embracing sustainabilitypubs.awma.org/gsearch/em/2012/1/01-6192 january em.pdf · also in this...

Also in this issue:

Update: Getting Ready for Rio+20

Competitive Strategy: When to Hold and When to Fold…

Plus: Thank You to EM's 2011 Reviewers

JANUARY 2012

Sustainable practices are increasingly being implemented by organizations large and small through a variety of approaches

Embracing Sustainability

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2 em january 2012 awma.orgCopyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association

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COLUMNSCompetitive Strategy: When to Hold andWhen to Fold…Considerations When Contemplating a Job Change. . . . . . . . . . . . 34by Richard MacLean

PM File: Effective Project Scoping Requires Complete Definition of Project Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36by Dave Elam

YP Perspective: Progressing Sustainability:An Organizational Approach to Engaging Internal Stakeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38by Steve Rybolt

ASSOCIATION NEWSMessage from the President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Respect the Past, Build the Futureby Merlyn Hough

Conference Highlights: The Second International Conference on Air Pollutionand Control (CAPAC-II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40by Semra G. Tuncel, Gürdal Tuncel, Judith C. Chow,John G. Watson, Gülen Güllü, and Merih A. Köksal

In Memoriam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Doug Bisset

AAEE Sponsors Energy Conservation Contest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

2012 Annual Conference Course and Workshop Offerings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

2012 Annual Conference Preview: . . . . . . 56Countdown to San Antonio!

DEPARTMENTSWashington Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Canadian Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 News Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Advertisers’ Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Professional Development Programs . . . . . . . . . . 52 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 JA&WMA Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

SPECIAL THANK YOUThank You to 2011 Reviewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

EM, a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association (ISSN 1088-9981), is published monthly with editorial and executive offices at One Gateway Center, 3rd Floor, 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1435. ©2012 Air & Waste Management Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced, redistributed, or translated in any form without prior written permission of the Editor. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsburgh and at an additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to EM, Air & Waste Management Association, OneGateway Center, 3rd Floor, 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1435. GST registration number: 135238921. Subscription rates are $280/year for nonprofit libraries and nonprofit institutions and $425/year for all other institutions. Additional postage charges may apply. Pleasecontact A&WMA Member Services for current rates (1-800-270-3444). Send change of address with recent address label (6 weeks advance notice) and claims for missing issues to the Membership Department. Claims for missing issues can be honored only up to three months for domes-tic addresses, six months for foreign addresses. Duplicate copies will not be sent to replace ones undelivered through failure of the member/subscriber to notify A&WMA of change of address. A&WMA assumes no responsibility for statements and opinions advanced by contributors to thispublication. Views expressed in editorials are those of the author and do not necessarily represent an official position of the Association.

NEXT MONTH:

The Cross-State Air Pollution Transport Rule (CSAPR)

Embracing Sustainabilityby Mingming Lu

Sustainability has emerged as an area of interest within the environmental field as a result of significantconcerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid populationgrowth, economic growth, and consumption of our natural resources. Increasingly, sustainability practicesare being embraced by organizations large and small. This issue of EM brings specific examples of howsustainability is implemented by for-profit and non-profit organizations, and through various approaches,such as life cycle analysis, greenhouse gas management, and waste reuse.Page 6

Sustainability Goes Mainstreamby Matt Traister, O’Brien & Gere

Page 8

Managing Your Company’s LCA Processby George Pavlovich and Shen Tian, Bayer MaterialScience LLC

Page 14

Transformation of a University Climate Action Plan into a Sustainability Action Planby Carol Clinton and Margaret Kupferle, University of Cincinnati; and Paul Bishop, University of Rhode Island

Page 20

Feasibility and Practices of Making Biodiesel Out of Low-Quality Greasesby Qingshi Tu, Jingjing Wang, and Mingming Lu, University of Cincinnati; Ming Chai, Bluegrass Biodiesel; and Ting Lu,

Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District

Page 26

FEATURES

Update—On the Road to Rio de Janeiro…AgainGetting Ready for Rio+20by Miriam Lev-On and Perry P. Lev-On, The LEVON Group LLC

An update on the lead up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20),scheduled for June 4-6, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.Page 30

awma.org

I’m writing this message on a flight home fromBaton Rouge. A fellow seated in front of me iswearing a t-shirt with the slogan, “Respect the past,build the future,” which has got me thinking aboutmy involvement with A&WMA. I’ve just attendedan outstanding Louisiana Section annual confer-ence, chaired by Karen Brignac and Bill Palermo,where I was asked to touch upon my history withthe Association and outline my vision for the yearahead, which I will share with you here.

Faces I shared a family photo in order to put a “face” onhow the Association has impacted my career andmy life. My wife Martha and I were married in1976, the year my career focus shifted from waterquality to air quality. The below family photo wastaken at our daughter’s wedding. Megan, thebride, was born in Medford, OR, in 1978, whenseveral areas of Oregon violated national air quality

ADVERTISINGAlison [email protected]

EDITORIAL Lisa BucherManaging [email protected]

EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEEDan L. Mueller, P.E., ChairZephyr Environmental CorporationTerm Ends: 2013

Mingming Lu, Vice ChairUniversity of CincinnatiTerm Ends: 2013

John D. BachmannVision Air ConsultingTerm Ends: 2012

Jane C. BartonPatterson ConsultantsTerm Ends: 2012

Gary Bramble, P.E.Dayton Power and LightTerm Ends: 2014

Prakash Doraiswamy, Ph.D.RTI InternationalTerm Ends: 2014

Steven P. Frysinger, Ph.D.James Madison UniversityTerm Ends: 2012

Christian HogrefeU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyTerm Ends: 2013

John D. KinsmanEdison Electric InstituteTerm Ends: 2014

Miriam Lev-On, Ph.D.The LEVON GroupTerm Ends: 2012

Julian A Levy, Jr.Independent ConsultantTerm Ends: 2012

Charles E. McDadeUniversity of California at DavisTerm Ends: 2012

Ann McIver, QEPCitizens Energy GroupTerm Ends: 2014

Mark R. Manninen3MTerm Ends: 2014

Teresa RaineERMTerm Ends: 2014

S.T. RaoU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyTerm Ends: 2012

Jacqueline SibbliesIndependent ConsultantTerm Ends: 2014

Abhilash Vijayan, Ph.D., P.E., QEPCalifornia Air Resources BoardTerm Ends: 2014

Susan S.G. WiermanMid-Atlantic Regional AirManagement AssociationTerm Ends: 2012

James J. Winebrake, Ph.D.Rochester Institute of TechnologyTerm Ends: 2012

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEEMichael T. KleinmanUniversity of California, IrvineTerm Ends: 2014

A&WMA HEADQUARTERSMike KellyExecutive Director

Air & Waste Management AssociationOne Gateway Center, 3rd Floor420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15222-14351-412-232-3444; 412-232-3450 (fax)[email protected]

Respect the by Merlyn [email protected]

standards for carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, orparticulate matter. Medford violated air standardsfor carbon monoxide, ozone, or particulate matteron over half the days of the year, and air pollutionon worst days was over twice that of national stan-dards. I was fortunate and proud to be a part of ateam effort to meet air standards in all cities of Ore-gon by 1992, the year our youngest son Connor(on the left) was born.

In between, several key initiatives were adopted bythe Oregon Legislature and the EnvironmentalQuality Commission. For example, by 1984, whenEmily (the maid-of-honor on the far right) wasborn, Oregon had developed the first woodstovecertification program, which became the model forthe national program adopted a few years later byU.S. Environmental Agency. By the time Evan(holding Evie, our first grandchild) was born in1986, Oregon had implemented a motor vehicle

emawma.org

em • message from the president

4 em january 2012Copyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association

awma.org january 2012 em 5

inspection and maintenance program in Medford.By 1989, when Stephanie (the bridesmaid on thefar left) was born, the Legislature had authorizedthe Oregon Department of Environmental Qualityto implement woodstove curtailment during stagnantair episodes. By the time Connor was born, the Environmental Quality Commission had adoptedStage 2 vapor recovery on vehicle refueling at gasstations.

Benefits My involvement with the Association helped me inthis work, primarily in the areas of professional development, networking, leadership opportunities,and career advancement.

My first meeting with the Pacific Northwest Inter-national Section was in Vancouver, British Columbia,in 1982. Many of us were focused on commonNorthwest air issues, including residential wood

combustion, wood products industries, and motorvehicle emissions. It was a very challenging environ-ment for professional development and education.This Association provided invaluable networkingand life-long friendships.

Once all areas of Oregon had achieved the airquality standards, my career shifted in 1994 tohazardous waste management and environmentalcleanups. By that time, the Association had becomethe Air & Waste Management Association andadded a focus on waste management in addition tothe air focus, and I became more involved with thetechnical committees on waste remediation andrisk-based decision-making. Throughout my yearswith this Association, I’ve had many leadership opportunities at the Chapter, Section, and Interna-tional levels.

VisionMy vision for the year ahead is in full harmony withthe four goals of the A&WMA Strategic Plan:• Provide Excellence in Member Services• Advance Environmental Knowledge• Build Awareness of A&WMA• Ensure Organization Continuity

I envision a growing number of both young andseasoned professionals actively involved in all areasof the Association. I see the combined benefits ofcreativity and experience resulting in effective solutions to many emerging environmental issues,with A&WMA an important catalyst to this success.

“Respect the past, build the future.” How appropriate!

Past, Build the Future

Copyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association

awma.org

In “Transformation of a University Climate ActionPlan into a Sustainability Action Plan” (page 20),Carol Clinton, Margaret Kupferle, and Paul Bishopprovide a case study of how universities can bothreduce their carbon footprint and save water usagethrough the development of a sustainability matrix.Results from existing sustainability indicatorsystems are compared and key contributing sectors identified.

The oil-containing mixture from the grease trapsof commercial food services has long been an un-desirable burden to its various stakeholders. Turningtrap grease into biodiesel presents the dual bene-fit of diverting waste from landfill and clean fuelsgeneration. In “Feasibility and Practices of MakingBiodiesel Out of Low-Quality Greases” (page 26),Qingshi Tu, Jingjing Wang, Mingming Lu, MingChai, and Ting Lu discuss trap grease issues facedby many U.S. communities, properties of trapgrease as a biodiesel feedstock, and the technicalchallenges and feasibility of making biodiesel out ofthis low-quality raw material.

I am glad to see that sustainability is being inte-grated into the planning and operations by moreand more organizations. I whole heartedly thank thecontributing authors for introducing our readers toa diverse spectrum of sustainability practices. em

Mingming Lu, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorUniversity of [email protected]

Dr. Lu is vice chair of EM’s Editorial Advisory Committee.

em • cover story

Embracing Sustainability

In “Sustainability Goes Mainstream” (page 8), MattTraister describes the sustainability practices of Mc-Donalds Corp., the Beet Sugar Development Foun-dation (BSDF, based in Denver, CO), and the CityUniversity of New York (CUNY). McDonalds hasdeveloped supply chain sustainability best prac-tices, the BSDF has introduced a common protocolfor its members to report their greenhouse gasemissions, and CUNY has pledged a 30% reduc-tion of its carbon footprint by 2017. The articlepoints out that organizations can benefit from varioussustainability practices by conserving resources andenhancing social images.

Meanwhile, in “Managing Your Company’s LCAProcess” (page 14), George Pavlovich and ShenTian describe the life cycle assessment (LCA)

process for manufacturingcompanies based on

ISO 14040/44 re-quirements.

Sustainability has emerged as an area of interest within the environmental field as a result of

significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences

of rapid population growth, economic growth, and consumption of our natural resources.

Increasingly, sustainability practices are being embraced by organizations large and small.

This issue of EM brings specific examples of how sustainability is implemented by for-profit

and non-profit organizations, and through various approaches, such as life cycle analysis,

greenhouse gas management, and waste reuse.


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em • feature

by Matt Traister

Matthew Traister, P.E.,is a senior managing engineer with O’Brien &Gere, Cincinnati, OH. E-mail:[email protected].

Once limited to the imaginations of philosophers (Voltaire: “Men argue; Nature acts.”) and the

hopes of especially fervent environmentalists and minimalists, sustainability, however it is defined,

has become big business—and for many, a new way of conducting business. Though most

trends are temporal and quickly fade, the degree to which some businesses and institutions are

integrating sustainability programs into their operations suggests that this movement may defy

typical convention and become a permanent part of an entity’s decision-making process.

SustainabilityGoes Mainstream


Sustainability DefinedThere are literally dozens of definitions for sustain-ability, each of which depends upon the point ofview of the individual using the term. Derived fromthe Latin word sustinere (“uphold”), many commondefinitions of sustainability include the followingthree primary dimensions:

• Social • Environmental• Economic

Since human survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environ-ment, sustainability can be loosely defined as thoseactivities that create and maintain the conditionsunder which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, in a way that fulfills social,

economic, and other needs of present and futuregenerations. However, social, economic, and envi-ronmental needs change across generations; thus,the very activities that comprise sustainability arelikely to change with it. Therefore, the definition ofsustainability also inherently includes an elementof adaptive change.

Regardless of how sustainability is defined, private,governmental, and public entities are actively seekingout ways to use less and make more—in a fiscally-and ecologically-responsible way. Primary benefitsof such actions may be a reduced environmentalfootprint and/or capital and operating cost savings.Secondary benefits may include strengthening ofthe brand, improved public image, and/or align-ment with the entity’s social responsibility goals andobjectives. Whatever the reason, such actions arehaving a real, sustainable impact on this planet. Thefollowing case studies illustrate some of the stepsthat entities are taking to “institutionalize” sustain-ability into their operations and the benefits ofdoing so.

Sustainability can be loosely defined as

those activities that create and maintain the

conditions under which humans and nature

can exist in productive harmony.


Real Projects, Real ResultsFor those of us in the environmental field, sustain-ability efforts tend to focus on projects involving resource conservation (i.e., air, water, energy, waste),pursued in a socially responsible and fiscally posi-tive manner. The following programs illustratesome of the steps that private, governmental, andinstitutional entities are taking to minimize the impact their operations have on the environment,while preserving social needs and meeting theireconomic requirements.

McDonald’s Corporation: Sustainability ProgramIn 2008, McDonald’s Corporation created a U.S.Supply Chain Sustainability Council, which is comprised of McDonald’s U.S. suppliers that arerecognized leaders in sustainability in the food and beverage industry. This group—made up of

protein, beverage, bakery, distribution, andpackaging suppliers—works with McDonald’scorporate leadership to translate the work of thecouncil into a roadmap that defines the journeythe suppliers can undertake to achieve positive

sustainable outcomes. The roadmap was designedto focus and improve the performance of the sup-ply chain by establishing clear sustainability priori-ties, approaches, and goals that advance the client’svision for a sustainable supply.

These efforts led to McDonald’s first U.S. SupplierSustainability Summit, which was held in June2010. In addition to unveiling its sustainabilityroadmap, McDonald’s provided technical work-shops designed to assist suppliers with advancingtheir sustainability practices in specific areas, including water, energy, carbon footprint, waste,stakeholder engagement, and transparency. As acontinuing resource after the summit, McDonald’sdeveloped a dedicated Web site with technical resources, materials from educational workshopsand webinars, and logistical and communicationsupport, including the creation and administrationof a dedicated web-based platform for tracking environmental performance throughout the supply chain.

These efforts have resonated within McDonald’ssupply chain and have led to the development ofenvironmental best practices, collaboration amongsuppliers, and presumably, tangible advances inwaste, energy, and water practices. In this manner,McDonald’s expects to track supplier performanceover time and share best practices among its supplychain. Furthermore, by engaging its entire supplychain, McDonald’s can have a greater influence onresource conservation than if it was working onlywithin its own organization.

Beet Sugar Development Foundation: Product Carbon FootprintThe Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF) isdedicated to the advancement of sugarbeet production and beet sugar processing through science-based research and educational programs.As such, it serves the interests of the nine NorthAmerican companies engaged in manufacturingsugar from sugar beets, as well as companies thatsupport the industry.

In order to respond to an increasing number ofcustomer requests, BSDF commissioned a study inwhich the entire carbon footprint of granulated


sugar is calculated. This effort, which included bothdirect and indirect emissions, was also intended todevelop a common protocol by which membercompanies can report their respective greenhousegas (GHG) emissions. The protocol, which was developed in accordance with the Greenhouse GasProtocol established by the World Resources Insti-tute and the World Business Council for Sustain-able Development, included the Scope 1, Scope 2,and Scope 3 emission sources shown in Table 1.

The manufacture of sugar from sugar beets, as gen-erally depicted in Figure 1, is an energy-intensive op-eration. In addition to granulated sugar, the industryproduces several byproducts, including molasses andbeet pulp, which is sold as animal feed.

A thorough and consistent methodology for calculating GHG emissions from the sugar beet

Figure 1. Processschematic of sugar manufacturing.

manufacturing industry is the first step toward un-derstanding the lifecycle carbon footprint for gran-ulated sugar. It also provides the industry with themeans to identify potential sources for GHG re-ductions and sets the table for other industries totake similar steps toward identifying the carbonfootprint for their products.


City University of New York: Energy and GHG ReductionsThe City University of New York (CUNY) is exercis-ing leadership in addressing climate change by reducing energy use and GHG emissions at its sen-ior and community college campuses in support ofthe Sustainable CUNY program and its commitmentto Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC for a sustainable city.

