Use of an Environmental Management

System to Save the World from

Greenhouse Gases

2008 APWA Conference

Peter Ruffier

City of Eugene

Wastewater Division

Why Should You Use An Environmental

Management System To Stop

Climate Change?

• You manage essential public services that either contribute to, or can mitigate, climate change elements.

• An EMS can focus your efforts, provide for measurable results, and drive continuous improvement.

Presentation Objectives

• Describe what an EMS is

• Provide examples of using an EMS

• Send disciples out into the world to do

good

Eugene Wastewater Division

• Provides O&M for regional wastewater

collection and treatment facilities.

• Population of 225,000 in the service

area.

• 49 MGD treatment plant, biosolids

facility, 49 pump stations.

• 77 employees.

• $10 million operating budget.

Why We Implemented an EMS

• Respond to Endangered Species Act

• Prepare for renewal of NPDES permit

• Align with City Council’s Resolution on

Sustainability

Why We Implemented an EMS

• Help in being competitive

• Support projected staff transitions

• Build on employee strengths and pride

• Provide third party documentation of

program accomplishments

Willamette River

Eugene’s EMS History

• Began development of the EMS in 1999

• EMS was registered as compliant with

ISO 14001 in September, 2001

• 2 external surveillance audits per year (14

total) have been conducted, system has

be re-certified twice (every 3 years)

EMS = Effective Management

An EMS is built around the “plan-do-

check-act” cycle

PLAN

DOACT

CHECK

POLICY

PlanningEnvironmental PolicyEnvironmental aspectsLegal/other requirements Set objectives and targets

Checking and corrective action

Monitoring and measurementCorrective and preventive actionsProgram Audits

ActingManagement ReviewProgram revisions

Implementation and operation

Strategies & work plansTraining, awareness, competenceEstablish operational controlsDocumentation

EMS PDCA Cycle

SpringPerformance reportingManagement review Annual EMS report

FallPerformance reportingInitial budget requestsChange management assessment

WinterPerformance reportingSet objectives & targetsEstablish strategies & work plans, complete budget

SummerPerformance reportingAspects review

Annual EMS Program Cycle

Establishing Objectives

and Targets

1 Review and prioritize significant environmental aspects (Plan)

2 Identify desired improvements (objectives and targets)

3 Define measurable performance indicators

Establishing Objectives

and Targets

4 Establish management programs to achieve objectives & targets (Do)

5 Monitor and report results

6 Evaluate results (Check)

7 Modify strategies and work plans (Act)

Considerations in Setting

Objectives and Targets

• Ability to control or influence

• Ability to track and measure

• Cost to track/measure/report

• Business and political realities

• Stakeholder input

2007 EMS Objective

Reduce Use of Natural Resources (Baseline = 2005)

Target 1: Maximize the beneficial reuse of methane produced as a result of biosolids digestion

Target 2: Increase the amount of non-petroleum based fuels used by the Division’s fleet by 10%

Target 3: Decrease the total non- renewable fuel consumed by the Division’s fleet equipment by 10%

Strategies to Reduce Use of

Petroleum-based Fuels

• Test and use biodiesel and E10

• Purchase Hybrid vehicles

• Develop vehicle use policy

• Bicycles/electric carts

2007 Performance Results

• Increased the amount of non-petroleum

based fuels used by Division's fleet by

19%

• Decreased the total non-renewable fuel

consumed by the Division's fleet

equipment by 27%

Target 1: Increase Non Petroleum Based Fuel Use by 10%

Target 2: Decrease Non Renewable Fuel Use by 10%

2.6 3.9

8.1

23.3 22.016.0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Target

Established in

2005

2005 2007

Year

Fu

el U

sed

(T

ho

usan

d G

allo

ns)

Non Petroleum Based Fuel Non Renewable Fuel

85

66%

90%

10% 15%

34%

%

Total

Fuel

Use

Atmospheric Methane

Concentrations

2007 EMS Objective

Reduce Emissions of Air Pollutants & Odors

Target 1: Reduce odors emanating from the regional wastewater facilities

Target 2: Reduce or offset the emission of greenhouse gases generated by wastewater treatment functions

Target 3: Reduce carbon monoxide emissions (lbs) from the engine generator by 50%.

