EMS 14001:2015 EMS 14001:2015 EMS 14001:2015

EMS 14001:2015

1. Environmental Management
System (EMS)
Annual Refresher Training

2. What is an EMS?
•A framework that allows an organization to
address the effects its operations may have
on the environment.
•Key EMS concepts:
–Pollution prevention (P2)
–Compliance with environmental laws and regs
–Continual improvement

3. EMS: The
Continuous
Cycle
Plan
Planning, identifying
environmental aspects and
establishing goals
Do
Implementing, includes training
and operational controls
Check
Checking, includes monitoring
and corrective action
Act
Reviewing, includes progress
reviews and acting to make
needed changes

4. Tifton EMS Policy
The ARS Tifton Environmental Policy describes our
approach to environmental management. Personnel
should understand that the EMS Policy:
 Applies to ALL
 Commits to environmental compliance
 Commits to pollution prevention
 Commits to continual improvement
 Is available on the EMS website

5. Sounds nice, but WHY?
•Required by Executive Order 13148
•USDA ARS policy
•Also, there are benefits…
–Improve environmental awareness
–Reduce environmental impacts
–Resource savings: natural and monetary
–Meet regulatory compliance
–Better community image
–Better communication about environmental
issues

6. How do we get started?
1.Identify our Activities: What we do every day
2.Identify the Environmental Aspects (Cause):
Elements of the Activities that can interact with the
environment
3.Identify the Environmental Impacts (Effect):
Environmental changes that result from our
Activities
4.Make improvements.

7. Laboratory
Aspects Impacts
•Purchase and Use
of Hazardous
Chemicals
•Use of Radioactive
Chemicals
•Wastewater
discharges
•Generation of hazardous
waste
•Possible release and cost for
cleanup
•Water treatment plant from
sinks or floor drains

8. Facility Operations
Aspects Impacts
•Temperature control
of buildings
•Custodial Operations
(use of cleaning products,
paper, water, energy)
•Vehicle Operations
•Ozone depletion
•Depletion of natural
resources and land
contamination
•Generation of used oil,
tires, batteries,
antifreeze, air emissions

9. Field
Aspects Impacts
•Application of
Agricultural
Pesticides
•Field Plot
Maintenance
•Use of water
(irrigation)
•Generation of hazardous or
universal waste
•Potential contamination of
land, water, or air
•Depletion of natural
resources

10. Office
Aspects Impacts
•Use of Electronic
Equipment
•Generation of recyclable
waste (paper, batteries,
toner cartridges)
•Generation of electronic
waste
•Use of electric energy

11. Tifton’s Significant Environmental
Aspects
•Priority Chemical
Reduction
•Purchasing of
Hazardous Chemicals
•Use of Hazardous
Chemicals
•Application of
Hazardous Chemicals
•Office Products/Paper
Consumption
•Use of Electronic
Equipment
•Generation of Waste
(Hazardous, Solid,
Universal)
•Building Temperature
Control
•Grounds and Custodial
Operations
•Motor Vehicle
Operations

12. Our Objectives and Targets
•Full Compliance with Regulations
•Reduce Waste Streams
–Hazardous, Solid, and Universal
•Reduce Energy Consumption
•Recycle
•Green Purchasing
•Pollution Prevention

13. E.O. 13148 TARGETS
•40% reduction in release and off-site transfers
of toxic chemicals by Dec. 31, 2006
•50% reduction of priority chemicals by
Dec. 31, 2006 (extended)
–Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, Napthalene, and
PCB’s
•Reduction in ozone depleting substances –
–Phase out Class I ODS by Dec. 31, 2010
–Phase out Class II ODS by Dec. 31, 2015

14. What you can do…
•Recycle! Batteries, boxes, paper, cans….
•Reuse! Boxes, paper, petri dishes, pots….
•Reduce! Water, chemicals, electronic vs. paper…
•Turn off lights, turn down thermostats
•Use timers, power-save, standby
•Purchasing – think GREEN!
•Do YOU perform your job in a manner
that minimizes environmental impacts?

