Vol. 11 No. 3 Fall 2001

New Design for Northeast P2 News

The Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA) extends its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of anyone reading this newsletter that was injured or killed in the attacks on September 11. Pollution Prevention Week 2001 took place the week after the terrible events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. In spite of the tragedy, many states demonstrated their commitment to P2 and energy efficiency and proceeded with their plans for P2 Week.

The following state reports provide a snap shot of some of the P2 Week 2001 events and activities that took place in the Region during the week of September 17 - 23.

In addition to many state specific activities, NEWMOA coordinated several regional P2 Week 2001 activities. The states selected "Shop for a Better Environment" as a regional theme this year, and much of the focus in the individual states was on promoting Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. NEWMOA organized a joint resolution that was signed by the EPA Regions 1 and 2 Administrators and the State Environmental Commissioners and Directors.

NEWMOA also published a book mark that was distributed throughout the region that included tips on environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) and a list of useful websites. For a copy of the bookmark and a more complete list of EPP websites, visit the NEWMOA website at www.newmoa.org or contact NEWMOA. The office still has many copies available for distribution.

The P2 Week events organized by the CT DEP P2 office included: a tour of a new home that was constructed to use geothermal energy, a mini-fair on P2 and environmentally preferable purchasing, a press conference with the Commissioner to conclude the Commissioner's goal to collect 2001 pounds of mercury in 2001, presentation of two Green Circle awards for organizations who were exemplary in their collection of mercury, and a lecture presented by the University of Connecticut Environmental Research Institute on recently completed mercury emissions studies.

On October 31^st, the 2001 Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Toxics Use Reduction was held in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Usually coinciding with National Pollution Prevention Week, these awards are presented each year to businesses, public or private institutions, nonprofit organizations, community groups or individuals that have demonstrated leadership and superior results in toxics use reduction (TUR) and pollution prevention (P2). The event was a success and had about 100 participants, including representatives from industry, government, academia, and approximately 30 high school students from Holyoke.

Bob Durand, Secretary of Environmental Affairs, was proud to present the Governor's Awards to the five recipients, recognizing them for their "Outstanding Achievement in Toxics Use Reduction." The winners, representing public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and small, medium and large industries, are: the Burlington Board of Health, the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Texas Instruments, Inc., Standard Thompson Corp., and Armstrong Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Following the presentation of the awards, Dr. John Warner, professor at the University of Massachusetts _ Boston, engaged the high school students in an enthusiastic presentation, encouraging them to learn more about green chemistry, science, and technology. He emphasized the need for the next generation of scientists to understand all that "conventional" scientists know, plus techniques and skills required to assess and solve problems related to toxicity and environmental impact so that they can create new safer materials.

In addition to the awards program, the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) displayed an exhibition, titled "Paying Dividends: Massachusetts Industry and Environmental Progress", honoring the many successes accomplished by Massachusetts industries over the past decade, since the promulgation of the Toxics Use Reduction Act. The companies participating in this exhibit have shown exceptional TUR and P2 achievements and are profiled in case studies developed in conjunction with OTA. These companies are examples of how Massachusetts industries have successfully integrated TUR and P2 into their business strategy, by implementing new technologies, and modifying existing production processes to meet and exceed regulatory requirements.

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES), Pollution Prevention Program (NHPPP) celebrated P2 Week with the following accomplishments:

• Developed a web site on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
• Assistant Commissioner Bisbee signed the P2 Week Joint Resolution
• Governor Jeanne Shaheen signed a P2 Week Proclamation
• Emailed daily P2 tips on EPP to all DES employees
• Created an employee check message that went to over 11,000 NH government employees
• Displayed a booth in the DES lobby on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Published an article in a quarterly newsletter
• Prepared a press release that was sent to NH media

To kick off P2 Week 2001 in NJ, DEP Commissioner Bob Shinn signed the "P2 Week Joint Resolution: Shop for a Better Environment." This built upon last year's activities where New Jersey was the fourth state, after Delaware, Massachusetts and Virginia, to sign the "International Declaration on Cleaner Production," sponsored by the United Nation Environment Programme.

DEC's Central Office celebrated P2 Week in the lobby and hearing room at the new building located at 625 Broadway in downtown Albany. At the awards ceremony held mid-week, Mary Werner, P2 Unit Director, announced that Governor Pataki signed the 2001 Governor's Proclamation for P2 Week and that the commissioners of the Northeast States and the administrators of EPA Regions I and II signed the Joint Resolution. DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty and Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings provided welcoming remarks at the ceremony. The NYS Governor's Awards for P2 were postponed due to the September 11^th events and have not yet been re-scheduled.

The NYS Strategic Goals Program awarded its first Certificate of Achievement to C. H. Thompson, Co. Inc of Binghamton. A bronze level award was issued to them for compliance with all environmental regulations and achieving a reduction goal of 59 percent.

The DEC Pollution Prevention Unit set up a Green Buildings display identifying the elements of DEC's new building that qualify as Green Building disign. The Divisions of Air, Solid and Hazardous Materials, and Water also set up displays and staffed them throughout the P2 Week activities.

Many people attended the children's P2 awards ceremony, where the winners received certificates and prizes. The winning posters are proudly on display throughout the new building and on the DEC website. The children and their families enjoyed a sight seeing cruise on the Hudson River with Pollution Prevention Unit staff at the close of the day's activities.

Governor Lincoln Almond joined Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Jan Reitsma in announcing the winners of this year's Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Leadership at a breakfast ceremony at the Providence Marriott during P2 week 2001.

"By joining forces with the Narragansett Bay Commission, the University of Rhode Island, the Environmental Protection Agency and a host of organizations, our Department of Environmental Management has come a long way in addressing pollution prevention," said Almond. "I applaud all the companies we honor today for their commitment to sound environmental management practices that are designed to curb pollution before it begins."

"Pollution prevention is good for human health and the environment, and it makes good business sense as well," said Reitsma. "Companies can save money on their costs, for raw materials, waste treatment, and disposal; reduce their regulatory burdens, and permit fees; and at the same time improve their employees' work environment."

The awards recipients were:

• S&A/ Paramount Printing (Lincoln) for Press WashUp, Solvent & Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Reduction
• General Dynamics/Electric Boat (North Kingstown) for a New Powder Coating Facility for Large Submarine Parts
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Newport) for their Pollution Prevention Program
• Mr. Harold Gadon (Cranston) for his participation in the Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Programs
• Tytex, Inc. (Woonsocket) for their pollution prevention efforts
• Community College of Rhode Island (Lincoln, Warwick, Providence)

Vermont DEC and Small Business Development Center contributed to the dialogue on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing by collaborating with the Center for a New American Dream, Green Seal, and others to present a national green cleaning conference call entitled, "A Cleaner World." The conference call attracted more than 100 participants and allowed Vermont to share its experience in selecting and securing a contract for purchase of environmentally preferable custodial cleaning chemicals.

