Environmental Management System (EMS)

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Environmental Management System (EMS)
Annual Refresher Training
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What is an EMS?

• A framework that allows an organization to
  address the effects its operations may have on
  the environment.
• Key EMS concepts
• Pollution prevention (P2)
• Compliance with environmental laws and regs
• Continual improvement

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Plan Planning, identifying environmental aspects
and establishing goals Do Implementing, includes
training and operational controls
Check Checking, includes monitoring and
corrective action Act Reviewing, includes
progress reviews and acting to make needed changes
EMS The Continuous Cycle
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Tifton EMS Policy

• The ARS Tifton Environmental Policy describes our
  approach to environmental management. Personnel
  should understand that the EMS Policy
• Applies to ALL
• Commits to environmental compliance
• Commits to pollution prevention
• Commits to continual improvement
• Is available on the EMS website

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Sounds nice, but WHY?

• Required by Executive Order 13148
• USDA ARS policy
• Also, there are benefits
• Improve environmental awareness
• Reduce environmental impacts
• Resource savings natural and monetary
• Meet regulatory compliance
• Better community image
• Better communication about environmental issues

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How do we get started?

• Identify our Activities What we do every day
• Identify the Environmental Aspects (Cause)
  Elements of the Activities that can interact with
  the environment
• Identify the Environmental Impacts (Effect)
  Environmental changes that result from our
  Activities
• Make improvements.

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LaboratoryAspects Impacts

• Purchase and Use of Hazardous Chemicals
• Use of Radioactive Chemicals
• Wastewater discharges

• Generation of hazardous waste
• Possible release and cost for cleanup
• Water treatment plant from sinks or floor drains

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Facility OperationsAspects
Impacts

• Ozone depletion
• Depletion of natural resources and land
  contamination
• Generation of used oil, tires, batteries,
  antifreeze, air emissions

• Temperature control of buildings
• Custodial Operations (use of cleaning products,
  paper, water, energy)
• Vehicle Operations

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FieldAspects Impacts

• Application of Agricultural Pesticides
• Field Plot Maintenance
• Use of water (irrigation)

• Generation of hazardous or universal waste
• Potential contamination of land, water, or air
• Depletion of natural resources

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OfficeAspects Impacts

• Use of Electronic Equipment

• Generation of recyclable waste (paper, batteries,
  toner cartridges)
• Generation of electronic waste
• Use of electric energy

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Tiftons Significant Environmental Aspects

• Priority Chemical Reduction
• Purchasing of Hazardous Chemicals
• Use of Hazardous Chemicals
• Application of Hazardous Chemicals
• Office Products/Paper Consumption

• Use of Electronic Equipment
• Generation of Waste (Hazardous, Solid, Universal)
• Building Temperature Control
• Grounds and Custodial Operations
• Motor Vehicle Operations

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Our Objectives and Targets

• Full Compliance with Regulations
• Reduce Waste Streams
• Hazardous, Solid, and Universal
• Reduce Energy Consumption
• Recycle
• Green Purchasing
• Pollution Prevention

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E.O. 13148 TARGETS

• 40 reduction in release and off-site transfers
  of toxic chemicals by Dec. 31, 2006
• 50 reduction of priority chemicals by
• Dec. 31, 2006 (extended)
• Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, Napthalene, and PCBs
• Reduction in ozone depleting substances
• Phase out Class I ODS by Dec. 31, 2010
• Phase out Class II ODS by Dec. 31, 2015

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What you can do

• Recycle! Batteries, boxes, paper, cans.
• Reuse! Boxes, paper, petri dishes, pots.
• Reduce! Water, chemicals, electronic vs.
  paper
• Turn off lights, turn down thermostats
• Use timers, power-save, standby
• Purchasing think GREEN!
• Do YOU perform your job in a manner that
  minimizes environmental impacts?

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RECYCLING

• ARS Tifton IS a recycling facility.
• We recycle our.
• Office Products
• Plastics
• Glassware
• Steel, Tin, or Aluminum cans
• All Batteries
• Electronic Equipment
• Cardboard

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Recycling - Office Products
Almost any paper product that can be easily torn
can be recycled!!

