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Great Lakes Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction
Appendix A -- Project Summaries FY 1992-1995
Title: Mercury Reduction through Treatment
Chemical Selection
(FY95 - GL985131-01-0)
Organization: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Contact
| Carri Lohse-Hanson Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Tel: (612) 296-9134 Fax:(612) 297-8683 E-mail: carri.lohse-hanson@pca.state.mn.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leverages: Project Timetable: |
$35,000 $1,750 10/1/95 - 6/30/98 |
Summary: The purpose of this project is to reduce mercury that may be reaching Lake Superior through cooling water and effluents from power plants, boilers and other facilities. Cooling water is treated with pH- altering chemicals, such as acid and caustic soda. Certain feedstock chemicals used to alter the pH have been found to contain high levels of mercury. For example, sulfuric acid produced as a by-product from a lead smelter was found to have significantly higher levels of mercury than sulfuric acid from a copper smelter. The project strategy is to promote the switch from high mercury to low mercury chemical feedstocks.
Environmental Results/Products (Project Ongoing): MPCA compiled a list of the boilers in the four Minnesota counties bordering Lake Superior.
A survey for boiler operators was distributed at a State-sponsored boiler workshop. Only 10 operators filled out the survey, but those that did indicated that they would be willing to switch to non-mercury caustic if the price was the same. A few operators indicated they would be willing to pay more.
MPCA collected information on mercury concentrations in various grades of caustic soda from, a chemical supplier and a chlor-alkali producer and the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). Up-to-date cost information is needed.
MPCA will be working with boiler operators on solid waste management issues. Some boilers use high pressure steam gauges that contain large amounts of mercury. For example, one steam gauge collected during a WLSSD mercury amnesty project contained 30 pounds of mercury. Some boilers may also contain mercury switches.
GLNPO Project Officer: Elizabeth LaPlante, (312) 353-2694
Title: Rochester Embayment Watershed Mercury
Pollution Prevention Program
(FY95 - GL985142-01-0)
Organization: Monroe County Department of Health (in coordination with the National
Wildlife Federation and Western Lake Superior Sanitary District)
Contact
| Margy Peet Monroe County Department of Health P.O. Box 92832 111 Westfall Road Rochester, NY 14692-8932 Tel: (716) 274-8442 Fax: (716) 274-6098 E-mail: mpeet@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us |
Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$61,000 $34,100 9/01/95 - 9/30/98 |
Summary: The Monroe County Pollution Prevention Team, Strong Memorial Hospital, and Eastman Dental Center are targeting mercury reduction in the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern.
Environmental Results/Products (Project Ongoing): Monroe County staff documented findings on opportunities and barriers to implementing mercury pollution prevention activities in medical and dental settings. A Mercury Pollution Prevention Study for Medical and Dental Centers Findings Report was published in Spring 1997 and is available from Monroe County.
Monroe County staff is developing a hospital manual and a booklet and poster for dental offices to illustrate cost-effective practices to minimize or eliminate the release of mercury to the environment. Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Eastman Dental Center are planning and implementing mercury pollution prevention projects in their respective facilities. Monroe County will seek voluntary commitments with 12 hospitals and 50 dental offices located in the Rochester Embayment watershed to advance pollution prevention.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Mercury Reduction and Pollution
Prevention in Hospitals
(FY95 - GL985135-01-0)
Organization: National Wildlife Federation (in coordination with Monroe County, New
York and Western Lake Superior Sanitary District)
Contact
| Guy Williams National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Natural Resource Center 506 E. Liberty, 2nd Floor Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210 Tel: (313) 769-3351 Fax: (313) 769-1449 E-mail: guy@nwf.org |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$41,350 $22,016 9/25/95 - 6/30/97 |
Summary: The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) conducted a conference in October 1996 to promote the reduction/elimination of mercury use in hospitals. They developed a source reduction plan for hospitals, Mercury Pollution Prevention in Health Care: A Prescription for Success.
