United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
EPA/905/9-91/021
November 1991
Pollution Prevention:
Meeting the Environmental
Challenges of the 1990s
Region 5 FY91 Aoximplishments
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NOTE: Effective December 9,1991
The new address for the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5:
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
Cover: Pollution prevention opportunities cut across five major sectors in
society. Clockwise from top right: Agriculture - careful and alternative agri-
cultural uses of pesticides represent a primary means of preventing non-point
source pollution; Consumers - public outreach and involvement can increase
consumers' environmentally responsible choices; Industry - safer alternatives
to industrial processes prevent significant amounts of hazardous pollution;
EnergyyTransportation - opting for more energy-efficient modes of transpor-
tation reduces the amount of pollution generated from fossil fuels; Federal
Government - the Federal government can be the model for implementing
source reduction principles within its facilities, such as minimizing indoor air
pollution in the newly-constructed Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal building in Chicago.
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Acknowledgments This document was prepared under the direction of U.S. EPA, Region 5, Plan-
ning and Management Division, in conjunction with the Waste Reduction Insti-
tute for Training and Applications Research (WRITAR). Major contributors in-
clude Dolly Tong, Rosalie Day, with the valued assistance of Linda Glass
(U.S. EPA, Region 5); and Al Innes and Robert Style (WRITAR).
We are also grateful for the constructive input from the EPA Region 5 Pollution
Prevention Workgroup, our State counterparts in the Midwest Pollution Pre-
vention Roundtable, and all our colleagues throughout Region 5.
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Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson EoulevarjtJ, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
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Table of Contents
Preface I
Executive Summary If
Pollution Prevention Activities in the EPA 1
EPA Key Contacts 13
State Level Pollution Prevention Programs 15
Table of State Program Activities 16
Pollution Prevention In Illinois 17
Pollution Prevention In Indiana 26
Pollution Prevention in Michigan 34
Pollution Prevention In Minnesota 44
Pollution Prevention In Ohio 54
Pollution Prevention in Wisconsin 60
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PfGTflCO The passage of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 marked a dedication to
protect the environment beyond the scope of EPA's traditional role of setting
standards and enforcing actions against violators. Much improvement in the
environment has been achieved through regulations governing individual
environmental media; however, pollution can undergo cross-media transfers
and stem from dispersed or non-point sources. Deposition of toxics from the
air can pollute surface waters. Lakes and other drainage basins are being
degraded from pollutants from stormwater, the atmosphere, and other
non-point sources that are difficult to regulate. Preventing pollution at the
source thus becomes the preferred way to minimize or remove threats to the
environment.
The Act declares pollution prevention to be the national policy establishing a
hierarchy for environmental management, whereby pollution should be
prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible. Pollution that cannot
be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally sound manner. Where
there are no feasible prevention or recycling opportunities, treatment/disposal
should be used as a last resort. EPA is charged with promoting pollution
prevention as the preferred approach to protecting the environment and
reducing environmental risks.
Region 5 is integrating pollution prevention concepts into its base programs,
incorporating them throughout its regulatory functions and non-regulatory
activities. The Region has also established strong working relationships with
agencies in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin—meshing an interactive web of Federal and State pollution
prevention activities in the Region.
This report highlights the activities that the Region has initiated within the
industrial, agricultural, energy/transportation, Federal government, and
consumer sectors, each reflecting a component in the overall EPA Pollution
Prevention Strategy. In addition, projects are featured under the Great Lakes
Pollution Prevention Action Plan and specific integrating themes, including
enforcement, training, technology transfer, and research and development.
This report also covers State-level activities in the six Region 5 States. It
describes the roles, programs and accomplishments of State agencies that
have established pollution prevention or related source reduction efforts within
their respective offices. This compilation reflects a cooperative effort to pioneer
a comprehensive pollution prevention movement in EPA and the States, and
lays the foundation for greater integration of and reliance on pollution
prevention in Regional actions in the future.
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EXGCUti V6 Summary Passage of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, mandating development of a
nationwide pollution prevention strategy, occurred simultaneously with
increased pollution prevention awareness across Region 5 program activities.
The Act established a hierarchy for environmental management with source
reduction as the preferred strategy, and with recycling, pollution control and
treatment, and waste disposal, following in descending order. As pollution
prevention is rapidly becoming an integral part of Agency programs, source
reduction and recycling approaches are being utilized throughout the Region,
within and across media. Increased awareness about pollution transfers from
one environmental medium to another has caused prevention to emerge as
the most effective tool for multi-media risk reduction.
EPA has adopted risk reduction as the overarching framework for protecting
ecological systems and human health and, in turn, for targeting its pollution
prevention and control efforts and resources. Last year, Region 5 conducted a
comparative risk analysis of environmental problem areas. The relative risks
were characterized and ranked, resulting in the identification of high risk areas
that present the greatest opportunities for risk reduction. This information was
used to target Regional activities for Fiscal Years (FY) 1991 and 1992, and
refine budgeting plans for FY 1993. The Region is initiating four-year strategic
planning, 1994 through 1997, integrating pollution prevention into all regulatory
and non-regulatory functions and Great Lakes activities. Strategic planning
allows the hierarchy of risk management approaches to guide comprehensive
environmental management decision-making.
In implementation of pollution prevention concepts, the Region supports many
projects in its six States, and maintains interactive relationships that promote
technology transfer. The Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Action Plan
complements and, in some cases, overlaps the Regional program efforts.
The Agency implementation strategy includes the integration of prevention
concepts into specific economic sectors, including industry, agriculture,
energy/transportation, consumers and the Federal government. This targeting
by sector allows the Agency to focus on problems with high relative risks, good
potential for risk reduction, and high probability of environmental improvement.
Region 5 has initiated pollution prevention activities within each sector which
complement the Agencywide initiatives. These sector activities include the
following:
• Industrial Sector. Technology transfer activities that target
specific industries or geographic areas, and assistance to States
for similar efforts;
Agricultural Sector. Programs in sustainable agricultural
management and development of conscientious pesticides
directives;
Energy/Transportation Sector. Global Atmosphere Initiative,
encouraging reductions in energy consumption through outreach,
public-private partnerships and coordination with other agencies;
• Federal Government Sector. Technical assistance that identifies
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alternatives to hazardous materials, a risk-based prioritization
project for inspection and implementation of prevention measures,
and establishment of environmentally sound practices for the new
Federal building facility; and
Consumer Sector. Outreach activities for water and energy
conservation.
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Pollution Prevention in EPA
Congress has charged EPA with developing and implementing a
comprehensive pollution prevention strategy that includes individual strategies
to address the full range of environmental problems. These strategies focus on
areas with high relative risk, good risk reduction potential, and high probability
for environmental improvement. The Great Lakes Basin is a unique ecosystem
that requires a specialized approach to reduce pollutant loadings and preserve
its diverse habitats. Complementary efforts integrate pollution prevention into
enforcement, training, technology transfer, and research and development, as
part of a coordinated effort with public and private agencies to improve the
overall health of the environment.
Industrial Sector Although existing regulations and industrial processes have not historically
emphasized source reduction, significant opportunities exist to reduce or
prevent pollution at the source through cost-effective changes in
housekeeping practices, raw materials substitution, operation and production
practices. EPA is committed to fostering changes which reduce risks to human
health and the environment while offering industry substantial cost savings.
33/50 Program. Region 5 is implementing the 33/50 Program, a national EPA
voluntary pollution prevention initiative aimed at reducing the emissions of 17
priority toxic chemicals from industrial sources. The goal is to reduce 33% of
releases to all media from industrial facilities of the targeted chemicals by the
end of 1992, and at least 50% by the end of 1995. Reductions will be
measured using the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) as a baseline.
Approximately fifteen hundred of the top six thousand emitters of these
chemicals are in Region 5. These companies received letters from the
Regional Administrator inviting them to participate, underscoring the Regional
priority to restore and protect the Great Lakes Basin (see Great Lakes
Pollution Prevention Action Plan, p. 6). The Regional office is currently
receiving responses and encouraging concrete commitments from the
targeted companies.
Iron and Steel Industry Conference. Region 5 is hosting a pollution
prevention conference for the iron and steel industry in the spring of 1992 in
Chicago. The conference, focusing on the Great Lakes Basin, will be
co-sponsored by the American Institute for Pollution Prevention (see p. 11),
the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the Steel Manufacturers
Association. The event will provide a forum for information exchange and
education on industry-related technical and policy issues with respect to
pollution prevention.
State and Local Government Assistance. EPA provides grants and forums
for the exchange of ideas for launching pollution prevention initiatives at the
State and local levels. An example of an EPA supported State activity is the
development of Wisconsin's statewide initiative integrating pollution prevention
across environmental programs. The initiative will include technology transfer,
innovative approaches, and financial assistance for hazardous waste
reduction for small and medium-sized businesses. The program will also
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promote pollution prevention as the optimum way of complying with new air
toxics and water quality regulations.
Region 5 is also supporting the Greater Milwaukee Area Toxic Minimization
Task Force, a group composed of representatives of industry, business,
universities, environmental groups, municipal government and the sewerage
district. Programs for education and outreach are components of its effort to
develop and implement an overall strategy to promote pollution prevention in
the Milwaukee area.
RCRA Source Reduction and Recycling Plan. Region 5 is in the process of
developing a long range Source Reduction and Recycling Plan to integrate
pollution prevention concepts into the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) program activities. A workgroup was formed to review existing
Agency guidance and create a checklist for evaluating pollution prevention
proposals. The workgroup has developed model language for inclusion in
agreed orders and consent decrees. The extent to which pollution prevention
concepts can be applied in permits is another area of ongoing inquiry. Region
5 is also working with the States to employ source reduction principles in the
States' Capacity Assurance Plans (CAPs).
Agricultural Sector With many sources of agricultural stressors, it has been difficult and costly for
EPA to adequately address the environmental impact of each one individually.
The Regional pesticides program incorporates preventive measures into its
regulatory directives. In addition, several programs have been established to
educate farmers and their communities about pollution prevention measures
specific to agricultural management. These practices prevent varied impacts,
such as run-off from feed lots and groundwater contamination from fertilizers.
EPA/USDA Project. Region 5 is working cooperatively with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a program for environmentally
responsible management of agricultural chemicals. Technical assistance and
outreach materials will be provided to farmers for reduction of surface and
groundwater contamination through conscientious agricultural practices.
Farm*A*Syst Program. Region 5, the EPA Great Lakes National Program
Office (GLNPO), and the University of Wisconsin have developed the
Farm*A*Syst (Farmstead Assessment System) program for farmers and rural
communities to assess overall farm practices through self-help worksheets.
Pilot programs were conducted in selected Wisconsin1 and Minnesota counties.
Education modules, based on the worksheets, are being developed for use in
high schools and youth organizations. A module on site vulnerability to
groundwater contamination will be piloted in schools in Waupaca County,
Wisconsin in Autumn, 1991.
Pollution Prevention and Pesticide Regulations. Pollution prevention
concepts are being integrated throughout pesticide regulations. Region 5 has
drafted a Pesticides and Groundwater Strategy for prevention of groundwater
impacts using authorities in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), to reduce or eliminate the use of leaching pesticides
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in areas particularly vulnerable to groundwater contamination. The Region and
the States are cooperatively developing new regulations fostering reduction of
the use of disposal containers during bulk pesticide handling. Federal and
State regulations for managing pesticide mixing loading sites are being
developed by Region 5 and the States for accidental chemical release
prevention.
Energy/Transportation Sector Pollution prevention initiatives involving the energy/transportation sector
present significant opportunities for reducing pollutants and their associated
risks. Coupled with the new Clean Air Act Amendments, projects encouraging
energy conservation and toxic emissions reductions have considerable
potential to reduce pollutant loadings. These include sulfur dioxide emissions
that contribute to acid deposition, carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to
greenhouse gases accumulation, and carbon monoxide emissions that
contribute to smog.
Global Atmosphere Initiative. Region 5's Global Atmosphere Initiative is a
program to reduce the generation of greenhouse gases and prevent further
depletion of stratospheric ozone, ultimately minimizing the extent of global
climate change. Reductions in energy consumption and automobile trips are
components of the pollution prevention strategy to reduce society's
dependence on fossil fuels and prevent further alteration of the atmospheric
composition. This program encompasses numerous regulatory, educational
and outreach activities, as well as the specific projects described below.
Green Lights Program. Region 5 actively participates in the
Green Lights program, an EPA voluntary initiative that encourages
firms to install energy-efficient light fixtures in their facilities. As
lighting accounts for one quarter of national electricity use, a
successful Green Lights initiative across the nation can reduce
electricity demand by ten percent or more, thereby reducing air
pollution from coal and other generation sources. While the
national initiative targets Fortune 500 companies, Region 5
provides workshops to small and medium-sized businesses to
encourage their participation in a Regional efficient lighting
program. Also, the city of Naperville, Illinois has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with EPA to become the first city
in the nation to retrofit its municipal facilities with energy-efficient
lighting under the Green Lights Program.
• Public-Private Partnerships. Region 5 uses this initiative as a
tool to encourage energy conservation through market incentives
and creative financing opportunities. A demonstration project in St.
Paul, Minnesota is supported by Region 5 for development of a
utility rate policy rewarding energy efficiency and conservation.
The policy will potentially be used as a model for utilities in
communities with similar electricity needs.
• Mass Transit Video. Region 5 is working with the Center for
Neighborhood Technology, a non-profit technical assistance
corporation in Chicago that works with organizations serving low-
and moderate-income urban communities, to produce a 15-minute
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videotape about the benefits of mass transit and ridesharing. This
video will be used for on-site presentations to corporations,
chambers of commerce and other business-related groups to
stimulate discussion of long-range transportation planning goals
and strategies. The program will also be positioned for broadcast
distribution on some public television and community access
channels in local, regional, and national markets.
Federal Government Sector EPA is providing leadership to other Federal agencies to become a role model
for environmentally sound practices. Adoption of pollution prevention and
waste reduction practices at Federal facilities alone will provide significant
relief from adverse environmental impacts. The Federal government is a
manufacturer and waste generator, as well as a consumer of goods and
services on a scale large enough to substantially influence private sector
practices through market pressures. As regulators, policy makers, and
participants in the economic market, Federal agencies are able to influence or
direct change across all sectors of society.
Federal Facilities. Region 5 is conducting projects with the Departments of
Defense, Energy, Agriculture and Interior to jointly inspect and evaluate
Federal facilities for environmentally sound practices. Through technical
transfer, Region 5 assists these Federal facilities in determining safer
alternatives to hazardous materials used in their respective operations.
Demonstration projects with Federal facilities are also coordinated by EPA's
Waste Reduction Evaluation at Federal Sites (WREAFS) Program (see p. 11).
Great Lakes Federal Facilities Initiative. Region 5 is coordinating an
environmental risk prioritization of Federal facilities in the Great Lakes Basin.
A database incorporating the same chemicals tracked for the Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI) is being developed for Federal installments to produce a
risk-based ranking of Basin facilities. Using this information, Region 5 will
develop inspection strategies to identify opportunities for risk reduction. The
Region will request voluntary implementation of pollution prevention measures
to address these opportunities similar to the approach used for industries in
the 33/50 Program (see p. 1). Once developed, the risk-based strategy will be
adopted for all Federal facilities in the Region.
Project 1992. Beginning October 1991, Region 5 will be moving into a new
Federal Building in Chicago, a construction plan referred to as "Project 1992."
The Regional office is joining forces with other Federal agencies to purchase
recycled or recyclable office supplies to reduce waste, and to establish a
recycling program for the new building that will include all resident Agencies.
These include the Social Security Administration, Housing and Urban
Development, Department of Agriculture, and ACTION. Working with the
General Services Administration (GSA), Region 5 conducted a waste stream
analysis to determine the recycling needs of the building to allow development
of an appropriate recycling program.
The Region is also coordinating with GSA on a Green Lights-type effort (see p.
3) for the new building. Plans are underway to retrofit the ceiling fixtures to a
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level of efficiency in alignment with EPA Green Lights Program standards.
Approved efficiency track lighting has also been ordered for the workstations.
Consumer Sector Consumer decisions have a direct influence on the state of the environment.
EPA recognizes that awareness and understanding of environmental impacts
can enable consumers to alter their behaviors to reflect their personal
environmental preferences.
