1 Environmental Awareness New Hire Orientation Office of Environmental Management.

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Environmental AwarenessNew Hire Orientation

Office of Environmental Management

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Introduction

What is “Environmental Awareness?”

Why is it important?

How does it affect me and the job I’ve been hired to do?

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Environmental Awareness 101

Broad:– Being “tuned in” to how decisions and actions of

you, your family, your employer, and others affect the ability of the “environment” to sustain and provide for a high quality of life.

Fresh air, clean drinking water, natural resources, etc…

Narrow:– You are now “the Government”– Obligated & expected to be “environmentally

aware” and to act in accordance with above…

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Importance

Broad:– By not acting in an environmentally aware

manner, the resulting damage &/or destruction of the natural systems we depend on will adversely affect our health & well-being

Narrow:– Because your employer said so– It is EVERY EMPLOYEE’S responsibility– You could get hurt &/or fired

See the City’s Environmental Policy document

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Environmental Awareness and You as a City Employee

Good news, we’ve made it easy… Processes, procedures, and systems are in-

place to help ensure that you:– Learn how the job you do relates to the City’s role

as a regional environmental leader,– Get to know the regulations that influence your

Department and others you work with,– Understand any job-related hazards,– Know what to do in an emergency.

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Environmental Compliance Manual

Materials Management Incident/Spill Reporting Regulatory Inspections Audits

COMPONENTS

All employees must be instructed and trained on

the contents of the ManualSee your Supervisor

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Requirements

All New Supervisory & Management Personnel Must Read the Manual within 10 Days of Reporting to Work

Any Employee Below the Supervisory Level Must be Instructed & Trained on the Contents of the Manual

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Why do we have an Environmental Compliance Manual?

Pollution Prevention, Risk Reduction, & Workplace Safety

Part of EPA Agreement Increased Regulatory Scrutiny

of Municipalities Key Component of an

Environmental Management System (EMS)

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Where is the Manual Located?

Public Works Service Center Parks & Recreation HQ Civic Center Emergency Communications Center Police Department HQ Department of Fire & EMS HQ Risk Management Office Environmental Administrator’s

Office

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Requirements

Violations of the Regulations Outlined in the Manual Could Result in the Employee & the City Facing Fines and Possible Civil & Criminal Prosecution

All Issues of Non-Compliance MUST be Reported ASAP

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Regulatory Requirements Brief Overview

Key Federal Laws & Regulations: “alphabet soup”

– OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration

Title 29 CFR 1910 & 1926

– EPA – Environmental Protection Agency Title 40 CFR

– RCRA, TSCA, CAA, CWA, CERCLA, SARA, FIFRA

– DOT – Dept. of Transportation Title 49 CFR

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Regulatory Overview

RCRA (Wastes)– Solid & Hazardous

Wastes Subtitle D - Solid Waste Subtitle C - Hazardous

Wastes Subtitle I - Underground

Storage Tanks

TSCA (Toxics)– PCBs– Asbestos

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Regulatory Overview

CAA (Air Quality)– Air permitting– Refrigerants– Chemical Accident

Prevention

CWA (Water Quality)– Wastewater Permitting– Storm water– Monitoring of Streams,

Rivers, Lakes…

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Regulatory Overview

CERCLA (Historic Contamination)

– Superfund Sites– Reportable Quantities

SARA (Community Right to Know)

– Emergency Planning FIFRA (Chemical Bio-cides)

– Pesticides– Insecticides

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Responsibility

Environmental Stewardship & Compliance Expected of All City Employees

Responsibility from Top to Bottom of the Organization

Office of Environmental Management– Regulatory Compliance Assurance– Assists Departments in managing their environmental

issues

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Office of Environmental Management

Division within the Department of Public Works – Environmental Administrator

Duties– Incident/Spill Response– Advising Departments & Facilities – Development of Best Management Practices– Approval of Waste Management Practices– Regulatory Reporting– Training & Educational Support– Keeping On Top of Rules & Regulations– Obtaining Specialized Environmental Services

