Environmental Management Systems International Standard ISO 14001

1. Environmental Management SystemsInternational Standard ISO 14001

2. Why would the North Carolina Zoological Park want to become an EMS ISO 140001 institution? EMS ISO 140001

3. 1. Systematically improve the Zoo’s ecological footprint. EMS ISO 140001

4. 2. Gain credibility for sound environmental management EMS ISO 140001

5. 3. Model our management principles and practices for others. EMS ISO 140001

6. What does the North Carolina Zoological Park need to become an EMS ISO 140001 institution? EMS ISO 140001

7. •staff commitment not just compliance•desire to set an organizational climate of improvement•Management support and motivation for the resources required for checking and reviewing•realize change is gradual and needs to be practical EMS ISO 140001

8. EMS ISO 14001 provides an organizedstructured approach to improve our section’senvironmental impact EMS ISO 140001 PLAN ACT DO Continual Improvement CHECK

9. »Environmental Policy »Environmental Aspects and Impacts »Legal Requirements »Objectives and Targets »Action Plans EMS ISO 140001 PLAN Policy/Objectives

10. »Roles and Responsibility »Training and Competence »Operational Control »Communications »Emergency Preparedness »Document Control EMS ISO 140001 DO Structure/Responsibility

11. »Corrective and Preventative Action »Monitoring and Measuring »Record Keeping »EMS Auditing EMS ISO 140001 CHECK Checking/Corrective Action

12. »Management Review EMS ISO 140001 ACT Review

13. The Zoo’s Environmental Policy G Growth in knowledge and continued improvement R Reduction in use of resources and waste E Environmentally responsible and sustainable operation E Example to others N Necessary compliance with environmental laws and regulations

14. How we arrived at the Significant Environmental Aspects and Impacts We identified 45 activities under our control which had 130 environmental aspects and impacts. For example an aspect may be how or where a waste is generated and an impact might be the effect of that waste on the environment.

15. The following criteria was used to determine potential significant aspects/impacts. Low(1) Medium(2) High(3) Severity Frequency Quantity Little impact/no danger Danger non-life threatening short term reversible less than 1 year Potentially life threatening long term effects reversible more than 1 year Less than monthly Monthly to weekly Weekly to daily Pounds per year Tons per year Tons per month

16. The Process……We added the criteria numbers together to obtain a quantitative total as our first filter of the 130 aspects/impacts. Total rank of 5 and over was determined potentially significant. We then applied a qualitative team judgment to prioritize the most important and significant of these aspects/impacts.

17. 10 Significant Environmental Aspects/Impacts Were Identified ACTIVITY ASPECT IMPACT T Compost operations Total Organic Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion Materials Pest management Pest management Reduce use of harmful chemicals Total Gasoline use Gas/Diesel Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Irrigation and watering Water use Depletion of water supply Chemical fertilizing Runoff Surface water contamination Prescribed Burning Land preservation Conserve natural communities Electricity Greenhouse Electricity use Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Operating Greenhouse Propane Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Maintain surface/grading Runoff/erosion Surface water contamination Renovating/Creating Invasive plants Reduction of native plants Landscapes

18. Horticulture’s Legal Requirements Were Clarified:Compost permitPesticide application licensesPesticide storage inspections Nursery certification permitEndangered plant permitsBurn permitsPlant importation permits Invasive plant lawsVegetation/vermin controlDam and Sedimentation lawsChemical/Industrial pretreatmentNonpoint Source Pollution legislation

19. Horticulture’s Objectives, Targets, And Performance Indicators For Our First EMS Program Have Been Drafted. Responsible Staff And Their Time Frames Have Been Identified.

20. ACTIVITY Compost operations ASPECT Total organic materials IMPACT Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion Objective: Maintain compost operation Target: Minimum of 1067 Tons waste received Program: 1. Training on separation of incoming waste 2. Complete/Implement Tub Grinder/burning study 3. Complete corrugated cardboard study and implement interim recommendations 4. Improve sanitation of site 5. Submit annual report and apply for permit renewal

21. ACTIVITY Compost operations ASPECT Total organic materials IMPACT Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion Objective: Add other organic materials to compost Target: Increase sources by two Program: 1. Gain compliance with procedure from Sodexho 2. Evaluate new sources Avian prop. Mammal prop., wildlife rehab 3. Review existing sources for compliance

22. ACTIVITY Pest managementASPECT Pest management IMPACT Reduce use of harmful chemicals Objective: Use least toxic, effective method of pest control Target: Evaluate two control methods Program: 1. Review, document and update operating procedures 2. Train on operating procedures 3. Study alternative herbicides 4. Evaluate Fire Ant control products 5. Evaluate Entomologist services