Outreach Materials. Region 5's existing outreach efforts have stressed
pollution prevention as the preferred approach to reduce environmental risks.
Educational literature on urban non-point source pollution targets audiences
from children to laymen/public officials to technical workers. Specific pollution
prevention guides and manuals have been prepared for community planners,
developers and homeowners. Conferences and other forms of outreach are
also extended to Indian Tribes in the Region.
Office of Public Affairs. Region 5's Office of Public Affairs (OPA) provides
outreach to the public through press conferences, press releases, fact sheets
and other types of materials on current pollution prevention activities and
grants. OPA participates in the National Pollution Prevention Environmental
Education Taskforce, which is involved in activities to institutionalize
environmental education through development of curriculum materials and
teacher training.
National Pollution Prevention Center. EPA has awarded a grant to the
University of Michigan to establish a National Pollution Prevention Center. The
emphasis of the Center will be to incorporate pollution prevention principles
into a variety of school curricula. Curriculum modules will be developed for the
inclusion of pollution prevention concepts in undergraduate and graduate
engineering, business, design, and natural resource classes.
Low-Income Communities. Region 5 is expanding its outreach efforts to
low-income communities. Cooperative relationships are being established with
neighborhood councils and specific community organizations for development
of fact sheets for residents regarding their energy and transportation
consumption. This outreach will be performed by a Regional taskforce.
Small Community Outreach and Education (SCORE). The SCORE
program provides information and technical assistance on all prevention and
control related aspects of small community wastewater management. Region
5's Water Compliance Branch offers information, technical assistance and
referrals on water conservation, source reduction and innovative preventive
management practices. It also develops new publications and manages a
small incentive grant program.
Water Conservation. Water conservation, especially through use of efficient
plumbing fixtures (toilets, showerheads, faucets, etc.), is one of the most
cost-effective forms of wastewater source reduction. This technology can
eliminate the need for new water supplies or sewerage treatment facilities. In
addition, the avoided infrastructure construction not only results in cost
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savings but avoids further energy consumption. Region 5's Water Compliance
Branch offers information, technical assistance, referral and interactive
software packages to help communities understand and manage conservation
technology. The Branch represents the Region on the Agency's Water Use
Efficiency Task Force and manages several research and field test projects.
Municipal Waste Combustor Pilot Project. Region 5 and the Olmsted
County Waste-to-Energy facility in Rochester, Minnesota are piloting a
household battery recycling project, in which batteries are removed from
household wastes en route to municipal waste combustors. The battery-free
incinerator air emissions and ash residues will be evaluated for reductions in
heavy metals, such as lead, nickel, mercury and cadmium. Region 4 (in the
southeastern U.S.) is working on a parallel project. After two years, the results
from Regions 4 and 5 will be analyzed, culminating in a joint report.
Community outreach and educational materials will be prepared summarizing
the program and its results. Outreach will encourage battery recycling,
providing awareness of the environmental and economic benefits realized and
setting forth procedures for establishing similar programs.
Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program. The Municipal Water
Pollution Prevention (MWPP) Program aims to prevent the introduction of
municipal wastes into the nation's waterways. Modeled after the Wisconsin
Compliance Maintenance Program, in effect since 1987, the program was
undertaken by Region 5 in 1989 to protect the compliance attainment
achievements of the Agency's National Municipal Policy and to safeguard the
existing wastewater management infrastructure. The program aims to prevent
violations of effluent limits, maximize the useful life of municipal wastewater
treatment facilities, and promote good working relations between treatment
plant operators, municipal officials and State water pollution control agencies.
A pilot program grant has been awarded to the State of Minnesota for
development of source reduction applications for the Minneapolis metropolitan
wastewater treatment facility.
Great Lakes Pollution In 1987, as part of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United
Prevention Action Plan States and Canada committed to strengthening efforts to virtually eliminate the
release of persistent toxic substances into the Great Lakes Basin. The EPA
Great Lakes National Program Office has developed a Great Lakes Pollution
Prevention Action Plan in partnership with the Basin States (including the six
States in Region 5) to incorporate pollution prevention as a critical tool for
achieving this goal. The Action Plan establishes new initiatives and redirects
existing activities to promote innovative prevention practices throughout the
Basin.
Major Initiatives. EPA is launching three major initiatives with Great Lakes
States, addressing the broad spectrum of pollution prevention opportunities in
the Basin. First, a public-private partnership of EPA, the Great Lakes States,
and the automobile industry (including Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and the
Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association) is promoting voluntary pollution
prevention of persistent toxics that have long-term detrimental impacts on the
Basin. The automobile companies will identify the priority toxics within their
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respective operations and develop and implement pollution prevention
practices to reduce their use.
Second, EPA is working cooperatively with the States of Michigan, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin, and our Canadian counterparts on a Lake Superior zero
discharge demonstration program. This binational initiative includes providing
special protection designations, using enhanced controls and regulations, and
incorporating pollution prevention into daily activities. Under this program, EPA
is also supporting Minnesota's Lake Superior Partnership, a cross-media
inspection/compliance initiative emphasizing pollution prevention in a
geographically focused industrial area along the Basin.
Third, EPA and the State of New York are launching educational pilot programs
on urban non-point source pollution prevention. Discharges of household
hazardous wastes will be the program's primary focus. EPA and New York will
also develop guidance documents to help local officials develop comprehensive
programs to deal with non-point source discharges in their communities.
To emphasize the importance of pollution prevention and the shared
responsibility of the U.S. and Canada, EPA and Environment Canada
co-sponsored the 1991 Bi-National Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River Pollution
Prevention Symposium. The Symposium highlighted advances made in
pollution prevention in the Great Lakes Basin and established the agenda for
future pollution prevention efforts. The Symposium was held in conjunction
with the International Joint Commission* Biennial meeting.
Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs). LaMPs are lake-specific
cross-media plans designed to restore beneficial uses of the Great Lakes by
reducing loadings of critical pollutants. The development and implementation
of a LaMP for each lake is required under the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement. Regionally, specific pollutants and their sources will be targeted
and evaluated for pollution prevention opportunities through the LaMP
process. From these evaluations, the LaMPs will establish load reduction
strategies and goals for each lake. EPA is currently developing LaMPs for
Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. Both have targeted specific pollutants for
priority action and have identified persistent toxic substances for pollution
prevention efforts. These toxics reduction efforts will be consistent with the 17
chemicals identified in the 33/50 Program (see p. 1). In addition, the Lake
Michigan LaMP is targeting substances currently discharged that may impair
beneficial uses in the future.
Remedial Action Plans (RAPs). EPA is working with the States on the
development and implementation of RAPs. These Plans specify remedial
strategies for the contamination in the designated Great Lakes Areas of
Concern. Integrating pollution prevention activities into RAPs will protect
current investments in the clean-ups by taking measures to prevent future
releases.
* The International Joint Commission facilitates binational cooperation and activities
between Canada and the United States in the use of waterways that cross the border
between the two nations, including the Great Lakes.
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EPA is developing specific guidance for the incorporation of pollution
prevention concepts into RAPs. A pollution prevention training course will be
provided to Regional RAP coordinators and RAP stakeholders. This training
will use case studies and provide information on how States can incorporate
pollution prevention into the RAPs.
Enforcement Region 5 is instituting new procedures and refocusing established ones to
ensure that Regional enforcement staff identify and incorporate pollution
prevention measures into enforcement settlements. It is anticipated that,
eventually, all consent decrees and administrative settlements will include
appropriate pollution prevention measures. The Office of Regional Counsel
(ORC) has designated pollution prevention contacts for each branch office.
These attorneys are responsible for ensuring awareness of pollution
prevention issues and for monitoring the interaction between national
enforcement precedents and Regional policy.
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). ORC has established a
repository of consent decrees and administrative orders which contain
provisions requiring defendants/respondents to undertake SEPs. Mitigation of
penalties through SEPs applied the hierarchy stated in the Pollution
Prevention Act well before its enactment in October, 1990 (see p. ii). SEPs,
formerly referred to as Environmentally Beneficial Expenditures, may be any of
the following types of projects: pollution prevention, pollution reduction,
environmental restoration, environmental auditing or public awareness. The
extent to which a defendant/respondent may offset the gravity based portion*
of an assessed penalty is currently under review. The Agency, however, will
always insist on recovering the full economic benefit that the facility gained
from its violations.
The 33/50 Program (see p. 1) may have ramifications for enforcement
proceedings. No company or facility will be singled out for enforcement
because of its participation or decision not to participate in the 33/50 Program.
Vigorous enforcement will proceed where the Agency uncovers violations of
environmental regulations, regardless of participation. However, projects being
carried out pursuant to the 33/50 Program may qualify as SEPs and, therefore,
may be basis for reduction in the gravity based penalty.
In 1988, the Enforcement Response Policy for the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313, on TRI reporting,
encouraged the use of SEPs in settling cases. Since TRI is a multi-media
database, a variety of SEPs have been used in agreements consistently,
reducing use or emissions of tons of chemicals. The Pollution Prevention Act
requires industries subject to TRI reporting to also report on pollution
prevention activities associated with the specified chemicals for the 1991
calendar year. Enforcement of this requirement will present additional
opportunities for SEPs.
* The gravity based portion reflects the seriousness of the violation based on weighted
factors enumerated in the statute, e.g., the duration or the frequency of the violation
committed.
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Geographic Enforcement Initiative. The Geographic Enforcement Initiative
(GEI) presents opportunities for pollution prevention through its multi-media
enforcement activities in a targeted geographic area. Northwest
Indiana/Southeast Chicago is the area currently targeted. Facilities in the area
are targeted for multi-media inspections based on their potentials for TRI
chemical reductions and given rankings of their compliance records for single-
and multi-media releases. Region 5 inspectors will provide brochures to
facilities on appropriate pollution prevention methodologies.
A multi-media litigation screening committee provides routine review of the
facility inspections for administrative and judicial enforcement. Any resulting
actions are coordinated by a multi-media enforcement team. Review for
potential inclusion of pollution prevention measures is a critical component of
the case review process. The screening committee is able to identify the
multi-media nature and the pollution prevention potential at the outset of the
case development process.
One goal of the GEI is to achieve a fifty percent reduction in toxic chemical
releases to the target area by 1996. Toxic reductions through pollution
prevention measures will be strongly encouraged throughout the enforcement
process. The concentration of inspection and enforcement actions should
result in a significantly increased adoption of pollution prevention practices by
industry in this area.
Beginning in fiscal year 1992 the next targeted area will be southeast
Michigan, which includes the Detroit metropolitan area. Pollution prevention
efforts in this area will be conducted predominantly through voluntary
reductions in facilities.
Training Training is essential for disseminating pollution prevention concepts. Region 5
offers to its staff a half-day general overview of pollution prevention concepts,
philosophies and programs. Region 5 provides training on the use of the
Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (PPIC), an electronic database
of pollution prevention information available to a wide user network of public
and private organizations, nationally and internationally.
In addition to pollution prevention training for RAP coordinators (see Remedial
Action Plans, p. 7), audience-specific training will be provided for other types
of pollution problems. In the Basic Inspector Training course, required for all
EPA inspectors, pollution prevention concepts are adapted to the role of the
inspector. Training is being tailored for permit writers, emphasizing
cross-media risk reduction. EPA Headquarters conducted a pilot National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pollution Prevention training
with Region 5 States. Pollution prevention training for enforcement staff in
water compliance will be available in late October, 1991.
In general, training for enforcement and permitting staff allows pollution
prevention to be incorporated into the primary regulatory programs and fosters
an awareness of potential problems, such as cross-media transfers of
pollutants.
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Technology Transfer Technology transfer is comprised of training, technical assistance and focused
information sharing. It provides an effective means for EPA to cooperatively
develop and improve pollution prevention methodologies with States, industry
and other interest groups. The Region disseminates technical knowledge and
information on various pollution prevention applications.
Purdue University Technology Transfer Center. Region 5 and Purdue
University are organizing a center for technology transfer with an emphasis on
pollution prevention. This center will receive both public and private funding,
and will extend its expertise to many other universities and colleges. To
promote pollution prevention in the U.S. and abroad the center will:
(1) develop educational software packages and other materials;
(2) conduct ongoing technical assistance programs through
"environmental ambassadors;" and
(3) assist or fund the exchange of personnel (students, scientists,
teachers, and officials).
Environmentally Conscious Architecture Symposium. Region 5, the
Department of Architecture at Ball State University, and the Council of
Architectural Research are planning a symposium on Environmentally
Conscious Architecture in April 1992. The symposium will explore the role and
responsibilities of the architect with respect to creating environmentally
conscious buildings and communities, and will identify the tools and guidelines
available or needed to enhance the profession's ability to meet the design
challenges of the future. This project will address two types of high
environmental risk, indoor air quality and global climate change. Four primary
areas will be addressed:
(1) site — ecosystem maintenance and/or improvement, retention of
site amenities, impact of infrastructure on the site;
(2) energy — energy conservation, renewable resources and
technologies, high efficiency systems and equipment;
(3) resource management — water conservation,
resource-conserving waste management, design for recycling;
and
(4) building materials — indoor air quality, toxic emissions, impact on
threatened ecosystems, cradle-to-grave environmental costs.
Southeast Michigan Waste Minimization Conference. In conjunction with
State and local governments, industry and civic groups, Region 5 and GLNPO
are establishing a technical workgroup for process engineers from southeast
Michigan industries that have been identified as major sources of pollution.
The workgroup will encourage participants to commit to reducing emissions. A
conference will be hosted in November, 1991 to address specific problems in
five Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes and precise, state-of-the-art pollution
prevention methodologies.
10
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Research And Development Research and development are critical to the advancement of pollution
prevention methodologies. The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
(RREL) in Cincinnati, under EPA's Office of Research and Development, has
a Pollution Prevention Branch responsible for supporting projects to develop
and demonstrate clean production technologies, clean products and innovative
approaches to source reduction in all media. Many of these projects are
carried out cooperatively with State agencies, universities, and other
environmental research organizations.
Research projects conducted in Region 5 focus on industries predominant in
the Midwest including electroplating, metal finishing, pulp and paper, and
printing and inking. Cooperative agreements between EPA and industries exist
to support these projects. Two existing programs are the Waste Reduction
Innovative Technology Evaluation (WRITE) and the Waste Reduction
Evaluation at Federal Sites (WREAFS).
WRITE Program. The WRITE Program identifies specific pollution prevention
technologies and jointly tests these innovations with participating companies in
the appropriate industries. Currently there are WRITE projects in Illinois and
Minnesota, targeting the printing and inking, and plating industries. EPA is
working cooperatively with the Illinois Hazardous Waste Research and
Information Center (HWRIC) and the Minnesota Technical Assistance
Program (MnTAP) to identify/evaluate specific waste reduction technologies.
WREAFS Program. The WREAFS Program is a series of assessment and
demonstration projects for pollution prevention and waste reduction conducted
cooperatively by EPA and other Federal Agencies, such as the Departments
of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Veterans Affairs. The objectives of the
WREAFS Program include: (1) performing waste minimization opportunity
assessments at Federal sites; (2) demonstrating pollution prevention
techniques or technologies at Federal facilities; (3) conducting pollution
prevention workshops within the Federal sector; and (4) enhancing pollution
prevention benefits within the Federal community.
The WREAFS Program features two Interagency Agreement projects with the
USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison, Wisconsin and EPA.
One project investigates the potential for reclaiming newsprint by means of dry
fiberizing and bonding enhancement processes. It is part of a larger program
at FPL that explores dry and/or semi-dry papermaking processes. The
American Newsprint Publishing Association, FPL and EPA are co-funding the
project. The second project is a three-year agreement to investigate and
develop wood/plastic composites from recycled plastic and wood fiber.
The American Institute for Pollution Prevention. RREL sponsored the
establishment of the American Institute for Pollution Prevention at the
University of Cincinnati, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Twenty individuals with distinguished records of accomplishment in pollution
prevention were nominated by industrial trade associations and professional
societies and appointed to the Institute. The Institute is organized into four
Councils based on priority areas of interest, economics, education,
11
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implementation and technology.
The role of the Institute is to:
(1) interface between EPA and potential implementors of pollution
prevention techniques, primarily in industry;
(2) assist the EPA in improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of
its programs with respect to pollution prevention; and
(3) generate both private and public sector support for pollution
prevention concepts.