To satisfy PlaNYC and to meet the increasing expectations of students that seek a “greener” cam-pus, CUNY has pledged to reduce GHG emissionintensity (emissions per gross square foot of building space) by 30% by 2017, relative to a

2004–2005 baseline year. This pledge is referredto as the Mayoral Challenge. GHG reductions willbe accomplished through energy efficiency, energyconservation, and behavioral changes of students,faculty, and staff. The target GHG emissionsCUNY-wide for 2017 are estimated to be 237,461metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent(MTCO2e).

CUNY will utilize seven key pillars for developingstrategies and actionable steps to help the collegecampuses become more energy efficient, reduceenergy usage, institutionalize energy awareness,and subsequently reduce GHG emissions. Theseven key pillars are:

1. Energy

2. Water

3. Transportation

4. Recycling

5. Procurement

6. Sustainable nutrition

7. Sustainable outreach and education

The primary factor that impacts CUNY’s ability toreduce GHG emissions intensity by 30% is its con-sumption of energy. The principles that guide thereduction strategy relate to specific projects that reduce energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, and thereby reduce GHG emissions.Through a systematic and comprehensive energyassessment of its major campuses, CUNY has

Table 1. Typical GHG emission sources at beet sugar manufacturing facilities.

Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3

Boilers On-site electricity generation Sugar beet farming, harvesting

Beet pulp dryers Purchased electricity Beet transportation

Lime kilns Production/transportation of materialsconsumed in the manufacturing process

Wastewater treatment On-site handling, storage, and disposalof residuals and waste

Mobile equipment Multiple shipping methods


discovered several potential paths to achieve these energy reduction goals:

• Immediate actions—Reductions in campus en-ergy use can be achieved at little or no costthrough changes in occupant behavior, in-creased energy awareness, and operation andmaintenance practices.

• Near-term actions (1 to 5 years)—Near-termenergy conservation measures are focused ondriving high-impact cost savings and GHG gasreductions. Implementing these projects oftenaddresses deficiencies in campus buildings or infrastructure and requires a moderate level ofcapital investment.

• Long-term actions (5 to 15 years)—Long-termaction for CUNY centers around infrastructurerenewal and capital program planning, and con-sidering emerging, alternative and renewable en-ergy technologies to meet the college’s strategicgoals and climate action objectives.

Among the actions that have shown the mostpromise for substantial energy savings are

• more efficient lighting;

• heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)improvements;

• building retro-commissioning;

• building automation systems (BAS);

• central heating and chiller plant improvements;

• building envelope improvements; and

• special systems (e.g., lab hoods, pool dehumidfication, solar hot water).

Behavioral changes and improved operations andmaintenance practices can certainly have a credibleimpact on energy reduction, but CUNY will needto undertake much needed significant capital andinfrastructure improvements to meet the 30% reduction goal of PlaNYC by 2017. Nevertheless,these improvements have put CUNY at the forefrontof sustainability efforts within the higher educationcommunity and will likely spur other institutions ofhigher education to implement similar programs—that’s the sure sign of a program that will endure.

SummaryAs the above case studies demonstrate, the incor-poration of sustainable practices into day-to-day operations is becoming a standard requirement formany businesses, governments, and public institu-tions. Whether the drivers for such practices areecological, economic, or an attempt to meet the social needs of stakeholders, the increased emphasison sustainability within these organizations is undeniable. As these programs proliferate and thebenefits of their implementation become morewidely evident, it is reasonable to expect that otherorganizations will follow similar paths.

When companies ignore sweeping trends in theirindustry—one only needs to look at EastmanKodak’s decision to dismiss the explosion in digitalimagery as a key example—they do so at their ownperil. Thus, those who embrace sustainability prac-tices will become or remain relevant, a model forthe next generation; those that shun such effortswill likely be overlooked and may succumb due toindifference or inaction. As a nation, and as inhab-itants of Earth, we simply cannot continue to wasteour precious natural resources—doing so is, at aminimum, risky business and, at worst, irresponsible.

Tackling the inevitable challenge that representsthe balance between ecology and business offerstremendous opportunity for those with the passionand spirit for innovation. However, as Albert Einstein once said, “We can’t solve problems byusing the same kind of thinking we used when wecreated them.” After all, one of the most flatteringcompliments those of us in the environmental fieldwill ever hear is that our generation made a differ-ence and improved the overall quality of life formany of the world’s citizens. em

Acknowledgments: The author

would like to acknowledge the

contributions of Yolanda Pagano,

Stuart Spiegel, and Robert Neimeier

in the development of this article.


em • feature

by George Pavlovich and Shen Tian

George Pavlovich andShen Tian are both withProduct Safety & RegulatoryAffairs, Bayer MaterialScienceLLC, Pittsburgh, PA. E-mail:[email protected];[email protected].

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is becoming increasingly popular in the United States as more

organizations focus on sustainability and look for tools to decide on where to focus limited

resources. However, many organizations still are struggling to understand the benefits and

limitations of LCA as a tool for analysis and decision-making, as well as how to manage this

tool effectively. This article provides guidance to those desiring to better organize and manage

their LCA function. Although it is based on the authors’ experience in conducting LCAs for

manufactured products, the approach outlined also can be used for establishing an effective

LCA process in organizations that provide services. In addition, the article provides some

practical tips for applying LCA to the real business world.

Managing Your Company’s LCA Process


The ChallengeLCA is a “compilation and evaluation of the inputs,outputs, and the potential environmental impactsof a product system throughout its life cycle.”1 It is being recognized increasingly as a tool for developing environmental strategies, marketingsustainability of products, and identifying environ-mental improvement opportunities. Since the LCAapproach identifies stages in a product’s life cyclethat contribute most to environmental impacts, ithelps to focus efforts on environmental improve-ments that count. However, it is not always clear tosome organizations how LCA programs should bemanaged, and when resources required for detailedLCAs are justified.

The International Organisation for Standardisation(ISO) published two standards in 2006 for con-ducting LCAs: ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.1,2 Thesestandards provide the framework and require-ments for performing credible LCAs. The standardsdefine the LCA process, including defining the LCApurpose and scope; performing a data inventoryanalysis; conducting an assessment of environ-mental impacts associated with life cycle energy,raw materials, and emissions; identifying represen-tative technology for relevant geographical areas;and defining data quality needs. However, thestandards do not provide guidance on managingan LCA process. Moreover, in everyday practice, itis more practical to apply ISO 14040/44 require-ments relevant to a specific LCA’s purpose andscope due to time and resource constraints.

Getting StartedA good way to begin is by developing a structuredprocess. For many companies with quality or envi-ronmental management systems, such as ISO9001 and ISO 14001,3,4 this means incorporatingprocedures for LCA activities into ongoing certifiablemanagement systems. For other companies, thesimple yet powerful “plan-do-check-act” (PDCA)cycle still can be applied. The PDCA cycle providesa framework to manage and use LCAs effectivelyand efficiently. A comprehensive discussion of allthe processes and tools needed for managingLCAs, and LCA use and limitations, is beyond the

Act• Follow-up corrective action for LCA

procedures, processes, and tools

Plan• Establish LCA procedures, tools,

and databases• Set LCA study goals and

measures, define resource needs,train experts

Do• Maintain LCA databases, tools,

procedures• Provide LCA awareness training• Communicate LCA results, best

practices• Handle customer LCA data inquiries

Check• Track LCAs done per goals,

standards and procedures• Evaluate LCA critical review input

Figure 1. PDCA cycle.

scope of this article, but some key aspects from anoverall systems and day-to-day operational level aresummarized on the following pages.

Systems LevelThis refers to managing the overall process, andprovides a map to key program elements. Exam-ples of elements within the PDCA cycle are shownin Figure 1.

PlanPlanning includes the identification of procedures,tools, and data needed to conduct LCAs. Proce-dures can be viewed as an “internal standard” fora company-specific LCA process. Tools may includeanything from spreadsheets to sophisticated com-mercial modeling software. Life cycle inventorydata typically include a combination of data sourcessuch as relevant public/commercial databases, LCAstudies in the literature, and primary data from acompany’s own operations. Planning for the ongo-ing process includes establishing goals, priorities,and resources, with input based on business needs.

DoThis stage refers to ongoing activities needed to complete the LCAs, including maintaining a data-bank of life cycle inventory data sources relevant to


approach for measuring representativeness of data,assessing uncertainty of data inventory data used,and statistically evaluating the precision of inven-tory data used in LCA studies.

Operational LevelThe operational level looks at tasks required forconducting specific LCAs. Internal procedures definevarious types of LCAs, internal responsibilities, review and approval processes, and reference todata sources. In everyday practice, it helps to createprocesses needed for efficient and effective appli-cation of LCAs. The experience gained from theoperational level provides feedback to the system’sPDCA cycle. Based on the authors’ experience,three major types of LCAs summarized in Table 1can be applied in practice.

G&S DefinitionLCAs often are initiated when quantitative infor-mation on environmental benefits of products areuseful for demonstrating competitive advantage. Aliterature search is first done to determine whetherLCAs are available for similar applications. The lit-erature search also identifies availability of LCA datafor major life cycle phases, such as raw materialmanufacturing, product manufacturing and assem-bly, use phase, and end-of-life.

Plant operations and customers typically providefundamental information on materials and applica-tions, including a description of processes, formula-tion data, and potential applications. The LCA teamdrafts a Goal and Scope (G&S) document basedon ISO 14040/44. This document includes thegoal of the study, intended audience, the functionalunit (e.g., performance of a product that is quantified,such as thermal resistivity of building insulation fora defined area and service life), identification of alternative materials if comparisons are made, thesystem boundary (e.g., cradle to gate, cradle toend-of-life), data availability, impact assessment cat-egories (e.g., climate change, resource depletion,acidification), and methodologies. The G&S docu-ment is the basis for the LCA, and time spent upfront on development is well worth the effort.

the company’s products and alternatives used forcomparisons. Sharing best practices is especially use-ful, and one of the most critical needs for credibleLCAs is quality life cycle inventory data. Implement-ing a best practice for data quality assessment raisesthe quality of an entire organization’s LCA studies.

When customers request life cycle inventory datarelated to your company’s products, having aprocess for responding to inquiries and supplyingthe representative data for your products pays dividends. Thus, the databank developed for inter-nal LCA studies is useful for supplying data to customers as well.

Other ongoing activities should include LCAawareness training, as those working within yourcompany in product development, sales, and marketing can help identify applications that addbusiness value. A process for effective internal/external communication is essential, and LCAsshould have a communications plan, which mayinclude targeted audiences, e-mail alerts, presenta-tions at trade shows, and so forth.

CheckThis involves reviewing LCAs to check that theyhave been conducted according to company pro-cedures and ISO 14040/44. A process for compil-ing feedback and regular review is essential fordetermining whether LCAs have been conductedeffectively. For example, compiling comments fromexternal LCA critical reviews is a good source ofobjective information useful for identifying improve-ment opportunities in areas such as data collection,data quality analysis, application of ISO 14040/44,and justification of LCA assumptions.

ActBased on the analysis of input from regular reviewsof LCAs conducted, the improvement opportuni-ties should be prioritized and a plan for follow-up,tracking, and closure should be developed. For example, if input from critical reviews shows trendsin deficient data quality analysis, then corrective actions could include improving the data qualityevaluation process. Such a process includes a standard

It is not always

clear to some

organizations how

LCA programs

should be

managed, and

when resources

required for

detailed LCAs are

justified.


Screening LCAWhen the G&S document is approved, the LCAteam starts a preliminary screening LCA. Only datafrom internal, commercial, or publicly availabledatabases are generally used. Plant-specific dataare typically not used, as this may require weeksor months to obtain and verify. Assumptions aremade to get a rough estimate, and identify critical life cycle phases. A two- or three-page report is generated and peer-reviewed internally.Because of limited time and resources, the accu-racy of results is generally low in screening LCAsand such studies should not be used in comparativeassertions or external publications. If this level ofanalysis satisfies business needs, no further actionis needed. However, if more accurate or detailedinformation on environmental impacts are needed,the LCA team begins an internal streamlined LCA.

Streamlined LCAThis often begins with a plant data survey for internal/external customers for collecting energy/material usage and associated air/water/solid wasteemissions from manufacturing products. Data collected from the plant are subjected to qualitychecks. The LCA team also conducts more in-depthsearches in databases and literature for life cycledata. In addition, cut-off rules, as defined by ISO14044 (i.e., justification that certain inputs/outputscan be excluded) are applied.

A data quality check using accepted criteria is applied to assess data reliability, completeness, tem-poral, geographical, and technological correlation.

The draft internal streamlined LCA is reviewed andit is decided whether there is value in publicizing theresults. If so, an LCA for external use is conducted,sometimes by including more impact assessmentcategories and methodologies, but always with amore detailed analysis, data check, and detailed report, including critical review per ISO 14040/44for comparative assertions.

Full LCAIf the LCA results are intended to be published anda comparative assertion is made regarding theenvironmental benefits of one product over another,then a thorough external critical review is needed.At this level, a full LCA is compliant with ISO14040/44 and addresses major environmental impacts. For comparative assertions used in externalpublications, a three-expert panel should be formedand at least one member should be an LCA expert,the other two typically being experts in the design,use, and manufacturing of the product. The LCAteam responds to comments and revises the finalLCA report until it is approved. Also, it is advisable toinclude a legal review before any report is published.

Case Study–Composite FloorsThe following case study example summaries keysteps in conducting a comparative LCA of compos-ite flooring versus wood alternatives (e.g., plywood).A customer developing lighter weight compositeflooring desires comparative information for mar-keting the product’s energy savings and carbonfootprint advantages. The LCA experts work with

Table 1. Types of LCA

LCA Type Use System Environmental Data Critical Review Boundary Impactsa Quality Required?

Screening Internal Limited Limited Low No

Streamlined Internal Limited/Complete Limited/Complete Medium No

Streamlined External System boundary/environmental High Yesb

impacts are not complete

Full External Complete Complete High Yesb

Notes for Table 1: a Complete environmental

impacts are defined by the au-thors for purposes of practicalapplications as the followingsix impact categories: resources depletion, globalwarming, acidification, eutrophication, photochemicalozone creation, and stratos-pheric ozone depletion;

b Critical review per ISO 14040/44 required for publishedcomparative assertions only.


the customer to develop a clear G&S documentthat includes:

1. Goal of the study: demonstrate environmentalbenefits from lighter weight composite floors intransportation applications (e.g., truck bed floor-ing, container flooring).

2. Intended audience: Logistics companies.3. Functional unit: floor with defined dimensions,

service life, and vehicle transport distance.4. System boundary: cradle to end-of-life.5. Data availability: sufficient information on com-

posite floor composition and energy consumptionversus weight during transportation; limited dataon wood alternative composition and weight,sparse data on end-of-life information.

6. Impact assessment methodologies selected:energy consumption and global warming.

After the G&S document is approved, a screeningLCA starts with data searches. Examples of publi-cally available life cycle data sources include theU.S. Life Cycle Inventory (National Renewable En-ergy Laboratory), PlasticsEurope, and Building forEnvironmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES;National Institute of Standards and Technology).Additional studies and energy use correlations aresearched using various online databases.

LCA calculations are performed for three major lifecycle phases likely to have the greatest impact onthe life cycle: floor raw materials, transportation usephase, and end-of-life. Detailed information suchas plant-specific data typically is not collected at thispoint, as the intent is to estimate whether thestudy’s results are useful for marketing the benefitsof the composite floor.

If the study has merit, a streamlined LCA begins bycollecting data from composite floor manufacturersfor on-site (gate-to-gate) energy/material usage and

associated air/water/solid waste emissions. Data onraw material transportation modes/distances are obtained, as well as detailed data on floor installation,disposal options, and so on. As detailed data are obtained to refine previous calculations, cut-off criteria are applied also. Certain components underthe cut-off criteria (e.g., 1% of mass, energy and environmental relevance) are excluded from the calculations after thorough evaluation. In the mean-time, data quality and uncertainty are assessed. Amethod developed by Weidema (2011)5 was foundto be useful for data quality and uncertainty analysis.

Since this study involves a comparative assertion thatmay be published, a critical review is required by ISO14040/44. The authors address dozens of questionsand comments from the critical review panel. Onemajor revision is adding a Monte-Carlo Analysis(MCA), which considers variations in alternativewood floor weight and transportation distances. Statistical distributions of energy savings and GHGsprevented are generated as results of the MCA. Afterall issues are addressed to ensure the study meetsthe requirements in ISO 14040/44 for report trans-parency, appropriate data, and reasonable assump-tions, the report can be published.

ConclusionAt an overall LCA management system level, usingthe simple but effective PDCA methodology facili-tates use of appropriate planning and tools neededto conduct LCAs, and it promotes continual LCAprocess improvement based on real-world feed-back from critical review panels and customers. Atthe operational level, the “step-wise” approach assures systematic review and justification prior toassigning more resources for detailed LCAs. Establishing a practical and efficient LCA manage-ment system that fits your organizational structuremakes sense for your business, your customers,and the environment. em

References1. ISO 14040: Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and Framework, Second Edition; International Organisation for

Standardisation, 2006.2. ISO 14044: Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Requirements and Guidelines, First Edition; International Organisation for

Standardisation, 2006.3. ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems—Requirements; International Organisation for Standardisation, 2008.4. ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems; International Organisation for Standardisation, 2004.5. Weidema, B.P.; Bauer, C.; Hischier, R.; Mutel, C.; Nemecek, T.; Vadenbo, C.O.; Wernet, G. Overview and Methodology—Data Quality Guideline

for the Ecoinvent Database Version 3; Ecoinvent Report No.1 (v3): St. Gallen, 2011: pp 81-84.

Establishing a

practical and

efficient LCA

management

system that fits

your organizational

structure makes

sense for your

business, your

customers, and

the environment.

