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National Biosolids Partnership EMS Program

National Biosolids Partnership EMS Program. Rebecca West Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority Greenville, South Carolina. Overview. History of the need for Biosolids EMS Status of EMS for Biosolids Future Outlook for EMS. More Overview.

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National Biosolids Partnership EMS Program

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  1. National Biosolids PartnershipEMS Program Rebecca West Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority Greenville, South Carolina

  2. Overview • History of the need for Biosolids EMS • Status of EMS for Biosolids • Future Outlook for EMS

  3. More Overview • Now there was the need to interact with neighbors and the public • Public perception became the number one priority

  4. History

  5. History • Storm clouds on biosolids public acceptance were starting to gather in the late 1980’s – • Ocean Dispersal no long allowed • Public Environmental Awareness

  6. History con’t • Sludge “Disposal” was no longer an “arrow” to no where • Wastewater Industry caught by surprise • Industry had been recycling solids for years

  7. More History • Need for better performance-more than regulatory minimum • Public agency staff didn’t have credibility • Producers of a product, Perceived of as trying to get rid of Biosolids the cheapest way possible

  8. National Challenge • Many Controversies around the United States

  9. National Biosolids Partnership • Goal: Advance Environmentally Sound and Accepted Biosolids Management Practices-Gain Public Acceptance • Non-Profit Alliance Formed in 1997

  10. Environmental Management System (EMS) • Major NBP Objective • Wastewater Professionals • asked to “Raise the Bar” • Regulations are Baseline—EMS is Commitment to go Beyond • Includes Pretreatment, Treatment and Use/Disposal

  11. NBP Strategy • NBP believes the EMS with its third party verification will help us gain public trust. • We also have a new communications program that has been developed at the national level-the first step is our new NBP Web Site (www.biosolids.org)

  12. EMS Blueprint-Five Components • Code of Good Practice • EMS Elements • Guidance Document • National Manual of Good Practice • Independent,Third-Party Verification Program

  13. EMS Blueprint-Code of Good Practice • Commitment to EMS • Commitment to Third Party Audit • Commitment to Good Practices • Commitment to Communications

  14. EMS Blueprint-EMS Common Elements • 17 Elements • Required for an EMS • Identifies critical control points in the biosolids value train • Major emphasis on public participation and communications

  15. EMS Blueprint-EMS Guidance Manual • A how to manual, self implementing • Meet the requirements of the Common Elements • Prepare for the Audit

  16. EMS Blueprint-National Manual of Good Practice • Compendium of all the manuals in the country • Identifies best management practices at critical control point • Participant chooses best practices

  17. EMS Blueprint-Third Party Program • Audit-use an existing organization • Audit reports readily available to the public • More detailed work needs to be done in preparation for launching audit program 2002

  18. Demonstration Program • Test and refine Blueprint with • 27 Demonstration Projects

  19. Demonstration Projects

  20. Southeast Charter Demonstration Projects • Montgomery, Alabama • Columbus, Georgia • Greenville, South Carolina

  21. Looking to the Future-2002 • January 2002-Third Party Certification Program in place • 27 Demonstration Projects have established EMS and have initiated operations consistent with EMS • 13 Additional smaller organizations included in the Demo Program

  22. Looking to the Future-2003 • Year 2003-100 wastewater organizations in the Code of Good Practice Club • 40 Demonstration organizations completed the certification process • 60 New Organizations preparing EMS

  23. Conclusions • EMS Program has moved from Planning to the implementation phase • Learn from Demonstration Program • Continue to refine Blueprint to be sure it is practical and cost effective

  24. Conclusions • NBP ready to assist Biosolids organizations prepare a Biosolids EMS • Looking for more organizations to participate in the Demonstration Program

  25. National Biosolids Partnership Peter Machno Ph.D EMS Program Manager Telephone 800-613-4502 pmachno@biosolids.org

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