Specific objectives of the Institute include assisting EPA on several pollution
prevention demonstration projects, developing pollution prevention-oriented
design problems for use in engineering curricula and executive education
courses, and producing a "practical guide" to pollution prevention economics.
12
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EPA Key Contacts
PROJECT
33/50 Program
American Institute for Pollution Prevention
Basic Inspector Training Course
Binational Great Lakes/St. Lawrence
River Pollution Prevention Symposium
Environmentally Conscious Architecture Symposium
Farm*A*Syst Program
Federal Facilities
Federal Facilities, risk-based prioritization
Geographic Enforcement Initiative
Global Atmosphere Initiative
Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Action Plan
Greater Milwaukee Area Toxic Minimization
Task Force
Green Lights Program
Iron and Steel Industry Conference
Lake Superior Initiative
Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs)
Low-income communities
Mass Transit Video
Municipal Waste Combustor Pilot Project
Municipal Water Pollution Prevention
National Pollution Prevention Center
National Pollution Prevention Environmental Taskforce
Office of Public Affairs
Office of Regional Counsel
pollution prevention contacts
Outreach, low-income communities
Outreach, non-point source pollution
Outreach, pollution prevention guides/manuals
Outreach, small communities
Pesticides and Ground Water Strategy
Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (PPIC)
Project 1992, Federal recycling program
Project 1992, Green Lights program
NAME
Dennis Wesolowski
Thomas R. Hauser
(University of Cincinnati)
Willie Harris
Danielle Green
Linda Glass
Susan Boldt
Elmer Shannon
Elmer Shannon
Bert Frey
John Haugland
Danielle Green
Cathy Allen
John Haugland
Cheryl Newton
Jennifer Beese
Susan Boldt
Susan Swales
John Haugland
John Haugland
John Pavitt
Peter Smith
Linda Glass
Margaret McCue
Margaret McCue
Laura Day
Steve Kaiser
John Haugland
Tom Davenport
Tom Davenport
Al Krause
Bruce Wilkinson
Linda Glass
Linda Glass
John Haugland
PHONE
312-353-5907
513-556-7896
312-886-5500
312-886-7594
312886-2910
312-353-3565
312-886-7342
312-886-7342
312-886-6771
312-353-3433
312-886-7594
312-886-0136
312-353-3433
312-886-6081
312-886-6713
312-353-3565
312-353-4475
312-353-3433
312-353-3433
312-886-6858
312-886-0212
312-886-1019
312-353-2072
312-353-2072
312-353-4482
312-353-6126
312-353-3433
312-886-0209
312-886-0209
312-886-0146
312-886-6002
312-886-1019
312-886-1019
312-353-3433
13
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Public-Private Partnerships
Purdue University Technology Transfer Center
RCRA Source Reduction and Recycling Plan
Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL)
Small Community Outreach and Education (SCORE)
Southeast Michigan Waste Minimization Conference
Storage/Disposal of Pesticides
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP)
Training, NPDES permitting
Training, enforcement
Training, general pollution prevention
Training, PPIC
Training, RAP coordinators
Training, water compliance
USDA Project
Water Conservation
WREAFS Program
WRITE Program
Linda Glass
Al Krause
Susan Swales
Barry DeGraff
Mary Ann Curran
Al Krause
Marcia D'Amato
David Macarus
Laura Day
Cathy Allen
Laura Day
Linda Glass
Linda Glass
Cathy Allen
Jennifer Beese
Tom Davenport
Al Krause
James S. Bridges (RREL)
Teresa M. Harten (RREL)
312-886-1019
312-886-0246
312-353-4775
312-886-0147
513-569-7837
312-886-0146
312-886-6297
312-353-5814
312-353-4482
312-886-0136
312-353-4482
312-886-1019
312-886-1019
312-886-0136
312-886-6713
312-886-0209
312-886-0146
513-569-7683
513-569-7565
For more information contact: Linda Glass
Region 5 Pollution Prevention Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
230 S. Dearborn Street (5MA-14)
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-1019
312-353-5374 (FAX)
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State Level Pollution Prevention Programs
The movement toward pollution prevention as the preferred waste
management methodology is well supported in Region 5 by a number of
programs operating at the state and local level. Every state in the Region
supports at least two different pollution prevention programs and in every
instance at least one of those programs is based outside the state's regulatory
structure. The services offered by these state level programs range from the
most basic outreach and education activities to complex, process specific
technical assistance.
A number of programs in the Region have as part of their mission a mandate
to discover innovative methods for the promotion of the pollution prevention
mindset. Often these innovations involve using financial incentives from the
states to industry to support the implementation of pollution prevention
technology and processes, or building flexibility into the permitting process so
as to encourage pollution prevention.
Each state has at least one program designed to provide technical assistance
to waste generators from a non-regulatory base. Services offered by these
technical assistance programs vary widely. Those that are comprehensive
have the resources to do everything from answer the most basic regulatory
question over the phone to performing waste reduction audits and assisting
clients with complicated manufacturing process changes.
Each state also supports a program that collects pollution prevention
information, usually including both regulatory and technical, and makes that
information available to interested parties. Some programs are fairly new and
just beginning to gather this information while others have become so
proficient at it that they have developed extensive computerized databases
that they are able to make available to their clients.
EPA provides funding in varying degrees to every pollution prevention
program in Region 5. This funding has proven vital in light of the fiscal
cutbacks many states find themselves forced to make. States have also
imposed disposal fees on waste generators and are using these monies to
fund their pollution prevention programs. Even with the development of this
new funding source, EPA funding has proven vital to the continued
development of these programs.
15
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An Overview of Region 5 Pollution Prevention Efforts
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin
Present
Activities
Future
Activities
Audience/
Clients
Legislation Base
Budget
Sources of
Budget
•Technical
assistance
•Information
clearinghouse
•Research
•Permit
innovation
•Waste
exchange
•Technical
assistance
•Education
•Opportunity
assessments
•Information
clearinghouse
•Targeted
technical
assistance
•Seminars
•Information
clearinghouse
•Generator
survey
Outreach
•Technical
assistance
•Information
clearinghouse
•Facility
planning
•Grants
•Training
•Publications
•Technical
Assistance
•Information
Clearinghouse
•Waste
exchange
•Outreach
•Plan
development
•Technical
assistance
•Grants
•Information
clearinghouse
•Training
•Seminars and
workshops
•Focused
technical
assistance
•Curriculum
development
•Training
•Newsletter
•Outreach
•Waste
reduction grants
irogram
•Waste tracking
software
•Increased
outreach
•Pollution
arevention
planning
assistance
•Investigate
arogram
effectiveness
measures
•Training
•Pollution
prevention
assessments
•Pollution
arevention
demonstration
aroject
•Expanded
technical
assistance
•Pilot pollution
prevention
arojects
•All state
business,
ndustry, and
government
•All state
msiness,
ndustry and
government
•Special
jrogram
bcused on
agricultural
ndustries
•State and local
>usiness
•State
jovernment
•State business
and industry
•State
government
•State business
and industry
•State business
and industry
•State
jovemment
•1989 Toxic
'ollution
'revention Act
•1990
Amendment to
invironment
Code
•None
•1990 Toxic
Pollution
'revention Act
•None
•Act 325,
Hazardous
Pollution
Prevention
•Deptof
inergy and
Natural
lesources
•University of
Illinois
•Department of
inv.
Management
•Purdue
Jniversity
•Dept. of
Natural
Resources
•Dept of
Commerce
•Grand Valley
State
Jniversity
•State Agency
•University of
Minnesota
•Ohio EPA
•Ohio
Departmentof
Development
•28 Affiliated
two-year
colleges and 5
universities
•Dept. of
Natural
Resources
•University of
Wisconsin
Extension
•$2,000,000
•$500,000
•$1,434,000
•$2,178,000
•$1,700,000
•$208,000
Fees
•General
levenue Funds
Federal Grants
•General
levenpe Funds
•Fe,'^- .Grants
•Pura^.
University
•General
levenue Funds
•Private
ndustry Grant
•Michigan
lesearch
Excellence
'und
•Federal Grants
•General
Revenue Funds
•Fees
•Federal Grants
•General
Revenue Funds
•Federal grants
•General
Revenue Funds
•Fees
•Federal grants
16
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Illinois
The state of Illinois is considered by many to be one of the leading lights in
pollution prevention efforts in the country. A network of cooperating state
agencies, state universities and private not-for-profit organizations combine
with an active and progressive private sector to reduce the amount and toxicity
of waste generated in the state. Featuring an innovative research and
information center and programs designed to encourage business and
government cooperation, pollution prevention efforts in Illinois are well
established.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Illinois ranks fifth in the country in terms of reported releases of toxic
chemicals to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible for
such releases in descending order of magnitude are;
1) Chemical and allied products manufacturers
2) Primary metals industries
3) Fabricated metal products manufacturers
4) Printing, publishing and allied industries
5) Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Illinois eleventh on its ranking of states according to amount of hazardous
waste generated. The relatively high ranking the state has on both these
scales underscores the importance of an aggressive pollution prevention effort
in Illinois.
The Illinois General Assembly has assisted the pollution prevention programs
in the state by providing statutory support for their efforts. The Hazardous
Waste Technology Exchange Act of 1984 (PA 83-1436) provided for the
establishment of a technical transfer and information center in the Department
of Energy and Natural Resources. The Toxic Pollution Prevention Act of 1989
(PA 86-914) established an office in the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency that was responsible for the promotion of pollution prevention in the
state. This act was amended in 1990, extending the responsibilities of the
information center.
Pollution prevention in Illinois is managed by two state offices. The Illinois
Department of Energy and Natural Resources administers the Hazardous
Waste Research and Information Center, an organization that provides
technical assistance, pursues research issues and operates an information
clearinghouse. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the agency in
charge of carrying out the regulatory requirements and assuring compliance,
also coordinates the state's pollution prevention efforts through its Office of
Pollution Prevention. This office administers a number of programs designed
to promote pollution prevention within state government and the business
community.
17
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Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources
Hazardous Waste Research
and Information Center
The Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center (HWRIC) employs a
multidisciplinary approach in its efforts to reduce the generation of hazardous
waste in Illinois. Housed in the Hazardous Materials Laboratory on the campus
of the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), the HWRIC is a
nonregulatory division of the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural
Resources and is officially affiliated with the University. HWRIC serves a broad
spectrum of Illinois citizens and organizations, applying advanced scientific
techniques to the problems encountered in the handling of hazardous waste.
The HWRIC is regarded as one of the most integrated, active, and respected
resources for pollution prevention information and solutions in the country.
Operating with a full-time staff of 30 employees (which is occasionally
supplemented by temporary employees and students) the Center researches
issues and applies its knowledge to the problems facing hazardous waste
generators. In addition, the Center's staff are also very active in promoting the
goals of pollution prevention participating in workshops, seminars, and
conferences nationwide.
The Illinois General Assembly provides the majority of the funding for the
Center as a separate line item in the budget of the Department of Energy and
Natural Resources. Most of these monies are appropriated from general
revenue funds, although the state supplements these funds with approximately
$400,000 from a fee imposed by the state for the disposal of hazardous waste.
The HWRIC also derives funding from a number of Federal Contracts
including grants from the RCRA Integrated Technical Assistance (RITTA),
Waste Reduction Innovative Technology Evaluation (WRITE), and
PPIES/WRAS integration programs. The Center's total budget is in the
neighborhood of $2 million per year.
The HWRIC pursues its goals through six program areas:
research on significant hazardous waste problems,
information collection, analysis, and dissemination,
industrial and technical assistance,
training,
data management,
laboratory services.
Research. The HWRIC sponsors and/or performs various types of basic or
applied research that directly impact pollution prevention issues. In addition to
operating the Hazardous Materials Laboratory, the Center manages the
"Recycling and Reduction Techniques" matching fund program as part of the
Annual Governor's Pollution Prevention Award. The program is designed to
encourage firms seeking practical solutions to hazardous waste handling
problems by providing financial support for their ventures. Concerns interested
in taking part in the RRT program are expected to provide funding or in-kind
18
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services equal to or greater than the grant award. Upon completion of the
project, grant recipients are to provide the HWRIC with a report suitable for
publication under HWRIC cover. This program distributes approximately
$100,000 per year for pollution prevention research.
Information Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination. The HWRIC has
developed and maintains an up-to-date clearinghouse of hazardous waste
information. The library contains:
• hazardous waste reports, newsletters and books,
• a number of online information systems,
materials for distribution including the Center's publications and
research reports.
HWRIC personnel regularly conduct various kinds of outreach efforts,
appearing before and participating in citizen group, trade and industrial
association meetings and promoting the Center's belief in the value of waste
reduction. The HWRIC also sponsors small-quantity generator compliance
seminars statewide.
Industrial and Technical Assistance. The HWRIC provides direct technical
assistance to industries, businesses, schools, governmental bodies and
individual citizens on a case-by-case basis. HWRIC personnel provide the
technical expertise needed to help solve waste management problems. Center
personnel offer suggestions for better management of waste, process change
options, regulatory compliance and referrals to other services and sources of
help. Center personnel can also visit individual facilities, evaluate waste
management procedures, and isolate opportunities for waste reduction.
Training. The HWRIC has implemented a pollution prevention training
regimen in response to a mandate from the 1990 amendments to the 1989
Toxic Pollution Prevention Act. Under the guidance of the Center's director,
Dr. David Thomas, the HWRIC worked as a subcontractor to the IEPA on the
RITTA grant contract to develop a state training action plan and conduct
demonstration projects designed to promote pollution prevention in the state.
This contract was completed during December 1990.
Data Management. The HWRIC has devised and maintains the Waste
Reduction Advisory System (WRAS), an interactive computerized waste
management tool designed to increase a generator's knowledge of the wide
range of options for reducing or recycling industrial waste. WRAS makes
available to users the vast body of information collected by the HWRIC
including summaries of technologies from the scientific literature and
unpublished case studies.
Laboratory Services. This program became operational in April 1990.
HWRIC operates the $9 million Hazardous Materials Laboratory, a state of the
art research facility that is used exclusively for the basic and applied research
undertaken by the Center's staff.
19
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The HWRIC has targeted the printing and chemical industry for cooperative
pollution prevention activities. These groups were selected for special
attention because they release the greatest amount of USEPA's 17 priority
chemicals in the USEPA's 33/50 Project. Under the Center's WRITE program,
two printing technologies (water-based inks in f lexography and soy oil inks in
lithography) are being evaluated. Pollution prevention assistance, including
on-site assessments, is being conducted with printers in the Chicago area,
paying particular attention to the release of ozone precursors. This assistance
is funded through the PPIG grant. Also under PPIG, chemical facilities that are
members of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois have committed to
participating in pollution prevention assessments.
In a related project, the HWRIC is evaluating methods for the reduction of
waste during the manufacture, use and removal of paint. This project is a
legislatively mandated study of technical and policy options.
Future activities of the HWRIC will focus the Center's staff on a number of
specific pollution prevention goals. Included are plans to;
put on six workshops addressing the pollution prevention
opportunities in teaching and research laboratories,
with a Waste Reduction Innovative Technology Evaluation grant,
develop related pollution prevention projects with printers,
electroplaters, and foundries,
develop relevant curricula in engineering, chemistry, and
business,
survey the waste management needs of colleges and universities
in Illinois.
Through its directed research activities, comprehensive technical assistance
program, and well developed information gathering and dissemination
capabilities, the HWRIC will remain a vital player in the pollution prevention
efforts of Illinois and the nation.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pollution Prevention
In addition to its responsibilities for enforcing the environmental regulations
and laws of the state of Illinois, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
(IEPA) also serves the citizens of the state by providing active support to a
number of pollution prevention programs. By sponsoring a number of
non-regulatory programs, the IEPA intends to supplement the waste
management efforts pursued by its enforcement wing with a focus on pollution
prevention and the reduction in the amount and toxicity of waste generated in
the state.
The coordination of these programs is the responsibility of the lEPA's Office of
Pollution Prevention (OPP). The OPP is funded through a combination of solid
waste disposal fees, air pollution permitting fees, and a pollution prevention
grant from the USEPA. The budget for the OPP is approximately $400,000.