JA&WMA Seeks Editor-in-Chief After almost 10 years at the helm of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA), Drs. Tim Keener and George Hidy are retiring as Technical Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editor, respectively. During their tenure, JA&WMA has increased its size, reputation, and international profile. Among their many accomplishments, Drs. Keener and Hidy expanded the number of topic areas, recruited and managed associate editors, and reduced the time between manuscript submittal and publication. Their tireless dedication to improving the oldest continuously published peer-reviewed environmental journal in the world is greatly appreciated. The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is seeking candidates for a new Technical Editor-in-Chief. This is a part-time contractual position with the individual operating out of his/her permanent location. The position includes an honorarium and modest support for clerical staff and expenses. Anticipated time commitment is 8-10 hours per week. A complete job description, details of the application process, and timeline are available online at www.awma.org/jobs. Please contact A&WMA Managing Editor Lisa Bucher with questions; e-mail: [email protected]; phone: +1-412-904-6023. Qualified candidates should send their applications to: Journal Technical Editor-in-Chief Search Committee E-mail: [email protected] Applications should include a resume, indicating past experience in preparing, reviewing, and editing scientific manuscripts, and a cover letter outlining the candidate’s vision for JA&WMA during the coming decade. The applications deadline is January 15, 2012, or until a suitable applicant is found. A search committee comprised of members of A&WMA’s Publications Committee and Editorial Review Board will review all applications, interview the best qualified candidates, and report their recommendations to the Publications Committee. The final selection must be approved by the A&WMA Board of Directors. Dr. Naresh Kumar, EPRI Dr. Michael Kleinman, University of California, Irvine Chair, Editorial Review Board Chair, Publications Committee


em • feature

by Carol Clinton, Margaret Kupferle, and Paul Bishop

Carol Clinton, P.E., LEEDAP, is a Ph.D. candidate andMargaret Kupferle, Ph.D.,P.E., is a professor, both withthe University of Cincinnati’sSchool of Energy, Environ-mental, Biological and Med-ical Engineering, Cincinnati,Ohio. Paul Bishop, Ph.D.,P.E., BCEE, is Associate Deanof Engineering for Researchwith the University of RhodeIsland, Kingston, RI. E-mail:[email protected].

University campuses are often similar to small cities in the scope of services provided, such

as housing, food, medical care, utilities, and transportation. Providing these services results

in the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG), commonly expressed in terms of metric tons

of carbon dioxide equivalent MT (CO2e) or “carbon footprint.” The University of Cincinnati (UC)

is one of the largest employers in Cincinnati and accounts for approximately 6% of the city’s

overall GHG emissions.


Nearly 700 universities in the United States, includ-ing UC, are participants in the American Collegeand University Presidents’ Climate Commitment(ACUPCC). This commitment requires several actions, principally completing a biennial inventoryof GHG emissions and defining a Climate ActionPlan to achieve carbon neutrality. However, GHGemissions comprise only a portion of the scope ofissues being considered by the UC President’s Advisory Council on the Environment and Sus-tainability (PACES), and work is ongoing to updatethe university’s decision-making tools to encompassmore sustainability metrics.

This article discusses selection of metrics that willbe included in the final framework and a sample

comparison of results from a decision-making modelapplied to a subset of available data. The compar-ison showed that prioritizing actions through thisbroader sustainability lens resulted in a suite of actions with better economic performance and,surprisingly, more GHG emission reductions thanwhen focusing on GHG emissions alone.

BackgroundUC was founded in 1819 and is a large urban research university with more than 41,000 students.Operations occur at four campuses and severalsatellite research facilities, all located within theGreater Cincinnati area in Southwest Ohio. Themain or “uptown” campus is the focus of this work,and includes the West (Main) and East (Medical)

Map of Main campus at UC.

University Climate Action PlanSustainability Action Plan

22 em january 2012

Campus. Together, these are home to 15 of theuniversity’s 17 colleges, several hospitals, and relatedfacilities. UC joined the ACUPCC in 2007, com-pleted its first GHG inventory in 2008, and defineda Climate Action Plan in 2009. But even prior toparticipating in ACUPCC, UC had adopted a Sustainable Design Policy in 2001, and construc-tion of its first Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design (LEED)-certified building wascompleted in 2006. UC was designated as one ofthe nation’s top green universities by Princeton Review in April 2010.

Carbon FootprintThe first carbon footprint for the UC “uptown campus” was generated in 2009 using the Clean-Air Cool Planet (CA-CP) Campus Carbon Calculatorrecommended by ACUPCC. The model computesemissions of six regulated GHGs in terms ofCO2 equivalents on the basis of their global warm-ing potential (GWP). Results for UC showed en-ergy to be the predominant component with

transportation second, as shown in Table 1. Basedon this initial modeling, a Climate Action Plan wascreated in 2009 that listed several hundred possi-ble actions.1

Updated modeling using a newer version of CA-CP with modifications to was conducted for theACUPCC 2010 biennial report. Results of the updated modeling (Table 1) showed transportationto be a much larger portion of the footprint, principally due to more accurate estimates of theamount of air travel actually conducted by universityemployees and students. Additional categoriessuch as paper purchases were considered in 2010,further increasing the estimated GHG footprint.The change in GHG emission distribution betweenoriginal and updated modeling suggested that the original Climate Action Plan needed to be updated. This was seen as an opportunity to explore a broader set of metrics and criteria formanaging the university more sustainably.

Sustainability FootprintTo create a new model that captured more metricsand a broader range of potential actions beyondGHG, key sustainability metric systems were

Table 1. Comparison of UC carbon footprint modeling results (MT CO2e).

Reporting Year Energy Transportation Solid Waste Refrigerants Other Total Emissions

Original Modeling(FY 2008) 301,479 69,293 536 1,001 Not Addressed 372,309

Updated Modeling (FY 2010) 287,363 166,078 512 1,169 404 455,526

awma.orgCopyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association

january 2012 em 23

analyzed. They included the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI),2 United Nations Millennium Devel-opment Goals (UN MDGs),3 United Nations Com-mission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD)indicators,4 and U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) Report on the Environment (ROE)indicators.5 Additional systems relating to universi-ties were included, namely the Association for theAdvancement of Sustainability in Higher EducationSustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System(STARS),6 the Princeton Review Green Campus(GC) criteria,7 the Sustainable Endowments Institu-tion College Sustainability Green Report Card(GRC),8 and the UC 2019 Strategic Plan.9

GRI, created by the World Business Council forSustainable Development and the World ResourcesInstitute, is a sustainability reporting system usedby organizations in 37 commercial, governmental,and nonprofit sectors. The system comprises generalreporting guidelines and special indicator sets. Forthis project, a combination of baseline performanceindicators and sector indicators for electric utilitiesand public agencies were used.

UN MDGs exist to advance the state of humanityin eight core areas, including universal educationand environmental sustainability. The CSD indicatorsfocus on 14 themes across economic, environmental,

Notes for Table 2: 1. GRI = Global Reporting Initia-

tive Sustainability ReportingGuidelines, combination of G3, Electric Utility and PublicAgency indicators.

2. UN MDG/CSD = United Na-tions Millennium DevelopmentGoals and Commission forSustainable Development Indicators.

3. EPA ROE = U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency Report onthe Environment Indicators.

4. AASHEE STARS = Associationfor the Advancement of Sus-tainability in Higher EducationSustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, Version 1.0

5. PR GC = Princeton ReviewGreen College (GC) criteria.While the GC has only 10 criteria, the one on GHG is acompound indicator of computing a GHG inventoryand having a reduction plan.These elements were countedseparately for the assessmentproject.

6. SEI GRC = Sustainable Endowments Institute. CollegeSustainability Report Card 2011

7. UC 2019 = University ofCincinnati UC2019 StrategicPlan.

and social topics and are intended to guide inter-national agencies and individual countries in defin-ing sustainability programs. EPA issued the ROEindicators to provide information on key nationaland regional environmental conditions and trends.The system also includes nine human health conditions, which could be biomarkers or healtheffects associated with exposure to environmentalpollution.

AASHE STARS is a self-reporting framework created to guide universities in assessing and improving their sustainability performance accordingto weighted credits for specified activities. The GCreport rates universities in 10 aspects of sustain-ability, while the GRC rates performance in a moreextensive list of weighted criteria. The UC 2019strategic plan sets forth goals in areas deemed crit-ical to institutional success, including sustainability.

In total, 621 indicators were assessed. A comparisonof the indicators by system is shown in Table 2.Looking across the indicators there was variabilityin the issues addressed by topic and by system.The only indicator listed in all seven systems wasconducting a GHG inventory.

Table 2. Comparison of indicator systems assessed.

Number of UN AASHEE SEI UC Indicators Assessed GRI1 MDG/CSD2 EPA ROE3 STARS4 PR GC5 GRC6 20197 Total

Economic 34 23 0 18 2 22 25 124

Environmental 53 49 44 62 6 41 2 257

Social 74 43 10 58 3 17 35 240

Total 161 115 54 138 11 83 59 621

awma.orgCopyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association


Topics with highest numbers of related indicatorswere:• minimizing transportation impacts (30),• health status and risks (23),• waste reduction (20),• energy efficiency for buildings and equipment ( 19),• economic performance (17),• adult learning (15),• sustainability curriculum (15),• ambient air quality (14), and• a tie between R&D, responsible investing and

investment transparency, and sustainability policyand planning (12 each).

Indicators from all these systems were categorizedinto topic areas, and then assessed for potential applicability to the university setting according to:

• coverage across the spectrum of environmental,economic, and social factors;

• scope limitations relative to the University oper-ations;

• data limitations – current sources for data or issues relating to developing data; and

• clarity and utility of output as management toolsin the university setting.

The major themes in the customized sustainabilitymetric set defined for UC are summarized in Table 3.The proposed sustainability framework addresses87% of the assessed economic indicators, 72% ofthe environmental indicators, and 80% of the socialindicators in a consolidated format that makesthem more useful as a management tool. In total,the new sustainability footprint covers 78% of the

Table 3. Major themes addressed by UC Sustainability Framework. (Note: Many subsidiary metrics exist within each theme.)

Financial performance of the university

Productive employment/wages

International impact

Staff responsible for sustainabilityprograms

Green purchasing

Contractor management programs

Local investments

R&D expenses and results

Market presence

Affordability & access

Planned capacityand projected demand

% local & preferredspending

Socially responsiblefund options

Endowment

Disaster preparedness

Material use, Recycled content

Energy use intensity, fossil fuel,renewables

Water use & efficiency

Other air pollutantreductions

Waste reduction, recycling

Spills, discharges

Land use; tree cover

Reduce transporta-tion impacts

Material & Energyefficiency programs

GHG inventory and reductions

Indoor air quality

Source reduction

Stormwater management

Physical safety

Health care

Technology deployment

Workforce composition, diversity, benefits

Employee & contractor health & safety

Community involvement andimpacts

Public policy, lobbying

Economic Environmental Social

Anti-corruption

Sustainable housing,dining options

Adult learning, Employee training

Sustainability curriculum offerings,research

Student sustainability programs

Privacy protection

Stakeholder participation

Regulatory compliance

Transparency


assessed indicators and concentrates on those as-pects that apply directly to the university. There wasno existing metric set that covered all the relevant in-dicators. The best match was GRI, which addressed69% of the content relevant for UC, and second wasAASHE at 40%. Application of the entire set of in-dicators will require additional data collection effortswithin the university and is part of ongoing work.However, data existed for a subset of the indicatorsrelating to total utility consumption. These data wereused to test the effect of broadening the model fromGHG into sustainability focused.

Utility Consumption Test CaseSustainability action planning, through analysis oftotal utility consumption, including all forms of energy and domestic water for each building, anduse of an optimization model, led to targeting a dif-ferent set of buildings than those indicated by theGHG-based Climate Action Plan. Because of datalimitations, the only set of mitigation options thatcould be directly compared was water efficiency ac-tions. Factors such as plumbing efficiency, buildingage, and water consumption were used as inputs to

a simple linear algebraic optimization model. Themodel utilized a binary changing cell to representdoing (or not doing) each individual project in thewater efficiency action set with the objective of max-imizing net present value (NPV) under a constraintof maximum capital cost of $550,000. This value waschosen to match the projected cost of the actionssuggested in the Climate Action Plan GHG-basedlist. The modeling output showed that the sustain-ability framework revealed a set of actions withshorter payback period, higher NPV and muchhigher GHG reductions, for slightly less capital outlay than the baseline CAP, as shown in Table 4.

ConclusionInclusion of a more broadly-based set of sustain-ability metrics in an institutional planning modelmay identify actions that reduce costs and paybackperiods and further reduce GHG emissions in com-parison with actions that would be recommendedbased upon the CA-CP model alone. em

Acknowledgments: The authors

gratefully acknowledge access to

data provided by Mary Beth

McGrew, Joe Harrell, and Maury

DuPont from the University of

Cincinnati, and funding provided

through Research and Teaching

Assistantships from the University of

Cincinnati and a Fellowship from the

National Science Foundation.

References1. Climate Action Plan: University of Cincinnati Uptown Campus; University of Cincinnati, 2009. See www.uc.edu/af/documents/sustainability/UC_Climate_

Action_Plan_2009_DRAFT.pdf. 2. Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version 3; Global Reporting Initiative, 2006. See www.globalreporting.org/ReportingFramework/G3Guidelines.3. Millennium Development Goals Report 2008; Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat: New York, NY, 2008.4. Indicators of Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies, Third Edition; Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable

Development, United Nations: New York, NY, 2007.5. EPA’s 2008 Report on the Environment (Final Report); EPA/600/R-07/045F (NTIS PB2008-112484); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Washington,

D.C., 2007.6. STARS: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, Version 1.0 Technical Manual; Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in

Higher Education (AASHE), 2010. See www.aashe.org/files/documents/STARS/STARS_1.0_Technical_Manual.pdf.7. The Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges; Princeton Review Books: New York, NY, 2011.8. College Sustainability Report Card 2011; Sustainable Endowments Institute, Cambridge, MA, 2011. See www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-

2011/indicators.9. UC2019: Accelerating Our Transformation; University of Cincinnati, 2010; See www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/president/media/StrategicPlan_

2010.pdf.

Table 4. Summary comparison of water saving actions.

Cost of Water Simple Net Present GHG reduction Actions ($) Savings ($/yr) payback (yr) Value ($) (MT CO2e)

Climate Action Plan 550,000 64,545 9 5,095 31

Sustainability Plan 539,964 353,656 2 1,980,048 170


em • feature

by Qingshi Tu, Jingjing Wang, Mingming Lu, Ming Chai, and Ting Lu

Qingshi Tu, Jingjing Wang, and Mingming Lu, are all with the Universityof Cincinnati’s School of Energy, Environmental, Biological, and Medical Engineering, Cincinnati, OH.Ming Chai is with BluegrassBiodiesel, Falmouth, KY. Ting Lu is with MetropolitanSewer District, Cincinnati,OH. E-mail:[email protected].

One of the few commercialized alternative energy forms, biodiesel consists mainly of methyl

esters derived from a variety of plant oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils with the

transesterification process.1,2 Biodiesel is renewable, domestically produced, and generates

lower emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) compared to traditional

fuels. For the biodiesel industry, 50–80% of the cost lies in the cost of the feedstock, which

has motivated the search for low-cost feedstocks such as various oil-containing wastes.

Feasibility and Practicesof Making Biodiesel Out of Low-Quality Greases


While waste cooking oil and animal fats have alreadybeen accepted as biodiesel feedstocks, trap greaseand municipal sewage sludge have yet to be fullyexploited. According to a U.S. Department of Energy(DOE) study, the amount of trap grease generatedannually in the United States is approximately13.37 lb/person,3 or (potentially) 495 million gallonsof biodiesel.

Trapping the GreaseThe terms trap grease and brown grease are usedinterchangeably. Brown grease, a term from thewaste oil rendering industry, describes waste oilwith a free fatty acid (FFA) concentration of 15–50%,while trap grease loosely refers to the mixture of fat,oil, and grease (FOG), water, and solids that comesfrom the grease trap of commercial food services.

A 2009 report by the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) showed that 47% of sewer lineblockages are related to FOG.4 Most municipalitieshave coordinates that prevent the illegal dumpingof FOG from commercial food sources, which isone of the major causes of pipe clogging. Restau-rants and other food services should have a greasetrap that separates grease from wastewater beforedischarging to the public sewers (see Figure 1). Periodically, the trapped grease is pumped by aspecialized company at a cost to the restaurant andsent to wastewater treatment plants for disposal.Typically, the trapped grease is then incinerated,anaerobically digested, or landfilled. No regulationshave been imposed for household cooking. Dueto the cost involved in pumping and landfilling,trap grease has long been considered as a burden.

In the Metropolitan Sewer District of GreaterCincinnati (MSDGC), trap grease goes throughprimary treatment process and stays in the hold-ing tank until it goes to landfill (see Figure 2).MSDGC is a Hamilton County-owned sewer dis-trict collecting and treating 192 MGD of waste-water by operating seven major treatmentplants and serving a community of more than800,000 people. There are over 1,000 restaurantsthroughout the county and MSDGC receives ap-proximately 10,000,000 gallons of grease trapdischarge annually. MSDGC’s charge of $50 per

1,000 gallon of trap grease is much lower than thecost of treatment and disposal.

There are several technical challenges in makingbiodiesel from trap grease, including much higherimpurity and FFA contents than “traditional” wastecooking oil from commercial kitchens. Heteroge-neous in nature, the composition of trap greasevaries greatly from case to case. For example, thetrap grease from steak houses may have muchhigher fatty acids than those from french fry oper-ations. Generally, the largest portion of contaminantsinclude water and solid impurities such as foodresidues, kitchen trash, and other solids.5 Anotherpractical issue is the quantity of the feedstock: dowe have a continuous supply of trap grease?