• Examples Newspapers, catalogs, files, copy
  paper, colored paper, binder dividers,
  letterhead, forms, invoices, envelopes, index
  cards, phone books, post-it notes, shredded
  paper, construction paper, wrapping paper, paper
  with labels attached, packing paper, and much
  more.

Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how
best to collect their recyclables. Paper
recycling bins are available, at no charge, for
your building or office. Contact Tom Maze at
386-3496.
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Recycling Glass and Plastic
Any glass or plastic product that can be easily
rinsed can be recycled!! All colors of glass
and any type of plastic are OK!!

• Examples Glass solvent bottles, broken beakers
  and flasks, plastic jugs and tubs, drink bottles,
  etc.

Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how
best to collect their recyclables. Collection
sites have been established for each Unit.
Pickups are done on an as needed basis.
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Recycling - Lab Glass/Plastic
KEEP GLASS AND PLASTIC SEPARATE
All lab glassware and plastic must be TRIPLE
rinsed before recycling. The rinse waste created
from particularly hazardous chemicals/solvents
should be collected as hazardous waste. These
may include but are not limited to methylene
chloride, chloroform, phenol, ether, etc. Most
acid, base, salt, and alcohol rinses can go down
the drain after proper neutralization. Use
common sense or when in doubt - ASK SOMEONE!!
Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how
best to collect their recyclables. Broken glass
containers can easily be converted to recycling
containers.
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Hazardous Waste

• A waste with properties that make it dangerous,
  or capable of having a harmful effect on human
  health and the environment.
• Many of our labs produce hazardous wastes in
  their daily activities. Please continue to
  follow proper collection and disposal techniques.
• Know what you are working with and dispose of it
  properly!

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Universal Waste

• Universal waste regulations streamline collection
  requirements for certain hazardous wastes into
  the following categories
• Batteries - Lead acid but we collect ALL types
• Pesticides - Collect then dispose of through
  Georgia Clean Day
• Mercury-Containing Thermostats
• Lamps All except tungsten
• (i.e. halogen, neon, fluorescent)

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eCycling Recycling Electronics
Do you know what to do with old computers,
copiers, scientific equipment, televisions,
etc? e-CYCLE IT!!! Items that can be e-cycled
Computers, hard-drives, keyboards, printers,
televisions, VCR/DVD players, cell phones,
telephones, radios, pagers, digital equipment,
scanners, copiers, scientific equipment, and
much, much more.
DO Save old, broken, or unused electronic
equipment for recycling! DONT Throw any
electronic equipment in the dumpster!
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Our Universal/Electronic Waste Shipment
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Your Waste Contact

• For more information about hazardous wastes,
  universal wastes, or recycling or disposal of
  electronic equipment, please contact
• Tom Hendricks, Collateral Duty Safety Officer,
  [phone].

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Prudent Purchasing

• Buy only the amount of chemicals that you will
  use within a reasonable time period
• Buy durable apparatus and equipment that can be
  repaired and maintained
• Coordinate or centralize purchasing to avoid
  unnecessary purchases
• Buy Green Products when available
• Paper Energy-efficient
  products
• Biofuels

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Buying Green

• There are six components to the Federal green
  purchasing program
• Recycled content products
• Energy Star and FEMP-designated energy efficient
  products, low standby power devises, and
  renewable energy
• Biobased products
• Alternative fuel vehicle/alternative fuel
• Environmentally preferable products and services
• Non-ozone depleting substances
• Make these your first choice if possible.

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On-line Resources

• Tifton EMS webpage-
• www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid12538
• Biobased Products Program -
• www.biobased.oce.usda.gov
• Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines -
• www.epa.gov/cpg
• Office of the Federal Environmental Executive -
• www.ofee.gov
• EPA-EMS - www.epa.gov/ems
• Safety, Health, and Environmental Mgmt.
  www.afm.ars.usda.gov/shem/environmental.htm

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THE END
Remember It IS easy being GREEN!
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QUESTIONS?