P2 Roundtable Minutes

07-01-2004

Joy Campbell – EPA Region 6

Chris Cambell - WERC

Audree Miller - ADEQ

David Greer - TCEQ

Grace Hsieh – TCEQ

Ken Zarker - TCEQ

Allen Gilliam - ADEQ

Gary Gilliland– Grand Prairie

Cindy Mendez – Grand Prairie

Hilario Gamez – UT El Paso

Thomas Vinson-Peng – zerowastenetwork.org, (minute taker)

Upcoming Events:

• Spring O5 Chicago
• Reguional Pretreatment - Irving, March 2005
• Regional Teleconference-  July 29^th. 
• Regional Teleconference – August 12th

Joy started the meeting off by stating that we were looking to work with partners to integrate P2 into their programs.  One potential partnership is with pretreatment programs in our region.

Follow up:

• Find out from Craig or Lee B. about how many pretreatment programs are doing P2.
• Put case studies on zerowastenetwork.org
• Cindy to sign roundtable for their newsletter

Pretreatment Program of Grand Prairie

The roundtable had two special guest speakers (and prospective members) Gary and Cindy of City of Grand Prairie pretreatment program.  We invited them to tell us how P2 is incorporated into the pretreatment program at Grand Prairie, and look for connections.

Gary started with a history of pretreatment and P2 programs and Cindy discussed a lot of the mechanics and results.  Have been doing for two or three years.  The program started in water quality, and focused there.  They thought of the program from a cost/benefit perspective, and P2 seemed a good thing to incorporate. 

As part of their pretreatment audit they have a P2 component.  Dischargers are told they can have a P2 component.  Grand Prairie doesn’t mandate any particular activities.  However, dischargers typically want to include something in their program. They know P2 was going to be one of the things they audited for.  They can have a blank folder, but aren’t satisfied with having a blank folder. 

As they saw the benefit they began to expand the program.

They began publishing articles in their newsletter.  Their quarterly newsletter is primarily designed to promote the conference.  They put in information about why

Put in people who were fined, regs., and P2.  Have quarterly meetings with 40-60 attendees.  One per year is devoted to pollution prevention. They have an award program. 

They discussed one industry that lost their business.  Did as much P2 as anyone.  They went out of business, due to Chinese competition.  Even though he was doing a lot of P2/recycling.  Mr.Gilliand used this example to illustrate how P2 is a great thing, but doesn’t solve all problems.

The participants had several questions:

Q: How many permitted?

A: 80 permitted industries.  40 permitted, 40 monitored.  60-70%. 
Q: How are the stories documented?

A: Last quarterly meeting give plaque for compliance, which includes a P2 component.

Q: How many other pretreatment programs do P2

A: Not sure

They have 2-3 P2 winners.  Give out permitted and non-permitted form, give a small biz, big business and something special. 

For example, last year was energy efficiency.  A company converted to oil-less dust stops.  The seal doesn’t use oil. “Solvay” plastic bead manufacturer. They eliminated oil in their process, they had the power point presentations etc..  They make it part of their awards ceremony.

In terms of the P2 requirements, the companies can summarize their P2 activities.  They can also use the Texas P2 Plan (WRPA) to comply.  Cindy stated that planning was a good way to get them to think about P2.  She said that companies hate to put “none” when asked about what P2 options were implemented. 

Newsletter published quarterly:  Announces meetings.

Joy suggested having a panel for pretreatment coordinators at P2 workshops and conferences.  They could present their case studies.  She also pointed out potential partnerships with the Greening the Supply Chain Initiative

Arkansas – Allen, Audree

Allen spoke about the annual pretreatment conference given for the region.  In these conferences P2 has quite a few sessions already.  The focus has been on P2 in the audits.  Cindy mentioned that the focus could move to teaching pretreatment coordinators about various processes and industries and the P2 options available for them.  What BMP’s are available for them?  David James and Craig Weeks have been particularly effective. 

EPA - Joy

Joy discussed ideas for Spring/Summer Arkansas P2 Roundtable and NPDES.

Performance track partnership Look at who is participating, and help feed them options.  They are required to have projects.  So they are always looking for P2 projects.  This would be a good thing for our roundtable. 

Look at local municipalities that have added P2 into their industrial permits.  We could work with them on metrics or measurements. 

Becoming familiar with the industries process is a high priority.  

Early Conclusion

Call concluded early because we ran out of time.

The Zero Waste Network is part of the University of Texas at Arlington's Center for Environmental Excellence in the Division for Enterprise Development.