20
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The OPP assists Illinois business and industry in their pollution prevention
efforts through its support of four programs; the Voluntary Toxic Pollution
Prevention Innovation Plan Program, the IEPA Pollution Prevention Internship
Program, the Industrial Materials Exchange, and the Partners in Prevention
Program. In addition to supporting these programs, the OPP is also
responsible for promoting the idea of pollution prevention in state agencies
and coordinating the state's efforts with the efforts of other states and the
federal government.
Voluntary Toxic Pollution Prevention Innovation Plan Program
The Illinois Toxic Pollution Prevention Act of 1989 charges the IEPA with
encouraging Illinois industries to participate in pollution prevention activities by
providing expedited review of permit applications, support of variance petitions
or support of site specific rule or adjusted standard petition. Support is
contingent upon the approval of an innovation plan which satisfies the criteria
in the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act. The Voluntary Toxic Pollution Prevention
Innovation Plan Program is designed to provide such support.
To date, there has been one company which has worked with this program in
an effort to redefine its permit requirements as they relate to the disposition of
the waste ash from an electric arc furnace it uses in a metal refining process.
In refining zinc ore, the process used by the company produced a waste ash
that contained unacceptable levels of zinc, lead, and cadmium. The company
searched for and found technology available in Norway that might help them
reduce the amount of metals waste produced. Once the technology was
operational, the company found that they were able to recover all of the zinc
and lead that had been present in the waste ash. The levels of cadmium found
in the ash turned out to be below the level of cadmium present in normal
unrefined zinc ore. The company maintains that its major motivation for
installing this equipment was economic. The process allowed them to reuse
raw materials that would otherwise have been wasted in addition to reducing
their waste disposal costs. The company worked with the IEPA to adjust
permitting procedures, allowing them to handle this ash which now contains
only cadmium in a manner not covered in previous permits.
The program has also been contacted by a company that produces packaging
materials for meat packaging industry. The company is seeking support for an
alternate standard in their air emissions requirements as they recapture a
certain paniculate from these emissions. The IEPA is working with this
company along the lines set out by this program.
The OPP intends to promote this program more aggressively in the future. As
the program develops a track record of assisting business pursue their
pollution prevention goals, it is anticipated that businesses will become more
interested in participating in it.
IEPA Pollution Prevention Internship Program. The IEPA uses this
program to target specific pollution prevention projects, establish pollution
prevention goals with the industry and help the industry achieve those goals
21
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by providing engineering students to work onsite as interns. The program
selects major generators of hazardous waste tor participation in this program
based on reported releases under SARA Title III legislation.
Before work starts, program staff and company personnel get together with the
intern to come up with pollution prevention goals and a workplan through
which these goals will be pursued. The interns receive training and technical
support from program staff. They report and work at the cooperating facility
and operate under their supervision. The confidentiality of the companies
involved is respected at all times.
The Pollution Prevention Internship Program plans to continue operations as
they are for some time to come.
Illinois Industrial Materials Exchange Service. Operated by the OPP in
cooperation with the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Industrial
Materials Exchange Service (IMES) acts as an information clearinghouse,
directory and marketing facilitator for companies possessing hazardous and
non-hazardous materials that might otherwise be wasted. Although the IMES
is never involved in handling the actual exchange of the material, it does
publish information about materials available or desired for exchange. This
information is then distributed free of charge to over 10,000 subscribers to the
service nationwide. Client confidentiality needs are respected at all times.
Although the IMES, as a waste exchange, usually would not be defined as a
pollution prevention program, its extensive client list makes it a resource that
bears mentioning in this context. The IMES has pursued the concept of a
single national clearinghouse for this kind of information in cooperation with
USEPA but this idea has run into a number of roadblocks and has been
shelved for the time being.
Partners In Prevention Program. The newest program sponsored by the
IEPA, the Partners in Prevention Program (PIP), is designed to promote a
cooperative approach to pollution prevention by bringing businesses
voluntarily into the process and allowing them to show the extent to which they
are taking part in pollution prevention activities. With a startup date of April 1,
1991, the PIP program intends to use its cooperative structure to assist both
business and government exchange information and continue dialogue in such
a way as to develop cogent pollution prevention plans and implementation
vehicles.
Companies eligible to participate in this program as a Partner in Prevention
are classified within SIC codes 20-39 and either generate 100,000 gallons of
hazardous waste per year or report the release of more than 100,000 pounds
of toxic chemicals per year. Business or industry organizations will also be
allowed to participate on behalf of their memberships. Small businesses are
encouraged to cooperate with one another and take part in the program
through these kinds of groups. A Partner in Prevention will take part in the
following activities:
22
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A Pilot Project
Summary
the designation of one or more pollution prevention facilitators,
• the execution of an opportunity assessment for pollution
prevention,
participation in PIPNET (the Partners in Prevention Network, a
system set up to facilitate information and technology transfer
between member businesses),
• the adoption of a suitable policy statement for pollution prevention,
• the development of a process for pollution prevention planning,
including a means for community outreach,
the submission of a semi-annual progress report to the IEPA,
• the implementation of appropriate pollution prevention planning
and action on the results including the establishment of
meaningful community outreach.
Within this program there also exists provisions for special types of
participation at something less than the full Partner level. A Sustaining Partner
will have already made some strides in the way of pollution prevention,
including the development of a planning process, and will provide information
relating to their experience to other members. Smaller companies could keep
informed as to PIP activities through an Associate Partnership, which will allow
them to access PIPNET in search of pollution prevention opportunities that
may be appropriate for their business.
The Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center has instituted a pilot
project in cooperation with the Illinois EPA that seeks to provide technical
assistance to fifteen target industries. These industries where chosen by the
IEPA in consultation with the HWRIC's Industrial and Technical Assistance
staff. This project, among other things, is looking at reducing the use of
solvents for cleaning during paint packaging, experimenting with alternative
solvents for use in cleaning printed circuit boards, and evaluating closed-loop
water reuse in plating printed circuit boards through ion exchange treatment.
The state of Illinois has developed a sophisticated, technically adept, and
proactive pollution prevention campaign. Its efforts have gained it a national
reputation as one of the leading states in the development of pollution
prevention activities. The solid background and technical assistance work
provided by the Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center, in
combination with the innovation and business outreach of the Office of
Pollution Prevention, gives the state a comprehensive, vertically and
horizontally integrated system to promote these types of solutions for
environmental problems.
The Department of Energy and Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste
Research and Information Center is regarded as one of the leading institutions
of its kind in the country. The Center brings a multidisciplinary focus to all its
activities, drawing on its rich resource base as it provides technical assistance,
operates an information clearinghouse, pursues research issues, and
conducts business and agency outreach. With the recent completion of the
23
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Hazardous Materials Laboratory, the Center is able to provide a permanent
home for their research projects which are the backbone of their technical
assistance and data management pursuits.
The Office of Pollution Prevention, the non-regulatory wing of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency, attempts to bring the business community
into the pollution prevention effort as partners with government through the
four programs it manages. The OPP programs are designed to assist business
as they pursue pollution prevention by providing resources and favoring
innovation rather than dictating abstract goals. These programs, with the
exception of the IMES waste exchange, are relatively new.
The combination of all these programs provides Illinois with unusual depth and
breadth in the form of their pollution prevention efforts. The legislatively
sanctioned offices use available federal grant money coupled with state funds
to pursue prevention. In addition to technical assistance, information
clearinghouse, training, and community outreach efforts, the Illinois programs
offer the background services of providing basic and applied research as well
as the permitting flexibility of the innovative plans approach. The solid
infrastructure of reliable programs, coupled with the already institutionalized
incentive for business to find innovative ways of dealing with their hazardous
waste problems, bodes well for pollution prevention efforts in Illinois in the
future.
For more information contact: David L Thomas
Director
Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center
One East Hazelwood Drive
Champaign, IL61820
(217)333-8940
(217) 333-8944 Fax
Mike Hayes
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
2200 Churchill Road
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62796-9276
(217)782-8700
(217) 524-4959 Fax
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Pollution Prevention in Illinois
USEPA Grants
Disposal Fees from
Businesses
•Expedited
Permit Review
•Waste Exchange
•Information
Clearinghouse
•Technical
Assistance by
Student Interns
USEPA Grants
Illinois General
Revenue Funds
Disposal Fees from
Businesses
Administrative
Support
)
HWRIC
•Technical
Assistance
•Fund Research
•Information
Clearinghouse
•Outreach
University of
Illinois
State
Agencies
Illinois
Business &
Industry
Funding for Research
Services
Funding
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Indiana
The state of Indiana has been involved in pollution prevention issues since
1985. Recently, efforts in the state have expanded from simple regulatory
technical assistance to information gathering, permit process review, and
training for government and industry.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Indiana ranks fourth in the country in terms of reported releases of toxic
chemicals to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible for
such releases in descending order of magnitude are;
1) Primary metal industries
2) Chemical and allied products manufacturers
3) Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products manufacturers
4) Electrical machinery, equipment and supplies
5) Transportation equipment manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Indiana twelfth on its ranking of states according to amount of hazardous
waste generated. Not usually thought of as an industrial center, these high
rankings point out the importance a pollution prevention effort has for this
state.
The Indiana Legislature has enacted two pieces of legislation that set the
groundwork for the development of proactive pollution prevention activities.
The 1990 Amendment to the Environment Code calls for the establishment of
a Division of Pollution Prevention in the Department of Environmental
Management. This Division will be responsible for promoting pollution
prevention in state agencies and will coordinate outreach and educational
efforts. The 1990 Comprehensive Solid Waste Planning Bill provided for the
inclusion of pollution prevention activities as they relate to solid waste handling
issues.
In Indiana, pollution prevention efforts spring from two sources. The Purdue
University School of Civil Engineering administers two grant based programs;
the Indiana Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program for Agricultural
Industries and the Environmental Management and Education Program's
Indiana Pollution Prevention Program. The Indiana Department of
Environmental Management administers the state sponsored Indiana Pollution
Prevention Project.
Purdue University School of Civil Engineering
Environmental Management and Education Program
Indiana Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program for Agricultural Industries
The Indiana Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program for Agricultural
Industries was founded as a non-regulatory effort to protect land, air, surface
and groundwater by promoting careful use of agrichemicals and farm
26
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implement fluids. The Program also promotes the careful use, storage, and
disposal of animal wastes in the farm environment. Targeting the entire range
of agribusinesses, the program seeks pollution prevention opportunities
among livestock and crop producers, fertilizer, chemical and implement
dealers, feedlot operators, Extension agents, lawn care firms, and home pest
control operators.
Purdue University's Environmental Management and Education Program
initiated this program in December of 1990 as the result of a three year,
$300,000 agreement with the USEPA. The Purdue University School of
Agriculture has added $33,333 of in-kind support for the program.
The Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program pursues its mission through
two avenues. The program attempts to sensitize its target audience to
pollution prevention methodologies through various educational vehicles. The
program will organize an advisory council (the Indiana Agricultural Industry
Pollution Prevention Advisory Council), which will represent all segments of
the industry to advise the Pollution Prevention Program and promote its
objectives and activities among the Council members' constituencies. An
inventory of pollution prevention practices, technologies, and programs that
relate to point-source agriculture pollution will be compiled by program staff. A
technical assistance manual will be prepared for Cooperative Extension
Service agents using this information. Program staff will also provide training
for Extension agents concerning the identification, analysis and resolution of
potential pollution prevention situations. In addition, the program staff will
develop a curriculum module on pollution prevention to be included in the
pesticide applicator certification training program.
The program also usestechnical assistance to promote the use of pollution
prevention techniques. The program will provide on-site pollution prevention
assessments, hold four workshops a year for members of the state's
agricultural industries, and establish an information "hot-line" to respond to
inquiries concerning the use, storage and disposal of potential pollutants. In
addition, the program will publish a periodic newsletter to distribute to its target
audiences.
Since the program is in its infancy, many of the above activities are in the
earliest stages of development. As these basic activities take hold, program
staff plan to become more involved in incorporating pollution prevention into
some services provided to agribusiness. The program staff will investigate the
possibility of setting up a network of implement fluid and battery recycling
centers in targeted counties. These centers will be located at locations or
businesses frequented by farmers. Staff will also look into establishing
regularly scheduled farm chemical "clean-up" days which would encourage
farmers to bring outdated, cancelled and suspended chemicals to a county
location for analysis and transport to a treatment or disposal facility.
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Purdue University School of Civil Engineering
Environmental Management and Education Program
The Indiana Pollution Prevention Program
In an effort to educate small and medium sized businesses regarding
multi-media source reduction, the School of Civil Engineering at Purdue
University has established the Indiana Pollution Prevention Program (IPPP).
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management, in partnership with
Purdue University, was awarded a three-year, $300,000 Source Reduction
and Recycling Technical Assistance Grant by the USEPA. Grant
administration responsibilities were then turned over to the Environmental
Management and Education Program at Purdue.
With an annual budget of $100,000, the IPPP is staffed by a full time
coordinator and a part time graduate assistant. The program targets smaller
businesses in Indiana, including small quantity generators, for technical
assistance and pollution prevention education. Using the Toxics Release
Inventory Report to isolate hazardous waste generators, staff is attempting to
concentrate its efforts on generators that produce the seventeen chemicals
targeted by the EPA's 33/50 Project. The IPPP also operates the Indiana
Waste Exchange Program.
Technical assistance is normally provided to industry by means of direct
on-site pollution prevention assessments. The Project Coordinator performs
these assessments as well as advising and providing guidance for graduate
students as they participate in the assessment process. The IPPP also makes
a toll-free telephone line available for businesses in Indiana to contact
program personnel with their pollution prevention questions.
The educational component of the program's mission is pursued by providing
information on pollution prevention to industry through toll free access to the
national PIES system. The IPPP also conducts regular conferences and
workshops for industry. These educational and outreach sessions are also
somewhat targeted to industries that produce chemicals on the list of the
EPA's 33/50 Project.
A Success Story On April 9,1991, the Purdue University Pollution Prevention Program hosted a
conference called "Pollution Prevention in the Electroplating Industry." The
conference was co-sponsored by the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management, the Indianapolis and St. Joseph Valley Branches of the
American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society, and the Indiana
Association of Metal Finishers.
The conference concentrated on promoting pollution prevention as a cost
effective management tool to increase process efficiency, thereby decreasing
regulatory and management costs and liabilities. It was designed to show
attendees that several companies have used pollution prevention
methodologies to successfully deal with the myriad of environmental pitfalls
faced by the industry. Speakers at the conference were drawn from industry,
regulatory agencies and research institutes. Topics discussed included;
28
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• an overview of waste reduction technology,
• a discussion of the impacts on electroplating operations of the
new Clean Air Act,
• various discussions of waste reduction in specific electroplating
processes,
• a number of waste reduction case studies.
The sponsors of the conference attempted to bring as many industry
personnel as possible to the conference by keeping the registration fee low
($25.00 which included lunch). Their efforts along these lines were successful.
The conference was attended by 168 people, the majority of whom work
directly in the electroplating industry. The platers not only learned from the
presentations, but also were able to make connections with sources of
technical information, which they will be able to tap into in their efforts to
incorporate pollution prevention in their processes.
Responses by attendees to this conference were overwhelmingly positive.
Continuing contacts for technology transfer were established, which will lead
to the reduction in the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste generated by
electroplating shops in the state.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance
Indiana Pollution Prevention Program
Although it shares the name of the pollution prevention program administered
by the Purdue School of Civil Engineering, this program is part of the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Indiana's environmental
regulatory arm. The 1990 Amendment to the Indiana Environmental Code
called for the creation of an Office of Pollution Prevention which was to
combine with the existing Office of Technical Assistance. The newly formed
Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance (OPPTA) initiated the
Indiana Pollution Prevention Program in order to promote the functional
concepts of the philosophy to Indiana's citizens.
This Indiana Pollution Prevention Program draws its $300,000 annual budget
from general revenue funds and various federal grant programs. Program staff
anticipate an increase in their budget for next fiscal year, but such an increase
has not yet been approved by the Legislature.
The Pollution Prevention Program's goal is to encourage pollution prevention
practices in business, industry and the general public. It will employ three
strategies intended to accomplish this goal;
• develop ways to incorporate pollution prevention strategies into
the regulatory process,
advance pollution prevention initiatives in the regulated community
through technology transfer and technical assistance,
promote the pollution prevention philosophy to all citizens of
Indiana through educational programs.
