[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2651-2655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1346]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7129-8]


Designation and Support for Local Resource Centers To Assist 
Public Entities Develop Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of a program to assist not-for-profit 
organizations that wish to work with public entities that wish to adopt 
environmental management systems (EMS); request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces its 
intention to select and provide technical assistance for up to five 
existing not-for-profit organizations in order to increase their 
capacity to assist public entities wishing to adopt environmental 
management systems (EMS). The assistance provided to these 
organizations will include helping with developing business plans, 
providing relevant EMS materials to facilitate each organization's 
existing EMS assistance activities, train-the-trainer work sessions on 
ways to address the needs of public agencies, and other marketing 
services. Each organization selected will also gain increased 
visibility, attention, and recognition of the key role they can play in 
meeting the growing needs of public agencies wishing to adopt EMSs.
    This program is a continuation of two highly successful projects 
led by U.S. EPA to directly support various public agencies as they 
develop EMSs. The program is designed to build on these efforts by 
increasing the capacity of existing EMS service providers to meet the 
needs of public agencies. This project is being led by EPA's Office of 
Water, in conjunction with EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and Office 
of Compliance.

[[Page 2652]]


DATES: Letters of Application from interested organizations should be 
submitted no later than March 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Letters of Application should be submitted to James Horne, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, Mail Code 4201M, (202) 
564-0571 and Craig Ruberti, Global Environment and Technology 
Foundation, 7010 Little River Turnpike, Suite 460, Annandale, Virginia, 
22003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Horne at (202) 564-0571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Public entities manage complex large-scale problems of operating 
and maintaining physical plants; power, wastewater, water, and roadway 
systems; and managing solid and hazardous waste. As the front line 
implementers of environmental programs, they are responsible for the 
health and safety of hundreds millions of citizens. Faced with 
shrinking resources and aging infrastructure, public entities must 
manage their operations in a more efficient manner, at lower cost, and 
with less environmental impact. Environmental management systems (EMS) 
are an important emerging tool to help public entities do this.
    EMSs follow Shewart and Deming's ``plan, do, check, and act'' 
systems methodology and can be implemented by organizations of all 
sizes and types. They provide a set of problem identification and 
problem-solving tools that can be implemented in an organization in 
many different ways, depending on its activities and needs. Based on 
the organization's core values, business goals, and environmental 
commitments, employees examine their environmental footprint and the 
procedures they use to manage environmental issues. They incorporate 
strong operational controls and environmental responsibilities into 
existing job descriptions and work instructions. They set measurable 
objectives and targets, monitor, measure, and evaluate progress, ``find 
and fix'' environmental problems as they occur, and provide top 
management with a feedback loop to assess progress and make appropriate 
changes to the management system. The various elements of the EMS work 
together to provide opportunities to continually improve management of 
environmental impacts both in regulated areas and in areas that are not 
regulated (e.g., odor, water or electricity use, and growth 
management).
    Key elements of the EMS include:
     An environmental policy statement endorsed and actively 
promoted by senior management;
     A planning process that identifies the organization's 
environmental impacts and integrates their management into the 
organization's regular business and operations decisions;
     An organizational structure that places environmental 
responsibilities directly with employees in operational functions that 
deal with significant environmental impacts;
     An implementation process that stresses training, 
communication, operational controls, and reaching measurable goals--all 
oriented toward reducing risks of significant environmental impacts and 
continually improving environmental management;
     Measurement and auditing procedures that focus on 
``finding and fixing'' problems and reducing the chances of their 
recurring;
     Periodic top management review of the EMS to ensure 
continual improvement.
    Since 1996, the most commonly used framework for an EMS is the ISO 
14001 Environmental Management Standard developed by the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO was established in 1947 
with the mission of developing voluntary technical standards to promote 
international trade in goods and services.
    For the last several years the U. S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (US EPA) has been promoting the adoption of Environmental 
Management Systems (EMS) to help public entities, particularly local 
governments, improve their environmental performance beyond compliance, 
prevent pollution, promote greater environmental stewardship across the 
workforce, and improve their overall efficiency.
    The US EPA's Office of Water has played a critical leadership role 
in bringing EMS capacity to local governments. This leadership has 
continued and expanded to include other headquarters and regional 
offices. Since 1997, in partnership with the Global Environment & 
Technology Foundation (GETF), the US EPA has established two EMS 
initiatives to help local governments test the applicability and 
benefits of an EMS on environmental performance, compliance, pollution 
prevention, and stakeholder involvement in government operations. In 
all, 23 local governments have participated in developing and 
implementing their own EMSs through these two initiatives.
    Using a four-phased implementation strategy over a two-year period, 
each participating public entity has received EMS training, coaching, 
and technical assistance, as well as EMS implementation materials and 
toolkits specially designed for the public sector. Five intensive week 
long training sessions, individual bi-weekly phone consultations, and 
on-site visits provided additional implementation guidance. Monthly 
``all-hands'' calls allowed participants to share their experiences and 
keys to success and engage in shared problem solving opportunities. 
Information and data were collected about the benefits, barriers, and 
keys to success and resource requirements of EMS implementation in a 
variety of public sector organizations. Participants experienced 
convincing environmental and economic benefits over the first two-year 
project period in the following areas, as evidenced by the statements 
below:
     Environmental Compliance and Performance: ``With regard to 
environmental compliance, we have a better understanding of our legal 
requirements. We have better-trained employees whose competence in 
their work areas is critical to the environment. We expect that our EMS 
will increase our ability to stay in compliance.''--Tim Hall, 
Superintendent, Massachusetts Corrections Institute, Norfolk, MA.
     Recycling: ``Building on the momentum generated early on 
in the program, we moved forward with a recycling program for lab waste 
that has diverted 18,000 lbs of waste from the landfill in a three-
month period.--Oscar Pancorbo, Director, Wall Experiment Station 
Laboratory, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 
Lawrence, MA.
     Water Conservation: ``In our efforts to conserve potable 
water use in our operations we realized we have 1 million gallons of 
rainwater available in our sedimentation basin per large storm event. 
By using this water for dust control and soil compaction we estimate 
conserving about 800,000 gallons of potable water and $1,500 in water 
fees on an annual basis.--Mark zu Hone, EMS Project Manager, Department 
of Environmental Services, Refuse Disposal Division, City of San Diego, 
CA.
     Efficient Regulatory Tracking: ``Implementing an EMS 
enables us to embark on a huge project we always knew we needed to do 
but could never find the time for--to consciously