Current Practices for ConvertingTrap Grease to Biodiesel One possibility is to integrate trap grease into theexisting biodiesel manufacturing process, sincemany of the facilities can already handle “multi-feedstock” and have pretreatment capabilities; an-other possibility is to build a standalone biodieselfacility dedicated for trap grease, such as at the siteof a wastewater treatment plant.

The City of San Francisco has taken the lead byusing trap grease-generated biodiesel to powerdiesel equipment.6 The facility can convert 10,000gallons of restaurant trap grease daily into biodieselwith a 3% overall conversion rate. Its grease recycleprogram (SFGreasecycle) was developed in collab-oration with commercial biodiesel companiesBlackGold Biofuels, URS, and Pacific Biodiesel Inc.,under the financial support from DOE.

Service Lids

Grease

Solids

EffluentIncomingFlow

Baffle Wall

Figure 1. Grease trapdemonstration.


The Technology in Brief In order to separate the oil portion from the bulkimpurities, pretreatment is necessary. The next stepis the extraction of the oil content, which some-times is done by the rendering companies. To date,there have been very few technical reports on howto make biodiesel from trap grease, especially regarding the feedstock pretreatment.

Called “the enemy in making biodiesel,” water con-tent is very undesirable for the conventional alkalitransesterification reactions, as it can result in soupformation. However, most trap grease has consid-erable moisture content. As an example, the mois-ture content for the trap grease sample the authorsreceived ranged from 47.1 to 74.5%. A quick solvent extraction (e.g., with n-hexane) and gaschromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis indi-cated that the trap grease contained mainly C16and C18 FFA with minor quantities of triglycerides.We consulted an expert, who confirmed that thiscontent was typical of trap grease.

FFA is considered detrimental to the alkaline-catalyzed biodiesel conversion. FFA can react withthe alkaline catalyst, such as (e.g., NaOH) to formsoap, which will not only reduce biodiesel yield, butalso result in poor separation of biodiesel and glyc-erine. Typically, an FFA level of less than 0.5–1% is

This project demonstrated the effectiveness of co-locating a biodiesel conversion facility within awastewater treatment plant in terms of waste minimization and reduced petroleum fuel con-sumption. In addition, the economic analysis of thisstudy highlights the monetary benefits of biodieselproduction from trap grease (potential revenue of$1,525,000/yr).

Elsewhere, engineering company H2O’C has part-nered with BlackGold to conduct a feasibility studyof recovering and utilizing FOG from urbansewage for biodiesel production under the grantfrom Missouri Department of Natural Resources.7

The study focuses on the FOG collected in the domain of Kansas City and St. Louis and with theexpected outcome of a roadmap for the othercommunities to capture and reuse the FOG wastes.

In addition, biodiesel manufacturers have alsostarted commercializing trap grease biodiesel. Forexample, Biodiesel International AG (BDI) has builta 100,000 t/yr plant in Hong Kong to convert multiple feedstocks, including trap grease, intobiodiesel. While in 2010, Piedmont Biofuels com-missioned the first enzymatic biodiesel plant in theUnited States capable of dealing with up to 100%FFA in oil and tolerating a certain degree of tracemoisture in the feedstock.

Making biodiesel

from trap grease

offers the dual

benefits of waste

reduction and

alternative fuel

production.


preferred for the alkaline process.8-10 A pretreat-ment step is usually required to lower the FFA levelto an acceptable range when working with highFFA feedstocks, such as waste cooking oil, animalfats, and palm oil. The most widely adoptedmethod for removing the FFA is to convert it intoesters by acid catalytic esterification.10 Alternatively,the glycerolysis and enzymatic process can also beconsidered. Glycerolysis converts FFA into mono-glycerides and the required high temperature (approximately 200 °C) eliminates the water removal step.

Chakrabarti et al.11 conducted both bench- andpilot-scale studies on biodiesel production fromtrap grease. The process successfully producedbiodiesel meeting all ASTM specifications, except

for the sulfur content.

SummaryMaking biodiesel from trap grease offers the dualbenefits of waste reduction and alternative fuel production. The awareness and practices of usingtrap grease to make biodiesel have been steadilyincreasing. Technical challenges exist, especiallysince trap grease has been traditionally handled asa waste and a burden without much care, whichhas affected the feedstock quality. However, withthe increased demand on the feedstock market, itis reasonable to expect that trap grease will attractmore attention as a less expensive alternative toplant oils and recycled cooking fats. em

References1. Agnew, R.; Chai, M.; Lu, M.; Dendramis, N. Research and Solutions: Making Biodiesel from Recycled Cooking Oil Generated in Campus Dining

Facilities; Sustainability: The Journal of Record 2009, 2, 303-307.2. Srivastave, A; Prasad, R. Triglycerides-Based Diesel Fuels; Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 2000, 4, 111-133.3. Wiltsee, G. Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment, Springfield, VA; NREL/SR-579-26141; National Technical Information Service, U.S.

Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Energy, 1998. See www.doe.gov/bridge/home.html.4. Oil and Grease Removal Technologies; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. See www.epa.gov/region8/water/pretreatment/pdf/W6_

KyleSorenson_OilAndGreaseTechnology.pdf (accessed March 2010).5. Haas, M.J. Trap Grease: A Plentiful, Inexpensive, Urban Biodiesel Feedstock. Presented at the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, 2010.6. Zeller, B.; Ving, K. Making Biodiesel from San Francisco’s FOG. Presented at the 2011 Stakeholder Summit: Biodiesel Alley, Indianapolis,

Indiana, June 28, 2011. See www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/pdfs/summit_making_biodiesel.pdf (accessed Sept. 2011).7. Voegele, E. FOG Feasibility Study Underway in Missouri; Biodiesel Magazine, Sept. 13, 2010. See www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/4382/

fog-feasibility-study-underway-in-missouri (accessed Sept. 2011).8. Feuge, R.O.; Kraemer, E.A.; Bailey, A.E. Modification of Vegetable Oils: IV. Reesterification of Fatty Acids with Glycerol; Oil and Soap 1945, 22, 202-207.9. Nye, M.J.; Southwell, P.H. Conversion of Rapeseed Oil to Esters for Use as Diesel Fuel; Fifth Canadian Bioenergy Research and Development

Seminar 1984, 487-490.10. Canakci, M.; Van Gerpen, J. Biodiesel Production from Oils and Fats with High Free Fatty Acids; Transaction of ASAE 2001, 44, 1429-1436.11. Chakrabarti, A.R.; Hake, J.M.; Zarchi, I.; Gray, D.M.D. Waste Grease Biodiesel Production at a Wastewater Treatment Plant; WEFTEC Report

2008, 2770-2789.

Figure 2. Trap grease fromrestaurant grease traps(left) and municipal sewagesludge from the skimmersof the primary settlingtanks in MetropolitanSewer District of GreaterCincinnati (right).

Acknowledgments: The authors

would like to thank Beverly Head,

Kevin Mercier, and Larry Scanlan

from the Metropolitan Sewer

District of Greater Cincinnati for

providing helpful information and

trap grease samples for this article

and their trap grease to biodiesel

research.


awma.org

em • update

by Miriam Lev-On andPerry P. Lev-On

Miriam Lev-On, Ph.D.,is executive director of TheLEVON Group, LLC, Thou-sand Oaks, CA, and vicechair of the Climate Changeand Sustainability Division ofA&WMA’s Technical Council.Perry P. Lev-On, Ph.D.,is managing director of TheLEVON Group, LLC. E-mail:[email protected];[email protected].

Two Decades after the development of Agenda 21 at the United Nations (UN) Conference on

Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 19921 and a decade after the World

Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, the governments

of the world are on the road to Rio again, where, in June 2012, the Rio+20 UN conference

will be convened.2

On the Road to

It’s a different world now when compared to theone which existed when the world’s governmentsmet in Rio 20 years ago. The Rio conference was,at the time, a turning point that redefined the wayin which society, the environment, and the econ-omy are interrelated. A new term, “sustainable development” was coined and the concept of the“triple bottom line” was introduced.

Today, there are widespread debates about whatdirection government policies should take in themidst of widespread economic concerns in manyof the world’s developed countries. This state ofevents stands in stark contrast to the vibrancy ofemerging economies such as those of Brazil, China,and India, which have benefited from the spread ofglobalization. Emerging fears about inflation and

Editor’s Note: Miriam and Perry

Lev-On have written substantially

on this topic for EM, for example,

see “Educating Future Generations:

The UN Decade of Education for

Sustainable Development,” EM

October 2005, p. 54.


concerns about transparency, corruption, and “uneven playing fields” are casting a shadow onglobal relations. Of particular concern are the waysdeveloping countries can sustain economic devel-opment and growth while their export markets inthe developed countries are contracting. An addi-tional concern exists with the way donor nationscan sustain their aid levels to poorer nations whenthey are preoccupied with the need to deal withtheir own national economic crises.

Sustainability MilestonesThe year 2012 marks several important sustain-ability milestones. First and foremost is the 25th anniversary of the Brundtland Commission thatwas set up by the UN to asses the linkage between

development and the environment. The commis-sion’s report laid the foundation for the Earth Sum-mit that was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 andwas an ambitious global gathering and a break-through in viewing the development from a sus-tainability perspective.

The 1992 Earth Summit attracted more than 20,000attendees, 10,000 media representatives, and overa hundred heads of state. It concluded with the RioDeclaration and with Agenda 21, which is thefoundation for implementing sustainable develop-ment. The summit culminated with the signing of twomajor conventions: the UN Framework Conven-tion on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

awma.org

Rio de Janeiro…Again


The crowning achievement of the Rio summit hasbeen to encourage sustainable development action.However, in the ensuing years, nations struggledwith ways to promote agreements that did notnegatively impact developed economies, while atthe same time did not limit future economicgrowth of emerging economies. The decade thatfollowed the Rio 1992 summit was marked by theinability of global bodies to follow through and deliver agreements on the changes needed tomaintain equilibrium between environmental, eco-nomic, and societal aspects of development.

The major lesson learned from the Rio summit isthat governments cannot do it all by themselvesand need to take a more collaborative approach toimplementation. Consequently, 10 years after the

Rio summit, at the conclusion of the World Summiton Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in2002, 180 heads of state endorsed the Johannes-burg Plan of Implementation3 and launched multiple “Type 2 Partnerships.” These partnershipsprovide frameworks for public-private collaborationand action. Many of these partnerships were set upto address a gap in Agenda 21, namely the explicitfocus on the role of global energy supplies and demands, including their availability, accessibilityand acceptability to meet the growing energyneeds of the world.

Rio+20Despite a long list of accomplishments and somebooming economies around the world, many sus-tainability metrics are not encouraging. Leadingmetrics, including loss of biodiversity, lack of accessto fresh water, accumulation of greenhouse gasemissions, and socio-economic inequity, indicatethat much more needs to be accomplished.

Now, with the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), scheduled for June 4-6,2012, looming on the horizon, major economic issues dominate the headlines and there might beserious difficulties in reaching new and ambitiousmultilateral agreements. Many governments areenacting, or deepening, austerity measures, andeven those in better economic health are not overlyenthusiastic about embracing all the tenets of sustainability.

Objectives and ThemesThe objective of Rio+20 is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development,assess the progress to date and the remaining gapsin the implementation of the outcomes of the majorsummits on sustainable development, and addressnew and emerging challenges.4

The two main themes for the Rio+20 conference are:

1. Green economy in the context of sustainabledevelopment and poverty eradication. This isan approach that focuses on opportunities to advance economic and environmental goals

Toward a Green Economy: Select Conclusions

• Investing just 2% of global gross domestic product (GDP) into 10 key sectors can kick-start a transition toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.

• Greening the economy not only generates growth, and in particular gains in natural capital, but it also produces a highergrowth in GDP and GDP per capita.

• In a transition to a “green economy,” new jobs will be created, jobsthat will, over time, exceed the losses in “brown economy” jobs.

• Prioritizing government investment and spending in areas thatstimulate the greening of economic sectors is on the critical path.

• The scale of financing required for a green economy transition issubstantial, but an order of magnitude smaller than annual globalinvestment.

• The move toward a green economy is happening on a scale and at a speed never seen before.


simultaneously. This concept was first introducedin a regional dialog in Asia and the Pacific andmore recently at the Organization for EconomicCooperation and Development. This theme ad-vocates that growth in the 21st century will needto be associated with far less intensive energyand resource use and reduced rates of pollutionthan in previous years. The UN EnvironmentProgram Green Economy Report is providing additional details on the subject.5 A brief summaryof key findings is shown opposite (see “Towarda Green Economy: Select Conclusions”).

2. Institutional framework for sustainable develop-ment. The institutional framework for sustainabledevelopment has grown over the past twodecades and consists now of both formal insti-tutions and a myriad of informal arrangementsand collaborations. This theme will address waysto best strengthen the institutional frameworkfor sustainable development at all levels. In particular, ways a new international governancestructure can accomplish the integration in policy-making and implementation of the threepillars of sustainable development. Despite thegeneral agreement about the need for an improved governance structure, there is noagreement yet on how to accomplish it. The UNSecretary General has outlined several steps fora recommended approach (see “Approaches toStrengthening the Institutional Framework forSustainable Development” above).

SummaryLike its predecessors, Rio+20 is long on drive, aiming to speed development of a global greeneconomy in the context of poverty eradication and

sustainable development and on establishing a better institutional framework governing the process.It must be acknowledged, however, that theprocess faces long odds for success—by which ismeant creating conditions to foster the emergenceof sustainable societies and markets quicklyenough to avoid the ecological and human catas-trophe that science warns may be looming.

Rio+20 will be defined by leadership and courage(or their absence). Rio 1992 was judged as a mildsuccess and as a wake-up call. Rio+20 will succeedonly by catalyzing rapid global action. The privatesector, with its unique ability to enact rapid changesacross markets and regions, as well as its capability toscuttle policy reforms that it views as threatening, willbe a critical player at the table. With the right degreeof foresight, and some degree of luck, it just mightchoose to lead and make Rio+20 a success. em

References1. Agenda 21; United Nations, Division for Sustainable Development: New York, NY, June 1992. See www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21.2. Rio+20 resolution. See www.uncsd2012.org/rio20.3. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; United Nations, Division for Sustainable Development: New York, NY, September 2002. See www.un.org/

esa/sustdev/documents/WSSD_POI_PD/English/POIToc.htm.4. Objective and Themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; Report of the Secretary-General; Document A/

CONF.216/PC/7; United Nations, General Assembly, December 22, 2010.5. Green Economy Report; United Nations Environment Program, 2011; See www.unep.org/greeneconomy/GreenEconomyReport/tabid/29846/

Default.aspx.

Approaches to Strengthening the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development

• Ensuring coherence and policy integration in the economic, social, and environmental fields.

• Improving analysis, assessment, and scientific advice.

• Strengthening implementation, monitoring, and accountability.

• Limiting overlap or duplication of activities.

• Enhancing participation.

• Strengthening national and local capacities for sustainable development.


em • competitive strategy

This column explores the rationale behind this advice and offers some suggestions to current andprospective environmental professionals, regardlessof their job status. First, some historical perspective.

My father retired from the company he joinedwhen he was discharged from the army afterWorld War II. That was the norm. My co-op jobs atNortheastern University and my first job after grad-uation with Shell Oil Company shattered any illusionthat I would follow his model of career longevitywith one company. I watched string after string oflayoffs and reorganizations in companies that previously had never been touched with radicalchange. The implicit “lifetime contract” between anemployee and his or her company became nulland void during the 1980s after Jack Welch earnedthe moniker of “Neuron Jack” by streamliningGeneral Electric to the envy of CEOs everywhere.

Changing Your HeadsetIn today’s corporate culture, one needs to developa realistic job outlook: you are on your own, workingfor yourself. You just happen to have a primary“client” called “Ajax Company” or the “State Department of Environmental Conservation.” Ifyou expect to have a single, stable “client” for therest of your career, you are betting against theodds. Even within government agencies where jobsecurity seems to come with seniority, you still faceconstant administration changes and the ever-present “boss from hell.” Yes, you may keep thejob, but is it really worth the stress and resultanthealth impacts?

Having your own company mind-set forces you totake greater responsibility for managing your owncareer and place less reliance on the organization’sinevitable changes over time. I have seen far toomany professionals relinquish their career respon-sibilities to the unchallenged control of an organi-zation. It is time to create your own independentbusiness plan.

I have heard hundreds of macho stories from indi-viduals who work 60+ hours each week and/ortravel extensively, effectively ruining their family lifeand their health. Do not expect a reward at somedistant time for these Herculean efforts, because in today’s environment, the manager making thepromise may not be around to deliver on it. It is timeto balance the effort spent on your current clientand the effort needed to strengthen your companyand your family.

Indeed, from my own experience and those of my colleagues, it seems that one way or another,organizations undergo significant transformationsabout every five years. Be it a new CEO, a newbusiness plan, a new boss (from hell or heaven), ora transformed marketplace, the company you startedwith is different. For that matter, the company maynot even be around in five years.

As an environmental professional, you must be inconstant training for the next client, no matter howsecure you feel about the current one. You shouldtake advantage of every career development opportunity and get and maintain professional

by Richard MacLean

Richard MacLean is director of RichardMacLean & Associates,LLC, a management consulting firm located inPrescott, AZ, and executivedirector of the Center forEnvironmental Innovation(CEI), a university-basednonprofit research organi-zation. He can be reachedvia e-mail at [email protected]. Formore information, visit his Web site at www.RMacLeanLLC.com.