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As the first attempt on the part of the state to put together a comprehensive
pollution prevention program, a good deal of staff time has been taken in the
review of current regulatory policy and the collection of comparative data from
similar programs in other states. The majority of the program staff have
experience in a regulatory environment and, as such, have the necessary
experience to make real strides in incorporating pollution prevention goals and
objectives into the state's regulatory framework. Staff is paying particular
attention to working with the permitting process as a means of stimulating
private sector interest in pollution prevention techniques.
In merging with the already existing Office of Technical Assistance (OTA), the
Pollution Prevention Program was able to take advantage of the pre-existing
technical assistance infrastructure and begin making pollution prevention
technical assistance available almost immediately. In fact, the OTA has been
providing compliance and waste minimization advice to industry under its
previous mandate for about four years. Program personnel have, as part of the
technical assistance aspect of their work, been visiting facilities to conduct
on-site pollution prevention audits.
The program has also begun compiling technical information on various
pollution prevention issues in an effort to build up a full-fledged information
clearinghouse. The program has also made available a toll-free telephone line
to provide access for industry to technical assistance.
The Indiana Pollution Prevention Program has been sponsoring a series of
conferences and workshops to educate various sectors of the population on
pollution prevention issues. Five of these workshops have been held since the
January 1,1991. The latest of these concentrated on practical solutions to
pollution prevention problems in the electroplating industry.
Future activities for the Indiana Pollution Prevention Program include;
expansion in the range of technical assistance and assembling
case study information,
development of a pollution prevention newsletter,
• development of a program for the training of inspectors,
enforcement and permit personnel,
development of a public education program.
Pending the legislative approval of the state budget, some or all of these
activities will be implemented.
Governor's Award Program The state of Indiana sponsors an awards program designed to recognize
businesses that distinguish themselves in their efforts at waste minimization.
The Annual Governor's Awards for Waste Minimization have been awarded to,
among others, the Chrysler Corporation for waste water treatment reclamation
and source substitution techniques, and Lilly Industrial Coatings Inc. of
Indianapolis for their waste auditing, source substitution methods and
recycling of waste stream byproducts.
30
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SllITIITI3ry The state of Indiana is developing its pollution prevention presence through a
combination of state sponsored nonregulatory efforts and university based
grant sponsored programs. The state programs emphasize technical
assistance and workshop-style educational efforts. A special emphasis has
been placed on addressing unique problems experienced by the agricultural
community as they handle toxic substances and animal waste through the
Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program for Agricultural Industries. General
pollution prevention technical assistance is available from two different
programs, one university based and the other based in the state regulatory
agency.
The Indiana Point-Source Pollution Prevention Program for Agricultural
Industries provides technical assistance, technical information and educational
resources. Its intent is to protect the environment by reducing or eliminating
the potential for pollution from point-source locations where agrichemicals,
farm implement fluids and animal wastes are produced, used, stored and/or
disposed. The program plans to expand to higher visibility activities such as
opening up a hotline, targeting news releases to the appropriate periodicals
and publishing a newsletter.
Purdue University's Indiana Pollution Prevention Program concentrates its
efforts on promoting pollution prevention and recycling to small and medium
sized businesses. In addition to providing on-site and telephone technical
assistance and education, this program also operates the Indiana Waste
Exchange.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Pollution Prevention
Program provides technical assistance to industry and government as well as
training, education and regulatory innovation for state agency personnel on
pollution prevention issues. Taking the infrastructure from an already existing
technical assistance office, this program intends to be very proactive as it
expands its range of responsibility and influence, creating pollution prevention
opportunities in industry and using the permitting process to encourage
participation in its efforts.
Although pollution prevention has been dealt with in one form or another in
Indiana since around 1985, a solid base of operations has only recently
developed. With the formation of the Indiana Office of Pollution Prevention and
Technical Assistance, the cause of pollution prevention was given funding and
a permanent home. The staff of this office is working hard on developing a
comprehensive pollution prevention policy as well as continuing to expand the
range of technical assistance available. Purdue University has also entered
the pollution prevention effort in the state and has provided the necessary link
between the basic and technical resources of the university community and
the real problems in the private sector. If these programs are able to continue
receiving funding, they will become much more successful in their efforts to
reach business and help alter the industry practices that lead to pollution.
31
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For more information contact: Jeff Burbrink
Coordinator
Indiana Point-Source Pollution Prevention
Program for Agricultural Industries
Environmental Management and Education Program
Civil Engineering Building
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1284
(317) 494-5036
(317) 494-6422 Fax
Rick Bossingham
Coordinator
Indiana Pollution Prevention Program
Purdue University
School of Civil Engineering
Environmental Management and Education Program
1284 Civil Engineering Building
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1284
(317)494-5038
(317) 494-6422 Fax
Joanne Joyce
Indiana Pollution Prevention Program
Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
105 South Meridian St.
P.O. Box 6015
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
(317) 232-8172
(317) 232-8564 Fax
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Pollution Prevention in Indiana
Indiana General
Revenue Funds
USEPA Grants
rOPPTAl
•Technical
Assistance
•Information
Clearinghouse
•Opportunity
Assessments
•Waste Exchange
J
•Administrative Oversight
and Support
Point-Source
PPfor
Agricultural
Industries
Technical
Assistance
'Education
State
Agencies
Indiana
Business
&Industry
Services -
Administrative Oversight-
Funding -
33
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Michigan
The state of Michigan has been using pollution prevention as a viable option in
its dealings with industrial waste since 1987. The state has paid particular
attention to the ways in which industry views pollution prevention. It will use
this information to minimize industry's misconceptions about this issue and
maximize generator participation.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Michigan ranks eighth in the country in terms of reported releases of toxic
chemicals to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible for
such releases in descending order of magnitude are;
1) Primary metals industries
2) Chemical and allied products manufacturers
3) Transportation equipment manufacturers
4) Fabricated metal products manufacturers
5) Paper and allied products manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Michigan third on its ranking of states according to amount of hazardous waste
generated. The predominant industries in Michigan (automotive in the east
and furniture manufacture in the west) and the processes allied with these
industries are traditionally heavy users of toxic paints and chemicals. The
environment of the state could clearly benefit from any reduction in the amount
of waste generated in these industries.
The Michigan Legislature, through a number of statutes enacted in late 1987,
created three entities intended to spearhead pollution prevention efforts in the
state:
The Environmental Technology Act (PA 222) created the
Environmental Technology Board. The Board was charged with
reporting to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1989 on
ways in which the state could best support research on pollution
prevention issues.
• The Waste Minimization Act (PA 245) created the Office of Waste
Reduction in the Department of Natural Resources. The Office of
Waste Reduction was intended to identify regulatory barriers to
pollution prevention, analyze pollution prevention opportunities in
various industrial sectors, and make recommendations as to the
best way to encourage pollution prevention through the regulatory
process.
• The Waste Reduction Assistance Act (PA 247) created the Waste
Reduction Assistance Service in the Department of Commerce.
The Waste Reduction Assistance Service was intended to provide
educational and technical assistance to businesses seeking to
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implement pollution prevention techniques.
Eventually these three entities were reorganized into the Office of Waste
Reduction Services.
Grand Valley State University's Waste Reduction and Management Program,
part of GVSU's Water Resources Institute, also provides information,
education, and technical assistance for industries interested in preventing
pollution in their manufacturing processes.
Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources
Office of Waste Reduction Services
Enacted by the Michigan Legislature, Public Acts 245 and 247 created the
Office of Waste Reduction Services (formerly the Waste Reduction Assistance
Service) in the Department of Commerce and the Office of Waste Reduction in
the Department of Natural Resources. In order to minimize any duplication of
effort on the part of these organizations, the departments decided to
implement their mandated pollution prevention effort though a jointly-managed
Office of Waste Reduction Services. The two departments formalized this
arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The Office of Waste Reduction Services (OWRS) is a non-regulatory state
office whose mission is to assist Michigan businesses and institutions reduce
the volume and toxicity of the waste they generate. OWRS takes as its central
principle that the prevention of waste generation is key to the long term health
of the environment and the economy.
Operating with a staff of 13, the OWRS conducts outreach and educational
programs intended to show Michigan business the benefits of adopting
pollution prevention practices. The OWRS attempts to develop pollution
prevention expertise in the business, university and public communities
through the program's active support of their efforts. The OWRS is also
involved in a variety of projects designed to help them develop a greater
understanding of their clientele and the environment in which they operate.
The OWRS has undertaken such projects as a way to better direct their efforts
and provide the most accurate and efficient information and assistance to their
clientele.
The program is funded through both the Department of Commerce and the
Department of Natural Resources. The program's budget of 1.4 million dollars
is appropriated from the state's General Revenue Funds. The status of 1992
budget is uncertain to the extent that belt-tightening measures in the state may
affect the status of this program.
The activities of the OWRS are divided into three categories:
Administration
Technical Assistance Services
Information Services
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Administration. In addition to managing the operations of the program, this
section is responsible for developing program direction. Staff in this section
interact on a continuing basis with the Departments of Commerce and Natural
Resources, as well as with the Legislature and the Governor on matters
relevant to pollution prevention.
Technical Assistance Services. The OWRS has a full-time technical
assistance staff of six which provides two levels of technical assistance to
industries or institutions on pollution prevention issues.
The program has targeted the electroplating, paint and allied products
manufacturing, and paint and coatings industries for special attention. The
OWRS is able to provide assistance to companies in these industrial sectors
through site visits and telephone consultations. The technical assistance staff
conducts research into waste generation, emissions release, pollution
prevention potentials, and pollution prevention techniques that relate to these
targeted industries. One technical assistance staff member's sole
responsibility is the collection and integration of this data into the body of
information available to the technical assistance staff.
The OWRS is also making a special effort to promote pollution prevention in
the automotive industry. One staff person's time is dedicated to acting as
liaison to that industry.
Technical assistance is available for industries outside the targeted sectors,
but this assistance is limited to telephone consultations and educational
materials. As part of their research effort, the staff is developing information on
processes common to diverse industries for which pollution prevention
potential exists. The technical assistance personnel could then use this
information to help direct individuals from a variety of industries to tried and
true methods of pollution prevention. Staff is also conducting a survey of
Michigan manufacturers concerning attitudes and pollution prevention
potential. These efforts are intended to broaden the base of pollution
prevention assistance available from the OWRS.
Information Services. The educational aspect of the program's mission is
seen as the key to spreading the use of pollution prevention methodologies
throughout the state. The OWRS uses a variety of information dissemination
techniques to promote the incorporation of pollution prevention methodologies
into business and institutional operations.
OWRS sponsors a number of workshops and an annual statewide
"Roundtable" that bring together interested parties to exchange information
and discuss issues pertinent to pollution prevention. Other outreach activities
include meetings with business and trade associations, the assessment of
client training needs, an extensive list of publications, and a periodic
newsletter.
The staff of this section is very active in monitoring client intake and service
evaluation. The OWRS uses a computerized tracking system to monitor the
36
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A Success Story
level of assistance provided to each client and the degree to which each client
is satisfied with that assistance. This process helps the OWRS identify specific
client and industry needs.
Future activities for the OWRS will focus on the program's outreach efforts.
Staff has been instructed to design and implement a waste reduction awards
program. They have also been working on setting up an information
clearinghouse to help business and industry benefit from the pollution
prevention experience of others. Of course any expansion in services is
contingent upon the budgetary decisions of the Legislature.
The Michigan OWRS has published twenty documents directly related to
pollution prevention and waste reduction issues. These publications are
available free of charge to its clientele in Michigan. Titles include:
• Why Reduce Waste?
Waste Reduction- Getting Started
Reduce Waste: Increase Your Corporate and Product Image
Waste Reduction Overview
Waste Reduction Checklist
Reducing Office Paper Waste
Reducing Corrugated Cardboard Waste
Waste Exchange: Everybody WINS
Procuring Recycled Products
Conservation Tips for Business
Selecting a Supplier, Hauler, and Materials Broker
• Michigan's Solid Waste Reduction Strategy
• Glossary of Waste Reduction Terms
Case Study/ United Technologies
Michigan Recycled Materials Market Directory
Managing Used Containers
Reducing Machine Coolant Waste
Solvent Reduction in Metal Parts Cleaning
• Considerations in Selecting a Still for On-Site Recycling
Guide to Establishing a Successful Waste Reduction Program
Grand Valley State University
Water Resources Institute
Waste Reduction and Management Program
Formed in 1986, the Water Resources Institute (WRI) conducts educational
programs and research related to the water resource needs of its constituency
in western Michigan. WRI is the first full-fledged research organization located
at Grand Valley State University. Operating with a permanent staff of nine
people, WRI draws faculty research associates from several different
37
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University departments. It defines its mission as being "dedicated to preserve,
protect, and improve our water resources."
In an effort to assist small business and industry cope with environmental
compliance, waste reduction and management issues, the Water Resources
Institute established the Waste Reduction and Management Program
(WRAMP) in 1990. Direction for WRAMP's activities is provided by the
Industrial Advisory Board, a group of business and industry representatives
interested in waste reduction. WRAMP draws on the resources of Grand
Valley State University to provide interested businesses with the educational
and technical tools they need in order to manage their waste streams and
create pollution prevention strategies appropriate to their particular industry.
As part of this effort, WRAMP has conducted a waste assessment survey
which was intended to help identify the extent to which businesses in Michigan
have implemented pollution prevention efforts. Approximately 900 businesses
were surveyed in an effort to get a realistic picture of how the private sector
views the problems of hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal. The
questions asked on the survey have been designed to test a company's
current waste generation and disposal patterns as well as its predisposition
toward recycling and pollution prevention. WRAMP uses the survey data in
directing its technical assistance and pollution prevention information
collection efforts by helping them target industries where significant waste is
generated and attitudes are conducive to incorporating pollution prevention
methodologies. A report of the findings of this survey is available from
WRAMP.
Businesses that appear to have successful pollution prevention strategies and
processes as reflected in their responses to the survey will be invited to join
the Industrial Advisory Board. The Industrial Advisory Board is intended to
provide a forum through which business and industry are able to exchange
ideas, information and solutions. The Board is currently composed of thirty
members from a variety of industries including furniture, chemical, plastic and
fabricated metal manufacturers, retail outlets, scrap iron dealers, and a
resource recovery firm.
WRAMP draws its funding from a three year grant from private industry
($33,000 per year) and a portion of Grand Valley State University's Research
for Excellence Fund. The five person staff provides a variety of services
including:
information collection and dissemination,
• telephone and on-site technical assistance,
educational outreach.
Information Collection and Dissemination. In order to make the most up to
date information on pollution prevention issues available to Michigan
industries, WRAMP has been assembling a library of fact sheets from other
pollution prevention programs, current books on the subject, and relevant EPA
documents. This includes information on the model firms selected from the
38
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Advisory Board survey as good examples of pollution prevention in action.
WRAMP is also working on assembling a library of regulatory compliance
software.
Possibly the most important information dissemination tool for WRAMP is the
periodic newsletter published by WRI. The Water Resources Review provides
WRAMP with a vehicle for publicizing their activities, research findings, and
information clearinghouse contacts.
Telephone and On-Site Technical Assistance. The program's access to the
USEPA Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse in addition to the
resources of Grand Valley State University provides WRAMP's staff with a
formidable body of knowledge to draw on when they are providing technical
assistance to business and industry. The program has one consulting
engineer to provide assistance to users requesting information on the newest
solutions to particular pollution prevention problems. WRAMP is also able to
provide the most current information and assistance regarding new regulatory
developments.
Educational Outreach. WRAMP has held a number of seminars and given
presentations to a variety of groups in both the private and public sector. The
program has conducted outreach presentations to engineers, local community
groups and public officials, and furniture fabricators. The program is planning
an industrial waste minimization conference to be held in October 1991.
WRAMP is developing computer software capable of tracking waste products.
Such software will assist pollution prevention efforts by allowing companies to
closely monitor the volume, toxicity, and paths taken by the various wastes
they generate.
WRAMP will be working with the Industrial Advisory Board to identify more
companies that have reduced the waste they generate by applying a variety of
pollution prevention techniques. By publicizing the successes of these
companies, WRAMP will promote the concept of pollution prevention as a
means of reducing the difficulties of waste management.