15. RECYCLING
•ARS Tifton IS a recycling facility.
•We recycle our….
–Office Products
–Plastics
–Glassware
–Steel, Tin, or Aluminum cans
–All Batteries
–Electronic Equipment
–Cardboard

16. Recycling - Office Products
Almost any paper product that can be easily
torn can be recycled!!
•Examples: Newspapers, catalogs, files, copy paper,
colored paper, binder dividers, letterhead, forms, invoices,
envelopes, index cards, phone books, post-it notes,
shredded paper, construction paper, wrapping paper, paper
with labels attached, packing paper, and much more.

Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how best to collect
their recyclables. Paper recycling bins are available, at no charge,
for your building or office. Contact Tom Maze at 386-3496.

17. Recycling – Glass and Plastic
Any glass or plastic product that can be
easily rinsed can be recycled!! All colors of glass and
any type of plastic are OK!!
•Examples: Glass solvent bottles, broken beakers
and flasks, plastic jugs and tubs, drink bottles, etc.
Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how best to collect
their recyclables. Collection sites have been established for each
Unit. Pickups are done on an as needed basis.

18. Recycling - Lab Glass/Plastic
KEEP GLASS AND PLASTIC SEPARATE
All lab glassware and plastic must be TRIPLE rinsed
before recycling. The rinse waste created from
particularly hazardous chemicals/solvents should be
collected as hazardous waste. These may include but
are not limited to methylene chloride, chloroform,
phenol, ether, etc. Most acid, base, salt, and alcohol
rinses can go down the drain after proper neutralization.
Use common sense or when in doubt - ASK
SOMEONE!!
Each program/lab is responsible for deciding how best to
collect their recyclables. Broken glass containers can easily be
converted to recycling containers.

19. Hazardous Waste
•A waste with properties that make it dangerous, or
capable of having a harmful effect on human health
and the environment.
•Many of our labs produce hazardous wastes in their
daily activities. Please continue to follow proper
collection and disposal techniques.
•Know what you are working with and dispose of it
properly!

20. Universal Waste
•Universal waste regulations streamline collection
requirements for certain hazardous wastes into the
following categories:
* Batteries - Lead acid but we collect ALL types
* Pesticides - Collect then dispose of through
Georgia Clean Day
* Mercury-Containing Thermostats
* Lamps – All except tungsten
(i.e. halogen, neon, fluorescent)

21. eCycling – Recycling Electronics
Do you know what to do with old computers,
copiers, scientific equipment, televisions, etc?
e-CYCLE IT!!!
Items that can be e-cycled: Computers, hard-
drives, keyboards, printers, televisions, VCR/DVD
players, cell phones, telephones, radios, pagers,
digital equipment, scanners, copiers, scientific
equipment, and much, much more…….
DO
Save old, broken, or unused electronic equipment for recycling!
DON’T
Throw any electronic equipment in the dumpster!

22. Our Universal/Electronic Waste
Shipment

23. Your Waste Contact
•For more information about hazardous wastes,
universal wastes, or recycling or disposal of
electronic equipment, please contact:
–Tom Hendricks, Collateral Duty Safety Officer,
[phone].

24. Prudent Purchasing
•Buy only the amount of chemicals that you
will use within a reasonable time period
•Buy durable apparatus and equipment that can
be repaired and maintained
•Coordinate or centralize purchasing to avoid
unnecessary purchases
•Buy Green Products when available
Paper Energy-efficient products
Biofuels

25. Buying Green
There are six components to the Federal green
purchasing program:
–Recycled content products
–Energy Star and FEMP-designated energy
efficient products, low standby power devises, and
renewable energy
–Biobased products
–Alternative fuel vehicle/alternative fuel
–Environmentally preferable products and services
–Non-ozone depleting substances
Make these your first choice if possible.

26. On-line Resources
•Tifton EMS webpage-
www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=12538
•Biobased Products Program -
www.biobased.oce.usda.gov
•Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines -
www.epa.gov/cpg
•Office of the Federal Environmental Executive -
www.ofee.gov
•EPA-EMS - www.epa.gov/ems
•Safety, Health, and Environmental Mgmt. –
www.afm.ars.usda.gov/shem/environmental.htm

27. THE END
Remember – It IS easy being GREEN!

28. QUESTIONS?