PennDOT Strategic Environmental Management

Programby

Kenneth Thornton, PG, Ileana Ivanciu, PG, and James Heeren, PE

2011 TRB Waste Management and Resource Efficiency Workshop

Strategic Environmental Management Strategic Environmental Management Plan PolicyPlan Policy

Pennsylvania Governor’s Executive Order 1998-1

Required each Commonwealth Agency to develop a Green Plan to incorporate the policies outlined in the Executive Order

PennDOT Green Plan PennDOT Green Plan

• Developed a Green Plan Policy appropriate for the PennDOT

• Assessment of potential environmental impacts concentrated in the construction and maintenance activities of the agency– 833 Construction activities– 678 Maintenance activities

• Development of an Environmental Management System in conformance with the ISO 14001 standard

Green Plan Policy StatementGreen Plan Policy Statement

Green Plan Policy ImplementationGreen Plan Policy Implementation

• The Green Plan Policy (GPP) is reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation

• Requirement of ISO 14001 standard• Describes PennDOT’s commitment to

responsible environmental management– Practicing resource conservation– Ensuring regulatory compliance– Continually improving performance

SEMP is the Green Plan for PennDOT SEMP is the Green Plan for PennDOT

StrategicEnvironmentalManagement Program

Programs Included in SEMPPrograms Included in SEMP

• Strategic Recycling Program• Maintenance Districts ISO 14001 Certifications

(11 districts)• Bureau of Construction – Materials Testing

Laboratory’s ISO 9001 Certification• Underground Storage Tank Phase II Compliance

Program• Engineering Districts 9001 Certifications

– District 10– District 12

District CertificationsDistrict Certifications

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1998 2002 2004 2006 2010

Maintenance Operations RegistrationMaintenance Operations Registration

• Each Maintenance District is independently registered. The scope of the registrations include three (3) distinct Focus Areas.– Winter Services– Stockpile and Garage Management– Roadway Maintenance Activities

Winter Services Winter Services

De-icing Materials Application Snow Removal

Winter ServicesWinter Services

• Winter Maintenance Materials– Application rates • applying the correct amount of material limits the

chemical impact on the environment• monitor road temperatures for correct material

application rate

– Material tracking – Reporting what is used is proof of a process for checks and balances for application rates

Winter ServicesWinter Services

• Application rates and mix, matched to conditions

• Tracking materials usage• Pretreatment and new technology• Equipment calibration• Post-storm review

Environmental Impacts of Road SaltsEnvironmental Impacts of Road Salts

• Wide range of impacts on:– Freshwater ecosystems (groundwater/surface

water)– Soil– Vegetation– Wildlife– Human Health

• In high concentrations, road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment

Environmental Impacts of Road SaltsEnvironmental Impacts of Road Salts

•Many freshwater organisms cannot tolerate high concentrations even for a short period•Impaired growth of aquatic plants and animals•Impacts to residential drinking water wells are primarily from historical salt handling and storage practices

Stockpile and Garage ManagementStockpile and Garage Management

Underground Storage TanksAboveground Storage Tanks

Total No. of Maintenance Facilities/Stockpiles: 461

USTS = 115ASTS = 1,051

Garage/Stockpiles ManagementGarage/Stockpiles Management

• Proper Stockpile maintenance will eliminate surface and groundwater contamination

• Significant aspects include:– Operations– Materials control– Materials containment– Housekeeping (runoff control; salt water cover)– Facility maintenance– Model stockpile implementation– Emergency response

Stockpile and Garage ManagementStockpile and Garage Management

Materials Storage

Garage/Stockpile ManagementGarage/Stockpile Management

• Follow procedures and protocols for storage and waste removal

• Inspections:– Foreman’s Quarterly Inspection– Environmental Compliance Checklist– Emergency Response requirements:• Annually update Combined Facility Response Plan

(CFRP)• Periodic Emergency drills (“spill drill”)

– Annual BOMO Quality Assurance Inspection

Stockpile ManagementStockpile Management

Grass barrier reduces runoff into groundwater

Salt StorageSalt Storage

Roadway Maintenance ActivitiesRoadway Maintenance Activities

Erosion and Sedimentation Control

Waste Management and Spill Prevention/Control

Roadway MaintenanceRoadway Maintenance

Significant aspects include:Erosion & sedimentation controls (silt fences; rock lining; seeding and mulching)Roadway Maintenance waste managementDue diligence of soil cuttingsSpill management in PennDOT and contractor operations

Erosion and SedimentationErosion and Sedimentation

Erosion and SedimentationErosion and Sedimentation

Maintenance ISO 14001Maintenance ISO 14001

• Each District SEMP Manager is responsible for day-to day activities including:– Document Control and Records Management– Contractor notification– Scheduling of Internal and External Audits– Providing, scheduling and tracking of maintenance

personnel required training– Preparation of the District SEMP annual report and

presentation to District Management

Pollution Prevention Section (PPS)Pollution Prevention Section (PPS)

• Provides administrative and technical support:– Analysis of Waste Management– Analysis of Environmental Aspects and Impacts– Analysis of External Audit results and trends– SEMP improvement goals at the statewide level– Tracking of Statewide Legal and other requirements– Statewide ISO 14001 Procedures and other SEMP support– Preparation and submittal of the Annual Statewide SEMP

Management Report– Management of SEMP consulting and external ISO

Registration contracts

External Audit Findings by Fiscal YearExternal Audit Findings by Fiscal Year

Financial BenefitsFinancial Benefits

• Materials reuse• Environmental Liability avoidance (pollution

prevention)• Waste Management/minimization• Performance enhancements and qualitative

improvements• Less re-work on maintenance activities• Fewer operation stoppages by County

Conservation District

Cultural ChangeCultural Change

• Management support and participation energizes workers and supervisors to continually improve performance

• SEMP Awareness leads to Cultural Change– Properly planned work protects the environment– Awareness of how actions can impact the

environment

Questions & CommentsQuestions & CommentsIleana Ivanciu, PGDewberry-Goodkind, Inc.iivanciu@dewberry.com

Kenneth Thornton, PGPennsylvania Department of Transportationkethornton@state.pa.us

James Heeren, PEDewberry-Goodkind, Inc.jheeren@dewberry.com