In addition to the efforts of WRAMP, the Grand Valley State University School
of Engineering is conducting a pollution prevention research and
demonstration project intended to develop curricular materials and teaching
methods that will sensitize engineers to the effect the products they design
have on the environment. "Design for Recycling: Solving Tomorrow's
Problems Today" has as its overall objective to reduce the amount of solid
waste generated in the future by making undergraduate students aware of a
concept of product design which takes into account the entire lifecycle of the
product. This project is funded by the Padnos Foundation and the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources.
The project is divided into four phases:
1) Product Survey — a survey of existing products will be conducted
39
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to identify those that could be easily recycled if they had been
designed differently.
2) Prioritization — ten products will be chosen from the survey and
prioritized according to their potential for any change that would
make them easier to recycle.
3) Engineering Design Seminars — a series of design seminars will
focus engineers, manufacturers and engineering faculty on
innovative ideas and technologies that can be used to promote
recycling.
4) Curricular Materials — incorporating information from the product
survey and the Design Seminars, curricular materials will be
developed to assist engineering faculty in their efforts to
indoctrinate students in design with end-stage product
management in mind. Some of these curricular materials
(projects, workbooks, readers) will be directed at freshman-level
engineering students while others (collected design projects and
criteria that aid students in their efforts to design for recycling) are
directed at senior-level students.
"Design for Recycling" will also receive input from the Industrial Advisory
Board, business leaders, and other professional educators. Drawing on the
extensive experience of these individuals, the project team is hopeful that
"Design for Recycling" will be able to positively impact future product design
and reduce the overall volume of waste generated in this country.
WRAMP Success Stories WRAMP recently co-sponsored with OWRS the first annual West Michigan
Waste Exchange Expo in Holland, Michigan. This one day event brought
together business owners, facility managers, government officials, and other
concerned parties in an effort to promote the establishment of informal waste
exchanges and educate participants as to the most current technology relating
to solid waste management issues. In addition to more than 30 exhibits from
companies and organizations involved in waste management issues,
presentations on a variety of issues directly affecting the difficulties and
advantages of participating in a waste exchange. Included were discussions
of:
• the legal liabilities of waste management,
• the economic advantages of pollution prevention and recycling,
• the difficulties of handling waste materials,
product design and materials use issues.
An interactive computer software program, Hazardous Waste Reduction
Checklist for Automotive Repair Shops (1991), has been developed by
WRAMP. The program is based on information provided by the California
Department of Health Services. Other computer programs being developed
include a module on household hazardous wastes and a waste reduction
40
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program for the paint industry. Research is continuing on the development of a
computer based waste tracking and cost analysis system.
Programs promoting pollution prevention have been active in the state of
Michigan since late 1987. Although there is no legislation that deals directly
with pollution prevention, the Michigan Legislature has passed a number of
bills that established a base for the pollution prevention efforts in an office
jointly managed by the Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources.
Combined with the efforts of the pollution prevention program sponsored by
the Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University, Michigan
business and industry has an active, open, and cooperative base of support as
they implement their pollution prevention plans.
The Office of Waste Reduction Services provides technical and educational
assistance to businesses and institutions in the state. The program has
conducted surveys and outreach sessions in order to accurately identify
pollution prevention opportunities. This outreach effort helps program staff
tailor research and assistance efforts to the needs of their clients. OWRS has
restricted the availability of on-site technical assistance to targeted industries
as a result of the desire on the part of program personnel to provide
substantive assistance to their clientele. Program staff are presently
developing an information clearinghouse and a waste reduction rewards
program. These and other outreach and promotional efforts are designed to
show the efficiency of pollution prevention waste management strategies to
large and small generators in a variety of industrial sectors.
The Waste Reduction and Management Program at Grand Valley State
University provides services similar to those provided by the OWRS. WRAMP
is able to extend its research functions into somewhat more basic research as
a result of its affiliation with the University. The program also has conducted
an industry survey which it is using to direct its activities. As a result of the
University's geographic location, the program tends to focus its efforts on the
business community in western Michigan.
As it is in many states in 1991, budget concerns dominate the long term
planning and program viability projections of state agencies in Michigan. The
state is under a great deal of pressure to reduce its budget and the feeling at
OWRS is that they, like all other state agencies, will have to absorb a cut in
their funding. WRAMP's funding comes from a private industry and University
grant which appears to be secure for the next year. The OWRS anticipates
that they will lose some staffing capabilities and program funding next fiscal
year which jeopardizes the expansion of the program's activities. This kind of
uncertainty does not lend itself to progress in the incorporation of pollution
prevention into the functioning business community. Michigan's programs
have made special efforts to include the private sector in finding a direction for
pollution prevention, but it is unlikely that this participation would continue
without the state's contribution.
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For more information contact: Office of Waste Reduction Services
Michigan Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 30004
Lansing, Ml 48909
(517)335-1178
Janet Vail, Coordinator
Waste Reduction and Management Program
Water Resources Institute
Grand Valley State University
One Campus Drive
Allendale, Ml 49401
(616) 895-3749
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Pollution Prevention in Michigan
General Revenue
Funds from
Michigan DNR
General Revenue
Funds from
Michigan DoC
Grant from
Private Industry
Research for
Excellence Fund
Grand Valley
State University
OWRS
-• -Information
f Clearinghouse
•Technical
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""• 'Outreach
V J
WRAMP
•Information
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•Technical
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•Outreach
State
Agencies
Michigan
Business &
Industry
•Administrative Su
Services -
Funding •
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Minnesota
The state of Minnesota has adopted pollution prevention as the preferred
method of reducing the release of hazardous waste. The state's efforts
combine an established technical assistance program with two state offices
that have a legislative mandate to promote pollution prevention in both the
public and private sector. In addition to on-site and telephone technical
assistance, efforts in the state also include a number of different grant,
training, education, and outreach programs intended to promote pollution
prevention as an economically viable and technically efficient means of
dealing with waste disposal problems.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Minnesota ranks twenty-seventh in the country in terms of reported releases of
toxic chemicals to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible
for such releases according to this report are in descending order of
magnitude;
1) Electrical machinery, equipment and supplies
2) Paper and allied product manufacturers
3) Fabricated metal products manufacturers
4) Transportation equipment manufacturers
5) Non-electric machinery manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Minnesota thirty-fourth on its ranking of states according to amount of
hazardous waste generated. Considering the state's exceptional growth in the
business sector in the last ten years, it will be important to hold the line on
hazardous and toxic waste concerns in order for the state to reap the benefits
of such growth without paying unacceptable environmental costs.
The Minnesota Legislature has mandated the promotion of source reduction
techniques as the preferred method of preventing toxic pollution with its
passage of the 1990 Toxic Pollution Prevention Act (TPPA). The Act sets up a
system that requires releasers of toxic pollutants to develop pollution
prevention plans. Key elements of these plans and a, three-tier schedule for
filing the plans with the state are specifically laid out in the Act. All generators
required to develop pollution prevention plans are also required to submit
annual progress reports to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. These
facility plans are not considered public data, but information developed
through the pollution prevention process and the annual progress reports are
considered part of the public domain.
The Act also sets up a pollution prevention program intended to catalog
information, provide technical assistance and research, provide planning
assistance and training, and award research and development grants. In
addition, the Act provides for the establishment of an annual Governor's award
for pollution prevention and a system for assessing fees to companies for the
release of toxic chemicals.
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The pollution prevention effort in Minnesota is led by three programs. The
Minnesota Office of Waste Management heads up the state's efforts,
coordinating between government and industry as well as promoting pollution
prevention research and development. The Minnesota Technical Assistance
Program, based in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health,
provides technical assistance to businesses as they address their
environmental concerns. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in addition
to enforcing the pollution prevention planning and progress report
requirements, is exploring ways of integrating pollution prevention into
traditional command and control programs.
Minnesota Office of Waste Management. The Minnesota Office of Waste
Management (OWM) is the central player in the promotion of pollution
prevention in the state. OWM, a nonregulatory agency, was established in
1989 by the Legislature to administer programs previously managed by the
Waste Management Board.
The OWM's primary responsibilities are in planning and policy development for
solid and hazardous waste. The OWM's Hazardous and Problem Waste Unit
is responsible for implementing the 1990 Toxic Pollution Prevention Act
(TPPA). OWM's efforts to prevent toxic pollution concentrate on using
techniques and processes that are implemented at the source and that
minimize the transfer of toxic pollutants from one environmental medium to
another. By encouraging greater awareness of the need for and the benefits of
toxic pollution prevention, OWM hopes to foster a greater degree of
cooperation and coordination among all elements of government, industry, and
the public in encouraging and carrying out pollution prevention activities.
The OWM defines its audience as persons or firms that use, generate or
release toxic pollutants (SARA 313 chemicals), hazardous substances or
hazardous and non-hazardous industrial wastes in Minnesota. TRI reporters
and large quantity generators are given special attention due to the provisions
of the TPPA.
The OWM operates the Pollution Prevention Program with a budget of $1.5
million which is drawn from the state's general revenue fund, EPA grants, and
a system of fees based on the amounts of chemicals reported released by
industry on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The OWM in turn distributes a
percentage of these monies to the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
(MnTAP) to implement elements of its technical assistance responsibilities.
The Minnesota Legislature, through the TPPA, has charged the OWM with
furthering the state's pollution prevention effort by:
making pollution prevention grants available to those firms
interested in pursuing innovative methods to reduce their
hazardous and toxic waste releases,
administering the Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution
Prevention program,
45
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• reporting to the Legislature annually on the progress of pollution
prevention in Minnesota,
• hosting conferences and workshops on pollution prevention,
• collecting fees from TRI reporters and large quantity generators of
hazardous waste.
The fees specified in the TPPA are to be imposed using a two-tier system. All
TRI reporters in the state are required to pay a pollution prevention fee of $150
for each toxic pollutant reported released plus a fee based on the total pounds
of toxic pollutants reported as released for each facility. Facilities reporting
less than 25,000 pounds of toxic pollutant released annually are assessed a
fee of $500 per facility. Facilities reporting more than 25,000 pounds of toxic
pollutants released are assessed a graduated fee at the rate of two cents per
pound of toxic pollutants released, not to exceed $30,000 per facility annually.
Entities that are not TRI reporters but that generate more than 1,000 kilograms
of hazardous waste per month are assessed $500 per facility per year.
Pollution prevention plans are required by the TPPA for all facilities which
report the release of toxic chemicals under SARA Title III, Section 313. These
plans are required to be updated every two years and kept on file at the facility
to which they pertain. The plans contain:
a statement of management support,
a detailed statement of the types of pollutants involved and the
processes by which they are generated or released,
a description and evaluation of current and past pollution
prevention practices,
a comprehensive assessment of the technically and economically
feasible options available to reduce or eliminate the generation or
release of these toxic wastes,
a statement and schedule of pollution prevention objectives,
an explanation of each of the above objectives,
a listing of options not adopted and the reason for their exclusion,
a certification that a plan has been prepared.
The OWM has, with the help of an independent subcontractor, developed a
guide to assist companies with the formulation of their pollution prevention
plans. The Minnesota Guide to Pollution Prevention Planning is available
through the OWM. In cooperation with MnTAP, OWM held a series of 6
workshops in support of the training effort represented by this manual.
Approximately 230 individuals attended the workshops.
Grants are made available through OWM to companies and other groups
interested in researching or demonstrating the feasibility of specific innovative
technologies or methods of production designed to prevent pollution. In
reviewing applications for the grants, the OWM considers such factors as:
the pollution prevention potential of the project,
46
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the likelihood of the project to minimize the transfer of pollution
from one environmental medium to another,
the transferability of information generated to others with similar
concerns,
• the extent to which the grant applicant will be able to implement
any valuable methods or technologies developed,
• the willingness of the applicant to share any information gleaned
from the project.
The grants available through OWM are for up to two-thirds of the total cost of
the project. A commitment on the part of the applicant to make up the
remainder of the project cost will be required.
The first round of pollution prevention grants received 19 applications, a
response rate 50% higher than ever before received by the previous waste
reduction grant program. After a review by OWM staff and advisory boards for
eligibility and completeness, 9 of these applications were declared eligible.
Thus far, 7 grants totallingalmost $200,000 have been awarded.
The OWM also administers the Annual Minnesota Conference on Pollution
Prevention, special events for Chief Executive Officers, and the Governor's
Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention. Winners of the 1991 Awards
were PDI, Inc. of Circle Pines, MM; FMC Corporation of Fridley, MM; and Aero
Precision Machining Company, St. Paul Park, MN.
In the future, the OWM intends to expand its outreach to hazardous and toxic
waste generators to include more training for pollution prevention planning,
conferences and workshops. The OWM will also be submitting to the
Minnesota Legislature an evaluation of the utility of requiring toxic pollutant
reports and reduction plans on January 1,1993. This report will be the result
of the Office's experience in managing the pollution prevention plans effort.
The OWM also intends to hold additional pollution prevention training sessions
in 1991 and 1992.
OWM Success Stories—Business Buys Into Pollution Prevention
On January 31,1991, the OWM held its First Annual Conference on Pollution
Prevention for hazardous and toxic waste generators.
A total of 460 individuals attended the Conference. Participants were drawn
from industries affected by the TPPA, consultants, and other interested
parties. Evaluations returned by the Conference participants upon completion
were overwhelmingly favorable.
Attendance at the Conference may have been spurred by the CEO Pollution
Prevention Breakfast held the morning of the January 30,1991. Of the
approximately 400 chief executive officers invited to the breakfast, 150
attended. Allan Jacobson, CEO of the 3M Corporation gave a talk to the
participants on the importance of taking part in some sort of pollution
47
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prevention effort. Governor Arne Carlson then presented the Governor's
Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention.
Fallout from this breakfast was registered the next day as the Conference
opened. Several Conference participants related anecdotal information to the
organizers to the effect that the CEOs of various companies, such as a utility
company and a pesticide manufacturer, came back from the breakfast
enthused by the prospect of dealing with their waste management problems
through a pollution prevention methodology. Conference participants were
clear on one thing- top management is committed to pollution prevention.
Success Stories (Winners of the 1991 Minnesota Governor's Award
for Excellence in Pollution Prevention)
PDI, Inc., a coatings manufacturer, began looking at its product lines in 1988
in an effort to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) and other hazardous substances. Its first project of this type
resulted in the elimination of the use of methylene chloride, a suspected
carcinogen, from all product lines . The company then began an effort to
reformulate its products into low VOC water-based or higher solid systems.
Three out of the company's eighteen employees are assigned nearly full time
to this'effort. PDI's efforts resulted in the development of a flexible,
water-based acrylic coating system for use on flexible foams. With the goal of
increasing the sale of water-based coatings in the next five years to 500,000
annually, PDI has begun an aggressive marketing plan to urge their customers
to convert to these kinds of systems. The company estimates that this change
would prevent the annual environmental release of between 500,000 and
1,000,000 gallons of solvent from thinned solvent-based coatings.
The Naval Systems Division of the FMC Corporation is working to reduce its
use and emissions of ozone depleting and hazardous solvent from various
degreasing and cleaning operations throughout its facility. The company's
efforts have resulted in the replacement of Freon TMC®, a blend of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) and methylene chloride, with
1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) in the parts cleaning operations of six production
areas. TCA has one-sixth the ozone depletion potential and is significantly less
volatile than Freon TMC®. This effort has resulted in an annual reduction of
1,400 gallons of spent or wasted solvent and an annual savings of
approximately $20,400 as a result of lower solvent and disposal costs and the
on-site recycling of TCA. In May 1990, the Director of Operations called for the
reduction in the average monthly use of TCA by 50% by year end. Through
the institution of more efficient work practices, increased employee awareness
and training, the elimination of unnecessary or obsolete equipment, and the
substitution of alkaline cleaning for TCA in some operations, monthly usage of
TCA has dropped 41.5% and loss to air emissions has dropped 56.8%. The
company's annual usage of TCA is now estimated at 62,400 pounds
compared to 216,000 pounds in 1988 and 180,500 in 1989. This program will
prevent the annual emission of 90,000 pounds of TCA to the air and cost
savings are estimated to be in the neighborhood of $38,600 per year.
