Rebecca WestWestern Carolina Regional Sewer

AuthorityGreenville, South Carolina

Rebecca WestWestern Carolina Regional Sewer

AuthorityGreenville, South Carolina

National Biosolids PartnershipEMS Program

OverviewOverview

•History of the need for Biosolids EMS

•Status of EMS for Biosolids•Future Outlook for EMS

•History of the need for Biosolids EMS

•Status of EMS for Biosolids•Future Outlook for EMS

More Overview

• Now there was the need to interact with neighbors and the public

• Public perception became the number one priority

HistoryHistory

History

• Storm clouds on biosolids public acceptance were starting to gather in the late 1980’s –

• Ocean Dispersal no long allowed• Public Environmental Awareness

History con’t

• Sludge “Disposal” was no longer an “arrow” to no where

• Wastewater Industry caught by surprise

• Industry had been recycling solids for years

More History

• Need for better performance-more than regulatory minimum

• Public agency staff didn’t have credibility

• Producers of a product, Perceived of as trying to get rid of Biosolids the cheapest way possible

National Challenge

• Many Controversies around the United States

National Biosolids PartnershipNational Biosolids Partnership

Goal: Advance Environmentally Sound and Accepted Biosolids Management Practices-Gain Public Acceptance

Non-Profit Alliance Formed in 1997

Goal: Advance Environmentally Sound and Accepted Biosolids Management Practices-Gain Public Acceptance

Non-Profit Alliance Formed in 1997

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Environmental Management System (EMS) • Major NBP Objective• Wastewater Professionals asked to “Raise the Bar”• Regulations are Baseline—EMS

is Commitment to go Beyond• Includes Pretreatment,

Treatment and Use/Disposal

• Major NBP Objective• Wastewater Professionals asked to “Raise the Bar”• Regulations are Baseline—EMS

is Commitment to go Beyond• Includes Pretreatment,

Treatment and Use/Disposal

NBP Strategy

• NBP believes the EMS with its third party verification will help us gain public trust.

• We also have a new communications program that has been developed at the national level-the first step is our new NBP Web Site (www.biosolids.org)

EMS Blueprint-Five Components EMS Blueprint-Five Components

• Code of Good Practice• EMS Elements• Guidance Document• National Manual of Good

Practice• Independent,Third-Party

Verification Program

• Code of Good Practice• EMS Elements• Guidance Document• National Manual of Good

Practice• Independent,Third-Party

Verification Program

EMS Blueprint-Code of Good PracticeEMS Blueprint-Code of Good Practice

• Commitment to EMS• Commitment to Third Party

Audit• Commitment to Good Practices• Commitment to

Communications

• Commitment to EMS• Commitment to Third Party

Audit• Commitment to Good Practices• Commitment to

Communications

EMS Blueprint-EMS Common ElementsEMS Blueprint-EMS Common Elements

• 17 Elements• Required for an EMS• Identifies critical control points

in the biosolids value train• Major emphasis on public

participation and communications

• 17 Elements• Required for an EMS• Identifies critical control points

in the biosolids value train• Major emphasis on public

participation and communications

EMS Blueprint-EMS Guidance ManualEMS Blueprint-EMS Guidance Manual

• A how to manual, self implementing

• Meet the requirements of the Common Elements

• Prepare for the Audit

• A how to manual, self implementing

• Meet the requirements of the Common Elements

• Prepare for the Audit

EMS Blueprint-National Manual of Good Practice

EMS Blueprint-National Manual of Good Practice• Compendium of all the

manuals in the country• Identifies best management

practices at critical control point

• Participant chooses best practices

• Compendium of all the manuals in the country

• Identifies best management practices at critical control point

• Participant chooses best practices

EMS Blueprint-Third Party Program EMS Blueprint-Third Party Program

• Audit-use an existing organization

• Audit reports readily available to the public

• More detailed work needs to be done in preparation for launching audit program 2002

• Audit-use an existing organization

• Audit reports readily available to the public

• More detailed work needs to be done in preparation for launching audit program 2002

Demonstration Program Demonstration Program

Test and refine Blueprint with 27 Demonstration Projects

Demonstration Projects

Southeast Charter Demonstration Projects

•Montgomery, Alabama•Columbus, Georgia•Greenville, South Carolina

Looking to the Future-2002Looking to the Future-2002

• January 2002-Third Party January 2002-Third Party Certification Program in placeCertification Program in place

• 27 Demonstration Projects have 27 Demonstration Projects have established EMS and have initiated established EMS and have initiated operations consistent with EMSoperations consistent with EMS

• 13 Additional smaller organizations 13 Additional smaller organizations included in the Demo Programincluded in the Demo Program

• January 2002-Third Party January 2002-Third Party Certification Program in placeCertification Program in place

• 27 Demonstration Projects have 27 Demonstration Projects have established EMS and have initiated established EMS and have initiated operations consistent with EMSoperations consistent with EMS

• 13 Additional smaller organizations 13 Additional smaller organizations included in the Demo Programincluded in the Demo Program

Looking to the Future-2003Looking to the Future-2003

• Year 2003-100 wastewater Year 2003-100 wastewater organizations in the Code of Good organizations in the Code of Good Practice ClubPractice Club

• 40 Demonstration organizations 40 Demonstration organizations completed the certification processcompleted the certification process

• 60 New Organizations preparing 60 New Organizations preparing EMSEMS

• Year 2003-100 wastewater Year 2003-100 wastewater organizations in the Code of Good organizations in the Code of Good Practice ClubPractice Club

• 40 Demonstration organizations 40 Demonstration organizations completed the certification processcompleted the certification process

• 60 New Organizations preparing 60 New Organizations preparing EMSEMS

Conclusions

• EMS Program has moved from Planning to the implementation phase

• Learn from Demonstration Program

• Continue to refine Blueprint to be sure it is practical and cost effective

Conclusions

• NBP ready to assist Biosolids organizations prepare a Biosolids EMS

• Looking for more organizations to participate in the Demonstration Program

National Biosolids Partnership

Peter Machno Ph.D

EMS Program ManagerTelephone 800-613-4502pmachno@biosolids.org

National Biosolids Partnership

Peter Machno Ph.D

EMS Program ManagerTelephone 800-613-4502pmachno@biosolids.org