Vermont also celebrated National P2 Week by making Pollution Prevention the Highlight of the Month on the Agency's website.

Agency employees and Vermonters visiting the website were asked to celebrate National Pollution Prevention Week by examining their own lifestyles; including the everyday choices a person makes with regard to transportation, resource use and waste management. Visitors to the website were urged to utilize various Environmental Impact Calculators as one way to gain a valuable perspective on some of the environmental impacts of their everyday activities, as well as to discover ways to reduce their personal environmental impacts. (See the websites section of the newsletter for links to some of these Environmental Impact Calculators.)

Feature Article: Outreach to Dental Offices

Dental offices routinely use and dispose of many hazardous materials including mercury amalgam, x-ray fixer, x-ray film, lead foil, cleaners for developer systems and sterilizer chemicals. Currently many state programs in the Northeast are addressing these issues, often in cooperation with state dental associations. Recently the use and release of mercury in and from dental offices has received much attention due to the potential health effects to dentists, their staff and patients during the filling procedure, and due to the potential environmental effects resulting from releases to the sewer or disposal in the regular trash.

Since the fall of 2000, the CT DEP Office of Pollution Prevention has been partnering with the CT State Dental Association (CSDA) to provide assistance to its members on ways that a dental office can help to protect the environment. A guide was produced titled "The Environmentally Responsible Dental Office" by the CT DEP and the National Wildlife Federation that was distributed through the CSDA. As a follow-up to the guide, the CSDA and CT DEP have worked together to create a statewide pick-up of unused bulk dental mercury from dentists. This effort resulted in 412 pounds of mercury being collected. The CT DEP Office of Pollution Prevention continues to provide assistance to dentists on waste reduction and how to properly manage wastes from a dental office on an as-needed basis.

In May of 2000 the Maine state legislature passed a bill requiring the development of a P2 plan for dental facilities by July 15, 2002. A stakeholder group was assembled with members from Maine DEP, Maine Dental Association (MDA) and Maine Wastewater Control Association (MWWCA), along with concerned citizens and a special interest group. A draft pollution prevention plan concerning wastewater discharges from dental facilities is underway as several work sessions with these interested parties have already taken place.

MA DEP, working with the MA Dental Society (MDS) and Stericycle (a medical waste hauler) implemented a statewide collection of unused elemental mercury. Over a 9 month period, roughly 1200 pounds of liquid elemental mercury was collected from 111 dental offices and sent to Bethlehem Apparatus in Pennsylvania where it was refined for direct reuse in a wide array of products and processes. MA DEP, Pennsylvania DEP and Bethlehem Apparatus came to an agreement to treat the mercury as a commodity rather than a hazardous waste. Therefore, participating dentists did not have to register as small quantity generators and procedural transportation requirements were simplified. Participating dentists were charged a nominal $25-$50 to cover the costs of shipping.

In January 2001, the MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the MA Dental Society (MDS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to promote innovative solutions and technologies to reduce mercury and dental amalgam wastes and to increase its recovery and reuse. Initially, the agreement focused on developing educational/outreach programs to increase dentists' awareness about the adverse environmental impacts of mercury disposal and to increase their use of amalgam recovery technologies. To this end, DEP/EOEA worked with MA Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and MDS to develop and distribute a "Best Management Practices" wall placard for use by all MA dentists. DEP/EOEA funded the printing and mailing costs.

The parties also agreed to develop and implement solutions for:

• Collection, recycling, and retirement of existing inventories of bulk elemental mercury
• Recovery of used dental amalgam from suction on water lines
• Promotion of dental amalgam waste collection, recovery and proper disposition to prevent its disposal into the wastewater or solid waste streams

The Massachusetts STrategic Envirotechnology Partnership (STEP) is undertaking an independent study to develop and implement a practical protocol for evaluating the performance, operation and maintenance, and cost of amalgam separator technologies. This information will allow dentists to make wise technology choices and allow technology vendors to better market their technologies.

The discharge of dental waste is one of the largest contributors of mercury to wastewater. The MWRA estimates that 10-15 percent of the man-made mercury going to the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant is from dental offices. While a number of in-office amalgam separator technologies are currently available on the market throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, these technologies are not commonly installed in dental offices.

With the help of an advisory committee, STEP is developing a formal testing protocol based on a combination of laboratory and field procedures. The advisory committee for the project includes the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the MWRA, the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, technical experts, environmental regulators, and environmental advocates from across the country. During Phase I of the project, existing protocols were reviewed and discussed, including the ISO protocol and the NSF/EPA protocol. Phase II of this project will build a bench test protocol that is reliable, rapid, inexpensive and does not use toxic materials to predict the dissolved and particulate mercury in the dental waste stream after treatment.

STEP is a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the University of Massachusetts to promote the development and use of environmental technologies. Dr. Gordon Wallace, of the University of Massachusetts Boston, is the lead investigator on this project.

During the last six months, progress on the NH Dental Project: "Reducing PBT's in the Health Care Sector" has surpassed expectations. The NH Dental Society (NHDS) and the New Hampshire Pollution Prevention Program (NHPPP) partnership have created a working relationship to communicate and disseminate valuable information to the NH dental community.

The following activities have been completed:

• Created and mailed a dental survey to 950 NH dentists
• Developed dental project web page
• Collected vendor list of dental amalgam recycling facilities
• Drafted dental outreach documents
• Attended NH Dental Society Annual Meeting in May 2001
• Worked with DES' Hazardous Waste Compliance Bureau to propose hazardous waste rule change for mercury amalgam

The dental survey had an enormous response from the dental community. Over 400 dentists or 42 percent responded to the survey. Results of the survey include:

• 243 dentists use both amalgam and composites
• 39 dentists only use composites
• 50 dentists only use amalgam
• 173 dentists currently recycle waste amalgam
• 271 dentists dispose of x-ray fixer solution as hazardous waste
• 225 dentists dispose of fluorescent bulbs in solid waste

Based on survey results, NHDS focused newsletter articles on proper disposal of fluorescent bulbs, recycling of x-ray fixer solution, and a proposed hazardous waste rule change for mercury amalgam.

DES, NHDS, and NH Small Business Development Center will continue to develop and distribute outreach documents for dentists. The American Dental Association Annual Meeting was held in October in Kansas City, MO, and some of the information from the meeting will be included in forthcoming outreach documents.

In 1999 all Vermont dental offices were sent a copy of a best management practices guide entitled "The Environmentally Responsible Dental Office: A Guide to Proper Waste Management in Dental Offices." As a follow up, the Vermont State Dental Society recently completed an environmental survey of dental offices, attempting to ascertain the extent to which BMPs are being implemented. A summary of the results follows:

• • 54 percent of 250 dental offices responded to the survey.