When to Hold and Considerations When Contemplating a Job Change

An environmental professional recently called me for career advice on making a job change.

He has a secure job working for a federal agency, but was bored and wanted to work for an

organization “with a corporate culture that truly is in sync with sustainable development.”

Should he make the move, and if so, which are the best companies? I answered, “No, wait

until the economy improves, build both your résumé and contact network, and be very skeptical

of what you read about so-called cutting-edge companies; do your due diligence.”


company is currently run and its external imagerelative to sustainable development. But CEOscome and go, and the core culture might be remarkably different than the image projected bythe CEO. The “chief sustainability officer” may alsoconvey an idealistic image, but just how much realcontrol and power does he or she have over thecompany culture and business plan?

The point is that it is quite difficult to get a real readas to what is going on internally within a company:the level of cooperation, the willingness to spendresources on substantive programs, the actual com-pany culture, and so on. The joy of working for anew company can soon evaporate if all of one’s energy is spent struggling with budget constraintsand internal politics.

An extensive network of contacts is not only thebest way to learn about potential job opportunities,but also to inquire as to the true nature of an organization’s culture. And if it appears that thecompany may be an excellent fit and if you areable to secure an interview, there are key questionsthat should be asked to probe the internal work-ings of a company. If readers are interested, I willwrite a future column to explore this area. In themeantime, I urge you to visit my Web site and readthe article “Fast Governance.”1 em

certifications. You should join national professionalorganizations and their local chapters and be active.It is essential to develop contacts outside of yourpresent client. Consider presenting papers at con-ferences, writing journal articles, and fine-tuning theskills needed to advertise your own “company.” Youshould always have on hand an up-to-date market-ing portfolio (i.e., an updated résumé). A&WMA isa terrific place to get started and be active.

The above is what I explained to the caller con-templating a change. Although he was located atground zero of the environmental regulatoryworld—Washington, D.C.—he had not built an extensive network of contacts, he had never published, and he was not active in professional organizations. Excellent technical skills help, butthey will not keep the current client or secure thenext one. In business and government, it is rela-tionships, relationships, relationships. He had nobackstop should he change jobs and suddenly findhimself in the unemployment line. Fortunately, hewas under 30 and has a long career ahead to buildthis backstop.

With respect to finding the ideal company that isaligned with sustainable development, the task canbe quite a challenge. The scoring systems for sus-tainability rankings and awards are quite superficial,essentially depending on publicly available informa-tion. For example, one independent auditor for amajor corporation that consistently was ranked at thetop of sustainability rankings and awards confidedthat she was shocked at the poor quality of the site-level programs, even on such fundamental concernsas compliance. Again, due diligence is critical.

The internal organizations that drive the social responsibility images of companies are typically themarketing and communications departments. TheCEO can also be a major factor in both how the

Reference1. MacLean, R. Fast Governance: If you know what to look for and what questions to ask, key EHS governance issues can be identified at major

facilities—or even entire corporations—in a few hours; Environmental Quality Management, Summer 2008, 106-110.

When to Fold


em • pm file

We care about both types of projects, but there issomething different about the focus of the projects.The sustainability project is undertaken as an option. The compliance project is undertaken as arequirement. Both require success, but becausecompliance is easier to establish than sustainability,we’re more likely to shortcut the project scopingeffort on the run-of-the-mill compliance project.

In the case of the sustainability project, we build aset of project requirements based on a compre-hensive review of objectives and operations. Weexplore each path, asking questions to define theprocess, how it works, who is involved, and howoutputs are used. In the case of the complianceproject, we may consider the project “routine”—and drawing on our knowledge of the operation, regulations, and previous experience with similarprojects—build the project around a set of precon-ceived requirements. We are not being compla-cent; we’re trying to be efficient. However, whenwe neglect to elicit a comprehensive list of requirements for routine projects, we can miss opportunities to deliver projects that provide fullbenefit or added value—or run the risk of exceedingbudget or falling behind schedule.

Cases in PointConsider the case of the environmental consultantdeveloping standard operating procedures (SOPs)

to support a process safety management (PSM)program at a medium-size manufacturing facility.Having worked through the challenging aspects ofthe project to identify and address process hazards,the consultant viewed SOP development as a rou-tine task and gave little consideration to who woulduse the SOPs, how they would be used, and howthey would be managed. The consultant focusedon the base requirement of developing an SOP,without exploring the requirements surroundingthe SOP. The consultant prepared the first draft ofSOPs in narrative form using a template that hadbeen used successfully on a similar project at a different manufacturing facility.

After submitting the first draft, however, the con-sultant learned that the facility had an active docu-ment control group that approved, managed, andmaintained SOPs for all groups in the company.Furthermore, the document control group main-tained standard templates for SOP preparation, including a version based on photographs andflowcharts for use by process operators. The consultant had to rework the SOPs to conform tothe facility’s template for process operators. In thiscase, both the consultant and the facility’s environ-ment, health, and safety (EH&S) manager viewedSOP development as a routine task within theframework of their respective experiences. TheEH&S manager fully understood company SOP

Effective Project ScopingDefinition

Although there is growing emphasis on sustainability and green initiatives, many environ-

mental service projects are undertaken to satisfy regulatory compliance objectives. While we

might relentlessly scope a sustainability project to identify the range of project features that

produce an array of benefits, we can fall into the trap of scoping compliance projects to

include features that simply satisfy base needs.

by David Elam

David L. Elam, Jr., CIH,CMQ/OE, PMP, is principalconsultant with Summa Consultants Inc. E-mail: [email protected] electronic files of this column and his other writings,please visit his Web site at www.summaconsultants.com.


development policy and considered the issue soroutine that it didn’t merit explanation. The con-sultant had achieved past success using his SOPdevelopment approach and assumed that thesame approach would work on the new project.Because the consultant failed to clearly elicit requirements for SOP preparation—as defined bystakeholders in the document control group—theproject incurred additional costs and delays.

Another consultant was assisting a manufacturingfacility with the development of a chemical inven-tory to support the facility’s hazard communicationprogram. The consultant developed the inventory,secured current versions of all material safety datasheets (MSDS), identified the areas in the facilitywhere each material was used, and built a databaseto manage the 120 materials in use at the facility.The database was uploaded to the network so thatindividual operators could access MSDS informa-tion and generate notebooks containing printedcopies of MSDS at each point of use. Additionally,the database included functionality that allowed amaterial user to submit a new material for reviewand approval before use. As envisioned, the projectwould provide operators unfettered and immediateaccess to information about the materials they usedand allow for the approval of new materials for special production runs.

The consultant’s deliverables conformed to the requirements defined by the facility’s EH&S manager,however, operators did not understand how to usethe database or why it was necessary. As a result,operators failed to maintain MSDS notebooks thatproperly reflected materials in use at their work-stations and continued to procure trial materialsoutside of a formal approval and documentationsystem. In this case, both the EH&S manager and

the consultant overlooked requirements of a keygroup of stakeholders—the process operators. Notsurprisingly, the project—while completed as agreedand on-time and within budget—failed to deliverthe expected value because the requirements of akey group of stakeholders had not been assessedand defined.

What Defines Project Success?In both examples, the consultants delivered tech-nically-sound projects that failed at initial delivery.The PSM project manager did an excellent job ofworking through the process hazard analysis andidentifying procedures that needed to be devel-oped. Unfortunately, the first round of proceduresdid not meet facility requirements for format. Thechemical inventory project manager performed anaccurate and complete inventory and updated fileswith the most recent versions of MSDS, but thedatabase was not usable by those with primary responsibility for its use. In both cases, the projectsfailed because the project managers failed toclearly elicit project requirements from key stake-holders. Interestingly, neither project was a first-of-kind effort for either firm, but the project teammade flawed or incomplete assumptions aboutproject requirements based on preconceived ideas.

Stephen Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly EffectivePeople, identifies “Start with the End in Mind” asHabit Number 2. This principle is directly applicableto project scoping. If we start with a general under-standing of the project objectives and then stepback and ask, in direct terms if necessary, “whatdefines project success?” or “how will the com-pleted project work?” we will be able to identify allstakeholders and address their requirements duringproject scoping. As a result, we will deliver projects—even routine ones—that offer full value. em

Requires Complete of Project Requirements

awma.org

em • yp perspective

Since then, other sustainable definitions, termi-nologies, and models have arisen such as the “triplebottom line,” “going green,” and “corporate socialresponsibility.” These and scores of other sustain-ability definitions have emerged and have alteredmeanings to a variety of stakeholders.

Everyone has their own definition and there is noone “correct” or consensus meaning. In many situ-ations, organizations loosely define sustainabilityand often do not align it with business objectives.As a result, this ambiguity often leads to a cluster ofdisjointed activity (the “wild west” of sustainability)throughout an organization—an outcome that may cause more harm than good. The harm to an organization typically arises from an increase in ten-sion among internal stakeholders (i.e., employees)trying to accomplish what they think is right versuswhat another may believe is a preferred path.

Young Professionals and SustainabilityThere is an explosion of awareness and interest insustainability among college students and youngprofessionals. Today’s persistent, innovative, diverselyeducated, “no fear of failure,” and “questioning” newtalent is eager to integrate their personal values intothe workplace in some fashion, especially when itcomes to sustainability. And, with the baby boomersretiring en masse, leaving businesses scrambling toattract and retain needed talent, many opportunitiesare arising for young professionals to find jobs thatmeet their values. But where opportunities exist tointegrate and engage this new energetic generationand the hot topic of sustainability, challenges await.

Integrating SustainabilityOrganizations today are using sustainability initia-tives both to enhance their business value and to

attract new employees. Frequently, the initiativesmandated by corporate executives and senior levelmanagement to achieve these objectives lack resources or direction. This trend leads to internalstakeholders finding it difficult to implement a suc-cessful program—a common reason why sustain-ability programs fail.

Further, a larger and growing organizational problemis the lack of alignment of internal stakeholders toaccomplish sustainability goals and objectives. Withsenior leaders driving sustainability initiatives andthe young and eager frontline employees now empowered with a new directive, there is pressureon mid-career staff (or those who don’t have directresponsibilities for sustainability initiatives) fromboth directions. A common result is implementationresistance from middle management, and thus internal challenges arise.

Given the responsibilities of middle management,competing priorities, additional work, diversion fromestablished objectives, and an ambiguous topic, anorganization may struggle to implement their sustainability objectives. So how does the youngprofessional, or anyone for that matter, overcomeresistance to making progress on sustainability?

Fostering EngagementThere is an abundance of literature about designingsustainability programs, implementing initiatives,and gauging the overall effectiveness of a program.Still, with all these tools, there are individuals whoare not willing to engage or take time to learn andembrace the concept of sustainability. How doesone engage resistant internal stakeholders? Firstand foremost, it’s probably not personal and beforeyou push too hard to accomplish your objective,

Progressing Sustainability

YP Perspective is a monthlycolumn organized byA&WMA’s Young ProfessionalAdvisory Council (YPAC). Ifyou have a topic you wouldlike to see young professionalsdiscuss, e-mail:[email protected].

YPAC strives to effectivelyengage YPs within the Association by developingservices and activities to meetthe needs of today’s youngprofessionals. A YP is definedby the Association as being35 years of age or younger.Each YP is encouraged toget involved with the Associ-ation, whether within theirlocal Chapter or Section orwithin the Association’s fourCouncils (Education Council,Technical Council, Sectionsand Chapters Councils, andYPAC). YPs interested in get-ting involved may contactYPAC for more informationon current volunteer andleadership opportunities.

What is sustainability? In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and

Development issued a report called Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland

Report in recognition of former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland’s role as

Commission Chair, which includes what is now one of the most widely recognized definitions

of sustainability: “…meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.”1

by Steve Rybolt

Steve Rybolt is an environmen-tal management specialist with thePort of Seattle. His experiencesinclude project management,strategic planning, sustainabilityreporting, compliance assess-ments, air quality planning, andNEPA/SEPA evaluations. Cur-rently, he serves as the Chair ofthe Puget Sound Chapter, Chairof the Student Programs Com-mittee for Pacific Northwest International Section (PNWIS),and Chair of the Vitality Com-mittee for the Young ProfessionalAdvisory Council. He received a bachelor’s degree in environ-mental economics and a master’sof science degree in resourcemanagement and environmentalpolicy from Western WashingtonUniversity’s Huxley College ofthe Environment. E-mail: [email protected].


awma.org january 2012 em 39

ask yourself, “Does the involvement of this groupor individual add real value to the objective I’m try-ing to accomplish?” If the answer is no, then keepmoving ahead with your objective. If the answer isyes, then you need to discover a way to engagethe stakeholder. There are a variety of often over-looked simple methods to engage stakeholdersand sell your idea (see above).

Progressing SustainabilityThere is no one way to effectively engage internalstakeholders, just as there is no one way to definesustainability. As organizations become more ex-perienced with the integration of sustainability ini-tiatives, it is important to make sure that efforts arealigned throughout and there is a clear, visible,shared objective. Once these objectives and goalsare established, it is important to realize that noteveryone may be in agreement or have the samepriorities. Strategies must be clearly communicatedand transparent throughout an organization. Thiscare ensures that internal stakeholders understand

their objectives, which ultimately, should ensurethat all roles and responsibilities align.

Organizational development is critical to any busi-ness. Breaking down resistance from within is chal-lenging, but it also offers rewards. As you begin tounderstand what is behind the resistance, you canoften begin to understand why it’s occurring, andwork to remove those barriers and win support foryour efforts.

Key to the success of integrating sustainability ini-tiatives is engaging internal stakeholders early andensuring that they operate outside of siloed func-tions whenever possible. With the new and ener-getic upcoming talent in the workforce, theexpertise and knowledge of a maturing workforce,and the directive from the executive level, there isan enormous opportunity to progress sustainabilityinitiatives throughout an organization. The solutionis to cooperatively work together. em

How to Engage Stakeholders – ‘Selling Sustainability’

Gain allies

Importance of the initiative

Use their lingo

Understand theirbusiness

It is challenging to be a single voice in acrowd, garner the support of others. Does the individual have a respected colleague that would persuade them?

Explain the importance of the initiative andrelate the initiative to the goals of the organi-zation. Additionally, associate the initiative to an individual’s work or current project.Show that the initiative is beneficial to the organization and their work.

We are in a diverse industry of scientists, engineers, politicians, economists, planners,and more. You need to understand what theyare talking about, and have them understandwhat you are trying to articulate.

Make sure you know their role within the organization. This step is critical when tryingto identify how the sustainability initiative willfit within their specialty.

Search for common ground

Create a relationship

Engage them

Reward them

Successful organizations ensure that stake-holders work together. Where can you bothwork best together? Where do they think youcan work best together? How do your rolesand functions align? How can you furthertheir interests?

It is easier to work with someone when you know who they are personally and professionally. It is important to rememberyou work with people, not positions.

Listen first. Learn their business. Get them involved directly with the sustainability initia-tive. Can you find an opportunity to put themin a position where they need to educate others on the initiative?

Individuals like to be rewarded for their efforts. Emphasize and reward aspects of their work that relate to the sustainability initiative.

Reference1. Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development; General Assembly Resolution 42/187; United Nations,

1987. Retrieved from www.un-documents.net/a42r187.htm.



em • association news

Conference Highlights: The Second International Conference

The RegionThe Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regionfaces many of the same air quality issues found inother regions, but it also contains some unusualmanmade and natural emissions that differ fromthose in other parts of the world.

It is an arid region with limited water supplies, mak-ing potential changes in the amount and quality ofprecipitation due to air pollution and climatechange of special concern. Dust storms from theSahara and other deserts are intense and of largespatial influence, elevating particulate matter (PM2.5

and PM10) concentrations to hazardous levels anddepositing onto surfaces and crops.

Domestic unrest and armed conflicts create intenseplumes that can travel many kilometers across borders, while at the same time impairing the abilityto monitor and manage more conventional emis-sion sources. In addition, the intense developmentof energy resources results in large volatile organiccompound (VOC) emissions that affect regional

ozone concentrations. High volumes of goodsmovement in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, andArabian Gulf use large ships burning residual fuels high in sulfur, toxic metal, black carbon, andgreenhouse gas emissions.

Excessive emissions in one country affect the con-centrations in many neighboring countries. PM2.5

and PM10 concentrations in parts of Turkey wouldexceed air quality standards, even if all anthro-pogenic emitters within the country ceased to exist.1

Air mass transport from the north and northwestbrings anthropogenic species to the EasternMediterranean basin, while transport from the southand southeast brings Saharan and other desert duststo Turkey. In this sense, the Eastern Mediterraneanis considered as the sink of pollutants transportedfrom industrialized European countries.

VOCs and organic carbon transport from theKuwaiti oil fires, for example, affected ambient concentrations at long distances, including alongthe Eastern Mediterranean coast.2 The effects of

The Second International Conference on Air Pollution and Control (CAPAC-II) was held in

Antalya, Turkey, on September 19–23, 2011, and was the second international conference

focusing on air quality issues in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. The first conference

(CAPAC-I) was held in Ankara, Turkey, in 2005, and there was general agreement that periodic

follow-up conferences were needed.

by Semra G. Tuncel,CAPAC-II ConferenceChair, Gürdal Tuncel, Judith C. Chow, John G.Watson, Gülen Güllü, andMerih A. Köksal

Semra G. Tuncel is with theDepartment of Chemistryand Gürdal Tuncel is withthe Department of Environ-mental Engineering, both atMiddle East Technical Uni-versity, Ankara, Turkey. Judith C. Chow and JohnG. Watson are both withDesert Research Institute,Nevada System of HigherEducation, Reno, NV. GülenGüllü and Merih A. Köksalare both with the Departmentof Environmental Engineering,Hacettepe University,Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: [email protected].

