P²AD Partnership News: February 2006

Upcoming Partner Events – Don’t Miss Out!

What Every Partner Needs to Know About Completing Their Annual Performance Report
P²AD will host a series of teleconferences in March on how to complete the new on-line APR. During the call, your Partner representative will go over the new form and be available to answer questions. Each Level will have two opportunities to join a call, March 8 from 2-3 pm and March 9 from 10-11 am. So mark your calendar and plan to join us. To join the call, you will need the appropriate toll-free number and access code:
Yellow Level

Toll-free number: 877-322-9654
Access code: 109816

Red and Blue Levels

Toll-free number: 888-285-4585
Access code: 913076

White Level

Toll-free number: 888-422-7124
Access code: 148685

APR Submittal Deadline Extended to April 17!

As mentioned in the January newsletter, we are moving toward a paperless system. Beginning this year, you will be required to submit your facility’s annual performance report on-line. Since the system will not be available until March 10, we have extended the deadline for APR submittal until April 17. Please note that if you joined the Program in fall 2005, you do not have to submit an APR this year.

Welcome New Partners

Eight new Partners were accepted during the fall 2005 enrollment and one Partner advanced to a higher Level.
The new Partners are: Red Level, Tifton Aluminum Co., Inc.; Yellow Level, Brasstown Valley Resort, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia State University and Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club; White Level, Georgia Traditional Industries Program, Skye Energy, LLC and The Wilderness Society.
The Program has also seen its first Partner advance to a higher membership level.
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. Plant 15 in Cartersville, which joined the Program at the Yellow Level during the fall 2004 enrollment period, was accepted into the Red Level.
“At Shaw Plant 15, we have made several commitments as part of our EMS implementation,” said Rudy Wofford, quality manager. “These include a 25% reduction in solid waste sent to the landfill from our tile cutting operation, a 35% reduction in non-hazardous wastes generated and reducing the potential for stormwater pollution.
“As these goals are achieved, we will continue to add aggressive, measurable and significant targets for improvement,” Wofford added. “We appreciate having P²AD as a partner and look forward to a continued positive working relationship.”

ATTENTION: Red and Blue Level Partners

During the roundtable at Interface last November, we agreed to collect examples where regulatory requirements overlap and provide them to EPD by March 3. Please send these to PJ Newcomb. We will discuss them at the May roundtable.

Partner Benefits

As a Partner, you have access to many benefits including free, on-site technical assistance. To learn more about the services available to you, download the
On-site Assistance Fact Sheet and Questionnaire.
Partners also are eligible to receive discounted rates on Georgia Tech’s energy and environment courses. Descriptions are available at http://www.edi.gatech.edu

More Opportunities for Assistance

Training Sessions
Several environmental training sessions will be offered during
EPA’s National Environmental Partnership Summit May 8-11 in Atlanta. Topics include:

Leveraging Lean Manufacturing Methods to Achieve Better Environmental Results: A toolkit for
environmental assistance providers
Ecological Footprints: Measuring sustainability and problem solving
Can comprehensive environmental reporting foster continual environmental improvements?
Introduction to logic modeling
Community-based change in natural urban environments
Leading by Example: Environmental improvement in action
Sustainability 501
Data Collection Tools and Techniques: The first step in measuring P2 results
Compliance assistance for the inspector
Consumer Conservation: More in your wallet, less from the environment

Free Energy Assessments
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now campaign is offering free energy assessments. The current focus of the assessments is efficiency improvements for steam and process heating operations. To apply, go to http://www.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow

Recognition Opportunities

Don’t Miss the Opportunity to Showcase Your Facility’s Environmental Achievements
This year’s National Environmental Partnership Summit (May 8-11 in Atlanta) will include a special opportunity for organizations to showcase their “stewardship in action” through environmental improvements they have made to their own operations and products within the last five years. Participants are invited to display their accomplishments with a “science fair”-type poster board and a one-page handout.
Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite projects, leading to recognition for the favorites. Those looking for new ideas on ways to improve their operations can “learn from the best,” and facilities that have made notable environmental improvements can “share with the rest.”
Please consider participating in the new showcase session; the deadline has been extended to March 10. This is a great, low-cost and simple way to demonstrate how you are putting stewardship in action. For more detailed information, including how to submit your proposal, go to:

http://www.environmentalsummit.org/leadingbyexampleap.cfm or contact Hetal Mehta.

Partners in the News

Interface Flooring Systems was recently named Energy Partner of the Year (end user category) by EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP). The program recognizes companies for “excellence in reducing landfill methane emissions and creating renewable energy,” according to EPA.
In 2000, Interface built a 10-mile pipeline to bring landfill gas from the LaGrange landfill to its carpet production facility. The pipeline, which became operational in October 2005, has reduced natural gas demand at the facility by 20 percent.
By securing the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction credits generated by the landfill’s flare, the project also helped Interface offset all its GHG emissions for its North American manufacturing facilities.
Interface received its award during the EPA’s LMOP Ninth Annual Conference and Project Expo in Baltimore in January.
To learn more about this project, or the other winners, click here.
Source: EPA

Other News

DNR Strategic Plan Open for Public Comment
In February, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources released its strategic plan, which provides goals, objectives and strategies to guide the development and implementation of department programs and operations over the next decade. The public has been asked to provide input on the goals, objectives and strategies in five key operational areas: resource inventory and monitoring; natural and cultural resources management; recreation management; regulatory and non-regulatory programming; and public education, outreach and communications.
This information may be reviewed on-line at
http://www.gadnr.org/strategic/ Written comments will be accepted prior to close of business Feb. 25. Comments may be submitted electronically through the above Web site or mailed to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Strategic Plan, 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. S.W., Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30334.

Calendar

Feb. 28 & March 1-2 – Global Plastics and Environmental Conference
Sheraton Gateway Hotel – Atlanta Airport
March 15-16 – GAWP 2006 Industrial Conference & Expo
Georgia International Convention Center, Atlanta, GA
March 21 – Clayton State University’s Earth Day and Environmental Awareness Day
11 am – 3 pm
The event will focus on the environment, recycling, community service, volunteerism, alternate transportation and educating the public. To exhibit, contact Joan Murphy . Deadline to register for exhibiting is Feb. 28.
March 22 – Southface Visionary Dinner
Georgia Freight Depot
March 23-24 – Greenprints 2006
Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center
April 1 to May 31 – Open Enrollment
April 13 – Georgia Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association: One-Day Regulatory Update Conference
Atlanta, GA. For more information, e-mail Tommy Sweat.
Presentations by senior regulatory officials including:

Ron Methier, Chief, Air Protection Branch, Georgia EPD
Jennifer Kaduck, Chief, Land Protection Branch, Georgia EPD
Mark Smith, Chief, Hazardous Waste Management Branch, Georgia EPD

April 17 – Annual Performance Reports DUE
May 3-4 – Georgia Air Quality (and Climate) Summit
Atlanta, GA
May 8-11 – National Environmental Partnership Summit
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA
Series of interactive sessions, workshops focused on pollution prevention, compliance assistance, and performance based environmental leadership. Early registration closes March 1. Full-week registration fees will increase from $325 to $425 for government, academic and NGOs and from $525 to $625 for industry after March 1.
Click here to register .
Sept. 1 – Oct. 31 – Open Enrollment

Category: Program News