State Pollution Prevention Programs
Pollution Prevention Strategies
DQ1 State Pollution Prevention Programs
As a P2 Specialist, you need to understand the scope of your state program and most likely, what they will auditing you for. So, your next step is to research your state’s pollution prevention program. You may need to locate the state Department of Environmental Protection or Environmental Quality to find the right document. Identify the state you are located in, give the program name, and outline the pollution prevention priorities as outlined by their strategic or programmatic plan.
DQ2 Your Workplace Pollution Prevention Plans
Please check with your company/organization and find out if they have a pollution prevention plan or policy. If so, what are some key components to the plan? If not, please find a published plan on the Internet and share key components from it.
1. What are their general policies on pollution prevention? Is there a commitment to sustainability?
2. Do they target specific pollution sources (such as stormwater or air)? If so, what are they? Do they quantify their goals?
3. Do they offer employee training?
4. Do they have standard procedures that are clearly articulated?
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 Industrial Symbiosis
The concept of industrial symbiosis (IS) over the last 20 years has become a well-recognized approach for environmental improvements at the regional level. Many technical solutions for waste and by-product material, water, and energy reuse between neighboring industries (so-called synergies) have been discovered and applied in the IS examples from all over the world.
Below are two short videos highlighting examples of success with industrial symbiosis. As you watch them, pick out one benefit from the project and relate the benefit to an ecological concept (ex: sustainability). Then select one barrier to success that the project had to overcome to become successful.
The first video is a short documentary on the industrial symbiosis project in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey.
Industrial Symbiosis Documentary
The second video is from a first-generation ethanol plant, a biorefinery that uses corn as a feedstock in Chatham, Ontario.
DQ2 Pollution Prevention Success
By sharing pollution prevention information with others, all users can benefit and avoid duplicative efforts. Below is a short video on a unique story at breweries located in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Pollution Prevention Success
After watching the video, share your findings from the assignment for Week 2. Describe the business you selected and share the information on pollution stream(s) addressed and how the company benefitted in protecting the environment.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 Global Impact of COVID 19
According to the news, Coronavirus lockdown has caused a drop in air pollution. Do you agree or disagree? Using a reliable source (not the news), justify your answer by using science-based information and connecting pollution prevention principles.
Note: Reliable sources are defined as those affiliated with the government or state agencies, educational institutions, or peer-to-peer reviewed papers.
DQ2 Process Diagram
Part A of our assignment this week was to choose a process around your home or workcenter and create a process diagram. Describe the process that you chose, the inputs of the process, and what wastes you identified. Did anything about this exercise surprise you? Were you able to immediately identify areas to improve? How would you persuade your company to see this process as beneficial?
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 Food Waste
In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30–40 percent of the food supply. This figure, based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. Research and discuss one area that consumers and industry can work to reduce food loss and waste across the supply chain.
DQ2 Dealing with eWaste
As great as digitization has been for the world, it does of course have its downsides. The problem of e-waste is one of the more measurable ones. According to the chart below, the United States was only second to Norway in the amount of e-waste generated per inhabitant in 2016.
24.9 kg = 52 lbs per person!!
What does the term “eWaste” mean? When you are looking at P2 opportunities in your facility, where are some good places to start? What about in your home?
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 Responsibility for Pollution Prevention
Who do you think is more responsible for pollution prevention? Individual people or the government? Explain.
DQ2 Recycling
Does your local government make it easy or hard for citizens to recycle?
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 Nonpoint Source
NPS pollution generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage, or hydrologic modification. NPS pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and groundwaters.
From the website below, select a success story from your state. In 3-5 paragraphs, summarize the problem, project highlights, and results to share with your classmates.
https://www.epa.gov/nps/success-stories-about-restoring-water-bodies-impaired-nonpoint-source-pollution
DQ2 Energy and the Environment
Electricity is produced by many different sources of energy, including, but not limited to, wind, solar, nuclear, and fossil fuels. The type and amount of emissions produced depend on how electricity is generated in your region. Use the website listed below to view the Power Profiler in your area and discover the fuel mix (%) of sources used to generate electricity in your eGRID subregion.
https://www.epa.gov/energy/power-profiler#/
Answer the questions below:
Which eGRID subregion are you located in?
What is the percentage of renewable/non-renewable fuel mix in your subregion? NOTE: Hover your mouse over the sub-region to see the percentages.