• The majority was familiar with the guide and found it useful.
• About one quarter of respondents do not use amalgam.
• Of those using amalgam, the majority use spill capsules and not elemental or free mercury.
• Survey results suggest that amalgam usage has decreased significantly over the last several years in favor of non-amalgam substitutes in dental offices responding.
• Nearly all dental offices report the use of amalgam traps or screens.
• Although very few dental offices employ amalgam separators, the majority of offices were interested in receiving information about them.

Vermont DEC drafted a regulatory procedure that will soon be adopted. This procedure requires dental offices to implement best management practices with regard to the management of dental amalgam wastes and other hazardous wastes. In large part, the regulatory procedure follows the recommended BMPs that are in the existing dental guide. The BMPs include the following:

• Prohibits use of (elemental) free mercury, in favor of single use amalgam capsules
• Requires inspection and maintenance of chairside (primary) traps and vacuum pump filters and collection and proper disposal (through recycling or hazardous waste disposal) of all trapped amalgam particles
• Preference for disposable chair side traps due to difficulties of cleaning reusable traps
• Will not require amalgam separators until such time as the Massachusetts Dental Amalgam Separator Project is completed; at that time, will amend the procedure to address requirements for installation, operation and maintenance.
• Will require that sink traps be cleaned by 1/03 and mercury/amalgam particles recycled or disposed as hazardous waste
• Addresses procedure for proper management of X-ray wastes and chemical sterilants
• Requires that dental offices submit biennial certification of compliance with BMP

Feature Article: Marina Outreach & Assistance

States in the Northeast have been concerned about the possible environmental impacts of operations at the numerous marinas, boat yards and yacht clubs in the region for a number of years. During the past year, there has been a concerted effort in most of the Northeast states and EPA Region I-New England to develop assistance and outreach programs to help these facilities better understand the relevant environmental requirements and pollution prevention opportunities.

Many operations at marinas have potential environmental impacts, including boat maintenance, repair, building, painting, fueling, pump-out, and washing. States are also particularly concerned about storm water runoff from marinas. These operations and activities can impact the nearby waters and impair air quality. Many marinas also generate hazardous waste and need to manage those wastes properly. States have been focusing on both coastal and inland marinas. For inland marinas there is particular concern about preventing invasive species from spreading and causing greater damage than has already taken place from boats that owners move from one water body to another.

Under a grant from EPA Region 1-New England, NEWMOA has initiated a Marina Outreach and Assistance Workgroup to help facilitate coordination and information sharing among the Northeast states. The Workgroup recently had a successfulmeeting that helped them understand each other's approach to this sector. The following sections provide brief descriptions of the marina assistance and outreach activities underway in the Northeast states and EPA Region 1-New England.

The CT DEP Office of Long Island Sound Programs and Boating Division are jointly developing a Clean Marina Program that is a voluntary, incentive-based, education and outreach campaign to encourage environmental compliance and the use of best management practices at the state's 350 coastal and inland boating facilities. The program will also include an outreach campaign to educate the state's boaters about environmentally-friendly boating practices.

CT DEP is working with Connecticut's recreational boating industry to develop a "Clean Marina Guidebook," a cross-media, user-friendly manual for marina operators that will outline the state and federal legal requirements for common marina activities, and best management practices to minimize impacts of non-point sources of pollution from marinas and boatyards. Once the manual is complete in early 2002, CT DEP plans to host workshops on environmental compliance and pollution prevention as well as provide small grants to facilities to conduct demonstration projects for best management practices at boating facilities.

CT DEP is also working with the recreational boating industry to develop environmental standards for marinas to be certified as "clean marinas." Since no marina can become a "clean marina" without full compliance with environmental permits and without taking several steps to go beyond compliance, CT DEP will provide compliance assistance to marinas as they work toward clean marina certification. CT DEP plans on beginning to certify marinas in the fall and winter of 2002.

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) recently released the Massachusetts Clean Marina Guide to hundreds of marine boating facilities throughout the coastal zone. This reference manual is designed primarily for use at marinas and yacht clubs to provide information to operators about implementing environmentally sound marina practices.

The release of the Guide kicked off CZM's Marina Assistance Program _ a program developed to reduce environmental impacts from marinas. To roll out the program and introduce the Guide, CZM held five regional workshops last spring. These meetings gave marina and yacht club staff and harbormasters an introduction to the program, and provided an in-depth discussion of the Guide, including an overview of BMPs marinas can adopt to lessen environmental impacts. Marina operators were also on hand to provide examples of practices adopted at their facilities. These workshops provided valuable information and interesting discussions about environmentally sound marina and boating practices.

The Guide is also one component of CZM's Clean Marine Initiative—a collection of measures targeted at boaters, communities, and marinas to reduce the pollution of marine waters. This initiative will provide oil-absorbing bilge socks to boaters, grants to municipalities to upgrade outboard boat engines, and will survey commonwealth boat pumpout facilities to find ways to improve this service.

NHPPP has been working with DES's Watershed Management Bureau, the NH Small Business Development Center and the New Hampshire Marine Trade Association (MTA) to assist New Hampshire marinas on regulatory issues and pollution prevention opportunities. Activities include site visits, technical assistance, and an updated "Best Management Practices in NH Marinas" manual.

The following activities have been completed:

• Drafted DES' 2001 BMP manual for NH Marinas (update of 1995 version). Many topics have been added, such as regulatory information, Clean Vessel Act, and Clean Marine Engine initiative.
• Conducted three site visits.
• Assisted in three site visits with EPA Region 1-New England.
• Published an article in "Wastelines" on the marina project and marine engine initiative.

After each site visit, the marina checklist and the BMP manual are revised to better fit the needs of the marinas. Common issues observed during visits included:

• Shrink wrap use and disposal options
• Test tank water discharges
• Winter storage of engines, wet or dry using antifreeze
• Hazardous waste storage requirements

The BMP manual should be completed by Fall 2001 and distributed in Winter 2001. Manuals will be distributed at a half-day marina workshop with NH MTA and by mail. The revised BMP manual will also be made available on the NHPPP web page. Follow-up site visits will be scheduled for the Fall and Winter months, for those marinas that are open year-round.

NHPPP participates in the Clean Marine Engine Initiative coordinated by DES' Lakes Protection Program. P2 staff created a public service message, which was televised in May 2001. While the initiative is not part of the NH Marina Project, it has allowed NHPPP to develop relationships with marine dealers/owners prior to conducting site visits. This relationship has also given marina owners the opportunity to comment on a checklist prior to its use. Sales data from the site visits indicates that 80-90 percent of new engine sales are low-emission marine engines.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Pollution Prevention Unit Outreach Team, in cooperation with staff from Public Affairs, completed the video, Pollution Prevention at New York Marinas. The video features P2 measures taken at New York State marinas and raises important issues such as proper control of invasive species and storm water control.