Environmental Results/Products: The National Wildlife Federation, in cooperation with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association and other partners, developed a practical and economical plan for reduction of mercury use in the health care industry. This plan, as well as a summary of the proceedings from the October 1996 conference on reduction/elimination of mercury use in hospitals, is detailed in the report, Mercury Pollution Prevention in Health Care: A Prescription for Success [PDF 3,295Kb 46pps]. Among the NWF recommendations to eliminate mercury use, hospitals should adopt new procurement and training policies.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Zero Discharge Pilot Project
(FY95 - GL985121-01-0)
Organization: Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (in coordination with Monroe
County, New York and the National Wildlife Federation)
Contact
| Tim Tuominen Western Lake Superior Sanitary District 2626 Courtland Street Duluth, MN 55806-1894 Tel: (218) 722-3336 x324 Fax: (218) 727-7471 E-mail: p2team@cp.duluth.mn.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$100,000 $519,000 9/01/95 - 8/31/98 |
Summary: The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) is developing an integrated multi-media program to reduce the discharge of mercury using "front end" pollution prevention techniques with hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, laboratories, and dental practices.
Environmental Results/Products (Project Ongoing): The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District staff is conducting on-site visits at hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, laboratories, and dental practices to evaluate prevention, recycling, or treatment opportunities to reduce or eliminate mercury discharges. In cooperation with each type of customer, WLSSD will assist in developing pollution prevention strategies and promoting implementation of these plans. In addition, staff is securing a commitment of zero discharge from WLSSD's own facilities.
The WLSSD staff and local dentists have developed a process for recycling amalgam waste and strategies for recycling training. Staff is evaluating advanced treatment systems to reduce mercury discharges from dentists.
WLSSD staff identified many mercury-containing sources in hospitals from histopathology labs. Trap cleaning has demonstrated an abundance of historic mercury.
An investigation of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, showed widespread use of mercury- containing equipment and poor management of all potential mercury sources. An audit revealed mercury-free equipment replacement costs are approximately $10,000. The University is now replacing all equipment and will be line cleaning to remove historic sources of mercury.
WLSSD developed the Blueprint for Mercury Elimination: a Guide for Wastewater Treatment Plants [PDF 1.44Mb 42pps] as part of the Zero Discharge Pilot Project. The blueprint, funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, is available from WLSSD.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Great Lakes Alternative Cleaning
Education Program
(FY94 - GL995723-01-0)
Organization: Center for Neighborhood Technology
Contact
| Sylvia Ewing Hoover
The Center for Neighborhood Technology 2125 W. North Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60647 Tel: (773) 278-4800 x129 Fax: (773) 278-3840 E-mail: sylvia@cnt.org |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$76,407 $229,304 (includes subsequent funding to continue work promoting wet cleaning) 10/1/94 - 10/31/95 |
Summary: The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) demonstrated the commercial viability of a water-based cleaning technique as an alternative to traditional dry cleaning that relies on chlorinated solvents. CNT worked with The Greener Cleaner, a private wet cleaning shop, for one year. CNT promoted an industry-wide shift to cleaning techniques that do not use toxic solvents and focused outreach efforts on the dry cleaning industry in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee and Northwest Indiana.
Environmental Results/Products:
The Center for Neighborhood Technology
created
an Internet site
and a Wet Cleaning Hotline: 773-278-4800 x299. Monitoring of the water discharges from the
Greener Cleaner showed that no chemicals of concern were being released from the cleaning
facility.
As a result of information gained through the wet cleaning project, some dry cleaners reduced their use of chlorinated solvents by increasing wet cleaning. At the start of the project, three cleaners had wet cleaning equipment. At the end of the project over 100 cleaners have this equipment. Specifically in the Great Lakes basin, CNT helped grow wet cleaning shops in Illinois (7), Wisconsin (3), Michigan (1), Ohio (3) and Buffalo (2).
The Greener Cleaner demonstration shop was the catalyst for the Professional Wet Cleaning Partnership between the Union of Needletrade, Industrial, Textile Employees (UNITE), Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Institute, Greenpeace, four major dry cleaning associations, and the Center for Neighborhood Technology. The partnership is working to get dry cleaners the resources they need to make wet cleaning an essential part of the garment care industry.