What are the percentages of alternative fuels for your subregion (i.e. geothermal, wind, nuclear, hydro, etc)?
How does your subregion compare to the national average for CO2, SO2 and NOx?
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 Sustainability and Environmental Gentrification
In this 2017 article, the author concluded that, absent a fundamentally new approach to redevelopment planning that places housing affordability at the center of the process, large-scale sustainable development projects are likely to become engines of what has been termed “environmental gentrification.
What does environmental gentrification mean to you and is it a good thing or a bad thing in terms of sustainability?
https://www.planetizen.com/node/94763/sustainable-whom-large-scale-urban-development-projects-and-environmental-gentrification
DQ2 Sustainability Planning
We have been discussing how ISO 14001 can support or incorporate sustainable practices. There are many to choose from, each with advantages and disadvantages. Choose one of the following (according to your last name) and post a summary of how the planning process works to contribute to sustainability.
ABCD Process (Last name A-C)
Triple bottom line (D-F)
Cradle-to-cradle (G-I)
Natural Step (J-L)
Natural Capitalism (M-O)
The precautionary principle (P-R)
Zero Waste (S)
Factor X (T-V)
Eco-footprint (W-Z)
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 1 Assignment
1. In 1-2 paragraphs, summarize what you believe pollution prevention means in your own words.
2. Using a reliable source (i.e. scholarly article, a government website, or credible professional organization), research the topics of pollution prevention, pollution control, and pollution cleanup. Prepare a 2-3 paragraph discussion of describing the differences between the strategies.
Your response should be coherently written and based on supporting evidence, scientific principles, and environmental management practices. Document your sources with appropriate APA in-text citations and references. If the reference is a web site make sure that the link is active.
The detailed grading rubric for this assignment is available in your Assignments Area.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 2 Assignment
Life Cycle Assessments
This case study assignment allows us to examine the application of the life cycle assessments to real-world situations.
1. Using the sources below, select an example life cycle according to your last name. You are only required to use one publication, although you may use more than one reference.
• Life-Cycle Assessment of Desktop Computer Displays (Last name beginning A-F)
• Life-Cycle Assessment for Lead-Free Solder in Electronics (Last name G-L)
• Life-Cycle Assessment for Lithium-ion Batteriesand Nanotechnology in Electric Vehicles (last name M-R)
• Life-Cycle Assessment for Wire and Cable Insulation and Jacketing (Last name S-Z)
2. Answer each of the following questions for your example. Your response should be coherently written and based on supporting evidence, scientific principles, and environmental ecology principles. Document your sources with appropriate APA in-text citations and references. If the reference is a web site, make sure that the link is active (60 points)
a) Purpose, Goals and Scope of Project – describe in 2-3 paragraphs what the team or business hoped to accomplish. (10 points)
b) Summary of Project – describe in 2-3 paragraphs what steps the team or business took during the LCA. (10 points)
c) Life Cycle Stages – use a diagram or written narrative to describe the inputs, 5 phases and outputs (15 points)
d) Summarize the environmental and health impacts evaluated – describe in a table what the potential environmental and health impacts were. (15 points)
e) Summarize where the greatest environmental or health impact was found – describe in 1-paragraph where the greatest impact was found from the potential impacts in Question 4. (15 points)
f) Outline the recommendations to reduce environmental impacts – in 1-2 paragraphs describe the recommendations the team made to reduce the business’s environmental impact. (15 points)
3. Clear concise paragraphs, with transitions between paragraphs and no grammatical or spelling errors. (10 points)
4. Appropriate APA in-text citations and reference list. (10 points)
The detailed grading rubric for this assignment is available in your Assignments Area.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 3 Assignment
In Week 2, we discovered that Life Cycle Assessments consider all stages of a product from manufacture/creation to disposal. They are useful in assessing environmental impact as they provide a conceptual model to assist in the visualizing of different stages in a product’s life. By examining each stage, resource inputs and waste outputs can be considered. By approaching a life cycle assessment at each stage, decisions can be made to reduce environmental impacts.
As part of LCAs, we can diagram process flows to help visualize the steps involved in a process. Since we can’t visit an industry together, this week’s assignment has two parts:
Part A:Process Diagram
Pick a process around your home or workplace to create a process diagram. You can select something simple like making coffee or choose to diagram a more intricate process like breaking down a pistol for cleaning. The main objectives is to identify the steps in the process, the inputs necessary for the process and the outputs produced throughout the entire process. Don’t forget to include the tools, materials, transportation used as well as the wastes and products produced.
