P²AD Partnership News: March 2006

WHAT’S NEWS

APRs Due April 17

As mentioned in the February newsletter, beginning this year Partners are required to submit their facility’s annual performance report on-line. The deadline for APR submittal is April 17. Submit APR.

Call for Speakers

The Georgia Environmental Partnership (GEP) sponsors twice-yearly environmental network meetings around the state. These meetings provide excellent opportunities for local industry-to-industry mentoring, idea exchange and technology transfer. Each meeting includes presentations on a pollution prevention and compliance topic. GEP is interested in featuring a local Red or Blue Level Partner to speak on their environmental program at this spring’s round of meetings. If you would like to speak at any of the meetings listed below, please contact PJ Newcomb by April 7. If you are interested in counting the presentation toward your mentoring requirement in the Program, please contact your Partner representative.

GEP Meeting Schedule (dates tentative)

Augusta, May 16
Savannah, May 17
Macon, May 23
Tifton, May 24
Newnan, May 25
Calhoun, June 7
Gainesville, June 8

Program Adopts EPA Challenge Commitments

The Partnership Program has adopted the national and regional challenges set forth by EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track program (NEPT). The goal of the challenges is to encourage member facilities to focus on national and regional environmental priorities. Participating NEPT facilities receive a 2-for-1 credit for choosing one of the challenge commitments. Region 4’s challenge focuses on reducing the use of water, discharges to water, energy, and Priority Chemicals. Read more about EPA’s challenge.

Challenge Commitments

1. Reduce water use by 15% (normalized or absolute)
2. Reduce use of one or more Priority Chemicals by 10% on an absolute basis (before normalizing)
3. Reduce transportation or non-transportation energy use by 10% on an absolute basis (before normalizing)
4. Reduce discharges to water (any aspect) by 15% (normalized or absolute).

What does this mean for the Partnership Program?

If you adopt a challenge commitment as a member of NEPT, you also can receive 2-for-1 credit as a Blue Level Partner. (Since Red Level Partners only make two performance commitments, they are not eligible.) This means that the Partner would track and report on only three performance commitments (instead of the usual four required at the Blue Level). Adopting a challenge commitment is completely optional, but participation is only open to new or renewing (after three years) applicants to the Blue Level. Finally, you do not have to be an NEPT member to take advantage of the challenge commitments. Any Blue Level applicant (or renewing Blue Level Partner) is eligible.

What does this mean for Georgia’s environment?

The overall goal of the challenge is to leverage the commitments of Partners to focus on environmental issues of regional importance, enabling Partners to make a “collective dent” in specific areas that will improve Georgia’s environment.

More information will be available on P²AD’s Web site. If you have any questions, please call PJ Newcomb at 404-651-5126.

New ISO Standards for GHG Reduction and Emissions Trading

The ISO 14064 standards for greenhouse gas accounting and verification published March 1, 2006 by ISO provide government and industry with an integrated set of tools for programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as for emissions trading. ISO launched the development of ISO 14064 in 2002 as a solution to the problems posed by the fact that governments, business corporations and voluntary initiatives were using a number of approaches to account for organization- and project-level GHG emissions and removals with no generally accepted validation or verification protocols. Source: IMS Alerts.

PARTNER BENEFITS

Free Assistance Available

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 Assistance Questionnaire.

OUTREACH

Need Earth Day Ideas?

During the month of April, Radio Disney is available to host Earth Day events featuring themed prizes and activities. This can be a stand-alone event or can be customized as part of a pre-existing Earth Day initiative. This would be a great way to add a kids element to an event that you already have planned for April. If you are interested in learning more, contact Radio Disney’s Katie Rouse at 770-563-8528.

Computers Sought for Louisiana

The Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council is continuing its efforts to help supply refurbished computers to schools, non-profits, churches and families displaced by the two hurricanes that hit Louisiana last fall. The group cleans the donated computers to U.S. Department of Defense standards before placing them. Contact Nancy Jo Craig, executive director, at 225-379-3577 to donate.

RECOGNITION

Smart Growth Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for the fifth annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This competition is open to local or state governments and other public sector entities that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places.

Applications will be accepted in five categories:
» Built Projects
» Policies and Regulations
» Small Communities
» Equitable Development
» Overall Excellence in Smart Growth

Interested parties are encouraged to submit applications for smart growth activities that have shown significant activity between May 1, 2001 and May 1, 2006. Successful applicants will have incorporated the principles of smart growth to create places that respect community culture and the environment, foster economic development and enhance quality of life and public health. Applications are due May 1. Up to five winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, DC in November.

TRAINING

Introduction to Systems Thinking

The workshop, Introduction to Systems Thinking: Applications for the Non-profit, Education and Public Sectors, will be held April 6-7 in Atlanta. Registration is $595 per person and $895 for two persons from the same organization. All materials are included. Limited scholarships are available. Register early. Class size will be limited to maximize opportunities for coaching and interaction. For more information, contact Elizabeth Clement.

Discounts on Classes at Georgia Tech

Contact Jennifer Freeman at 404-894-4904 or 888-272-2104 for the Partner discount on energy and environmental courses. More training opportunities.

Red and Blue Level Partners
Understanding Environmental Compliance
April 20 » Pine Mountain, Callaway Gardens
June 15 » Dublin, Heart of Georgia Technical School
Sept 7 » Dalton, Dalton State College

Internal Auditing for 14001 EMS
May 3-4 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center

ISO 14001:2004 EMS Lead Auditor Training
April 24-28 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center

Yellow Level Partners
Root Cause Analysis
May 3 » Augusta, Georgia Tech regional office

Energy Data Management Analysis
May 23 » Atlanta, Georgia Tech, EDI Training Room

Understanding an ISO 14001 EMS: 2004
Aug 16 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center

First Line Change Agent
May 24-25 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center
Sept 6-7 » Augusta, Georgia Tech regional office

Becoming a Customer-focused Organization
June 21-22 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center

White Level Partners
Industrial Energy Efficiency
July 12 » Atlanta, Global Learning Center

Energy Data Management Analysis
May 23 » Atlanta, Georgia Tech, EDI Training Room

Strategic Energy Planning
April 6 » Atlanta, Georgia Tech, EDI Training Room

CALENDAR

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 Georgia EPD regulatory officials including:
» Ron Methier, Air Protection Branch Chief
» Jennifer Kaduck, Land Protection Branch Chief
» Mark Smith, Hazardous Waste Management Branch Chief

April 22 – Electronics Recycling Day
9 am – 2 pm. Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd, Marietta, GA 30008 and Cowboy’s Dance Club, 1750 N. Roberts Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144. $10 per TV. Call 770-528-2500 for more info. Businesses call 678-566-6665 to schedule pick-up.

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. Click here to register.

May 10 – Partnership Roundtable
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA. 2 – 5 pm.
Open to Red and Blue Level Partners. Agenda TBA.

June 25-28 – Environmental Empowerment: The Changing Game Park City, UT
MSWG’s 2006 conference featuring sessions on sustainable approaches to land planning, energy use, water resources and natural resource use; environmental management in the public and private sectors; collaborative solutions to environmental issues; and international case studies. Click on the link above for more information.

Sept. 1 – Oct. 31 – Open Enrollment

Category: Program News