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In 1989, Aero Precision Machining Company, working with an intern from the
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program, eliminated the use of
trichloroethylene in their cleaning processes. Aero modified their existing
vapor degreaser, which used the solvent, to a detergent based system. This
eliminated the need for 500 gallons of trichloroethylene per year and leaves
the company with only one hazardous waste stream, mineral spirits, which is
recycled by the supplier. Aero has openly shared information about their
system with many visitors to the plant including government representatives
and other companies.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) has been providing
pollution prevention and waste management technical assistance to
Minnesota business and industry since 1984. Housed in the Division of
Environmental and Occupational Health of the University of Minnesota's
School of Public Health, this non-regulatory program seeks to improve
industry's handling of its waste products by providing information that assists
Minnesota businesses minimize releases to the environment. With the
passage of the 1990 TPPA, MnTAP has been directed to refocus its efforts on
promoting the prevention of pollution at its source. Funding increases provided
by the Act will allow MnTAP to expand its activities, increasing the amount of
state-sponsored assistance available to Minnesota industry as it deals with
hazardous and toxic waste management and reduction concerns.
MnTAP makes its assistance available to all service and manufacturing
concerns in the state with a particular emphasis on large- and small-quantity
generators, toxic release inventory reporters, and generators of
non-hazardous industrial waste. Program staff of eleven are drawn from a
varied background with both technical training and hands-on experience in the
private sector. The program is funded with state general revenue funds from
the Minnesota Office of Waste Management and fees imposed on the release
of chemicals included on the Toxics Release Inventory. The 1991 budget for
MnTAP is $678,000. MnTAP staff anticipate an increase in their budget for
fiscal year 1992 to $814,000.
MnTAP's primary focus in all its efforts is on reducing the release of waste and
emissions at their source, with a secondary emphasis on encouraging
environmentally sound recycling. The program provides telephone and on-site
consultations to help industry manage and reduce the waste they generates.
Part of this effort includes a student intern program designed as a low-cost
method for industry to deal with specific waste reduction projects. Program
staff use their experience acquired in the field to develop technical resources
that are made available to interested parties through industry specific direct
mail campaigning, workshops and seminars, and the program's newsletter. All
of the program's technical assistance activities are supported by a substantial
computerized library of resource materials developed by program staff and
collected from other sources nationwide.
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In addition to providing technical assistance to business and industry, MnTAP
has also been developing a variety of training and educational programs with a
pollution prevention focus. Program staff conduct seminars and workshops for
companies interested in instilling in their employees a waste reduction
mentality.
In the future, MnTAP intends to:
expand its use of on-site consultations and demonstration
projects,
assist Toxic Release Inventory reporters with pollution prevention
plan development and implementation,
evaluate the possible use of a retired engineers program,
measure the program's effectiveness and investigate ways of
documenting pollution prevention,
utilize new staff communication skills to further promote MnTAP
services and pollution prevention opportunities,
• target common processes with high pollutant releases using data
from TRI, RCRA and non-hazardous wastes,
expand the use of training, workshops or seminars to reach a
larger number of businesses for pollution prevention planning,
use outreach efforts to identify process specific pollution
prevention opportunities.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has also been given some
responsibilities in the pursuit of the state's pollution prevention goals. The
MPCA is the regulatory arm of Minnesota's waste management system.
The Agency's involvement with the pollution prevention effort began when it
was awarded a RCRA Integrated Training and Technical Assistance (RITTA)
grant in 1988. It now plans to expanded its role to include reviewing pollution
prevention progress reports, producing fact sheets, and training state
employees.
The support MPCA received from the RITTA grant was used to develop two
specific programs; a State Training Action Plan (STAP), and a waste
minimization technical assistance pilot project. The STAP has been submitted
to the USEPA for review. The MPCA has held training sessions for RCRA
inspectors on how to provide technical assistance to hazardous waste
generators. The Agency intends to continue implementing other aspects of the
STAP as funding and opportunity become available.
Also as part of the RITTA grant, the MPCA developed a technical assistance
pilot project directed at reducing waste solvent generation. Included in this
project is the Agency's sponsorship of a one-day solvent waste reduction
conference. MPCA surveyed solvent users to determine the ways in which
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they manage their waste solvent and their attitudes toward, and awareness of,
waste reduction techniques. The survey was repeated three times in order to
monitor the progress of the respondent's pollution prevention efforts. During
the course of the pilot project, the MPCA attempted to determine the types of
education and assistance that most effectively promoted pollution prevention
as a means of waste management. The Agency contracted with MnTAP to
perform some aspects of this pilot project.
Begining in late 1991, the MPCA will begin to implement the "Lake Superior
Partnership," a cooperative effort between state government and industries in
the Duluth area to make pollution prevention a priority in the area's waste
management efforts. The project will focus on outreach and training efforts in
business, POTWs, and local government to encourage waste generators to
adopt pollution prevention methodologies.
Under the provisions of the 1990 Toxic Pollution Prevention Act, the MPCA
has the responsibility to review the annual progress reports submitted by toxic
and hazardous waste generators as part of their pollution prevention planning
obligations. The first progress report will be due on October 1 , 1992.
The state of Minnesota's pollution prevention effort contains all the elements
needed to make such an effort a success. Supported by significant legislation
(1990 Toxic Pollution Prevention Act), the state's effort combines a committed,
non-regulatory state agency, a seven-year-old technical assistance program,
and a presence in the regulatory agency to positively affect the hazardous and
toxic waste generating community.
The Minnesota Office of Waste Management is a non-regulatory state agency
whose primary responsibility is planning and policy development for solid and
hazardous waste. The OWM administers a grant program for pollution
prevention initiatives in industry, hosts pollution prevention conferences and
workshops, collects fees from TRI reporters and large-quantity generators,
and administers the Governors Awards program. The OWM places special
emphasis on its outreach efforts, hoping not only to convert the thinking of
business and industry to the concept of pollution prevention, but also to lay the
groundwork for cooperative efforts between business and industry as they
pursue pollution prevention goals.
Established in 1984, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program makes
technical assistance available to parties interested in reducing the amount of
industrial waste they generate. MnTAP provides telephone and on-site
consultations as well as a student intern program to help industry adopt
pollution prevention practices. Program staff make use of a substantial library
of resources as they search for solutions for waste management problems.
MnTAP also sponsors workshops, seminars and a newsletter as part of their
pollution prevention outreach effort.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also contributes to the pollution
prevention efforts of the state. The MPCA provides training to RCRA
inspectors and others in state government on pollution prevention issues. The
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Agency also has been involved in some pilot technical assistance and training
projects involving pollution prevention.
With strong legislative support, excellent technical assistance and outreach
efforts, and a commitment to training industry and government in the most
effective means to pursue pollution prevention goals, the pollution prevention
movement in Minnesota is committed to having a real impact on the amount of
toxic and hazardous waste released in the state. The effects of the work of
these programs is already apparent in industry as shown by the performance
of Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention recipients. Should
program funding continue in the state as anticipated, pollution prevention
efforts will expand, fostering technical innovation in waste management and
promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors as they strive to
protect the environment.
For more information contact: Kevin McDonald
Minnesota Office of Waste Management
1350 Energy Lane
St. Paul, MN 55108
(612) 649-5750
(612) 649-5749 Fax
Cindy McComas
Director
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
1313 5th St. SE Suite 207
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612)627-4646
(612) 627-4769 Fax
Eric Kilberg
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
(612)296-8643
(612)297-1456
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Pollution Prevention in Minnesota
USEPA Grants
Disposal Fees from^
Businesses
Minnesota General \
Revenue Funds
OWM
•Facility
Planning
Guidance
•Audit Grants
•Training &
Outreach
USEPA Grants
Minnesota General\
Revenue Funds
MPCA
•Training
OWM Funds
OWM Oversight,
MnTAP
•Technical
Assistance
University of
Minnesota
State
Agencies
y
^^^^^^^^^^^^S
Minnesota
Business &
Industry
Services -
Administrative Oversight,
Funding -
>
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Ohio
One of the top producers of hazardous waste in the United States, Ohio
stands to benefit substantially from a concerted effort to incorporate pollution
prevention efforts into its industrial practices. Through the efforts of two
programs operated by different state departments, the state is raising the
consciousness of business and industry regarding the advantages of a
multimedia approach to pollution prevention activities.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Ohio ranks third in the country in terms of reported releases of toxic chemicals
to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible for such releases
according to this report are in descending order of magnitude;
1) Chemical and allied products manufacturers
2) Primary metals industries
3) Fabricated metal products manufacturers
4) Paper and allied products manufacturers
5) Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Ohio tenth on its ranking of states according to amount of hazardous waste
generated.
The state of Ohio has mandated some environmental action through
legislation, but none that directly addresses pollution prevention. It has
established a technical assistance program connected with the Ohio
Department of Development (House Bill 111) and a litter prevention and
recycling division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (the Litter
Control Act of 1980). Pollution prevention legislation drafted by the Pollution
Prevention Section of the Ohio EPA is currently being debated in the
Legislature. The status of this bill is uncertain.
The pollution prevention effort in Ohio, basically made up of two programs, is
still in the developmental stages. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
(OEPA) established a Pollution Prevention Section in 1990 to coordinate
pollution prevention efforts among the various OEPA departments and other
state agencies involved in environmental issues. The Ohio Department of
Natural Resources' Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling was
established in 1980 as a vehicle to promote community based litter prevention
and recycling efforts.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Pollution Prevention Section
Intended to be the coordinator of all pollution prevention activities in Ohio, this
section of the Ohio EPA brings a multimedia focus to waste management
concerns. While the Agency has been involved in several waste mfnimization
efforts beginning in the early 1980s, the Pollution Prevention Section (PPS)
54
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serves as a formal vehicle through which pollution prevention issues can be
addressed within the Agency. It was also designed to deal with these issues
as they arise in other state agencies, industry and federal entities. PPS has
also been charged with helping to integrate the concept of pollution prevention
into Agency policy and regulation, ultimately resulting in state pollution
prevention legislation.
Funding for this program comes from a variety of sources. PPS derives its
primary funding from the state's general RCRA budget which is supplemented
by monies from capacity assurance and other grants. The budget for the
program is estimated at approximately $200,000 a year.
PPS is composed of three units which reflect the three functional aspects of its
responsibilities:
• technical assistance
• program development and coordination
• technology assessment and information analysis
Since the program is still in the early stages of development, much of the effort
thus far has involved defining its purview and gathering available pollution
prevention information.
Technical Assistance. Currently, the Technical Assistance Unit is
concentrating on training Agency personnel in the pollution prevention
mindset, attempting to first establish, then implement the philosophy in the
Agency's staff. It has also developed state pollution prevention legislation and
is guiding it through the Ohio General Assembly. The Technical Assistance
Unit also assists in the development of Agency's pollution prevention policy
and appropriate manuals and guidance documentation. The Unit identifies
regulatory impediments to pollution prevention (which includes a review of
activities related to inspections and permitting), formulates a set of criteria for
pollution prevention measurement. This unit is also responsible for targeting
industries, processes and wastestreams for the application of pollution
prevention principles.
In the past, the Ohio EPA's Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste
Management has provided technical assistance and regulatory interpretation
to generators on an "as requested" basis. The Technical Assistance Unit is
now in the process of developing a clearinghouse of pollution prevention
regulatory information and researching technical issues with an eye toward
developing a full-blown technical assistance program. Ultimately, PPS will be
able to provide assistance both through site visits and telephone consultations.
Program Development and Coordination. The Program Development and
Coordination Unit is the Pollution Prevention Section's major coordinating
wing. This unit is responsible for coordinating pollution prevention efforts
among the various divisions in the Ohio EPA, other state agencies, interested
trade associations, and the US EPA. The multimedia focus of Ohio's pollution
prevention efforts is upheld by the oversight of this group.
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Technology Assessment and Information Analysis. The Technology
Assessment and Information Analysis Unit, the third component of the
Pollution Prevention Section, is responsible for gathering and manipulating
data as it relates to the pollution prevention goals of the Section. This unit acts
as a pollution prevention regulatory clearinghouse and research center,
conducting experiments and-data analyses on pollution prevention issues
when deemed appropriate. Included is a special assignment to analyze the
economic aspects of pollution prevention activities.
The PPS is currently working with the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing
Science through a RITTA grant to set up a waste reduction demonstration
project. The PPS is trying to locate an industrial facility which is willing to
become a prototype/show-piece/training tool for pollution prevention
techniques. The PPS will study and overhaul the processes in this facility,
using the data generated and the facility itself as a training tool for OEPA
personnel.
The OEPA's Pollution Prevention Section plans to expand its activities in the
future, becoming a more proactive participant in the state's pollution
prevention efforts. Included in their plans are:
to conduct visits to industrial facilities in an effort to target pollution
prevention opportunities,
to analyze the existing regulatory framework and coordinate
changes to promote pollution prevention,
to implement items identified in Ohio's pollution prevention bill
when it is passed into law,
to set up a retired engineer and student intern program.
Governor's Award Program The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sponsors a waste minimization
awards program. The Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in
Waste Management and Pollution Control, although not exclusive to pollution
prevention programs, does recognize pollution prevention and waste
minimization candidates.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling
The 1980 Ohio Litter Control Act mandated the establishment of an
administrative body to oversee and promote the prevention of litter in the state.
The Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling (DLPR), a division of the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources, was given an annual budget of $10 million
to distribute in grant form to local governments and state agencies who, in
turn, were to use this money to develop either litter prevention or recycling
programs. The DLPR has developed a framework and set of guidelines which
it uses to direct the grantee's efforts, allowing the local entity to tailor its
program to specific community needs while maintaining the statewide
structure and oversight capabilities necessary to maximize the effectiveness of
each dollar spent.
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Thomas Edison Program
Summary
The DLPR is funded by means of a two tier corporate franchise tax on
companies doing business in Ohio. Every business in the state subject to
more than the $50 minimum contributes a percentage of their corporate
franchise tax to the program. An additional tax is imposed on businesses that
manufacture or sell litter stream products. There is a $5,000 maximum tax limit
per business per year. Businesses that make cash donations to grant
recipients are eligible for a tax credit equal to one-half of the tax or one-half of
the cash donation, whichever is lesser.
Grants are offered for a great variety of purposes:
Comprehensive Litter Prevention Grants are available for clean
up, containment, law enforcement and education awareness
activities.
Special Project Grants are available for the clean up of illegal
dumping. These grants are targeted to small villages and
townships.
Recycling Operations Grants are available for non-profit
organizations interested in pursuing recycling activities.
Local Government Recycling Grants are available to assist
localities in the development of community based recycling
programs.
The DLPR is also implementing and maintaining a statewide litter awareness
campaign as well as promoting recycling and the use of recycled products in
state government. It also has a sizable catalog of publications that promote
litter prevention and recycling available.
For the immediate future, the DLPR plans to continue current operations. The
nature, substance and/or mission of the program may change if pending
legislation is enacted by the Ohio General Assembly.
In an effort to promote innovation in the Ohio manufacturing sector, the
Thomas Edison Development Fund offers matching grants of up to $300,000
to partnerships between business and universities to research and develop
commercially promising products for manufacture in Ohio. These grants are
available to companies that are investigating environmental and pollution
control technologies.
Ohio's pollution prevention efforts are, for the most part, in the developmental
stages. The loss of the Ohio Technology Transfer Organization (OTTO), a
program sponsored by the Ohio Department of Development, seriously
damaged the state's efforts to promote the adoption of pollution prevention
methodologies in the private sector. OTTO was able to provide a range of
direct technical assistance services to business from a nonregulatory base, a
very effective component in a state's pollution prevention efforts. The bulk of
the state's efforts must now shift to the remaining two programs.
The Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling, mandated by state legislation
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and funded by a specific corporate tax system, is not able to approach
pollution prevention in the usual sense. The DLPR distributes monies to
community organizations which promote litter awareness and recycling efforts,
lending structure to those efforts in Ohio.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Section was
formed in an effort to promote the concept of pollution prevention and
coordinate these efforts among state agencies. Funded by RCRA Grants, the
Pollution Prevention Section is still in its infancy, conducting outreach within
the OEPA on pollution prevention issues and researching pollution prevention
information and activities in the state. It has also developed a demonstration
project through a US EPA RCRA Integrated Training and Technical
Assistance grant.