DEC Staff is currently busy developing the manual, Pollution Prevention for Marinas. The draft manual is scheduled to be completed by January 1, 2002 and sent out for review by technical staff and industry representatives (comments will be due April 1, 2002). The final document is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2001.

NY DEC Staff held a Pollution Prevention Workshop for Marinas and Yacht Clubs on October 3rd at the Bear Mountain Inn in Rockland Co. The Hudson Valley Marine Trades Association and NY Sea Grant cosponsored the workshop. The Pollution Prevention at New York Marina video was shown to introduce the workshop theme. Pesticides re-certification points were provided to interested attendees (i.e., marinas that conduct bottom painting). This workshop is the first in a series of ten workshops to be conducted between fall 2001 and fall 2002.

This boating season, the Vermont Small Business Development Center conducted eight on-site voluntary compliance assistance assessments for Vermont marinas using a qualified sub-contractor, funded by an EPA grant. Two more visits are scheduled, thus covering nearly half of the marinas in the state. All marinas received an assessment report of multi-media violations identified along with recommendations on correction measures and other ways to improve environmental management. Nearly all responded to a post-assessment survey, indicating that they had made changes in various management practices, primarily hazardous waste labeling and storage, and plan on implementing some pollution prevention measures. Previous outreach and assistance to marinas was nearly four years ago when the VT DEC conducted a statewide workshop on pollution prevention and environmental management.

The EPA Region 1-New England Office of Assistance and Pollution Prevention is working with regional stakeholders on implementing a marina assistance initiative. This integrated effort is designed to address marinas' environmental issues in such areas as management of storm water, oil and fuel, and waste. Overall goals include increased regulatory compliance and awareness of effective operating practices in these areas. To accomplish the desired results, EPA is developing a variety of assistance tools to complement other stakeholder assistance activity. These tools include marina guidance manuals, a regional website, and marina owner training workshops. In addition, working in conjunction with NEWMOA, the group has established a regional marina workgroup to further collaboration and to potentially work on special marina sector projects.

To help determine the results of this initiative, EPA Region 1-NE is using a statistically valid measurement approach. Both before and after the assistance is provided, EPA is conducting on-site assessment visits of approximately 75 randomly selected marinas. The process features a walk through with the owner using a specially designed checklist to collect information on how each marina is doing in selected environmental areas. The measurement process will provide aggregate results of the assistance and more knowledge about the sector and measurement methods.

CONNECTICUT

CONNSTEP

Through a PPIS grant, CONNSTEP, Inc. was able to assist a client with the selection of an alternative cleaning solvent. The client had been using a 50/50 mixture of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and lacquer thinner to remove paint from stencils, shields, and paint gun tips. The cleaning mixture was used at a rate of 2,420 gallons/year at an annual cost of $12,131. In addition, the client needed to find ways to reduce VOC emissions at their facility. CONNSTEP, Inc. conducted research to identify suitable cleaning alternatives and provided the client with a list of contacts at companies that were willing to supply free testing samples of their cleaning products.

After sampling a number of solvent alternatives, the client determined that Vertec^TM, an ethyl lactate solvent derived from corn, best suited their needs. While the VOC content of Vertec^TM is considered to be 100 percent, its vapor pressure is considerably lower than that of MEK resulting in fewer VOCs emitted over a set rate of time. Unlike MEK, Vertec^TM is not considered to be a hazardous air pollutant (HAP). Because Vertec^TM evaporates at approximately half the rate of MEK, it is projected that approximately 1,210 gallons of the solvent at a cost of $5,676/year will be purchased. Upfront cost savings are expected to be $6,484 annually. Other benefits include a reduction in hazardous waste disposal and the elimination of regulatory reporting requirements associated with using HAPs.

MAINE

Maine DEP

The Maine DEP's Office of Innovation and Assistance is targeting the Composite's Sector with pollution prevention and compliance assistance, with an emphasis on Boat Building and Repairing (BB&R). The boat sector makes up over 80 percent of the composite industries in Maine. The BB&R industry will be DEP's emphasis for small business compliance assistance along with other priority requests that comes in from other sectors.

Maine DEP has partnered with other interested groups and associations including the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation and Hazardous Waste, DEP Bureau of Air Quality, DEP Toxics and Hazardous Waster Reduction Program, DEP Pollution Prevention Program, University of Maine Technology Center-Composites Research Laboratory, Maine Marine Trade Association, SBDC, and an Environmental Management System consultant.

DEP has conducted research on compliance issues specific to BB&R in Maine and are in the process of compiling the compliance information specific to this sector in an easy to assimilate format.

The ME DEP SBAP on-site staff dedicated to this project is receiving further multi-media training through the DEP Air Bureau. Currently they have assisted in writing licenses and are becoming familiar with licensing and regulatory requirements.

The DEP SBAP on-site staff, dedicated to this project, is gathering regulatory and threshold information to write a draft guidebook for on-site compliance assistance. Maine currently does not have an air regulatory guidebook, and the Agency has identified this as a compliance assistance need during previous pollution prevention on-site work.

ME DEP has performed one significant on-site specific to the BB&R Sector and many others outside of this sector. The focus when performing an on-site is to utilize the Iowa Waste Reduction tools. The BB&R facility they visited is in the middle of testing newer less toxic methodologies for applying gel coats, including lower styrene-containing gel coats and vacuum application techniques to reduce or eliminate air emissions.

The ME DEP has begun researching and identifying pollution prevention technologies that are being successfully implemented in the BB&R field, including low VOC gel coats, application of resins and gels including differing vacuum techniques. They have begun working with University of Maine Technology Center-Composites Research Laboratory, who is interested in testing alternative coating and materials application specific to the Boat Building and Repair Sector.

The project's work plans for the near future includes:

• Complete a draft of the Air Guidebook
• Complete the compilation of the compliance issues specific to the BB&R sector
• Perform more on-sites in the BB&R Sector
• Advertise and utilize the Small Business Compliance Incentive policy
• Meet with partners and identify new partners who may be beneficial to the project
• Begin compiling pollution prevention process techniques specific to the BB&R Sector that would be considered Best of Class
• Review and compile BACT and MACT standards related to the industry in coordination with the Air Bureau
• Review EMS & ISO 14001 standards specific to the BB&R Sector

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts OTA

Industrial Water Management

On three separate occasions during October, OTA hosted a workshop on Industrial Water Management that had a regional focus on an area of Massachusetts that has experienced tremendous growth - the Interstate 495 corridor. Many companies in this region are feeling the growing pains associated with water quality, water supplies, and wastewater treatment, such as limits on their water consumption or further restrictions on their wastewater discharge.