[[Page 2653]]

identify all our regulatory requirements and formally designate 
responsibility for compliance and updates. We always felt we had a 
handle on this, but our procedure to identify our legal requirements 
now relieves worries that we might have missed something.--Pam Badger, 
Special Waste Supervisor, King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle, 
WA.
     Resource Conservation: ``In light of this summer's 
expected electricity shortages and water rationing we have set 
objectives and targets that will focus on resource conservation for 
both our bus and rail maintenance operations. Through these 
conservation initiatives we plan to save about 10% of our budgeted 
utilities which could result in $85,000--$90,000.''--Kevin Considine, 
Environmental Engineer, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District 
of Oregon, Portland, OR.
     Operational Efficiency: ``Using the process flow diagrams 
(PFDs) from the aspects investigation phase of the EMS, the Safety 
Committee has begun preparation of job hazard analyses (JHA) for 
approximately 200 work activities at the Bureau. It is estimated that 
the use of the PFDs will save approximately 300 hours of JHA 
development time--amounting to approximately $5,000 in savings.''--Fred 
Murphy, Special Programs Manager, New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation, Concord, NH.
     Air Quality: ``The Port has been significantly involved in 
the development and implementation of the Houston One-Hour Ozone State 
Implementation Plan (SIP). To fulfill our role in this effort we have 
set a target to reduce our NOX emissions by 320 tons per 
year, which goes well beyond EPA's cost effectiveness guidelines. The 
PHA has been testing innovative technologies to reduce emissions and 
has committed to implementing these technologies through our EMS 
efforts to achieve this goal.''--Laura Fiffick, Environmental Affairs 
Manager, Port of Houston Authority, Houston, TX.
    More information about these two projects can be found at 
www.getf.org/projects/muni.cfm.