For the state's efforts to become more effective, they seem to require a
stronger, more consistent focus. Structurally, the Pollution Prevention Section
as the main coordinating arm for these efforts in the state is still attempting to
solidify formal bridges to the other programs. State pollution prevention
legislation, which OEPA's Pollution Prevention Section is currently promoting
in the State Legislature, would provide such a focus. Such legislation would
provide a more reliable funding source for the Pollution Prevention Section
and allow them to proceed with more long term projects.
For more information contact: Anthony Sasson
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Pollution Prevention Section
1800 WaterMark Drive
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43266-0149
(614) 644-2917
(614) 644-2329 Fax
Mark Cole
Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
1889 Fountain Square Court, Bldg F-2
Columbus, OH 43224
(614) 265-6333
(614) 262-9387 Fax
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Pollution Prevention in Ohio
Ohio Corporate \
Franchise Tax
DLPR
•Recycling
Grants
•Technical
Assistance
•Outreach
USEPA Grants
Ohio General
Revenue Fund
OEPA
•Policy and
Planning
•Outreach
•Education
State
Agencies
Ohio
Business &
Industry
>„
t
w
\
f
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Pollution Prevention in the State of Wisconsin
The pollution prevention effort in the state of Wisconsin is in the earliest stages
of development. Although there has been an effort in some state agencies to
push for the reduction of solid waste produced in the state, a permanent home
for the state's waste reduction efforts was established only recently. The
programs formed by the state's pollution prevention legislation are small,
education- and outreach-based programs housed in two different state
departments.
According to the 1988 Toxics Release Inventory National Report, the state of
Wisconsin ranks twenty-first in the country in terms of reported releases of
toxic chemicals to the environment. The top five industry sectors responsible
for such releases in descending order of magnitude are;
1) Primary metal industries
2) Paper and allied products manufacturers
3) Fabricated metal products manufacturers
4) Chemical and allied products manufacturers
5) Non-electric machinery manufacturers
The 1986 National Survey of Hazardous Waste Generators (GENSUR) places
Wisconsin twenty-ninth on its ranking of states according to amount of
hazardous waste generated. Although Wisconsin does not appear to have as
severe a waste management problem as some of the other Great Lakes
states, the foundry and paper manufacturing industries are responsible for
nearly 40% of all the toxic pollutants released into the environment in the
state. These established industries provide a good target for effective pollution
prevention efforts.
The Wisconsin General Assembly has officially made pollution prevention the
preferred method of managing hazardous waste by enacting the 1989
Hazardous Substances, Toxic Pollutants, Hazardous Waste Use and Release
Reduction Act (1989 Wisconsin Act 325). The Act calls for the establishment
of an independent hazardous waste management board composed of people
from a variety of organizations both public and private. The Act also directs the
Department of Development to establish a program to manage a system of
audit grants the state will make available to businesses. The Department of
Natural Resources is directed under the Act to establish the state's pollution
prevention policy and coordinate efforts to implement that policy. The Act also
mandates the establishment of a technical assistance program housed in the
University of Wisconsin-Extension Office.
The pollution prevention effort in Wisconsin is managed by three entities; the
Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board, the Hazardous Waste Minimization
Program, and the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center. The
Department of Development has also set up a program that administers the
Hazardous Pollution Prevention Audit Grants.
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Department of Development
Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board
Established by the Wisconsin Assembly, the Hazardous Pollution Prevention
Board is designed to oversee all the pollution prevention activities in the state.
In pursuing the state's goal of reducing 'the disposal and release of hazardous
substances, toxic pollutants and hazardous wastes that may have serious,
adverse effects on health and the environment," the Board has been directed
to provide advice to various state departments and agencies, recommend
educational priorities, and report to the interested branches of state
government regarding pollution prevention efforts in the state. The Board and
all other Department of Development involvement in pollution prevention is on
a non-regulatory basis.
The Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board is made up of the following:
• the Department of Natural Resources Hazardous Pollution
Prevention Coordinator,
a representative of the Department of Industry, Labor and Human
Relations appointed by the Secretary of that Department,
• a representative of the Department of Development appointed by
the Secretary of that Department,
a representative of the Department of Health and Social Services
appointed by the Secretary of that Department,
• a representative of the University of Wisconsin appointed by the
President of the University,
a member representing small business appointed by the Speaker
of the Assembly,
• two members representing large business, one appointed by the
Governor, one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate,
• three members representing environmental groups, one appointed
by the Governor, appointed by the president of the Senate,
a representative of organized labor,
a representative of a municipality with a publicly owned
wastewater treatment facility.
Each of the members of the Board serves a three year term.
As the state's preeminent pollution prevention body, the Board monitors the
progress of the state's initiatives in an attempt to minimize duplication of effort
and help set standards for evaluating the state's progress. The Board provides
guidance to state departments and agencies that handle or generate
hazardous waste or are somehow provided with the opportunity to encourage
hazardous pollution prevention. Drawing on the experience of its varied
membership, the Board interprets the Assembly's hazardous pollution
prevention directive and uses its position to promote pollution prevention as
the waste management alternative of choice.
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The Board has been directed to recommend educational priorities to the
University of Wisconsin Extension Service as the Service goes about setting
up a non-regulatory pollution prevention technical assistance program. Some
of these priorities deal with the volume and toxicity of hazardous substances,
the types of toxic pollutants and hazardous materials produced, questions of
compliance, the potential for hazardous pollution prevention, and projected
shortfalls in hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities under the federal
Capacity Assurance Plan.
The Board also acts on applications it receives for Hazardous Pollution
Prevention Audit Grants. This grant program, administered by the Department
of Development (DOD), is intended to encourage business and industry to
analyze their hazardous waste generating processes in an effort to find
pollution prevention opportunities. Grant applicants must put up 50% of the
cost of the waste audit, identify the person who will be conducting the audit,
and report back to the state with a summary of the audit findings within 60
days after the completion of the audit. Grant amounts are limited to $2,500 or
half the cost of the audit, whichever is less. Grant recipients are also
responsible for developing and implementing a plan that uses the information
from the audit to revise their waste management practices in such a way as to
achieve a reduction in the amount of hazardous waste they generate.
The DOD has two full-time employees in charge of administering this grant
program. DOD staff are responsible for providing the Board with a copy of
each application, evaluating applications using pre-established criteria, making
the actual grant application, and reviewing the audit and implementation
summaries submitted by the recipients. In making its evaluation of individual
grant applications, DOD considers the following:
• the likelihood that an applicant will be technically and financially
able and willing to implement hazardous pollution prevention,
• the volume and toxicity of hazardous substances, toxic pollutants
and hazardous waste used or produced by the applicant,
• the potential for others to use the information gained from an
applicant's hazardous pollution prevention audit,
the Assembly's directive to provide grants to a variety of
industries.
The Board makes the final determination of grant awards.
In cooperation with the DOD and the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education
Center established in the University of Wisconsin Extension Service, the
Board makes a report to the Governor and the Assembly regarding the
pollution prevention efforts of the state in every year that a revised Capacity
Assurance Plan is not required by the federal government. This report
contains all the pertinent information regarding the progress of these types of
programs in the state.
As it is with most other state agencies in Wisconsin, the Department of
Development is currently working under a hiring freeze. Like many states,
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Wisconsin has found it necessary to cut back on state expenditures in order to
balance its budget. These cutbacks have severely curtailed the actions of the
DOD as it relates to its pollution prevention efforts and will continue to do so
for the foreseeable future. No expansion in services is anticipated until the
hiring freeze is lifted.
Department of Natural Resources
Office of the Hazardous Waste Minimization Coordinator
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) makes its contributions to
Wisconsin's pollution prevention efforts through the Office of the Hazardous
Waste Minimization Coordinator.
The 1989 Hazardous Substances, Toxic Pollutants, Hazardous Waste Use
and Release Reduction Act (Wisconsin Act 325) recognizes the fact that the
predominantly regulatory focus of environmental efforts in the past has
inhibited the adoption of pollution prevention methodologies in the regulated
community. In order to redress this problem, the Assembly has directed the
DNR to promote pollution prevention techniques as the most effective means
of dealing with hazardous waste. The DNR has been directed to use its
regulatory position to identify pollution prevention opportunities and make
information available to hazardous waste generators that would allow them to
take advantage of such opportunities.
The DNR pursues these goals through its Office of the Hazardous Waste
Minimization Coordinator. The Coordinator is the DNR's lead person in the
development and implementation of the department's pollution prevention
strategy, setting policy for the department and coordinating the department's
pollution prevention efforts with other state agencies, as well as conducting
outreach to private industry. As the DNR proceeds with the formulation of a
pollution prevention implementation plan, a formal mission statement for the
Office will be developed. Until that time, the staff organizes its efforts around
legislation enacted by the Assembly, the DNR's strategic plan for its Division
of Environmental Quality, and the Secretary's Pollution Prevention Objective
for 1991.
The Office is made up of three full-time staff members and operates with a
budget of approximately $208,000/year. The Office gets its funding from
RITTA grants ($112,000), general revenue funds ($96,000), and an
unspecified amount from waste disposal fees.
The Office has been directed to apply its educational efforts to DNR personnel
as well as business and industry. The Hazardous Waste Minimization
Coordinator has been promoting the state's multi-media approach to pollution
prevention through a series of training programs held for DNR staff. The
training is intended to help the regulatory staff understand pollution prevention
methodology and investigate ways to use the regulatory structure to promote
the adoption of pollution prevention. The Coordinator also holds workshops for
industry to introduce pollution prevention as an alternative to traditional means
of waste management.
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In addition to managing the Office, the Hazardous Waste Minimization
Coordinator also serves on the Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board.
In support of its educational.efforts, the Office has set up an information
clearinghouse and technical assistance program. The Pollution Prevention
Information Clearinghouse makes a variety of information on both general and
technical issues available to the regulated community. It is hoped that
information made available through this office will assist both generators and
regulators discover solutions to the technical problems that often stand in the
way of effective pollution prevention implementation.
Limited technical assistance is available for those in the program's audience
who have more specific questions regarding waste management and pollution
prevention issues. The Office has been working with the University of
Wisconsin Extension Service to establish a hazardous waste technical
assistance program based in the Extension Service. This program is currently
acquiring legislatively mandated staff and setting up operations.
The Office also publishes a periodic newsletter that deals with multi-media
pollution prevention issues.
The Hazardous Waste Minimization Coordinator intends to finalize the DNR's
Pollution Prevention Implementation Plan sometime in the near future.
Included in this plan is a series of Pilot Pollution Prevention Projects in each
Environmental Quality Program and DNR field office. Other than finalizing the
DNR's plan, the Office has no immediate plans to expand its base of services.
Any expansion in services is dependent upon an easing of the state's
spending restrictions.
University of Wisconsin-Extension
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
Wisconsin Act 325 mandates the creation of a hazardous pollution prevention
program in the University of Wisconsin-Extension. The Solid and Hazardous
Waste Education Center (The Center) has become home to the Extension
Service's pollution prevention program. The Center has only recently begun its
pollution prevention involvement and as such is still working on developing a
plan of action.
This program is to promote pollution prevention in cooperation with the DNR
and the Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board by:
conducting an educational and technical assistance program,
• assisting the Department of Development in establishing the
requirements for the audit and implementations studies required
by the Hazardous Pollution Prevention Audit Grants,
contributing to the Board's formulation of its report to the Governor
and the Assembly on the pollution prevention efforts in the state.
The Center's pollution prevention program is directed at a wide audience
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which includes industry at all levels, the regulatory community, other
governmental bodies (both state and local), as well as the citizens of
Wisconsin. The Center has a budget of $430,000 for fiscal year 1991 drawn
from the Wisconsin Assembly's general revenue fund. Program staff anticipate
similar funding for fiscal year 1992.
Operating with a full-time staff of seven people, the Center has begun
concentrating its efforts on the technical assistance, training and educational
aspects of its mission. The pollution prevention program makes on-site
technical assistance available to industry. The program also sponsors a
number of seminars and workshops designed to promote the idea of pollution
prevention both inside and outside government. The Center also publishes
newsletters intended to reinforce both the technical assistance and outreach
efforts.
The Center plans to expand its activities in the future, broadening its general
educational effort while it seeks to narrow the focus of some of its seminars to
impart specific pollution prevention information to particular generators.
Program staff hope to expand their educational efforts in such a way as to
make the general public more aware of the benefits of pollution prevention,
thereby providing the kind of grassroots support needed to make their efforts
successful in the long term. The Center also hopes to make on-site pollution
prevention audits available to help waste generators achieve a better
understanding of their waste management issues. Seminars are also planned
that target specific generators and deal directly with their waste management
issues.
The state of Wisconsin has put in place a well-balanced pollution prevention
effort. The state funds two programs designed to directly approach pollution
prevention issues and has authorized the formation of an advisory board
composed of various industry, government and interest group representatives.
All these efforts are supported by substantial pollution prevention legislation.
The combination of services offered by these programs cover the range
usually offered by state programs facilitating the implementation of pollution
prevention .
The Hazardous Pollution Prevention Board is the guiding force behind
hazardous pollution prevention in the state. Made up of a variety of public and
private sector specialists, the Board recommends educational priorities,
provides advice to various state departments and groups, and reports to the
Governor and the Assembly regarding the progress of the state's pollution
prevention efforts. Also, with the help of the Wisconsin Department of
Development, the Board awards Hazardous Pollution Prevention Audit Grants.
These Grants are an attempt to assist interested businesses to discover
pollution prevention opportunities on their production line.
The Department of Natural Resources also contributes to the state's pollution
prevention effort through the Office of the Hazardous Waste Minimization
Coordinator. As part of the state's regulatory structure, the Office is
responsible for training state regulatory personnel regarding pollution
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prevention issues. The Office operates an information clearinghouse and a
limited technical assistance program. The Office also sponsors outreach
workshops for industry and publishes a newsletter concerning pollution
prevention issues.
The newest addition to the state's pollution prevention efforts is the Solid and
Hazardous Waste Education Center. As part of the University of
Wisconsin-Extension, the Center's staff are able to draw on the extensive
resources available through the University in answering technical assistance
questions. Administratively separate from the regulatory arm of the state, the
program's positioning helps reassure industry that their waste management
concerns will remain confidential. As the Center grows in reputation with state
businesses, it is hoped it will make a positive impact on technological transfer
and innovation as it relates to pollution prevention.
In Wisconsin, as in most other states, the success of pollution prevention
efforts will hinge on the ability of the State Assembly to continue funding the
programs in place. Although the various services available in the state seem to
be distributed with a minimum amount of duplication, more of an effort must be
made to bring these services in line with those of other states. It will take the
DNR's Office of the Hazardous Waste Minimization Coordinator and the
Center time to assemble the data available on pollution prevention in order to
make it available to those concerned. The provision of effective technical
assistance will also depend upon the Center's ability to access experienced
pollution prevention personnel. Every state department in Wisconsin is
currently operating under a hiring freeze which is having deleterious effects on
the growth of both the expertise and the resources available to deal with waste
management problems.
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For more information contact: Lynn Persson
Hazardous Waste Minimization Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, Wl 53707
(608) 267-3763
(608) 267-2768 Fax
Ken Wiesner
Director
Office of Pollution Prevention
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, Wl 53707-7921
(608) 267-9700
(608) 267-2768 Fax
Patrick Walsh
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
University of Wisconsin-Extension
610 Langdon St., Room 528
Madison, Wl 53706
(608) 262-0385
(608) 262-6250 Fax
Phil Albert
Wisconsin Department of Development
123 West Washington Ave.
P.O. Box 7970
Madison, Wl 53707
(608) 266-7099
(608) 267-2829 Fax
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Pollution Prevention in Wisconsin
Hazardous Pollution
Prevention Board
Policy and Planning
Wisconsin General \
Revenue Fund
DOD
•Audit Giants
USEPA Grants
Disposal Fees from '
Businesses
Wisconsin General lj
Revenue Fund
DNR
•Technical
Assistance
•Outreach
•Training
Wisconsin General
Revenue Fund
| SHWEC
-•I 'Technical
Ft Assistance
University of
Wisconsin
•Administrative Suppor^
*O.S. GOVERNMENT PRlNTlNGOmCE: 1992.6 • i "* __ '
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