In an effort to assist these companies, the workshop explored cost-effective opportunities to conserve, recover, and reuse water as part of a strategy to maintain flexible manufacturing operations in the face of limited water resources. The presentations covered viable water conservation and management options for process industries and included actual experiences from industries implementing water conservation and recycling technologies. The workshop was well received, and many participants are looking forward to OTA's plans to follow up on this issue by developing new outreach materials and other events.

OTA will be hosting a workshop titled "Steps to Improve Fuel Efficiency" on November 30^th. The recent designation of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) as Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) chemicals affected many facilities in Massachusetts that will need to include these compounds in their TURA plans due in 2002. This workshop was organized by OTA to provide manufacturers and the Toxics Use Reduction Planners Association (TURPA) with information necessary to develop fuel and energy efficiency improvements as a preliminary step in their PAC planning activities.

On October 29^th and 30^th, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the University of Massachusetts sponsored the second annual Green Chemistry Research Symposium. Speakers included representatives from university laboratories, industry, MA state government, and the White House Office on Science and Technology Policy.

The Symposium show-cased green chemistry research being conducted at the University of Massachusetts and throughout New England and featured five technical sessions on alternative feedstock, alternative reactions, alternative solvents, designing less toxic materials, and emerging issues in green chemistry.

OTA is proposing an opportunity for businesses to partner with local schools, as a mentor, to address serious chemical management issues and assist in school chemical clean-outs. From this partnership, businesses can build strong community ties by using their expertise to improve the health and safety of local schools.

MA TURI, MA DEP and MA OTA in collaboration with the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) and the MA Health Officers Association (MHOA), coordinated and hosted a one-day conference on June 5, 2001 for Massachusetts public health officers and TURA Program officials. As part of its ongoing program of collaboration with the Public Health community, the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) was the primary agency responsible for coordinating the conference. TURI assembled, and twice convened, an advisory committee to develop the conference scope and agenda. Funding for the conference was provided by a grant from the Ford Foundation through a 1999 Innovations in American Government Award to the Toxics Use Reduction Program.

The conference featured 18 speakers in 2 plenary sessions and 5 breakout sessions. Each 100-minute breakout session was conducted twice _ once in the morning, and repeated again in the afternoon. The sessions were: Improving Indoor Air Quality through Green Building Design and Renovation; Health Effects of Toxics on Adults and Children; Chemical Management in Public Facilities; Reducing Pesticides in Communities; and Toxics in Small Business and Industry.

In addition, there was a 100-minute Interactive Resource Session that featured 15 poster displays from the state and community organizations. The conference ended with a facilitated interactive exercise in which participants discussed in small groups strategies and processes for advancing specific toxics use reduction initiatives in their communities. Comments from Health Officials indicated their appreciation for a critical topic they want to know more about.

TURN had a terrific end-of-year event at the Massachusetts State House in June. The six grantees offered presentations and information booths, and over 100 legislators, program staff and community visitors were present. The TURN Program was established by the Institute in 1995 to encourage involvement by community organizations and municipalities in the TURA program, promoting safer and cleaner industrial processes that enhance the economic vitality of Massachusetts firms, while protecting the environment, workers, and public health.

The publicly available catalog of the Library is called "Greenlist," which now has 10,000 titles and abstracts (http://www.turi.org/greenlist). Starting in August, a weekly emailed Greenlist Bulletin features 10 recent titles. It is generating many compliments and requests to the librarian for hard copy or deeper research. The Library has also recently received a donation of books on environmental justice from Beverly Johnson, former Institute Administrative Director and founder of the TURN Program. The Institute's website has been redesigned. There are many good reports and tools to be found, including printable fact sheets on 18 high hazards chemicals.

TURI's Surface Cleaning Lab has been renamed the "Surface Solutions Laboratory" (SSL). This is in response to the Lab's recent activity on research projects closely related to surface cleaning, like conformal coatings at Raytheon's Lexington plant. In addition, the SSL has expanded testing capabilities to include non-aqueous cleaning alternatives, such as media blasting with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and dry-ice/CO2 (carbon dioxide). At the same time, the Laboratory will continue to handle routine industrial cleaning applications, as well as respond to institutional (i.e., maintenance and janitorial) cleaning processes that also need to become "safer and greener." This last category encompasses manual cleaning performed at schools, hospitals, hotels and other facilities.

TURI assembled approximately 30 MA companies from throughout the coated wire and cable supply chain for a focus group on emerging global environmental issues. Current and pending legislation in Europe and Japan would phase-out the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and some brominated flame retardants in electronics, vehicles and some other products. In order to help the wire and cable companies respond to the needs of their global customers, the Institute has put together information on environmental issues and alternative safer materials. The focus group meeting provided a forum to inform companies about the issues, hear from the wire and cable industry's suppliers about new innovative materials, and hear what their customers are looking for.

EMS implementation at UML is moving into high gear as outreach and training is reaching all faculty and students. Teams will begin writing new procedures over the next few months.

TURI's Environmental Management System workgroups are designed for 6 to 10 participating companies to share experiences in EMS implementation. The FY 2001 series hosted by NYPRO and M/A-COM were a great success, ending in a joint session of learning and celebration. They heard from a lead auditor on tips and experience in this part of the implementation process. Both companies were champions of this management method that "will help improve earth's environment for our grandchildren," to quote the NYPRO leader. All participants expect to be more efficient and agile as a result of their efforts in implementing and EMS. The 2002 workgroups have been established, led by Teradyne of North reading and Gentex Optics of Dudley. Pam Eliason and Janet Clark of the Institute manage these workgroups.

The Institute is participating, as resource staff, with the University EMS Service Program, which is kicking off an EMS workgroup of colleges and universities that will begin this month. The Institute's involvement in implementing the University's own EMS in the Olney Building will provide lively tales of strategies and barriers for the workgroup.

The Institute continues to support research on UMass campuses in the areas of green chemistry, alternative energy sources and fuel cells, lead-free electronics, and polymers and plastics.

The Environmental Results Program (ERP), a bold initiative replacing traditional, permit- driven regulations with an industry-tailored, performance-based system, is being honored with a $20,000 grant and national recognition as one of 15 finalists in the Innovations in American Government Award.

For more than a generation, environmental regulation across the country has been based on a "command and control" system, emphasizing enforceable permits and penalties for polluters. While this approach has achieved significant environmental progress, its emphasis on permits has often distracted government regulators and regulated companies from what should be their primary concern, preventing pollution. ERP has begun to change the "command and control" culture by focusing on self-certification, compliance assistance and by fostering a new regulatory link to smaller businesses.

ERP educates businesses about their obligations from the perspective of how they operate instead of how government regulates them; requires high-ranking company officials to sign annual certifications of compliance; and uses an industry scoring system to track the performance of individual facilities and sectors of the economy. ERP encompasses 2,200 businesses, including dry cleaners, photo processors and printers, capturing a vast number of smaller companies never reached by traditional regulation.

