An EMS of a Different Color

What do you think of when you hear EMS?  Most likely paramedics, ambulances and the 911 center.  In the environmental world it means “Environmental Management System.”  An EMS is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its business and environmental goals.  Most EMSs are built on the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" model, leading to continual improvement based upon:

• Planning, including identifying environmental aspects and establishing goals (plan)
• Implementing training programs and operational controls (do)
• Conducting monitoring and following up with corrective action (check)
• Reviewing progress and acting to make needed changes to the EMS (act)

Everything we do and almost every decision we make as individuals has some environmental consequence.  For example, throwing reams of paper away does more than just use landfill space.  Paper is made from trees; the greater the demand for paper, the more trees are cut down.  Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give back oxygen.  With fewer trees, more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, increasing chances for global warming, rising oceans and other possible consequences.  The more electricity we use, the greater the environmental impacts.  If you drive a vehicle, you are well aware of the higher prices of gasoline, but do you drive less?  Making fuels from crude oil requires refining processes that produce other petrochemicals.  Those considered wastes must be treated, requiring additional energy and the use of other chemicals that have their own environmental challenges.

The Kent County Public Works Department is in the process of developing an EMS for the Kent County Wastewater Treatment Facility to help the facility's employees look at the ultimate environmental impacts of its operations.  With this information they will develop a system to control, reduce and ultimately eliminate these consequences. 

In December 2002, Kent County joined with nine other public agencies to develop an EMS for their activities.   The program is partially funded by local and regional public agencies and to a much greater degree by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The program is formally administered by the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF) and is referred to as the 3rd EMS Initiative for Public Agencies ( 169 kb PDF file) (MUNI III).  The operational areas covered by these programs include wastewater treatment operations, golf course maintenance, fleet maintenance, and convention center activities.  For Kent County, the EMS will cover all wastewater, biosolids and collection system activities, and includes their biosolids contractor, K-F Environmental Technologies, as a partner.

In July 2003, the county added participation in the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) EMS Demonstration Program, as an outgrowth of the MUNI program's coverage of biosolids.  Kent County is nearing completion of all four phases of the program. Phase IV is scheduled to begin in July, 2005.  Several procedures have been developed and are being implemented at the plant with the ultimate goal of third party certification under both the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 14000 standard and the NBP program standard.  The county anticipates accomplishing these certifications during 2005.

Under the EMS, the Public Works Department has identified the significant environmental aspects and critical control points that will minimize or eliminate environmental impacts, and ensure that the quality of biosolids remain consistent. Kent County’s EMS goals and objectives are available online ( 5 kb PDF file) and are meant to guide the county's development of its EMS.

One reason for installing the EMS at the Kent County Wastewater Treatment facility is to transfer the knowledge of long time employees while they are still working with us.  Their colloquial knowledge consists of many methods and ideas they have developed while working in particular areas but have never formally documented.  The county has hired an intern to update and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs).  Employees participate in SOP reviews and in passing this knowledge on to coworkers and new hires.   Everyone is part of the process to improve the plant and help it to operate optimally.

The EMS is ready to be evaluated by an internal group, who will perform an internal audit.  Once this review is completed, the county will be ready to seek certification under both ISO 14000 and NBP criteria.  An independent third party will evaluate and certify the EMS.  Certification provides valuable public relations and can help the county, and ultimately customers, save money.

If you wish to learn more about the EMS, visit the Kent County Public Works Department EMS web page.