environment, initiatives
must justify themselves economically. Six Sigma has become popular because it
delivers measurable, tangible economic benefits. Quality improvement leads to reduced costs,
better customer satisfaction and improved profitability. Using as an example a
manufacturing company, Hilario explained how the break-even point for the
operations of a company can be a powerful indicator to show top management that
reducing defects in the process, not only reduces waste but significantly
enhances the profitability of the organization while improving the environment.
- “Waste Not” a half page article in the OKC Business News - Dianne quit sending mailouts because the information went to the environmental department, and not to the manufacturing specialists. So, by getting article to the businessmen, she is raising awareness within the required group
- Dianne received an invitation to speak at EFO board – Environmental Federation of Oklahoma
- Smaller companies were overwhelmed when she tried to explain too much about Baldridge and related subjects. Doing the OKC (Oklahoma Star Program) allowed people to get a star each time they advanced.
- First star given to Natural Evelotion - A company that disassembles computers and sells the parts on EBAY for profit.
- Sustainability – working with a variety of partners on sustainability. Wants to get Nurtured world to speak at OK sustainability Network
- Ongoing activitieis
- SAV’s - working with printing and packaging NESHAAP. If a performance Track, the NESHAP is different. Inspectors threatened
- FOG – half day sessions 9-12 and 6-9 for the food service. She tailors the level of complexity to fit the audience
- H2E
Upcoming events:
October!
- MSWG Quarterly Meeting in OK City
- How to inventory get on website
· First star given to Natural Evelotion -
1. Follow up: Dianne will get case study with measurable results.
· Fiber reinforced plastics. NESHAAP coming up, opened up the door. Styrene NESHAAP giving them a problem.
· Get inventory manual
Audree is working to develop an ADEQ EMS. They are ranking aspects and impacts. Implementation plan due end of this month.
Working to develop a P2 stakeholder group. NRCS, wildlife Federation and Arkansas Development. Have not defined if it would be advisory, or taking on projects.
Audree does 75% of her time with P2, and she is helped by Allen Gilliam for some administration activities.
Expect to have a two year implementation schedule for the agency.
Working on a materials exchange website based on
Planning 3 H2E
Follow up: Needs help
with stakeholder group.
Bring in three speakers per year to raise awareness of P2 in the agency.
Allen Gilliam - Under the pretreatment program am pursuing the dental facilities with BMP’s. Sent survey to local municipalities to find out what dentists are doing with amalgam.
NMED, Michelle
Vattano , Erin Murphy
Green Zia is looking at ways to make the program less cumbersome for small business.
Will be releasing two manuals for training tribal/pueblos. Had contributions from tribes/pueblos at eight meetings. Now they are an assistance call line.
Wanted to develop outreach materials
Also want to leverage the departments within their agency (“inreach”).
Met with SBDC’s and they will put info. In their packet for Green Zia.
September 20th. Kick Off event
Payroll stuffers for over 20,000 employees promoting P2 and offering our services.
Working with Maquiladoras to encourage
Thinking of an NEPT MOA for NEPT. Cabinat secretary likes the idea of Green Zia standing alone.
WERC,
Closing, Joy Campbell, EPA
Joy emphasized
- Before each call get your items to Thomas
- Third Thursday of every month
- Call in number is always required
- Get the events to Thomas for the website, cc: joy As a start on newsletter.
- Before conference call send your items to Thomas
- Partnership opportunities. She really believed that we need to have a roundtable partnering with POTW’s. Then one with MEP’s. Watershed conferences. Nurtured World.
- Following up on items:
- Have a one pager with what you want, and how things sit under it.
- Roundtable to prioritize
- Need a one pager with vision, goals and milestone!
i. Explain the purpose
ii. Explain activities
iii. Where we are in the progress should be available
- Measurement
i. Show accomplishments
ii. We have nothing, went to….
- Next roundtable
i. Have report on one pager…each program reports progress
ii. Use one pager as an advertisement
- Thank you Hilario
- He has run the roundtable, helped with transition to new center
- Hilario will be a powerful partner for the future.
- Future Meetings
- We agreed to investigate how air fair would be reimbursed, and roundtable funded.
- We
agreed that we could have one meeting in
- Special thanks to Gary who is our senor member who is now retiring. Dianne will now be the ranking member on the roundtable.
This report was prepared using the notes and presentations compiled by several P2 Rountable participants.
Meeting adjourned at
APPENDIX A