Many companies willingly improve their own environmental practices under this revolutionary new system. One in 10 facilities that have submitted certifications have identified environmental violations and committed to compliance timetables_ all without state inspectors ever setting foot in their facilities. Meanwhile, fewer businesses are unregulated. For example, 10 percent of the state's dry cleaners appeared in DEP's database before ERP. Today, 95 percent are registered.

The average Massachusetts resident produces more than six pounds of trash each day. That adds up to about one ton per person a year. But people reduce their reliance on landfills and incinerators, preserve open spaces, generate new jobs, and save trees and other natural resources by recycling, composting, and reducing waste.

That is the message delivered by DEP's Recycling Education Assistance for Public Schools (REAPS) program. REAPS provides free classroom presentations and teacher training on recycling and other solid waste issues for Massachusetts public schools, Grades K through 12. DEP has sponsored the program since 1995, making hundreds of classroom presentations and offering numerous teacher-training sessions.

REAPS provides K-12 interactive age appropriate fun presentations, offering a wide variety of topics including: recycling, source reduction/reuse, composting, worm composting, household hazardous waste, and a solid waste overview.

The goals of REAPS are to expand and maintain an educational program that increases awareness of why and how to use the "3 R's" (reduce, reuse, recycle); initiate and increaseparticipation in recycling, composting and other waste reduction activities by students, teachers and parents; and track related programs in public schools across the state.

Several recent DEP projects illustrate how compliance and enforcement (C & E) can facilitate pollution prevention. In August inspectors from DEP's Central Regional office signed a consent agreement with New Method Plating Company of Worcester, which could result in as much as a 95 percent reduction in trichloroethylene. A similar agreement was made with Inner-Tite of Holden with the addition of a commitment to share the new technology with industry representatives and public-awareness groups.

In 2000, inspectors from the DEP's Central Regional office in Worcester found that New Method Plating Company had been operating as a major source of air pollution without the necessary permit. Specifically, the inspectors determined that the company, which uses the solvent TCE as a degreasing agent, had actual or potential vapor emissions that exceeded the major-source threshold of 10 tons per year dating back to 1993. To achieve compliance, New Method Plating has agreed to install a state-of-the-art degreasing system that is expected to cut the company's use of TCE by 95 percent. With the new equipment, the company will no longer need a major source-operating permit.

Inner-Tite, a manufacturer of anti-theft locking devices for utility meters, had been using trichloroethylene as a degreasing agent in its manufacturing operation. Vapors from the solvent made the company a major source of air pollution. However, last year Inner-Tite installed a new, innovative degreasing system that substantially reduced the company's use of trichloroethylenee. With the new equipment, the company no longer needs an air pollution permit.

As part of the consent order Inner-Tite signed with DEP, it agreed to participate in technology transfer programs and share its innovative degreasing technology equipment with industry, environmental and public awareness groups. The facility agreed to work with the MA Office of Technical Assistance and the Toxics Use Reduction Institute as a "case-study" facility sharing its P2 accomplishments, and to advertise its technology in industry newsletters or other appropriate publications.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hamphsire DES

Hospital Project

NHPPP has been working in conjunction with the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) on an outreach document for NH Hospitals on pollution prevention and the reduction of mercury-containing devices and PVC-containing material. The document explains what mercury and dioxin are, why they are harmful, where they can be found in hospitals, and how to reduce mercury and PVC-containing products. More specifically, for each persistent bioaccumulative toxin (PBT), sections are broken into a) Inventory, b) Source Reduction, c) Proper Management, and d) Alternative Products. The document further explains issues with cadmium bags, formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, xylene, and gluteraldehyde. At the end of each section there is a list of on-line resources hospitals can turn to for further assistance. The outreach document will be ready to distribute in Winter 2002.

NHPPP and NHHA have also conducted hospital site visits. NHPPP and NHHA conducted one hospital site visit this summer to assist in a mercury inventory, spill plan, and mercury-containing products reduction. NHPPP conducted additional site visits to a hospital satellite facility and assisted in mercury outreach and RCRA compliance issues. In addition, NHPPP assisted an elder care facility this summer. Staff conducted mercury outreach, and looked at other hazardous waste generating processes. Everything from batteries, to thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, and cadmium red-bag waste were examined. Suggestions were provided on waste reduction for these sources.

The primary goal of CLEAN-P2 is to encourage a P2 approach to environmental improvement and regulatory compliance. Companies that participate in the project will be asked to implement a P2 project and NHPPP will follow-up with the facility to review implementation of project and measure results. NHPPP has conducted three initial site visits.

A printer, one of the participating firms, called Printer 1 here, may be able to reduce their waste generation by segregating hazardous and solid waste. If the printer follows NHPPP recommendations, generation of hazardous waste will be significantly reduced. This may mean that Printer 1 will change to Small Quantity status and be subject to reduced regulatory requirements. Another printer can improve worker health and safety, reduce solvent emissions, and reduce their solvent use if they switch to a lower VOC-content blanket wash. Current blanket wash solvents and usage rates put the facility right on the edge of needing an air permit. With the lower VOC-content blanket wash, the second printer will fall below the de-minimus level. NHPPP recommended to another Clean-P2 firm, a metal plater, that they eliminate the use of MEK in the cleaning process because alternatives are available, and MEK is included in the Air Toxics Program, which requires them to calculate MEK usage and maintain appropriate records. By eliminating MEK, the plater will improve worker health and safety, reduce solvent emissions, and their reduce regulatory requirements.

DES staff has been working with a subcommittee of the NH House Environment and Agriculture Committee to prepare HB 675, the mercury-added products bill, for the 2002 legislative session. After several work sessions the subcommittee has voted to send it to the full E & A Committee with a recommendation of ought-to-pass as amended. Should the full committee pass the bill, it will go to the House floor when the 2002 legislative session opens in January.

NHPPP purchased 20 thermostat collection bins from the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) and has been providing them free-of-charge to interested heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) wholesalers. Earlier this summer, NHPPP sent letters to HVAC wholesalers detailing the project, and asking for participation. A few interested parties contacted NHPPP; however, when NHPPP's intern conducted follow-up calls to those who received letters, additional participants were generated. To date, NHPPP has 11 participating HVAC wholesalers, and hopes to secure more.

NHPPP will be working with high schools in NH over the next year to reduce toxic materials. As a first step, NHPPP, in conjunction with EPA Region 1-New England and NEWMOA, is sponsoring a workshop that focuses on toxic materials in schools (K-12). Topics will include: Why are toxic and hazardous chemicals a problem in schools; Two NH school case studies; Chemical pre-screening for safety; Removing unwanted toxic and hazardous chemicals; Mercury in schools; Establishing a chemical management system; Specific P2 examples for schools; Integrated pest management; and Resources and funding opportunities.