Photo courtesy of Semra G. Tuncel


more recent conflicts on other countries have yet tobe assessed. Turkey is a bridge between Europeand Asia, literally in terms of providing accessacross the Bosporus straits that divide Istanbul, itslargest city, and figuratively in terms of the diversityof peoples and cultures that it unifies.

The ConferenceCAPAC-II was developed to share recent techno-logical and scientific developments on air pollution,emphasizing the synthesis of scientific expertiseachieved in individual disciplines and their applica-bility to the Eastern Mediterranean and the MiddleEast. The Middle East Technical University, HacettepeUniversity, and Dokuz Eylul University were thecore organizers, with sponsorship from the TurkishScience and Technology Institute (TUBITAK), andendorsement from A&WMA.

CAPAC-II brought together more than 150 scien-tists, regulators, and industrialists from 24 coun-tries. Delegates shared their experiences and ideasin plenary addresses, platform sessions, and posterpresentations, with an emphasis on how their in-formation might be used to go beyond of standardair quality management practices. Selected contri-butions on major topics are summarized belowwith reference to extended abstracts and presen-tations available via the conference Web site,www.capac2011.org.

Key Discussion TopicsEmission Characterization Methods and ResultsAccurate emission estimates require potentiallycostly measurements. Normal compliance meth-ods, such as the hot filter/iced impinger stack testmethod used in the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency’s (EPA) Method 5, do not adequately repre-sent the condensable components of PM emissions.Many nonroad engines and fugitive dust emissionsare poorly characterized, especially in the MiddleEast. Gaga et al.3 derived real-world emission factors for carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases

by measuring motor vehicle exhaust in a traffic tun-nel of Eskisehir province, Turkey. Ship-plume sulfurdioxide (SO2) emission factors were measured andfuel sulfur contents were inferred and comparedusing a number of measurement technologies byBalzani Loov et al.4

Air Quality Measurement Methods, Indoor,and Outdoor Pollutant ConcentrationsSeveral studies elucidated methods for determin-ing concentrations on different spatial scales, including indoor, roadside, neighborhood, urban,regional, and global domains. Almeida et.al.5

assessed long-term average concentrations withbiomonitors near Spanish industries, showing largevariability over short distances. Güllü et.al.6 foundconcentration variability across a relatively smallpart of northern Cyprus. Karakaş et al.7 found sea-sonal variations for polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) in Turkey’s western Black Sea region. Băncuţăet al.8 related heavy metal concentrations in Slova-kia to industrial emissions.

Source-Oriented and Receptor Models to Reduce Ambient ConcentrationsWanga et al.9 described how particle size could enhance receptor model source apportionment inRochester, NY. Wiriya and Chantara10 used seasonal,as well as chemical, patterns to identify and quantifysource contributions to PM10-bound polycyclic aro-matic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Lupascu et al.11 found distant source contributionsat different heights above ground level in Francewhile Civan and Tuncel12 evaluated a land-use regression model to estimate inorganic aerosolconcentration in Bursa, Turkey.

Pollution Control TechniquesBakhtiari et al.13 evaluated polyimide mixed matrixmembranes for selective separation of CO2 fromgas streams for potential sequestration. Khaleel etal.14 presented a new catalysts for the reduction ofdioxin emissions.

on Air Pollution and Control (CAPAC-II)


Adverse EffectsCruz et al.15 confirmed the relationship of high SO2

concentrations to hospital admissions for respiratorydisease in patients 64 years and older in Portugal.Relationships were also established between air pol-lution and hospital admission for cardio respiratorydiseases in Setúbal, Portugal.16 Kantarcı and Sahin17

demonstrated that pine needles and trees are alsodamaged, and are more susceptible to infestation,at elevated SO2 concentrations.

Air Quality Management Approaches and PoliciesAir quality management and tools included life-cycleassessment,18 decision-making tools for regionalCO2 emission reduction and forecasting,19 andlearning from special studies and correcting mistakesto improve monitoring and emission controls.20

Steinnes et al.21 discussed the use of biomonitors inNorway to determine spatial distributions and long-term trends (i.e., biomonitoring demonstrated thereduction in Pb concentrations, which was parallelto reductions in Pb emissions). Al-Awadhi22 notedthe correspondence of noise and air pollutionmeasurements in Kuwait City, Kuwait, and howsound barriers may inhibit pollution transport.Brahushi et al.23 presented an air quality assess-ment near the Sharra landfill in Albania.

General Conference FindingsDelegates were polled at the end of the conferencefor what they learned at the meeting. It was felt thatenergy sources are important pollutant contributorsand more synergies are needed between energyand pollution policies. Fugitive dust is an importantarea source in the Eastern Meditteranean andMiddle East region, both in local and particulalrlyregional scales. Munitions use may have emissionsand residues that can cause adverse effects. Thesehave not been adequately documented. Long-termtrends need to be consistently measued and eva-luated in the Eastern Mediterranean and MiddleEast region to provide accountability for air qualitymanagement efforts. Diverting crop residues toother purposes such as fertilizer and energy gene-ration can reduce pollution levels caused by pres-cribed burning. Environmental education is lackingas evidenced by people’s perception of environmen-tal degradation. Better integration of environmentalfindings into the curricula is needed at differentgrade levels. More discussions with commercialand industrial perspective are needed to better coordinate research findings with practical pollutionreduction measures. A CAPAC-III will be organizedin a few years’ time to continue exchanging know-ledge and establishing personal relationships in theregion. em

References1. Turkish Ministry of Environment, Yearly Report, 2010.2. Yenisoy-Karakas, S.; Tuncel, S.G. Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Trace Element Deposition; Environ. Eng. Sci. 2008, 25 (9), 1263-1271.

The following papers were presented at The Second International Conference on Air Pollution and Control (CAPAC-II), Antalya, Turkey,September 19-23, 2011:

3. Gaga, E.O.; Arı, A.; Akyol, N.; Özden, Ö.; Döğeroğlu, T.; Odabaşı, M. On-Road Particulate Matter Emissions Measured in a Roadway Tunnel inthe Osmangazi Tunnel, Bilecik, Turkey.

4. Lööv, J.M.B.; Alfody, B.; Lagler, F.; Hjorth, J.; Borowiak, A. SIRENAS (Ships Investigation Remotely About NOx And SOx): The Rotterdam andGenoa Campaigns.

5. Almeida, S.M.; Pinto, M.; Rodrigues, D. Indoor Air Quality in Portugal.6. Güllü, G.; Clark ,D.; Vilnitis, V.; Albayrak, Ö.; Baki, T. Air Quality of Northern Cyprus.7. Yenisoy-Karakaş, S.; Öz, M.; Gaga, E.O. Seasonal Variation, Sources of PCBs and OCPs in High Altitude Site of Western Black Sea Region of Turkey.8. Băncuţă, R.; Chilian, A. Air Pollution Monitoring Using Neutron Activation Analysis and Mosses as Bioindicators. 9. Wanga, Y.; Xiaa, X.; Chalupab, D.C.; Zhangc, Y.; Hopke, P.K.; Utellb, M.J. Source Apportionment of Airborne Particulate Matter in Rochester, NY.10. Wiriya, W.; Chantara, S. Seasonal Variation and Source Identification of Airborne PM10-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chiang Mai,

Thailand.11. Lupascu, A.; Sellegri, K.; Freney, E.; Boulon, J.; Foret, G.; Siour, G.; Colomb, A.; Pichon, J.M.; Gourdeau, J.; Mesoscale, W.W. Modeling of Aerosol

Physical and Chemical Properties for Observational Stations at Different Altitudes.12. Civan, M.; Erener, A.; Tuncel, G. Improvement Land-Use Regression Model for Predicting Inorganic Pollutants Concentrations in Bursa/Turkey.13. Bakhtiari, O.; Mosleh, S.; Khosravi, T.; Mohammadi, T. Polyimide Mixed Matrix Membranes Preparation and Characterization for CO2 Selective

Separation.14. Khaleel, A.A.; Al-Mansour, S. Catalytic Combustion and Abatement of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons by High-Surface-Area Mixed Metal Oxides.15. Cruz, A.M.J.; Freitas, M.C.; Verburg, T.G.; Wolterbeek, H.T. Effect of Atmospheric Pollutants and Environmental Data on Respiratory and Circulatory

Diseases in Lisbon, Portugal.16. Silva, A.V.; Almeida, S.M.; Miranda, A.I. Air Pollution and Hospital Admission for Cardiorespiratory Diseases in Setúbal, Portugal.17. Kantarcı, M.D.; Şahin, Ö. Impact of Warming and Aridification on the Relationship Between Sulfur Content of Cedar (Cedrus Libani), Black Pine

(Pinus Nigra), Scotch Pine (Pinus Sylvestris), and Red Pine (Pinus Brutia) and Harmful Entomological Species in the Reforestration Areas in theCentral Anatolia Region.

18. Salihçavuğlu, G.; Yöntem, Z.; Korkusuz, A.; Yöntem, E.; Köksal, M.A. Gate to Gate Life Cycle Assessment for Selected Sectors of an Eco Industrial Park.19. Aslanoğlu, Y.; Köksal, M.A. Determining Regional Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Its Long-Term Forecast for Turkey.20. Kāla, A.; Vilnītis, V. Six Years of Air Quality Management in the Baltic Countries—Lessons Learned.21. Steinnes, E.; Berg, T.; Uggerud, H.T. Three Decades of Atmospheric Metal Deposition in Norway as Evident from Analysis of Moss Samples.22. Al-Awadhi, J.M. Measurement of Noise and Air Pollution in Kuwait City, Kuwait.23. Brahushi, F.; Bani, A.; Çela Elvis, C. Air Quality Assessment of Sharra Landfill-Albania.


Douglas Mervin Bis-set, P.Eng, CCEP, whodied on November 6,2011, in Toronto, as aresult of complicationsto cancer treatment,was a former BoardMember, Treasurer, and

long-time member of A&WMA.

Bisset served two terms on A&WMA’s Board of Directors, including one year as Vice President; wasa member of the Finance and Compensation Com-mittees; Chair of the Scholarship Committee; andTreasurer of the Association (2000–2003).

In addition to A&WMA, Bisset was a long-timemember of the Canadian Environmental CertificationApprovals Board (CECAB). He was also an activesupporter of the Curtain Club, York Opera, YorkCentral Hospital, CCRA, Durham College, and theCanadian Cancer Society.

Bisset was an avid golfer and was known to be veryknowledgeable on almost any subject, from envi-ronmental science to finance to sports.

Bisset is survived by his wife, Janice, three children,and seven grandchildren. em

A&WMA’s partnering organization the AmericanAcademy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE;www.aaee.net) is sponsoring a contest open to mid-dle and high school students that challenges thestudents to think about their energy footprint andhow they might better conserve energy. Contest-ants are required to submit an electronic posterthat graphically depicts the areas at home or schoolwhere they reduced/conserved energy and1,000–2,000-word discussion outlining their con-servation efforts.

Submittals will be judged on creativity, depth of research, functionality of alternative energy sources,

em • in memoriam

em • association news

In Memory of Former A&WMA Treasurer and Long-Time Member Douglas Mervin Bisset

Contest: “How Much Energy Can You Conserve”?Eligibility: Middle and High School StudentsPrize: Trip to the USA Science and Engineering Festival,

Washington, DC, April 2012Deadline: March 7, 2012

and presentation. Each con-testant will receive a certificateof participation from AAEE andtheir posters will be posted onthe AAEE Web site. The winners will beasked to present their research and findingsat the USA Science and Engineering Festival inWashington, DC, in April.

Full details and contest rules are posted on ourWeb site at www.awma.org/App_Themes/Public/Docs/AAEE%20Contest%20-%20How%20Much%20Energy%20Can%20You%20Conserve_001.pdf. em

AAEE Sponsors Energy Conservation Contest


em • washington report

Compiled by Mark Williams The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. www.bna.com. Note: All amounts in U.S. dollars.

Report: 75% Recycling Rate Would Create 1.5 Million Jobs by 2030

Increasing the nationwide recycling rate to 75% formunicipal solid waste and construction and demo-lition debris would create nearly 1.5 million jobs by2030, according to a report by the Tellus Institute,an interdisciplinary not-for-profit research and policyorganization.

A 75% recycling rate also would reduce carbondioxide emissions by 276 million metric tons by2030, which is equivalent to eliminating emissionsfrom 72 coal-fired power plants or taking 50 mil-lion cars off the road, according to the report. Thecurrent national recycling rate is 34%, accordingto EPA.

The report, More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing theRecycling Economy in the United States, was cospon-sored by the BlueGreen Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Teamsters Union,and other environmental and labor groups. The report calls for diverting municipal solid waste andbuilding-related construction and demolition debrisfrom landfills and incinerators through waste reduction, reuse, remanufacturing, and composting.

According to EPA, the United States generated anestimated 250 million tons of municipal waste in2010, of which approximately 34% was recycledor composted. “There is great opportunity for ournation to better manage natural resources that aretoo often disposed of in landfills,” EPA said in astatement. em

EPA Advisory Committee Report Advances Multipollutant Approach to Emissions Cuts

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advisory committee has endorseda report that says the complex regulatory landscape makes it appropriate forthe agency to advance a multipollutant, sector-based approach for emissionsreductions. The Clean Air Act Advisory Committee report also said EPA shouldexpand its efforts on multipollutant strategies if they will provide health, envi-ronmental, and cost benefits—despite the challenges.

The multipollutant regulatory approach targets all of the pollution emitted byan industrial sector, such as power plants, industrial boilers, and petroleum refineries. The approach could target criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants,and greenhouse gases. “In this complex era of air pollution control, optimalclean air investments could benefit from a consideration of many air qualitygoals,” the report said.

The committee voted unanimously to advance the report to EPA for consideration.The report, which was prepared by a workgroup of the advisory committee,also recommended that EPA identify trade-offs with the approach.

Committee member Howard Feldman, director of regulatory and scientific affairs for the American Petroleum Institute, said that if EPA requires industryto lower the sulfur content of gasoline, for example, refining the product wouldtake more energy, and that would increase greenhouse gases. Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, said thatin the gasoline example, any increases in greenhouse gas emissions could beaddressed in a reasonable way.

The report acknowledged that the U.S. Clean Air Act sets varying regulatory timelines for promulgating and revising standards, including standards for air tox-ics and criteria pollutants. A multipollutant approach that aligns with regulatorytiming could optimize a sector’s investments in pollution controls, it said. em


Jane C. BartonPatterson Consulting

Ye CaoU.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Prakash DoraiswamyRTI International

Jennifer B. DunnArgonne National

Tracy J. ElverUniversity of Wisconsin

Ali FarnoudSouthern MethodistUniversity

Steve P. FrysingerJames Madison University

C. Arthur GrayDupont Inc.

John E. HavardCitizens Energy Group

Christian HogrefeU.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Sarah HuffmeyerCitizens Energy Group

John D. KinsmanEdison Electric Institute

Holly KrutkaADA-ES Inc.

Ashok KumarUniversity of Toledo

Miriam Lev-onThe LEVON Group, LLC

Julian A. Levy, Jr.Retired

Ying LiUniversity of Cincinnati

Yiqiu LinAir Pollution ControlDistrict, LouisvilleMetro

Mingming LuUniversity of Cincinnati

Christopher MahendraNAVAIR

Charles E. McDadeUniversity of Californiaat Davis

Ann McIverCitizens Energy Group

Scott McQuistonLansing Board ofWater & Light

Rob MichitschUniversity of Wisconsin

Paul J. MillerNortheast States forCoordinated Air UseManagement

J. David MobleyU.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Dan L. MuellerZephyr EnvironmentalCorp.

Michael C. NinesManko, Gold, Katcher& Fox, LLP

Teresa RaineCamp Dresser &McKee Inc.

S.T. RaoU.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Conor ReynoldsUniversity of BritishColumbia

Jennifer RichcreekKodiak Electric Associa-tion Inc.

Kaushik K. ShandilyaUniversity of Toledo

Jacqueline SibbliesIndependent consultant

Cindy SmileyKelly Hart & HallmanLLP

Bret StrogenUniversity of California,Berkeley

Qingshi TuUniversity of Cincinnati

Heng WeiUniversity of Cincinnati

Susan S.G. WiermanMid-Atlantic RegionalAir Management Association

James J. WinebrakeRochester Institute ofTechnology

…And last but notleast, a special thankyou to the colossal efforts of our 2011issue champions:

Jane Barton, Bart Eklund, Ann McIver,Dan Mueller, JohnBachmann, MiriamLev-On, Charles McDade, AshokKumar, Prakash Doraiswamy, SusanWierman, Paul Miller,John Kinsman, S.T.Rao, J. David Mobley,and Jennifer Dunn.

em • 2011 reviewers

Thank You Reviewers!In recognition of theircontribution to EM, we take time out thismonth to recognizethe many volunteer reviewers who havedonated their time tohelp EM maintain thehigh quality and consistency of contentthat our readers havecome to expect of anA&WMA publication.Below is a list of thereveiwers who con-tributed to EM in2011. We thank you.Your efforts are greatlyappreciated.