23. ACTIVITY Total Gasoline useASPECT Gas/Diesel IMPACT Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Objective: Reduce consumption of Gas/Diesel fuel Target: Formal plan of action developed and 5% reduction in fuel consumptions from 2002 levels for 2003 Program: 1. Determine usage by Vehicle/ Equipment for first 6 months of 2002 2. Pilot study of usage patterns via volunteers 3. Driving Tips awareness 4. Explore Alternative vehicles/equip. 5. Formal plan for efficiency measures 6. Develop, Document, Train on SOP’s

24. ACTIVITY Irrigation and watering ASPECT Water use IMPACT Depletion of water supply Objective: Apply Xeriscaping principles to greatest extent feasible Target: Implement Xeriscape principles on Garden Friends, Chimp, and Rhino. Program: 1. Implement Xeriscaping principles on Garden Friends landscape 2. Develop, Document and Train on SOP’s for Garden Friends garden 3. Water metering program for Chimp. 4. Develop, Document and Train on SOP’s for Chimp exhibit 5. Develop irrigation system for Rhino using Xeriscape principles

25. ACTIVITY Irrigation and watering ASPECT Water use IMPACT Depletion of water supply Objective: Apply Xeriscaping principles to greatest extent feasible Target: Train 80% of affected horticulture staff on Xeriscape principles Program: 1. Improve awareness of Xeriscaping principles

26. ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff IMPACT Surface water contamination Objective: Fertilize with environmentally friendly products at proper levels Target: Exterior protocols in place by 2002 and research Interior protocols 2003 Program: 1. Maximize Exterior use of organic fertilizers through protocols 2. Research organic fertilizer use in interior exhibits

27. ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff IMPACT Surface water contamination Objective: Maintain or Improve water quality Target: Assess impact of Horticulture on Water quality Program: 1. Develop and implement a testing program 2. Determine major contributors to water quality 3. Determine methods to evaluate water quality

28. ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff IMPACT Surface water contamination Objective: Maintain or Improve water quality Target: Implement Water Quality management plan Program: 1. Develop plan of action 2. Develop, Implement and Train on SOP’s

29. ACTIVITY Prescribed burningASPECT Land preservation IMPACT Conserve natural communities Objective: Conserve natural communities Target: Maximize use of natural methods of management using ecological factors like prescribed burns Program: 1. Review, Update and Train burn team on operating procedures

30. ACTIVITY Electricity use at Greenhouse ASPECT Electricity use IMPACT Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Objective: Conserve electricity Target: Comply with standard operating procedures Program: 1. Review, Update and Train appropriate staff on operating procedures

31. ACTIVITY Operating GreenhouseASPECT Propane IMPACT Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources Objective: Conserve propane Target: Comply with standard operating procedures Program: 1. Review, Update and Train appropriate staff on operating procedures

32. ACTIVITY Maintain surface/gradingASPECT Runoff/erosion IMPACT Surface water contamination Objective: minimize runoff/erosion Target: Document standard operating procedures Program: 1. Document and Train appropriate staff on operating procedures

33. ACTIVITY Renovating/Creating Landscapes ASPECT Invasive plants IMPACT Reduction of native plants Objective: Conserve Native Plants Target: Develop standard operating procedures Program: 1. Develop and Train appropriate staff on operating procedures

34. Currently Discussing Roles and Responsibilities of the Program. Mary Joan Pugh – EMS Coordinator Core Team –Management Review Board Gin Wall – Horticulture Management Representative, Approve EMS documents Cathy Lewis – Maintain documentation Associate Curators – EMS Team Representatives, Develop Protocols/Procedures, Trainers Hort. Supervisors – EMS Team Representatives, Update instructions, Responsible for EMS reporting Hort. Technician & Grounds workers – EMS Team Representatives

35. Organizing Training and Record Keeping Tracking the EMS program appears to be complex but we are looking at a decentralized database that once in place could be used for other training record keeping. We are currently identifying: Who needs training on what Who the trainers should be What documents should the trainer use Who has authority to revise the document

36. “Picking the Low Hanging Fruit….” Horticulture staff’s accomplishments toward sustainable operations has been admirable. But we hit a plateau. It has become harder to figure out what we should do especially on our more fixed and necessary operations. Management planning Land use planning IPM Organic Fertilizers Recycling Composting

37. Internet research Conferences Other Zoo’s programs Conservation Captains We’ve used various sources for tips and ideas of how to improve our operations but never had a process in which to focus on and break down the more complex activities into manageable ideas.

38. Starting with the low hanging fruit helped us begin… Now having a structured process and highly motivating internal and external audits should take us… 1. To More Sustainable Operations 2. EMS Certification 3. “Walking the Talk”.