The workshop will be held at DES on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 from 8:00-4:00. The workshop is free-of-charge, but pre-registration is required. NHPPP welcomes other state representatives.

NEW JERSEY

New Jersey DEP

Electronic Reporting of P2 Data

New Jersey is one of only two states that require comprehensive materials accounting and pollution prevention planning. The New Jersey Pollution Prevention Act covers those facilities that are required to submit Form Rs to USEPA. NJ DEP has been collecting materials accounting data since 1988 and pollution prevention planning data since 1993. The biggest criticism NJ DEP receives on both data sets is the poor data quality and delayed releases. It is common for data not to be released for public consumption for up to two years after submittal.

Based on this valid criticism, NJ DEP has completed a project where materials accounting and pollution prevention planning data can be submitted electronically via the Internet. The long-term goal is to require that all data be submitted in this fashion. The NJ DEP believes this initiative will be beneficial not only to NJ DEP, but also to industry, community groups, non-governmental organizations and the general public.

The electronic data entry is beneficial to covered facilities since reporting will be streamlined. Streamlining benefits include pre-population of the forms, QA/QC being done as data is entered, the user having permanently available records, and automatic queuing of forms (i.e., system lets the users know what needs to be completed).

The Department benefits by having a drastic improvement in data quality, instant availability of data for other Departmental uses, no data entry staff needed, and no need for storage of paper records. The obvious advantages are less paper to be filed and less data to be key punched. The other, more creative advantage is that other Department staff, such as air and water permit writers, can use the up-to-date, accurate data to make better permitting decisions.

The public benefits by having the data available at their fingertips. The Department is in the process of establishing a public access Internet portal whereby this data will be easily manipulated using a basic query system. Since the materials accounting and pollution prevention planning reporting was designed in the spirit of the "Right to Know" philosophy, the obvious benefit of this system is that the users will have instant access to quality data for facilities in their neighborhoods.

It is important to highlight at this point how the NJ data is significantly different from the Federal TRI reporting. In addition to the standard release and transfer data collected on TRI, the materials accounting data tracks the amount of hazardous substances into the following categories: Brought on site, Beginning, Ending and Maximum Inventory, Produced on-site, Shipped in Product and Consumed. By collecting this data, NJ DEP knows how much hazardous material was shipped through a facility's neighborhood and how much hazardous substance ends up in products.

Pollution prevention planning reporting keeps facilities constantly in touch with pollution prevention concepts. Requiring facilities to prepare pollution prevention plans and report their reduction goals makes facilities evaluate whether the so-called "low hanging fruit" is really gone. Now that these goals will be easily accessible on the Internet, companies may scrutinize themselves and search for pollution prevention opportunities even more.

In conclusion, the materials accounting and pollution prevention planning data has always been a valuable tool for the Department and the general public. The major reason the data sets have not been used systematically is the poor data quality and the delays in data release. Both of these issues have been addressed via the electronic reporting system. DEP's next step is making the data available to all users; they hope this will be accomplished via an Internet portal by the summer of 2002.

RHODE ISLAND

Narragansett Bay Commission

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) recently sponsored a series of Environmental Management System (EMS) Workshops for the local industrial community. The series of 8 half-day workshops, conducted by the consulting firm of Camp Dresser and McKee, were attended by more than 35 representatives from 15 local businesses, RI DEM and NBC.

Each workshop focused on a distinct and fundamental aspect of developing and implementing an EMS by a small business. NBC will be working with each workshop attendee over the upcoming winter and spring months to assist with the actual development of each EMS. It is expected that each participating company/organization will see marked improvements in their environmental programs and performance through their EMS.

The workshop series and follow-up technical assistance is being offered free-of-charge to participating companies and is partially funded through grant funds received through EPA's PPIS Program. As work progresses on this project NBC plans on implementing an EMS for its own operations and facilities.

VERMONT

Vermont DEC & SBDC

Two in-depth compliance assistance/pollution prevention pilot projects have been funded by the Vermont Environmental Assistance Partnership (VT SBDC, VT DEC, VT Dept. of Economic Development and VT Manufacturing Extension Center). These projects include a demonstration project of diesel pre-heaters to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions at a Vermont ski area's snow-making operations and a wastewater project to reduce BOD at a micro-brewery.

DEC is providing on-site compliance/P2 assistance to metal fabricators and machine shops through a joint compliance and assistance initiative with the Waste Management Division. Vermont DEC has mailed its compliance guide to over 100 metal fabricators and machine shops with a letter informing these businesses that the sector would be targeted for hazardous waste inspections after April 1, 2002 and after a period of compliance assistance through the Environmental Assistance Division. The initial letter generated minimal requests for assistance; however, follow-up phone calls have generated significant interest and the DEC now hopes to provide assistance to 25-30 facilities.

DEC is providing an EMS training program for six Vermont businesses. Five of six monthly workshops have been completed. After workshop training is completed in November, the project training consultant will perform up to five on-site consultation visits at participating facilities during varying phases of EMS design.

EPA REGION 1 - NEW ENGLAND

EPA Region 1-NE developed a self-audit and outreach initiative for DPWs in response to a request for enforcement amnesty/leniency by APWA. This initiative was promoted at APWA meetings in CT, NH and ME. To date EPA Region 1-NE has received 263 applications from DPWs.

For more information contact: Chris Jendras, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1845.

On October 9, EPA Region 1-NE held a Storm Water Public Education/Involvement Workshop for Charles River Communities at MIT. The workshop covered BMPs and outreach tools communities may want to use in conducting some of the P2 activities their Phase II permits will require.

On July 31, EPA hosted an all-day training by construction consultant Jack Deering — "Moving the Earth Gently: Stormwater Protection in Construction" — for EPA and state staff. Mr. Deering described ways construction companies can plan and sequence their work to avoid mobilizing sediment, and conducted a roundtable discussion with agency staff to explore how to promote these practices.

For more information contact: Abby Swaine, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1841.

On October 23, Peggy Bagnoli hosted the "Environmental 101 Workshop for Colleges and Universities" at Colby College. 86 representatives from all over New England attended the workshop; 12 from Vermont attended via video-conference.

The New England Science Center Collaborative (NESCC), a group of 23 New England science centers, aquariums and planetariums, received $100K from EPA HQ's Office of Global Programs Climate Change Outreach/Education Branch to conduct climate change outreach to their patrons.

About 30 New England communities are now members of the Cities for Climate Protection program out of about 110 nationwide.

For more information contact: Norman Willard, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1812.