II. The National Public Entity EMS Resource Center--The Peer Center

    The two EMS initiatives described above have helped to demonstrate 
the relevance of EMSs in the public sector and established a solid 
basis for expanding EMS adoption for public agencies, especially local 
governments. The strong enthusiasm and tangible environmental results 
with EMS through these initiatives suggest substantial long-term 
benefits from EMS implementation and ensure the parallel development of 
sustainable management practices in both the private and public 
sectors. Public entity EMS implementation has sparked interest from 
government leaders around the world. To take advantage of this momentum 
US EPA and GETF have launched the National Public Entity Environmental 
Management System Resource Center--the National PEER Center.
    The National PEER Center is a virtual and live clearinghouse of 
information and people whose mission is to promote the adoption of EMSs 
in public entities, particularly local governments.
    The PEER Center's goals are three-fold:
     To promote the understanding and adoption of EMSs by 
public entities
     To facilitate peer-to-peer exchange of information and 
experiences and build awareness of EMSs as a tool to improve 
environmental performance
     To build regional EMS competence and technical assistance 
capacity through the creation of Local Resource Centers.
    The National PEER Center Web site is currently in place 
(www.peercenter.net) and links users to a national database of key 
resources such as sample EMS documentation, local and state EMS 
programs in place, EMS service providers, detailed descriptions of the 
EMS implementation phases, trainers, mentors and course providers, as 
well as training materials, web links, contact information, and case 
studies. The PEER Center serves to demystify the elements of 
environmental management systems and programs. It will deliver field-
tested EMS tools, training, mentoring, and problem solving strategies 
on-line to help public entities systematically manage both their 
regulated and non-regulated environmental impacts.

III. Local Resource Centers

    Critical to the effectiveness and success of the PEER Center will 
be the establishment of Local Resource Centers (LRCs) to advance the 
use of EMS in public entities. Building on individual EMS skills and 
competencies, and leveraging the successes and skills of the other LRCs 
and the National PEER Center, each LRC will serve as a high-quality EMS 
resource center for the public entities in their area, facilitating 
information transfer, providing training, and government-to-government 
mentoring in order to maximize public entities' time and resource 
investment in EMS implementation. The joint efforts of the National 
PEER Center and the LRCs will reach many more public entities, 
particularly municipalities and increase the ability of existing EMS 
service providers to advance the use of EMSs by agencies in their 
areas.
    Although no direct financial assistance will be provided, the PEER 
Center staff will act as the initial support mechanism for the Local 
Resource Centers, providing business-planning assistance, field-tested 
training techniques and materials, implementation strategies, and 
assistance with outreach plans and marketing materials. In areas where 
Local Resource Centers do not exist, the PEER Center staff will work 
with other local entities in that area that have implemented EMSs and 
help provide information to agencies interested in learning more about 
EMSs and possibly developing them for their operations.
    Information transfer between the PEER Center, the LRCs, and various 
public entities implementing EMSs will ensure access to the most 
current tools, keys to success, and lessons learned.
    Activities that the LRCs selected under this program will be 
expected to undertake include, but are not limited to:
     Leveraging their existing EMS expertise to provide 
training, technical assistance, tools and materials that will 
facilitate EMS implementation in the public sector;
     Maintaining a database of local/regional EMS service 
providers, public entities who have implemented EMS, including but not 
limited to those that are ISO 14001 certified;
     Using their data, information, resources and key contacts 
to encourage EMS information transfer and facilitate government-to-
government mentoring;
     Leading regular and frequent outreach activities to 
increase awareness and understanding of EMS applicability among public 
entities in their local/regional area;
     Collecting data and information and preparing case studies 
about EMS implementation in public entities and assisting in the 
dissemination of this information across public organizations;
     Facilitating information transfer between the PEER Center 
and other Local Resource Centers to ensure access to the most current 
data, information, tools, keys to success, and lessons learned; and
     Facilitating EMS workshops and conferences in their local/
regional area
    If at all possible, EPA intends to select existing not-for-profit 
organizations that are already providing some degree of EMS services in 
their respective areas. The Local Resource Centers will offer a menu of 
EMS services including--EMS training, technical expertise, field-tested 
tools, information, speakers/mentors,

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workshops and conferences, outreach, and EMS implementation assistance.

IV. Benefits of Becoming a Local Resource Center

    Each Local Resource Center will receive, at no cost, extensive 
start-up support, a full catalogue of EMS implementation tools from the 
Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF) and materials that 
have already been field-tested and used in the public sector, 
including:
     Assistance in developing a business plan, and business 
development materials.
     An extensive suite of field-tested, high-quality and 
successful materials for public entities: training techniques, 
implementation strategies, document samples, outreach and presentation 
toolkits.
     Regular train-the-trainer work sessions on EMS 
implementation in public sector organizations with other LRCs and 
national partners.
     An extensive database of national mentors and experts with 
hands-on experience to assist in local/regional EMS outreach and 
implementation.
     Support services and mentoring from existing public 
entities that are implementing an EMS.
     Assistance with marketing services and opportunities.
     National attention, visibility, and partnership 
opportunities from the PEER Center and its partners and stakeholders.
    In addition to the assistance provided by the National Peer Center 
as described above, each Local Resource Center will be authorized to 
use the National PEER Center Logo endorsing their selection to provide 
high quality EMS services to public entities as part of an EPA 
sponsored competitive process.