Use the table found in the attachment of this activity to diagram your chosen process.
Part B: Toxic Release Inventory Research
You are tasked to prepare Toxic Release Inventory information on a facility in your area. Use the TRI Search Plus Application found at Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program | US EPA (https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program):
• Scroll to the bottom of the webpage to the section entitled “Toxics Release Inventory (TRI SEARCH)”
• Click on the “TRI Search Plus” link on the blue table of contents on the left-hand side (see red circle in the figure above). Allow pop-ups, as this will bring up a new search engine on a new webpage.
• Enter an address and click the green button “View Search Results”, (or, click the green button “View Current Location” to the right of the search bar and allow locator to use your current location)
• Zoom out or in until you see a location (or locations) designated as a TRI Facility. Click on the colorful circle, which should bring up the facility and the address.
• Click on one of the colorful circles on the map. This should bring up a facility in the search region.
• On the left-hand side of the screen is a blue table of contents with white text. Click on the various topics to bring up data for the facility.
• Then, please prepare a report with the following information from the report:
• Facility Name
• Toxic Release Inventory ID
• On Site Releases Total by:
? Air (Chemical name, Quantity Reported and Health Effects)
? Water (Chemical name, Quantity Reported and Health Effects)
? Land (Chemical name, Quantity Reported and Health Effects)
• Under Pollution Prevention (P2) and Waste Management, note which methods were used and how many pounds were reported.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 4 Assignment
Week 4 Assignment
Using credible and reliable sources, research the following information for your particular industry from Week 3:
1. Brief description of the industry
2. List possible pollutants or contaminants that would qualify for pollution prevention efforts. Identify which environmental laws and regulations requires this P2 effort.
a. Ex: Used motor oil – regulated under RCRA
3. Description of typical operations generatingpollutants identified in #2.
4. Using a table, provide a description of the Industry’s common Pollution Prevention Practices or Best Available Technologies –
Practice
Hierarchy
Objectives
Ex: Train spray gun operators in proper techniques to prevent waste generation
Source Reduction
Reduce material use; reduce pollutants from product use
***Must have at least one of each hierarchy category (Source Reduction, Reuse, Recycle).Treatment and disposal are optional but encouraged.
5. Indicate any changes that would improve this pollution plan, and why.
6. Include reference citations in APA formatting
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 5 Assignment
An effective pollution prevention program is the key to identifying and reducing environmental impacts from an industrial facility. There are a number of ways to prioritize your wastes. Each facility may develop its own unique approach, as long as the required elements are covered.
Using the learning resources provided in Weeks 1-5, your assignment is to design a reduction plan by prioritizingthe list of wastes below. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, but you must provide written justification for your decisions.
Pollutant
Process
Amount generated per year
Costs of Disposal
Methylene Chloride
Manufacturer: Nexeo Solutions
Paint Stripping
(SDS found in Assignment folder)
200 gallons
$4,500
Chlorodifluoromethane (R-22)
Manufacturer: National Refrigerants
Refrigerants
(SDS found in Assignment folder)
45 lbs(15 lb per cylinder)
$8000
Fluorescent light bulbs
Facility Maintenance
(SDS found in Assignment folder)
8 bulbs per month
$0.75 per bulb
Used Motor Oil
Vehicle maintenance
(SDS found in Assignment folder)
20 gallons
$1.00 per gallon
Paper
Administrative
150 lbs
$0.21 per pound
Aluminum cans
Employee breakroom
20 lbs
$0.15 per pound
Instructions:
1. Research the product using the Safety Data Sheets provided in your assignment folder. Pay particular attention to the form that the chemical is in (i.e. solid, liquid, gas).
2. Research industry best available practices and consider the waste hierarchy for each chemical.
3. Document how your company will prioritize the product disposal. Will you base your priority on disposal costs, health effects, ease of disposal or some other way? Remember, there is no right or wrong answers, but you must provide written justification for your decisions.
4. After considering the significance of each waste on the list, prioritize your approach to reducing the pollution at your facility. You must address each pollutant listed in the table above. Clearly prioritize the disposal by using a numbering system or other way that lets me know in what order your disposal plan will be executed. Again, make sure that your justification is clearly documented.
