Our Work Introduction Service Areas: Technology Innovation           Energy & Climate           Environmental Management & Security Systems              Water & Sanitation

The project, funded through a coopertive agreement by EPA's Office of Water, Office of Compliance, Office of Air and Radiation, and EPA Regions I and IX, is being executed by the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF). GETF also headed up efforts for the first EMS Initiative that involved nine participants and ran from 1997 to 1999. Having learned much from the first initiative GETF has integrated many of the keys to success and lessons learned into the second initiative. The second initiative has drawn heavily from the first, utilizing many of the unique approaches and materials that were developed (e.g. environmental policies and EMS procedures). Participants from the fist initiative have also volunteered to be mentors, answering questions, providing assistance where needed and have been included as guest lecturers at the workshops. This leadership has proven very helpful for the second round participants and has provided valuable insight into the implementation process. 

Prior to the Seattle Workshop the participants spent the preceding months "soaking up" the requirements involved with implementation. Much time has been spent with the participants up-front to ensure successful initial efforts. This period involved identifying a core team to head up the implementation effort, conducting a gap analysis to assess what EMS elements are already in place, and establishing communication lines inside the organization and with external stakeholders. The Seattle workshop began with participant presentations on the subjects described above, their methods used and an overview of their keys to success. These presentations demonstrated that strategies used at one organization typically differ from that of another which is often dictated by the organizational culture. All of the participants commented that the sharing session was one of the highlights of the workshop. 

The remainder of the workshop focussed on the implementation steps involved in Phase II: identifying legal and regulatory requirements; identifying significant environmental aspects; developing an environmental policy; and, setting objectives and targets. Again, utilizing material generated from the first initiative and drawing from lessons learned a case study was developed for environmental aspect and impact identification. Participants broke up into groups to assess the activities and services of the Department of Public Works of Anytown, USA. The work generated from this effort was then used by the group to establish objectives and targets. 

Participants also benefited from a presentation on The Natural Step (TNS). TNS provides a pragmatic framework which can be used by an organization to guide social, environmental, and economic actions. Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District, one of the participants, is in the process of integrating TNS into their business operations. Kevin Considine, Environmental Management Representative for Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District had the following about TNS and ISO 14001: 

"I have always thought that the ISO 14001 standard is like a blueprint for a ship, the EMS itself is the ship & the four system conditions of The Natural Step are the compass that guides the organization in the direction it would like to go. When determining long term goals set forth in an organization's environmental policy sustainability should be given careful thought and consideration and TNS can help." 

In the spirit of The Natural Step presentation the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program gave multiple presentations on how government/university environmental managers can integrate energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities into their EMS implementation efforts. The goal of the DOE presentations was to have the participants walk away with a basic understanding of: 1) the natural links between energy and environment at the state and local level; 2) characteristics of successful energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at the local level; 3) the latest energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and prime markets for them; and 4) contacts, tools and resources for developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at the state and local level. 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection WES Laboratory commented that the DOE session couldn't have been more timely. The WES Lab is in the planning stages of renovating its 90 year-old building and plans to incorporate energy efficiency and green building principles into the renovation process. The WES Lab EMS core team will use the EMS to help determine where and how energy efficiency and green building design should be incorporated into the design process. MA DEP believes that once renovation is complete they will realize cost savings and increased efficiencies. The building will be used to educate local school children on green building design and serve as a green building model for other Massachusetts state agencies. 

The participants will meet again in February 2001 in Ft. Myers, FL to receive training on developing environmental management programs. The first day of the workshop is open to other government entities that would like to learn more about EMS. 

For additional information on the project please visit http://www.getf.org/projects/muni.cfm or contact Craig Ruberti at cruberti@getf.org.