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Management-Level Responsibilities

- Waste Management

- Air Management

- Water Management

Department Managers Supervisors Environmental Site Coordinators Employees Environmental Administrator

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Responsibilities

Employees– Understanding and Using Information Provided to Them

in Performing Job Duties that Involve the Management of Wastes, Air Emissions, or Water Impacts

– Notifying Immediate Supervisors if Unacceptable Practices or Activities are Occurring

– Asking for Help from the Supervisor or Environmental Site Coordinator if Unsure of Appropriate Action(s)

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Training

Based on Job Function & Level of Involvement with Hazardous Materials

Combination of ‘in-house’ and Contracted Trainers

Environmental Administrator Assists Departments with Training Program Development

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Waste Water (Sewage)

Sanitary Discharges (Waste Water)– Don’t dispose of Chemicals in Sinks, Toilets, Washbasins

without Approval of EA or WWTP– Dilution Water May Not be Added to Liquid Wastes– Ask Supervisor if You are Unsure

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Storm Water

Storm Water– Separate from Waste Water

(Sewage)– Drains to the River– No Disposal of Chemicals,

Debris, or Other Materials via Storm Drains

– Eliminate Run-off & Erosion– Only Storm Water

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Regulatory Reporting

Responsibility of the Environmental Administrator– (Unless Alternative Arrangements Have Been Made)

Oil and Gas– 25 Gallon Reporting Threshold Reportable Quantity

Document Smaller Spills in Dept’s. Incident Log Book

Other Chemicals– Know the Reportable Quantity (RQ) for the

chemicals you work with

Notify Supervisor Upon Discovery Environmental Reporting Line: 853-2425

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Engine Idling Policy

Do not leave vehicle idling more than 5 minutes

– Exception: ONLY if it is necessary for the job

Why no idling?– Wastes gas– Increases harmful air

emissions– Creates carbon build-up in the

engine

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Reporting Unknown Materials

Do Not Attempt to Move the Material Maintain a safe distance!

– Use the “Thumb Rule” Report (if known)

– Location – Quantity– Container Type/Condition– Unusual Sights/Odors– Environmental Hazards– Safety Hazards

EA will work with HAZMAT Team to coordinate sampling and proper disposal

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Reporting Unknown Materials

Immediately Contact Your Supervisor– They will then Contact the Environmental Administrator

Call 911 FIRST, then notify your Supervisor if:– Spill has entered a Storm Water Drain or Stream– May Cause a Fire or Explosion Hazard– Employees or the Public are in danger– Some Other Serious Consequence

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Reporting Non-Compliance

All Issues of Environmental Non-Compliance Must be Reported to your Department Manager

City Employees may also report anonymously using the Environmental Reporting Hotline:– 853-1674 (24 hrs.)

All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated

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Responding to Regulatory Inspections

1. Ask the Inspector(s) for their identification and to please wait in a reception area

2. Contact your Dept. Manager and the Environmental Administrator (24 hr. mobile phone: 537-0499)

3. Dept Manager and EA will meet the Inspector ASAP

4. Environmental Administrator:Notify the City Attorney

Document the Inspection

Accompany Inspector at All Times

Provide verbal and written reports to the Assistant City Manager

and Department Manager within 2 days

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Audits

Each Department Designated in Compliance Manual at Least Every Two Years

Environmental Administrator:– Coordinates Audits & Designates Audit Team– Issues Pre-Audit Questionnaire– Reviews Completed Questionnaire Prior to Audit– Conducts the Audit & Prepares Audit Report– Sets a Schedule for Follow-Up– Documents Closure– Report to the Assistant City Manager and City Attorney

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Environmental Wrap-up

Questions or Concerns?

Office of Environmental ManagementChristopher BlakemanEnvironmental Administrator

853-1173