National Partnership for Environmental Priorities. David Langston EPA Region 4 RCRA Programs Branch

Transcription

1 National Partnership for Environmental Priorities David Langston EPA Region 4 RCRA Programs Branch 1

2 So Far, the Story has been Focused on hazardous waste Built the cradle-to-grave system Permits for facilities largely issued Corrective action focused on high priority sites Next, moving to the 2020 Vision: The Unfinished Business of RCRA Prevent pollution and promote recycling and reuse of materials Reduce the use of priority chemicals at all life cycle stages Cradle to Cradle 2

3 The Resource Conservation Challenge is the right direction for the Agency RCC is a major cross media environmental stewardship effort It gives us the opportunity to: 1. Work on national problems 2. Leverage outside partnerships 3. Create sustainable projects 4. Provide measurable environmental outcomes 3

4 The Waste Wheel 4

5 RCC Goals Three goals: Prevent pollution and promote recycling and reuse of materials Reduce the use of priority chemicals at all life cycle stages Increase energy and materials conservation 5

6 The Four National Priority Areas 1. 35% Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste 2. Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials 3. Priority and Toxic Chemical Reduction 4. Green Initiatives - Electronics 6

7 Cradle to Grave Inefficient Materials Management Design, Manufacturing Material Inputs Material Processing Material Outputs Safe Disposal Stocks Wood Coal Oil Buildings Roads Bridges Releases Emissions 7

8 Cradle to Cradle Efficient Materials Management Reuse Pollution Prevention Material Inputs Material Processing Material Outputs Safe Disposal Stocks Waste Minimization Recycle 8

9 A Vision of the Future Materials that are persistently dangerous when released are eliminated or completely contained in a use cycle Uses are found for materials that were once considered wastes suitable only for disposal/discharge Evolution from waste management to materials management 9

10 Priority Chemical Focus? Do we need to focus on targeted chemical reduction? Yes Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) shows approximately 69,000,000 lbs of priority chemicals reported released in the U.S. 10

11 Of the 31 Chemicals, 23 Are Reported to TRI Anthracene Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds Dibenzofuran Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds Heptachlor Hexachloro-1,3 butadiene Hexachlorobenzene Hexachloroethane Lead and Lead Compounds Lindane Mercury and Mercury Compounds Methoxychlor Napthalene Pendimethalin Pentachlorobenzene Pentachlorophenol Phenanthrene Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds Quintozene 1,2,4 Trichlorobenzene 2,4,5- Trichlorophenol Trifluralin 11

12 Of the 31 Chemicals, 8 Are Not Reported to TRI Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene 4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether Endosulfan,beta-, Endosulfan,alpha Fluorene Heptachlor epoxide Pyrene 1,2,4,5- Tetrachlorobenzene 12

13 TRI Releases At Federal Facilities Pounds Release Thousands NAPHTHALENE SDTOTAL NAPHTHALENE SCTOTAL MERCURY AND MERCU SDTOTAL MERCURY AND MERCU SCTOTAL LEAD AND LEAD COM SDTOTAL LEAD AND LEAD COM SCTOTAL DIOXIN AND DIOXIN SDTOTAL DIOXIN AND DIOXIN SCTOTAL Reporting Year 13

14 Priority Chemical Reduction Goals 1.Substituting for priority chemicals with safer alternatives whenever possible; 2.Minimizing the amount used whenever substitution is not possible; 3.Maximizing recycling whenever minimization or substitution is not possible; 4.Minimizing exposures to toxics, and the volume and toxicity of waste through product design. 14

15 National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Voluntary partnerships between EPA, States, Tribes, industrial and commercial entities, including Federal agencies Enrollment program in which partners provide pollution prevention activities and chemical reduction goals plus a timetable for achieving them 15

16 What is Required for Membership Assess a facility or installation s use of priority chemicals Identify one or more priority chemicals for reduction Select an ongoing or future proposed project and develop a framework and timeline Establish a non-binding goal Fill out the on-line enrollment form 16

17 Incentives to Participate Focus on Recognition Awards Recognition through web sites Publicity based on case studies Technical and Training Assistance 17

18 Additional Incentives Companies focusing on moving beyond compliance are finding significant cost savings involved in the effort Moving beyond compliance can make achieving compliance far easier, compliance inspections routine events 18

19 Program Accomplishments 47 enrollees from 40 companies Only 4 DoD Facilities have pledged. Over 2,500,000 total pounds of chemicals (including PCs) in hazardous waste pledged to be reduced 19

20 Does this program offer benefits to you?? Is there a reason for your installation to go beyond the mandated reductions Are you already working on reductions that go beyond the mandated reductions We can assist by supplying some resources. 20

21 Related EO Components With a required EMS you have looked at Environmental aspects and impacts Chemicals that affect aspects and impacts You are aware of a list at least five chemicals you should targeting for reduction Aware of the 2006 deadline for those reductions 21

22 Relation of PCR to EO Currently, five chemicals have been identified for reduction by 2006 Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Naphthalene, and PCBs This list is a subset of the Waste Min. Priority Chemical List The goal is to reduce use of these five by 50%, in specific processes 22

23 Benefits Associated with PCR Positive recognition for mandated reductions Positive recognition for additional reductions that make budget sense Positive recognition for reductions that may already be component of your EMS 23

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28 Program Information Web-Based Information Enrollment Information nership.htm Resources to use and references 28

29 Contact Information David Langston (404)