Over 45 groups toured the Greener Cleaner demonstration shop. 1,200 individuals requested information on wet cleaning and continue to receive regular updates. CNT developed the first wet cleaning newsletter, which attracted national interest. In addition, CNT targeted outreach to Korean dry cleaners including translating some materials into Korean and recruiting leadership from the Korean American Dry Cleaners Association to serve on the project's advisory committee.
CNT launched a week of intensive educational outreach activities, with local partners, in Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Indianapolis. CNT developed profiles of the dry cleaning industry in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Northwest Indiana, and introduced dry cleaners in these areas to wet cleaning. CNT also crafted a report on various wet cleaning machines.
In Fall 1995, CNT held a wet cleaning conference in Chicago. Attendees included representatives from dry cleaners, trade association leaders, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, representatives from environmental organizations, and regulators. All Great Lakes States, except Minnesota, were represented at this conference. This major symposium allowed an opportunity for stakeholders and industry to start merging ideas on wet cleaning.
This project received extensive media coverage, including coverage in the three main dry cleaning trade publications.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Campaign for a Sustainable
Calumet Region
(FY94 - GL995704-01-0)
Organization: Center for Neighborhood Technology
Contact
| Ignacio Correa-Ortiz
Center for Neighborhood Technology 2125 W. North Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60647 Tel: (773) 278-4800 x120 Fax: (773) 278-3840 E-mail: ico@cnt.org |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$89,045 $4,686 10/01/94 - 10/31/95 |
Summary: The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) developed a model community participation process for the cleanup and responsible reuse of brownfield sites in Southeast Chicago.
Environmental Results/Products: CNT developed a brownfield slide show, a "Bill of Rights" outlining general criteria for cleanup and reuse of brownfield sites in Southeast Chicago, and brownfield fact sheets: The Challenge of Brownfields: Recycling Old Industrial Property into Opportunities for Community Redevelopment and A Community Checklist for Identifying Potential Environmental Hazards at Old Commercial or Industrial Sites.
The report, "Recycling Contaminated Land: A Community Resource Guide" is available at: http://www.cnt.org/sus_man/bf3.htm on the Internet. There have been over 1200 visits to this site.
Through community group input, CNT identified priority brownfield sites in Southeast Chicago. These include USX South Works, Wisconsin Steel, Anderson/Schroud LTV property, West Pullman brownfields cluster near 119th/Halstead and a 25 acre parcel south of Altgeld Gardens.
A working group met periodically to discuss local brownfields issues. Regular participants included: Community Workshop on Economic Development, Mexican Community Committee, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Chicago State Neighborhood Assistance Center, People for Community Recovery, Citizens for a Better Environment and the Chicago Legal Clinic. Priorities for the working group members included establishing a training program at a local educational institution to provide residents with the capacity to access environmental technician and cleanup jobs, identifying methods to influence brownfields redevelopment decisions at the larger sites, and promoting sustainable redevelopment of brownfield sites.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Creative Pollution Solutions
for Southeast Chicago
(FY94 - GL995677-01-0)
Organization: Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc.
Contact
| Keith Harley,
Director Environmental Law Program Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc. 2938 E. 91st Street Chicago, Illinois 60617 Tel: (773) 731-1762 Fax: (773) 731-4264 |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$60,000 $5,571 10/1/94 - 9/30/97 |
Summary: The goal of this project was to build knowledge, consensus and action regarding pollution prevention in Southeast Chicago by marketing pollution prevention resources to community residents and area businesses, on a person-to-person basis. Activities included the development of a pollution prevention newsletter, the development of a pollution prevention electronic repository marketed to local users, and conducting a series of meetings with local business and community leaders to introduce the concept of pollution prevention.
Environmental Results/Products: The Chicago Legal Clinic (Clinic) distributed pollution prevention information in a number of ways. The Clinic developed a partnership with Chicago law firm Gardner, Carton & Douglas and co-produced five issues of a pollution prevention newsletter distributed to over 500 readers, predominantly businesses, in Southeast Chicago.
The Clinic developed, in partnership with the Information Center at Chicago-Kent College of Law, a pollution prevention library consisting of over 500 pieces, including an annotated bibliography. These resources are available in Southeast Chicago. General pollution prevention information will be available on the Internet. The pollution prevention information gathered during this project will continue to be actively marketed to appropriate industries and businesses.