5. Other things to consider:
a. If you make a recommendation for a more environmentally friendly chemical, you must list aspecific recommendation. Document why you are choosing that recommendation and provide references.
b. If you make a recommendation to change your operation, please keep in mind that it takes time to implement major changes. So, you must account for the current waste operations and highlight why it’s important to make these changes.
c. Always consider the pollution prevention efforts that go along with your recommendations. For example, if you recommend to replace gas powered equipment with battery powered, you must account for the future pollution possibilities.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 6 Assignment
Stakeholder Presentation
In Week 5, you were tasked to design a reduction plan by prioritizing the list of wastes below. Part B of your assignment for Week 5 is to prepare a presentation for your internal stakeholders following the instructions below.
In your company, you have a group of stakeholders who are not convinced that the company needs to implement a pollution prevention program. As the point person for Pollution Prevention efforts, you have been tasked to prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your prioritized pollution prevention plan. Highlight the methodology that you used to prioritize the wastes and the advantages you can predict for your company.
Under the Week 6 Learning Resources, you will find a document with tips for writing a professional PowerPoint presentation. The content should be concise and organized in 3 parts: Introduction, Body, Conclusion. Related material is grouped on 3-5 slides using headings or bulleted lists. Title slide, table of contents, bibliography included.
For more grading criteria, consult the rubric found in the Assignment folder.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 7 Assignment
Management of environmental, health and safety issues has changed significantly in the past twenty years. The emergence of voluntary standards and codes of conduct, including international standards, coupled with the need to manage costs and limited resources has resulted in a trend to move beyond regulatory compliance. Now, companies work toward sustainability using integrated environmental, health and safety management systems, which are woven into key business processes.
As an Environmental Manager, you will potentially oversee daily activities to maintain your organization’s environmental management system. In that role, you may be tasked to perform an environmental audit on the EMS. For this assignment, you will be review and summarizetwoindustry Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and answer a series of related questions.
Part A –Industry Environmental Management Systems(80 points)
1. From the list below, select one of major companies to research.
• Toyota
• Daikin
• Marubeni
• Fujitsu
• Nissan
• Ricoh
• IBM
• Yamaha
• Mitsubishi
• Subaru
• Ford Motor Company
• Lockheed Martin
• 3M
2. Summarize the following information for your company. Your response should be coherently written in your own words with few, if any, direct quotes. Document your sources with appropriate APA in-text citations and references. If the reference is a web site, make sure that the link is active
a. Overview & profile of the business–include information about main business activities, date founded, number of employees and type of industry.
b. Environmental Policy
c. Initiatives and milestones
d. EMS Overview – include their fundamental approach, key issues, structure,
e. 14001 Certification status
f. What impressed you the most about this company’s program?
Part B – State ISO 14001 (20 points)
1. Find an industry in your state that is ISO 14001 certified.
2. Summarize information about main business activities, date founded, number of employees and type of industry, and date certified.
ENMT405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
Week 8 Assignment
Within their company or agency, environmental professionals are typically assigned responsibility for providingon environmental, health and safety issues information to their community, through established communication channels, on programs, services, regulatory impact, and compliance requirements.Upon request, they also provide assistance in hazardous material spill cleanup, preparing written reports about reportable releases and notifying appropriate agencies about reportable spills.
Recently, an article was published highlighting the dangers of PFAS in drinking water (https://earthjustice.org/features/breaking-down-toxic-pfas). Since your company is one of the companies mentioned in the article, you have been assigned to prepare a response. Your Week 8 assignment is to prepare short briefing
Instructions:
1. Google search “Your State*PFAS contamination”. (*Substitute the name of your state in the search).
2. Research the following concerns:
a. What are PFAS? In general, what are the sources of PFAS exposure?
b. Using your location, has the local health department or state environmental agency confirmed contamination in the drinking water? If so, what is the nature of the risk (high, medium, low).
c. How can PFAS affect human health?
d. What can the public do to reduce their exposure to PFAS?
3. Prepare a PowerPoint Presentation to address the concerns. The presentation should follow the same guidelines as presented in Week 6. The specific grading rubric can be found in your Assignments folder. Areas of focus include:
a. Your audience is the general public demographic in your area so your briefing should be written in easy to understand language suitable for that audience.
b. The material should be grouped on 3-5 slides using headings or bulleted lists (not including the title slide, overview or summary slide).
c. Use reliable, credible references. These include federal or state government agencies, peer-reviewed articles or industry trade resources.
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