V. Criteria for Selecting the Local Resource Centers

    Up to five organizations will be selected to serve as Local EMS 
Resource Centers (LRCs) based on the following criteria:
    Business Experience:
     Well-established delivery mechanism and client base for 
providing EMS services.
     An excellent reputation for providing high-quality 
services.
     Good training/facilitation capacity and experience.
     Ability to market services and sustain a business model.
     A not-for-profit organization.
    EMS Expertise:
     Excellent first hand experience, knowledge and 
understanding of EMS development and implementation, using the basic 
Plan-Do-Check-Act approach.
     Documented success in providing EMS services, but not 
necessarily to public entities.
    Capacity:
     Strong Web literacy and functionality.
     Adequate staffing for providing range of services: 
marketing, training, outreach, information transfer, mentoring, 
speaking.
     Willingness to proactively seek out and mobilize other EMS 
partners in the region.
     Potential to bring partners who can leverage resources.
    Organizational Commitment:
     Organizational commitment and top management support.
     Organizational resources for start up activities.
     Willingness to share data and information with other LRCs 
and PEER Center.
    Interested organizations are invited to submit letters of 
application no later than March 15, 2002. Please address each of the 
following issues in your correspondence:
    1. Briefly describe your organization's background and structure, 
including number of years in operation, current staffing levels and 
management structure. Briefly outline the range of services you 
provide, the typical recipients of these services and how you currently 
advertise/market your services. Please submit samples of communication 
and outreach materials you currently use. Please describe how your top 
management will participate in your LRC activities.
    2. What types of EMS training sessions and/ or workshops do you 
currently develop and facilitate? Who in your organization provides/
supports the training function?
    3. Briefly describe your first-hand experience with EMS 
implementation, training, and mentoring. Please describe your sense of 
the demand by public entities for EMS services in your area. What type 
of EMS services do you currently provide and in what sector? Who in 
your organization provides EMS services and briefly outline their 
qualifications and experience in directly assisting organizations to 
develop and implement an EMS? How will your organization accommodate 
the demand on its resources for additional EMS work? Please provide 
contact information for two organizations as references for your EMS 
services.
    4. Please describe your organization's Web and computer literacy 
and functionality.
    5. To what local/regional/national organizations does your 
organization belong? Please describe the leadership functions that any 
of your employees have provided. How might your organization conduct 
outreach with these organizations about EMS benefit for public 
entities?
    6.Why does your organization want to become a Local Resource 
Center?
    US EPA and the National PEER Center will solicit applicants for 
Local Resource Centers through March 15, 2002 using this Federal 
Register Notice and other communication and outreach vehicles.
    Each applying organization will receive a PEER Center information 
packet following receipt of their application. Materials will include:
     Additional details and information about the National PEER 
Center and the Local Resource Centers.
     A Memorandum of Understanding that each selectee will sign 
with Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), and that 
outlines the relationship and obligations of the PEER Center and the 
Local Resource Centers.
     The selection criteria used in the interview process.
     Information about the two US EPA EMS programs for public 
entities.
    Following the receipt of these letters, PEER Center staff will 
schedule interviews with each applicant's management and appropriate 
staff at a mutually convenient time from March 17-April 12, 2002. 
Results of these evaluations will be presented to an EPA selection 
committee who will name the Local Resource Centers no later than May 3, 
2002. At that time, PEER Center staff will begin work with each Local 
Resource Center to develop business plans, materials, processes, 
marketing strategies, information transfer, data collection, etc.
    Organizations who are interested in becoming Local Resource Centers 
are invited to submit letters of application no later than March 15, 
2002, as described above to:

Jim Horne, Office of Wastewater Management, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Mail Code 4201M, 
Washington, DC 20460, Phone: (202) 564-0571, FAX: (202) 501-2338, e-
mail: [email protected]
      and
Craig Ruberti, Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF), 
7010 Little River Turnpike, Suite 460, Annandale, Virginia 22003, 
Phone: (703) 750-6401, FAX: (703-750-6506 e-mail: [email protected]


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    Dated: January 11, 2002.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 02-1346 Filed 1-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P