Expert ReviewersWantedIf you would like to be added to EM’s poolof qualified revewiers,please send an e-mailto [email protected];include name, afiliation,and areas of expertise.


em • canadian report

Canadian Report is compiled with excerpts from EcoLog News and the EcoCompliance.ca newsletter, both published by EcoLog Information Resources Group, a divisionof BIG Information Product LP. For more Canadian environmental information, visit www.ecolog.com. Note: All amounts in Canadian dollars.

Feds Invest $600.8 Million in Clean AirThe Canadian federal government is investing $600.8 million over five years to renew its Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA). Since 2006,CARA has served as the federal government’s framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality.

The funding will be used for aligning GHG regulations with the United States; implementing a national air quality managementsystem; strengthening commitments to reduce transboundary air pollution under the Canada–U.S. Air Quality Agreement; improving indoor air quality; and implementing a nationwide Air Quality Health Index to help Canadians make informed decisionsto protect their health.

The continuation of CARA will allow standards to be set that will define what clean air means, regulate good emissions performanceby industry, and bring on a comprehensive national approach to air emissions reduction. em

Feds Failing to Safeguard DrinkingWater: Report Card

The Canadian federal government is notadequately protecting Canada’s drinkingwater, according to Waterproof 3, Ecojus-tice’s drinking water report card.

The report card, which graded the waterpolicies, programs, and laws of the fed-eral, provincial, and territorial govern-ments, gave the federal government anF grade for its “poor drinking water pro-tection record, which continues to worsen.”The report card is released by Ecojusticeevery five years to mark the 2000 Walk-erton water tragedy (a series of eventsthat accompanied the contamination ofthe water supply of Walkerton, Ontario,Canada, by E. coli bacteria in May 2000).Waterproof 3 is available online at www.ecojustice.ca—By Eric Laganis, EcoLog’sWeb Reporter em

Nova Scotia to Invest $6.5 Millionin Land Protection

The Nova Scotia government is investing$6.5 million to purchase land that will bedesignated for protection. The investmentis part of the province’s goal to legallyprotect 12% of its land by 2015.

To date, 8.7% of Nova Scotia’s land hasbeen protected. The province is currentlyholding consultations with groups and organizations and accepting public input onpotential protected areas. Land will be cho-sen based on its ecological and environ-mental importance. For more information,visit http://gov.ns.ca/nse/12percent/. em

Illegal Dumping in New Brunswick Could Net Companies $1 Million in Fines

The New Brunswick government is advis-ing companies and residents that illegaldumping poses environmental, health,and fire risks, and can lead to significantfines for those caught and convicted.

Fines for illegal dumping range from$1,000 to $1 million for companies, andfrom $500 to $20,500 for individuals. Illegal dumping occurs when unwantedwaste is disposed of in undesirable loca-tions, such as vacant or private properties,Crown lands, woods, bushes, roadsides,and waterways. This activity can cause serious health and environmental prob-lems, create risk of fires, and lead to sig-nificant cleanup expenses.

“Illegal dumping is not acceptable and itdetracts from our enjoyment of the natu-ral environment around us,” said NewBrunswick Natural Resources MinisterBruce Northrup. “[The New BrunswickDepartment of Natural Resources] is work-ing with law enforcement agencies tomake the public aware that this activity isillegal.” em


em • news focus

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To advertise in EM, call Alison Lizzi at 1-412-904-6003.

In a final rule published Nov. 29, the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) postponed for sixmonths the 2012 deadline for 12 industries, in-cluding electronics manufacturing and oil and gasproduction, to report their greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions (76 Fed. Regist. 73,886). The additionaltime applies only to industries required to begin collecting GHG emissions data in 2011. Extendingthe reporting deadline from March 31, 2012, toSept. 28, 2012, will allow those industries additionaltime to become accustomed to EPA’s electronicGHG reporting tool (e-GGRT), the agency said.

The final rule, which took effect Dec. 29, includesother revisions to the reporting requirements, in-cluding a change affecting underground coal minesand a requirement for companies to report any al-ternate monitoring methods they use. EPA pro-posed the revisions Aug. 4 (76 Fed. Regist. 47,392).

12 Affected IndustriesThe final rule will amend the reporting deadline at40 C.F.R. Part 98 for the following industries:• electronics manufacturing (subpart I),• fluorinated gas production (subpart L),• magnesium production (subpart T),• petroleum and natural gas systems (subpart W),• use of electric transmission and distribution

equipment (subpart DD),• underground coal mines (subpart FF),• industrial wastewater treatment (subpart II),• geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide

(subpart RR),• manufacture of electric transmission and

distribution (subpart SS),• industrial waste landfills (subpart TT),• underground injection of carbon dioxide

(subpart UU), and• imports and exports of equipment pre-charged

with fluorinated greenhouse gases or containingfluorinated greenhouse gases in closed-cellfoams (subpart QQ).

Affected facilities that reported their GHG emis-sions to EPA for the 2010 reporting year must notify the agency through e-GGRT by March 31,2012, that they are not required to submit their

2011 report until Sept. 28, 2012.Facilities that are reporting forthe first time in 2012 do notneed to notify EPA.

Mine Reporting LimitedThe final rule also limits theGHG reportingrequirement forundergroundcoal mines toonly those facilitiesthat emit 36.5 millionactual cubic feet ofmethane or more per year.Previously, EPA had requiredall mines with ventilation systems subject to quar-terly inspection by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to report their emissions. However,EPA had intended the rule to apply only to thelargest mines. The new emission threshold will remove reporting requirements for 500 mines rep-resenting 14% of the industry’s GHG emissions,EPA said.

Alternate Monitoring MethodsThe final rule also requires industries to notify EPAwhen they use alternate methods for calculatingtheir GHG emissions, known as best availablemonitoring methods. The GHG reporting rule allowsaffected facilities to use alternative calculation meth-ods if other monitoring methods are not feasible.Alternatives could include estimating emissionsusing factors such as raw material use.—By AndrewChilders, BNA em

12 Industries Get Deadline Extension for Reporting GHGs


em • news focus

EPA must consider additional data related to thebeneficial uses of coal ash when developing a finalrule governing how the material will be handled aswaste, manufacturing and recycling groups said incomments to the agency on the rulemaking.

EPA asked for comment in October on whether itshould consider additional data related to beneficialuse when developing its final rule. The agency saidit received additional data relating to the use of coalash in concrete, bricks, wallboard, and other mate-rials after the close of the initial comment periodon the proposed rule.

EPA is required under the Resource Conservationand Recovery Act (RCRA) to consider the benefi-cial uses of coal ash when developing a final rule,the Portland Cement Association said in commentsdated Nov. 14. Section 8002(n) of RCRA, knownas the Bevill Amendment, requires EPA to consider“the current and potential utilization of such mate-rials,” PCA wrote.

RCRA specifically encourages materials recoveryand reuse, the American Coal Ash Association(ACAA) said in comments dated Nov. 14. EPA’s fail-ure to consider beneficial use would “be in directopposition to the letter and spirit of the Act fromwhich it derives its rulemaking authority,” ACAAwrote. Other comments focused on EPA’s assess-ments of the safety of coal ash impoundments.

EPA’s request for comment was a follow-up to a proposed rule to treat coal ash as waste. EPA proposed two options in May 2010 for regu-lating coal ash under RCRA. One would desig-

nate the substance as a special waste underSubtitle C of RCRA, subjecting it to haz-

ardous waste regulations. The otherwould continue to manage it as

nonhazardous waste under Subtitle D, leaving regulatoryauthority with the states.

Not Considering ImpactViewed as Violation

Neglecting to consider the im-pact of a coal ash rule on beneficial

uses of coal ash would violate EPA’s charge to ensure that federal laws “are enforced fairly andeffectively,” ACAA said. More than 40%, or 50 mil-lion tons annually, of coal ash is reused rather thandisposed. “To exclude this significant sector of [coalcombustion residuals] management from consid-eration is neither ‘fair’ nor ‘effective,’ ” the groupwrote.

By disregarding information on beneficial use, EPAwould harm future use of coal ash in other materialsand skew the cost benefit analysis for the proposedrule, the Texas Coal Ash Utilization Group said incomments dated Nov. 14. EPA is required underExecutive Order No. 13,563 to consider the impactof proposed regulations on all sectors of societyand the economy, the group said.

Agency Should Consider StigmaManufacturers use coal ash to make products inthe transportation and housing industries, but ahazardous waste designation “will stigmatize theproducts as harmful,” the National Association ofManufacturers said in comments dated Nov. 14.

The Portland Cement Association said EPA is required by RCRA to consider the stigma effect ofregulating coal ash under Subtitle C.

EPA Denies Comment Period ExtensionNumerous groups had requested a deadline extension for submitting comments on the addi-tional data, but EPA denied their request. The additional material obtained by EPA consisted of129 documents made up of thousands of pagesof material, the Utility Solid Waste Activities Groupsaid in comments dated Nov. 14. The group saida similar request for information on coal ash in2007 had a 90-day comment period that was extended to more than five months. A request foran additional 60 days was reasonable given thereis no statutory or judicial deadline for issuing thefinal rule, the group said. Comments on the datarelated to development of a final coal ash rule areavailable online at www.regulations.gov underDocket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0392.—ByAvery Fellow, BNA em

Industry Urges EPA to Consider Beneficial Use Data in Coal Ash Final Rule


em • news focus

Power generators, states, and other stake-holders generally support EPA’s proposal todelay until 2014 assurance penalties underthe Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, accord-ing to comments that were due Nov. 28.

The South Carolina Department ofHealth and Environmental Control said itsupports the proposal because it wouldmake the rule more effective and wouldnot affect public health. “Sources do notknow what other sources are emitting inreal time, and are thus unaware of howclose the sources collectively are to thestate’s limits,” the South Carolina depart-ment said in comments about the diffi-culty with starting the penalties in 2012.“This uncertainty could cause sources tohold allowances, rather than trade them,reducing liquidity in emissions markets.”

The final rule created compliance flexi-bility to account for years with high levelsof power generation by setting an assur-ance limit for a state. The assurance limitis the state’s emissions budget plus a vari-ability allowance. Sources that contributeto exceeding the state’s assurance levelface additional penalties of surrenderingtheir emissions allowances.

EPA in October proposed delaying as-surance penalties to Jan. 1, 2014, fromJan. 1, 2012, so the allowance marketswould have time to develop. The post-ponement also would ease the transitionto the cross-state trading program fromthe precursor program under the CleanAir Interstate Rule, according to theagency (76 Fed. Regist. 63,860).

Consolidated Energy Supports DelayConsolidated Energy Co. of New Yorksaid the company has been subject to

cap-and-trade programs for years andhas found that “smooth transitions, mar-ket liquidity, and price discovery are keyelements of a successful and predictableprogram that drives emission reductionsand maximizes the opportunities for par-ticipants to be in compliance.”

EPA in July released the final cross-staterule, which requires power plants in 27states to reduce interstate transport ofsulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Therule aims to help states downwind of thepollution attain national ambient air qualitystandards for ozone and fine particulatematter (76 Fed. Regist. 48,208).

The Maryland Department of the Envi-ronment said in comments it does notsupport the delay because the state mustcomply with ozone air quality standards.“Transported ozone and particulate matter pollution endanger the health ofMaryland’s citizens, particularly the veryyoung and elderly, and cause lung dam-age, respiratory illness and prematuremortality,” the department wrote.

Company Urges One-Year DelayExelon Corp., the country’s largest ownerand operator of nuclear power plants, toldEPA that the assurance penalties shouldbe delayed only one year, not by twoyears. The company said “the allowancemarket liquidity concern that is the gene-sis for the proposed two-year delay is effectively only a ‘year one’ issue.”

The Tennessee Valley Authority askedEPA to further delay the assurancepenalty provisions until 2016 to coincidewith implementation of a separate, forth-coming final rule affecting power plantsthat aims to reduce emissions of mercury

and other air toxics. Compliance is ex-pected to begin in 2015 or 2016 for thatrule, which is called utility MACT becauseit would require the use of maximumachievable control technology. The Ten-nessee Valley Authority said the samecontrol technology could be used tocomply with both rules.

Delay Urged to 2016Consolidated Edison Co. of New York alsoasked EPA to delay assurance penaltiesuntil 2016 or to create a “safety valve” thatwould postpone the penalties in the fourthquarter of 2013 if the forward marketprice of sulfur dioxide allowances for 2014is more than twice what EPA projected.The New York Independent System Op-erator asked EPA to use the two-year delayto develop ways to make publicly availableactual statewide emissions data for sulfurdioxide and nitrogen oxides.

State Budgets Still UncertainWhen EPA issued the proposed rule inOctober to delay the assurance penalties,the agency also proposed increasingsome states’ emissions budgets for sulfurdioxide and nitrogen oxides. Duke Energyfiled comments saying that delaying theassurance penalties will “mitigate uncer-tainty created by the fact that most if notall state budgets and associated unit-levelallocations remain in flux until EPA com-pletes this [proposed] rulemaking.”

Although the assurance penalties wouldnot kick in until 2014, EPA still is planningfor other provisions of the rule to take effectJan. 1, 2012. Comments on the proposedchanges to the Cross-State Air PollutionRule are available in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0491 online at www.regulations.gov.—By Jessica Coomes, BNA em

Comments Back EPA’s Delay of Assurance Penalties in Cross-State Rule

News Focus is compiled from the current edition of Environment Reporter, published by the Bureau of National Affairs Inc. (BNA). For more information,visit www.bna.com. Note: All amounts in U.S. dollars.

Copyright 2012 Air & Waste Management AssociationCopyright 2011 Air & Waste Management AssociationCopyright 2011 Air & Waste Management Association

Area’s of Interest Coming to EM in 2012EM, the premier magazine of A&WMA, explores a range of issues affecting the environmental industry

with timely, provocative articles and regular columns written by leaders in the field. EM keeps readers

abreast of important developments throughout the year with coverage of regulatory changes;

EPA research; new technologies; market analyses; environment, health, and safety issues;

new products; professional development opportunities; and more.

January: Sustainability has emerged as a result of significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental,and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth, and consumption of our natural resources. The January issue will place particular focus on areas of sustainability, such as industrialecology, greenhouse gas estimates and management, waste reuse, and life cycle analysis.

February: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) requires 27 states to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute toozone and/or fine particle pollution in other states and replaces EPA’s 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule(CAIR). CSAPR also lays out a process for determining if interstate pollution transport contributes toexceedances of new air quality standards and whether new emission reductions should be requiredfrom upwind states.

Waste and Water Issues Associated withShale Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, Part 1in Two-Part SeriesThe recent advancements in oil and gas exploration processes andtechnology has resulted in the ability to access significant amounts ofoil and gas reserves in tight shale formations. However, accessing theseenergy reserves is not without environmental concerns, including issuesassociated with increased drilling in urban settings and hydraulic fracturingactivities. The March issue is part one of a two-part series looking at environmental issues associated with shale oil and gas exploration andproduction. This issue will place particular focus on waste and waterconcerns. Part 2, to appear in June, will delve into air quality concernsand both issues compliment technical sessions that will be a part of the2012 A&WMA Annual Conference & Exhibition to be held in San Antonio, TX, June 19–22, 2012.

Utility and Boiler MACTThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to finalizea rule on Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standardsfor electric utility hazardous air pollutant emissions in November 2011.After setting final MACT rules for industrial boilers in February 2011,in May, EPA published a notice delaying the effective date of the majorsource rule, pending the completion of reconsideration or judicial review.The April issue will take a look at where we stand with regard to thesenew MACT standards.

Air Quality Monitoring Practices and ProceduresThe May issue will focus on air quality monitoring practices and proce-dures from both research and regulatory perspectives, and will covertopics such as adequacy of current monitoring network for properlycharacterizing the magnitude and spatial extent of air pollution, moni-toring pollutants that pose the highest health risk, and new methodsfor 3-D characterization of air quality.

Annual Conference Issue: Air Issues Associated with Shale Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, Part 2 in Two-Part SeriesThe June issue is part one of a two-part series looking at environmentalissues associated with shale oil and gas exploration and production, witha particular focus on air issues. This two-part series complements techni-cal sessions that will be a part of the 2012 A&WMA Annual Conference& Exhibition to be held in San Antonio, TX, June 19–22, 2012.

July:

Regional air quality modeling systems are being used for a variety of applications, ranging from forecasting to air quality management, in both North American and Europe. The July issue will provide an overview of air quality modeling practices on both continents, building upon work being performed under the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII).

August:

The August issue will consider the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed changesto the secondary NAAQS for NO2 and SO2. While EPA generally reviews criteria and standards foreach of the six criteria pollutants individually, for this review of the secondary standards for NO2 andSO2, EPA has decided to examine the compounds together, since they are inextricably linked fromboth an atmospheric chemistry and environmental effects perspective.

December: In the shadow of the 2012 U.S. elections and any changes in governmentthey may bring, the December issue will invite experts from the envi-ronmental arena to offer their predictions of what readers can expectin terms of environmental legislation, regulation, and associated industrytrends in the coming year.

Note: Topics are subject to change.

Environmental Post-Graduate EducationFall is just around the corner and as students head back to school for the beginning of anew academic year, the September issue will focus on the current state of environmentalpost-graduate education in the United States: what courses are available and where,where students can find the best information, what future employers are looking for ingraduates, and more.

Have Air Regulations Improved the Environment?Since the passing of the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955—the first federal U.S. legisla-tion involving air pollution— there have been almost 60 years worth of air pollution regulations. The October issue will examine the results and prospects for “accountability”or “outcomes” research that attempts to measure the actual benefits achieved by imple-menting air pollution regulations.