EPA Region 1-NE staff have been meeting with a series of mills to explore the potential for a P4 ("pollution prevention permitting project") permit or other flexible permit for pulp & paper manufacturers. The focus is currently on kraft mills and their compliance with the Cluster Rule, which includes both air and water requirements. Industrial Economics is working with the Region and HQ to develop a feasibility analysis for a flexible permit.

For more information contact: Beth Termini, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1662.

On Sept 12, EPA Region 1-NE and others conducted a workshop on Environmental Management Systems for Waste Water treatment plant operators at Millbury, MA.

For more information contact: Jean Holbrook, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1816.

On October 24 and 25, John Moskal attended the New England Wind Power workshop in Boston, intended to assist wind power developers in bringing projects on-line in New England.

For more information contact: John Moskal, EPA Region 1-New England (617) 918-1826.

EPA HQ is developing an EnergyStar Benchmarking Tool for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities.

For more information contact: Norman Willard, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1812.

EPA REGION 2

P2 & Compliance Conferences for Hospitals

On Wednesday, November 28, 2001, the Greater New York Hospital Association and EPA Region 2, Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance, will sponsor a "Hospital Compliance and Pollution Prevention Conference" in New York, NY. At this one-day program, participants will discuss federal environmental regulations that apply to hospitals and health care facilities, environmental management systems for hospitals, the voluntary audit program, environmentally preferable purchasing, Energy Star and other voluntary P2 and waste minimization programs.

For more information contact: Susan Stuard, Greater New York Hospital Association (212) 259-0727.

Representatives of hospitals and clinics, including federal facilities from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, attended the first "Caribbean Hospital and Health Care Regulatory Compliance and Pollution Prevention Conference" at the Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan, Puerto Rico in October 2001. Presentations included federal and state environmental regulations for hospitals and health care facilities (including RCRA, CAA, CWA, SPCC, EPCRA, TSCA, FIFRA), the voluntary audit program, hospital environmental management systems, energy conservation and Energy Star, environmentally preferable purchasing, environmentally beneficial landscaping, and other federal voluntary pollution prevention and waste minimization programs. The conference was cosponsored by three EPA offices - - the Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance, Region 2 and the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division located in Puerto Rico - - by the Universidad Metropolitana, the Puerto Rico Solid Waste Management Authority, the Puerto Rico Hospital Association, the Puerto Rico Department of Health, the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources.

For more information contact: Diane Buxbaum, EPA Region 2 (212) 637-3919, buxbaum.diane@epa.gov

Region 2 has recently authored a brochure that defines "environmentally beneficial landscaping," describes the provisions of Executive Order 13148: "Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management," which directs federal facilities to practice environmentally beneficial landscaping, provides examples of savings gained through its use, and includes simple "how-to" tips.

NORTHEAST P2 ROUNDTABLE

Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse

NEWMOA is currently forming an Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) to:

• Provide ongoing technical and programmatic assistance to states that have enacted provisions of the Mercury Education and Reduction Model Act
• Provide a single point of contact for industry and the public for information on mercury-containing products and member states' mercury education and reduction programs

The overall functions of IMERC will include:

• Collect and manage data submitted by manufacturers of mercury-containing products, under the notification provision of the state mercury reduction legislation, on the mercury content of those products, company contacts, and the total amount of mercury used by manufactures to make their products
• Facilitate interstate collaboration on the development and implementation of public education and outreach programs on mercury-containing products
• Make information on mercury-added products available
• Respond to public information requests for information on mercury-containing products, the requirements of the Mercury Education and Reduction Model Act, and the status of state implementation of the law
• Provide technical assistance, facilitate interstate review of, and make recommendations on manufacturers' applications for exemptions to the phase-out of mercury-containing products
• Provide technical assistance, facilitate interstate reviews of, and make recommendations on manufacturers' applications for alternative labeling of mercury-containing products
• Provide technical assistance, facilitate interstate reviews of, and make recommendations on manufacturers' plans for collection of mercury-containing used products

In the next year, NEWMOA will:

• Establish the legal framework for IMERC
• Develop and manage an information collection system that facilitates quick retrieval of data and information in the Clearinghouse
• Provide a single point of contact for submissions of mercury product notification information
• Develop and manage an IMERC Webpage
• Assist states with implementing labeling requirements
• Develop and manage a "Mercury Education and Outreach Workgroup"
• Organize IMERC meetings and conference calls
• Develop and implement an Education and Outreach strategy to assist the state environmental agencies with their efforts to help the public and industry 1) understand the provisions of the legislation and the work of the Clearinghouse; and 2) participate in collection and reduction programs for mercury-containing products
• Handle phone, Website, and e-mail inquiries and requests for information

The NEWMOA Directors have been meeting to discuss the legal framework for IMERC and should formally establish the Clearinghouse by the end of the calendar year. NEWMOA is planning to welcome the involvement of non-NEWMOA states in IMERC.

NEWMOA is also facilitating the development of a single form for notification that will satisfy the requirements of the three states that currently require manufacturers or others to submit data on the mercury content of their products. The notification form and instructions should be available on the NEWMOA website by the end of November.

The Northeast States Pollution Prevention Roundtable, in collaboration with other P2Rx™ Centers, is pleased to announce the launch of the Topic Hub™ Project. The P2Rx™ Topic Hubs™ are web-based guides to resources on selected topics. The Topic Hub™ concept formalizes the collection of information into a web site resource that:

• Provides quick answers to common questions about why a topic is important, how a topic operates, what options for change are available, and who has expertise with the topic
• Invites the user to add resources pertinent to the topic
• Provides juried comments/reviews and ratings of the collected materials

NEWMOA recently published a review of the activities of the Thermostat Recycling Corporation in the Northeast states. The purpose of the report is to:

• examine the effectiveness of this program in the northeast states
• assess the potential for expansion of this program in the region
• present the results of a recent survey of wholesalers in the region that are identified by TRC as participating in the program

The ultimate goal of the effort is to provide data and information to help the TRC and the Northeast states increase the number of mercury-switch thermostats collected for recycling, thereby reducing the amount of mercury entering the solid waste stream.

NEWMOA is forming a Junkyards Workgroup of state and federal officials to facilitate information sharing on enforcement issues and strategies, best management practice guidance and suggestions, regulatory issues, and assistance strategies for helping the yards address key issues. The group should include a combination of assistance and enforcement staff. There appear to be a number of important environmental concerns regarding the management of hazardous waste at junkyards and a number of examples of significant non-compliance and contaminated property problems.

Initially, this Workgroup would meet, primarily via conference call, a few times per year. NEWMOA might schedule a face-to-face meeting/s, depending on the needs of the group. The Association will also encourage the group to share information and experiences via e-mail as much as possible.

Useful Websites and Electronic Resources

In this new section of the newsletter, useful websites and electronic resources are offered, focusing on the topics of the Feature Articles.

Pollution Prevention Week: EPP