Strategies to Reduce Air Emissions

• Optimize use of methane for power and

heat generation

• Install gas scrubber to remove siloxane &

hydrogen sulfide emissions

• Add catalytic converter to engine

generator

Not All Strategies Are Good Ones

Air Emission Control Measures

2007 Performance Results

• Reduced Carbon Monoxide emissions

(tons/year) from the engine generator by 68%

• Reduced sulfur dioxide by 99%

1.5

2.4

4.66

0 1 2 3 4 5

Tons Per Year

Ca

rbo

n M

on

ox

ide

Em

iss

ion

s

Reduce Carbon Monoxide Emissions from the

Engine Generator by 50%

2007 Target Baseline 2005

50%

R eductio n

68% R eductio n

Benefits of an EMS for

Climate Change Initiatives

•Focuses your efforts and sends the

message that you’re serious

•Provides structure and organization

–Sets explicit objectives (Plan)

–Establishes measurement of results (Do)

–Requires assessment and revision (Check)

–Drives continuous improvement (Act)

You Can Do It!

References for

More Information

• Peter Ruffier, City of Eugene

541-682-8606; Peter.J.Ruffier@ci.eugene.or.us

• EMS PEER Center– information to help local governments and Local Resource Centers (www.peercenter.net)

Thank You!

Questions?

Objectives Are Achieved By

EMS Work Plans

Objective – Reduce consumption of natural resources

Target – Optimize beneficial use of methane gas produced by anaerobic digestion

Measure – Develop recommendation & obtain resources for implementation

Time frame - Calendar year 2008 (Depends on Target)

Strategies – Several implementation strategies

Tasks – Multiple tasks to carry out each strategy

Coordinator – Responsibility for work plan completion

Progress report – Status or completion

Our EMS Benefits Over First

42 Months:

Electrical power savings:

~$32,836, plus $28,500 in credits (yr 2000)

Paper use savings:

~ $1,400

Solid waste disposal savings:

$14,170

Intrinsic Benefits of an EMS

• Provides an effective documentation

system

• Increases awareness and understanding

of Division’s environmental impacts

• Facilitates faster process improvements

Intrinsic Benefits of an EMS

• Promotes Pollution Prevention.

• Enhances efficiency/systems thinking.

• Promotes ecosystem thinking and

progress towards sustainability.

Intrinsic Benefits of an EMS

• Facilitates stakeholder involvement.

• Improves credibility internally and

externally.

• Enabled acceptance into EPA’s

Performance Track Program.

Typical Success Factors

• Commitment from senior management

• Designate staff to be a Core Team to act as a cheerleader

• Involvement of all employees within the fenceline

Typical Success Factors

• Dedicated resources

• Requires a link to overall strategic plan

of organization

• Requires sufficient time to develop and

implement the EMS

Typical Success Factors

• Proper follow through on the checking and

acting components

• Willingness to make the cultural change

required of the program

• Ability to find mentors to assist in the

development of the program

EMS Development Guidance

EMS PEER Center– information to help

local governments and Local Resource

Centers (www.peercenter.net)

Local Government Environmental

Assistance Network

(http://www.lgean.org/)

EMS References and Guides

Achieving Environmental Excellence:

An Environmental Management

Systems (EMS) Handbook for

Wastewater Utilities - August 2004

http://www.peercenter.net/sector/wastewater/in

dex.cfm?FrontID=3903

EMS Development Guidance

International City/County Management Association (ICMA):

An Environmental Management System Troubleshooters' Guide for Local Governments

A Tool for Improvement: Environmental Management Systems

EMS: A Better Bottom Line for Local Government

(http://www.icma.org/main/topic.asp?hsid=1&tpid=2&stid=79)

EMS Benefits

Environmental Management Systems: Do They Improve Performance?

Project Final Report: Executive Summary

National Database on Environmental Management Systems – University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (30 January 2003)

http://ndems.cas.unc.edu/final_report.htm

EMS Benefits

Environmental Management Systems: Do They Improve Performance?

The median reported cost for EMS design was approximately $64,000 (mostly for labor);

The average benefits for those facilities reporting quantified benefits was $90,320.