Renewable EnergyRenewable energy is becoming an ever more important source of energy needed tomeet an ever increasing worldwide energy demand. Renewable energy is derived from anumber of sources, including gravity (hydroelectric), solar, wind, rain, tides, and geothermalheat. Technological advances are making energy sources that were once not economicallyfeasible to be viable options, as well as opening doors on new energy sources like biomassand biofuels. The November issue will look at renewable energy and the relevancy ofthis source of energy as a significant source of future energy needs.

Interested authors and advertisers should contact [email protected] for more details.

52 em january 2012 awma.org

Call for Abstracts

Vapor IntrusionOctober 3-4, 2012Grand Hyatt, Denver, CO Abstract Deadline: April 2

This specialty conference will bring together internationally-recog-nized scientists, engineers, regulators, communications experts, andattorneys with first-hand experience in the evaluation and remedi-ation of vapor intrusion (VI). Abstracts of 300 words or less arebeing sought, which demonstrate innovative, scientific approachesfor investigation and remediation of the VI pathway. Abstracts mustbe submitted by April 2, 2012 to [email protected]. Formore information, visit www.awma.org/vapor.

Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics: Visibility and Air PollutionSeptember 24–28, 2012Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, MTAbstract Deadline: May 25

This international conference will provide a technical forum onadvances in the scientific understanding of the effects of aerosolon urban-, regional-, continental-, and global-scale haze and radiation balance. The conference will specifically address emis-sion sources, atmospheric conditions, and aerosol characteristicsassociated with haze and aerosol urban visibility; regional haze;climate forcing; innovative aerosol, haze, and radiation balancemonitoring assessments and modeling methods; and urban andregional haze and aerosol climate forcing policy, regulatory, andeconomic issues related to implementation of U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and rules, includingthe adopted emissions controls in state and EPA permits, rules,and implementation plans for the regional haze rule and theexpected impact of the anticipated PM visibility and SO2/NOxsecondary standards.

Recent work has suggested a much greater importance forblack carbon particles in radiative forcing and so sessions onblack carbon are planned. Sessions related to the synergisticand increasing concerns of the effects of atmospheric nitrogenand carbonaceous material on haze, climate change, and nitro-gen deposition on ecosystems are also planned. Two or moreprofessional development courses, designed to provide both atechnical foundation and a timely refresher, will be offered onsite prior to the conference. There is also a photo contestplanned, as well as a mid-conference field trip to the GlacierNational Park Class I area.

Abstract Submittal:Abstracts of 300–400 words must be submitted by May 25,2012 to [email protected]. The abstract must includethe names and affiliation of each author and indicate the presenting author. Abstracts may be submitted in Word, Word-Perfect, or .pdf format. In addition to the abstract, please indicatein the submittal e-mail: (1) name, phone number, and e-mail ofcorresponding author; (2) topic area you are submitting to aslisted in the bullets below; (3) presentation preference (poster orplatform); and (4) state if the abstract solicited by a member ofthe conference committee, and if so, by who.

If submitting more than one abstract, please indicate which isyour highest preference for platform presentation, as the antic-ipated number of submissions will limit the total number of platform presentations possible.

Presentations are invited on the following topics:• Observational Studies

• Aerosol and Visibility Field Studies and Monitoring Networks• Aerosol, Optical and Radiometric Monitoring Methods• Satellite and Other Remote Sensing Applications to

Haze/Aerosol Monitoring• New and Current Field Monitoring Techniques for

Measuring Black Carbon and Aerosol Organic Material

• Characterizing Visual Air Quality• Aerosol – Optical Relationships• Human Perception of Visibility, Including Night Sky Visibility• Urban Haze Visibility - Field Measurement and Perception

Studies Relevant to the Potential Secondary PM NAAQS• Source Attribution of Aerosol and Haze• Assessment of Haze from Natural Sources• Aerosol and Visibility Modeling at Global, Regional,

and Local Scales

• Emissions and Ambient Effects• Atmospheric Nitrogen – A Bridge between Visibility,

Ecological, and Agricultural Issues• Biomass Burning, Carbonaceous Aerosol, and Short Lived

Climate Forcers Effects on Haze and Climate• Black Carbon Emissions in Developed and Developing

Countries• Direct and Indirect Effects of Aerosol on Climate Forcing

• Policy, Regulatory, and Economic Issues Associated with:• Regional Haze Rule 2013 Check-in and 2018 Planning

Milestones to Achieve the U.S. National Visibility Goal• Implementation of the Potential U.S. EPA Secondary PM

National Ambient Air Quality Standard to protect Non-Class I Area Visibility

• Effects of Changes in Energy Supply Sources on Visibility and Aerosol Climate Forcing

• Critical Loads and Atmospheric Deposition Techniques inDeveloping and Implementing Deposition-Based Air Quality Standards

Authors will be notified of paper acceptance by July 6, 2012.Draft electronic manuscripts (up to 10 pages, including all tables,figures, and other graphics) or extended abstracts (3-5 pages,including all tables, figures, and other graphics), in either Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect format, are due by August 3, 2012, and final papers by September 5, 2012, to beincorporated into the online proceedings. Receipt of the finalmanuscript or extended abstract is a mandatory prerequisite foreither platform or poster presentation at the conference. Authors must follow the A&WMA Style Guide to guarantee thatpapers can be reproduced accurately in the conference proceedings.

It is anticipated that selected, peer-reviewed full manuscriptssubmitted within one month after the conference will be pub-lished in a future issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Man-agement Association. However, as described in the Journal'sManuscript Preparation Guidelines (http://secure.awma.org/journal/edpolicy.htm), submission of a manuscript implies thatthe work has not been published previously; that it is not underconsideration for publication elsewhere; that all co-authors andinstitutes where the work was conducted approve of publica-tion; and that all authors reassign copyright to the A&WMAprior to publication.

Exhibit Space:Exhibit space will be available in the break area and near theposter session area. Interested parties should contact:

A&WMA Sales+1-412-232-3444, [email protected]

About the Venue:The conference will be held at the Grouse Mountain Lodge(www.grousemountainlodge.com) in Whitefish, MT. The areahas spectacular scenery and is within minutes of the Class I visibility protected area of Glacier National Park. Opportunitiesfor outdoor activities are abundant, including hiking, mountainbiking, Glacier National Park lake cruises, fishing, and rockclimbing.

More information:Visit www.awma.org/visibility for details. em

em • professional development programs


2012JANUARY22–26 The Applications of Air Pollution

Meteorology, New Orleans, LA

25 Webinar—Hot Topics In The Environmental Field

APRIL24–26 Symposium on Air Quality Measurement

Methods and Technology, Durham, NC

JUNE19–22 A&WMA’s 105th Annual

Conference & Exhibition, San Antonio, TX

AUGUST20–23 Mega Symposium, Baltimore, MD

SEPTEMBER24–28 Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics:

Visibility and Air Pollution, GrouseMountain Lodge, Whitefish, MT

OCTOBER3–4 Vapor Intrusion 2012, Denver, CO

22–24 Thermal Treatment Technologies/Hazardous Waste Combustors, New Orleans, LA

awma.org

Events sponsored and cosponsored by the Air &Waste Management Association (A&WMA) arehighlighted in bold. For moreinformation, call A&WMAMember Services at 1-800-270-3444 or visit theA&WMA Events Web site:www.awma.org/events.

To add your events to this calendar, send to: Calendar Listings, Air & Waste Manage-ment Association, One GatewayCenter, 3rd Floor, 420 FortDuquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA15222-1435. Calendar listingsare published on a space-available basis and should be received by A&WMA’s editorialoffices at least three months inadvance of publication.

em • calendar of events

Listed here are the articles appearing in theJanuary 2012 issue of EM's sister publication, the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. For more information, go to www.tandfonline.com/UAWM.

JANUARY 2012 • VOLUME 62

JOURNAL

Speciated arsenic in air: Measurement method-ology and risk assessment considerations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon burden in ambient air in selected Niger delta communitiesin Nigeria

An examination of boundary layer structureunder the influence of the gap winds in Urumqi,China, during air pollution episode in winter

Middle-thermophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteriathiomonas sp. RAN5 strain for hydrogen sulfideremoval

Obtaining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration ratios and molecular markers forresidential wood combustion: Temuco, a casestudy

Source attribution for mercury deposition in thecontiguous United States: Regional differenceand seasonal variation

Driver exposure to particulate matter in Bangkok

A generalized fuzzy linear programming approach for environmental management problem under uncertainty

Influence of particle location on the number ofcharges per charged nanoparticle at the outletof a needle charger

Experimental studies of the dilution of vehicleexhaust pollutants by environment-protectingpervious pavement

Mercury emission and plant uptake of trace elements during early stage of soil amendmentusing flue gas desulfurization materials

Ultrafine particle emission from incinerators: the role of the fabric filter

2011 Reviewers

january 2012 em 53Copyright 2012 Air & Waste Management Association


AIR 125: An introduction to Air Pollution ControlFull-day courseInstructor: Leo Stander This course is designed for environmental professionals whohave a basic scientific background and who are beginning airpollution control-related activities. The material covered duringthe course will include sources and controls of air pollution, effectsof air pollutants, ambient and emissions monitoring procedures,air quality dispersion modeling procedures, air pollutant emis-sions estimating techniques, and air quality management.

EMGM 250: Corporate EthicsFull-day courseInstructors: Hal Taback and Ram Ramanan This course focuses on the ethical issues faced by environmentalprofessionals. The course instructors will define ethics and moralsand offer examples; discuss the “cheating culture” and suggestsolutions; and discuss the life experiences that impact our atti-tudes about dealing with others.

AIR 295: Air Quality EngineeringFull-day courseInstructor: Mark Rood This course provides a primer about the chemical and physicalprinciples pertaining to air pollutants, aerosol mechanics, visibility,opacity, air quality regulations, methods to remove gaseous andparticulate pollutants from gas streams, air quality, meteorology,and atmospheric dispersion.

EMGM 352: Sustainability ReportingFull-day courseInstructor: Yogendra Chaudhry This course focuses on sustainability reporting frameworks and itsbusiness benefits, and will provide attendees with the tools nec-essary to report according to international standards.

EMGM 351: Project Management Essentials forEnvironment, Health, and Safety ProfessionalsFull-day courseInstructor: David ElamThis course is designed to help environmental professionals betterserve their organizations and advance their careers through thedevelopment and improvement of project management skills.The course format will consist of presentations and exercises.Each participant will receive a course notebook containing acopy of presentation materials.

Take Advantage of These Convenient Learning Opportunities!

Conveniently scheduled to coincide with A&WMA’s 105th Annual Conference & Exhibition, these full-and half-day professional development courses and workshops will be offered on Sunday, June 17, andMonday, June 18, 2012, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Don’t missout on this opportunity to enhance your professional skills!

For more information, complete course details, instructor bios, prerequisite information, and updates,visit the conference Web site at ace2012.awma.org.

New for 2012!

Professional Development Coursesand Workshops at the 2012A&WMA Annual Conference


GEN 100: General Environmental ReviewFull-day courseInstructor: James Donnelly This course provides the engineer or scientist work-ing in environmental areas an overview of the basicscience and engineering important to many envi-ronmental calculations. Specifically, it is designed tobe a thorough review of the chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and engineering, which areincluded in the Body of Knowledge for the Institute ofProfessional Environmental Practice’s (IPEP) GeneralEnvironmental Science (Part 1) portion of the Qual-ified Environmental Professional (QEP) exam. Thiscourse has been updated to reflect the recently re-vised IPEP Body of Knowledge for this subject area.Students should bring a calculator of the type allowedby IPEP (see www.ipep.org/cred-exam.html).

GEN 100: Environmental, Science, Management, and Policy ReviewFull-day courseInstructor: James Donnelly This course provides the engineer or scientist work-ing in environmental areas an overview of basicconcepts used in environmental science, manage-ment and policy. Specifically, it is designed to be athorough review of the topics which are includedin the Body of Knowledge for IPEP’s Environmental,Science, Management, and Policy (Practice Area D)portion of the QEP exam. This course has been updated to reflect the recently revised IPEP Bodyof Knowledge for this subject area. Students shouldbring a calculator of the type allowed by IPEP (seewww.ipep.org/cred-exam.html).

AIR 182: Air Permitting—The BasicsFull-day courseInstructor: Leo Stander This course explains the basic requirements involvedin securing permits for sources of air pollution anddiscusses the requirements for obtaining permitsfor new or modified sources (i.e., New Source Review requirements) and the subsequent operat-ing permits.

AIR 284: Boilers, Process Heaters, and Air Quality RequirementsFull-day courseInstructor: Leo Stander This course explains the various requirements involved in securing permits for sources of air pol-lution, including identifying those sources affectedby permitting requirements; discussing require-ments such as SIP, PSD, NSR, NSPS, NESHAP,MACT, and Title V; describing the permit applica-tion process and procedures; as well as reportingand recordkeeping requirements.

EMGM 310: Environmental AuditingCourse for Environment Managers andAuditorsFull-day courseInstructor: Yogendra Chaudhry This course is designed to provide a basic under-standing of environmental management and auditingskills and will include sessions on key environmen-tal management issues and environmental auditingbased on international standards/guidelines.

AIR 298: CALPUFF Full-day courseInstructor: Jesse The’This course provides an overview of the CALPUFFmodeling system and its capabilities, including manyrecent developments, such as grid nesting and newoptions for chemical transformation, includingaqueous phase and aerosol reactions.

AIR 299: AERMOD—Air DispersionFull-day courseInstructor: Jesse The’The course provides attendees with a full under-standing of the AERMOD modeling system by balancing theory with hands-on real-world casestudies. At the end of this course, participantsshould be able to understand the basics of regula-tory air dispersion modeling and use screening andrefined models for permit applications and risk assessment.

MNG 101: Sharpen Your PresentationSkills: A Workshop For PresentersHalf-day workshop Instructor: Julie Sharp Engineers and other professionals must be able tocommunicate their ideas clearly, concisely, and effi-ciently to a variety of audiences. The content of atalk may be excellent; but if the speaker does notdeliver it well, the audience will find listening difficult.This workshop covers techniques for delivering aprofessional presentation and encourages partic-ipants to focus ondelivery techniquesin a positive andlearner-centeredenvironment.

MNG 100: Simple, Clear, Direct WritingHalf-day workshopInstructor: Julie Sharp Participants discuss and practice organizing and editing techniques to improve their writing. This interactive, two-part workshop condenses thebasics of technical writing into two main segments:packaging information (i.e., organizing and devel-oping content) and editing information (i.e., prac-ticing efficient editing).

MNG 102: Individual Resume CritiquesHalf-day workshop; Participants sign up for a 20-minute sessionInstructor: Julie Sharp Your resume is a selling tool. Produce a resume thathighlights your strengths, using strategic placement,as well as describing skills and achievements withpower verb phrases. Julie Sharp, Ph.D., communi-cation consultant, offers individual resume critiques.

Train the Trainer WorkshopFull-day workshopInstructors: Joann Held and Pam HeckelThis workshop is intended to introduce the attendeeto the wealth of environmental education materialsavailable from A&WMA, with a focus on the Envi-ronmental Education Resource Guides (EERGs).One good way to get these materials into the handsof educators (especially in Grades K-12 classrooms)is to host a teacher training workshop. The instruc-tors will provide an overview of available materials,discuss models for structuring a teacher workshop,and give tips on talking to teachers. Hands-on experience with a wide variety of exercises containedin the EERGs will be included to give attendees theconfidence to go out and host teacher trainingworkshops through local schools and A&WMASections and Chapters. This workshop is intendedfor both teachers and A&WMA members and issponsored by Waste Management.

CONFERENCE

105TH ANNUALC

AL


Key DatesJanuary – Online registration opens

March – Look for the Annual Conference Prelim-inary Program to arrive soon in the mail

May 16 – Early bird registration deadline

May 16 – Housing cut-off

June 17 – On-site registration opens

2012 SponsorsPlatinumNavistar Samsung

Gold3M ArcadisERM

SilverBMW Capital Power Corp.CH2MHill CPS EnergyLakes Environmental Inc. Valero

BronzeRaba Kistner

Countdown to San Antonio!

Leading Environmental Frontiers105th A&WMA Annual Conference & Exhibition

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

San Antonio, TX • June 19-22, 2012 • ace2012.awma.org

The 2012 A&WMA Annual Conference & Exhibition will bring together more than 2,000

environmental industry professionals for three days of the best technical program in the

industry, including 500 presentations, two poster sessions with over 150 posters on display,

more than 150 exhibitors, as well as a multitude of networking and social events. This is one

event you will not want to miss!

CONFERENCE

105TH ANNUAL

C

UAL

Next month, a preview ofthe 42nd Annual A&WMACritical Review.

em • annual conference preview

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! • DEADLINE IS APRIL 13, 2012

The Conference provides a forum for the discussion of state-of-the-art technical information, regulations, and public policy on thermal treatmenttechnologies and their relationship to air emissions, greenhouse gases, and climate change.

Invited and contributed papers will address approaches to safely managingwaste streams amenable to thermal treatment processes, and evaluate associated costs, risks, and impacts. Abstracts of 250 words or less shouldbe submitted to Carrie Hartz at [email protected]. For more information visit the conference Web site.


CONFERENCE LOCATIONJW Marriott New Orleans +1- 504-525-6500 Hotel Rate: $131

HOTEL CUTOFF/REGISTRATION DEADLINESeptember 24, 2012

http://it3.awma.org

IT3HWC

31st International Conferenceon Thermal Treatment Technologies & HazardousWaste Combustors

October 22-24, 2012 • New Orleans, LA

embracing sustainabilitypubs.awma.org/gsearch/em/2012/1/01-6192 january em.pdf · also in this...

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