Clinic staff conducted a series of educational events to introduce basic pollution prevention concepts, including a February 1995 luncheon for key community leaders from business and community organizations. In April 1995, the Clinic co-sponsored a regional Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) workshop. The information presented included use of TRI data as a means to enable community-industry dialogue, with specific attention paid to good neighbor agreements, citizen electronic access to and use of TRI data, and community assistance panels. Recently, the Clinic conducted individual meetings with more than 15 community and business leaders about pollution prevention and locally available pollution prevention resources.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Great Printers Project
(FY94 - GL995679-01-0)
Organization: Council of Great Lakes Governors
Contact
| Lois Morrison
Council of Great Lakes Governors 35 E. Wacker Drive - Suite 1850 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Tel:(312) 407-0177 Fax: (312) 407-0038 E-Mail: morrison@cglg.org |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$61,205 $3,220 10/1/94 - 9/30/95 |
Summary: The Council of Great Lakes Governors (Council), in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund and the Printing Industries of America, Inc., successfully launched the Great Printers Project. Eighty percent of printing plants employ less than 20 people, and one-third of the national printing industry is concentrated in the eight Great Lakes States. The first phase of the project centered around developing precedent setting environmental policy recommendations for the printing industry in the Great Lakes basin. These recommendations were endorsed by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Governors from the eight Great Lakes States.
The goal of the Great Printers Project is to make pollution prevention the first choice of the lithographic printing industry in the Great Lakes States in meeting and exceeding its environmental and human health protection responsibilities. This was the first project in the nation to seek to create an entire business environment conducive to pollution prevention for an industry sector.
The second phase of the Great Printers Project, partially supported through this grant, focused on implementation of the policy recommendations through State pilots in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Council served on the steering committee for the Regional Great Printers Team to ensure coordination between the various pilot efforts.
Environmental Results/Products: The Council of Great Lakes Governors worked with their project partners and with Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin to establish the pilot projects and secure funding for them. The Council also conducted outreach to the non-pilot States. Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio were interested in working with printers in their States.
The Council worked with the environmental agencies in the pilot States to identify opportunities for the Great Printers Project to build upon existing State programs such as Illinois' "Clean Break" amnesty program and Minnesota's Beyond Compliance program.
The Great Printers Project
has continued beyond the GLNPO
grant period. Information on the Great Printers Project can be found on the
Internet under
the `Projects' heading.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Local Government Pollution
Prevention Targeting Project
(FY94 - GL995674-01-0)
Organization: Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
Contact
| Bonnie Lange
Erie County Department of Environment and Planning 95 Franklin Street Buffalo, New York 14202 Tel: (716) 858-8560 Fax: (716) 858-7713 E-mail: bonnie@cdbg.co.erie.ny.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$50,000 $6,000 1/1/95 - 3/31/97 |
Summary: Using regulatory databases (e.g. SARA Title III), Erie County, New York identified businesses discharging persistent, bioaccumulative toxic substances into the Buffalo River and Niagara River Areas of Concern. Companies were invited to participate in a nonregulatory pollution prevention review to develop site-specific pollution prevention plans. An advisory group for this project included representatives from: the Buffalo Sewer Authority, Erie County Sewer District, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and three different divisions of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Environmental Results/Products: Upon examination of the regulatory databases, regulators identified 25 companies, from a pool of 96, that could most benefit from pollution prevention assistance. These 25 facilities received a letter from Erie County describing the project and offering free, non-regulatory technical assistance. Ten companies participated in the project and received on-site technical assistance.
The technical assistance resulted in source reduction successes such as: manufacturing process modifications, recycling industrial byproducts and other waste-streams, identifying lead-free raw materials, recirculating water, switching paint operations from solvent to water-based, replacing clay absorbents with a "waste free" alternative, and energy conservation recommendations. The Erie County Office of Pollution Prevention will continue to work with the facilities.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Erie County Clean Sweeps II
(FY94 - GL995675-01-0)
Organization: Erie County Department of Environment & Planning, Division of
Environmental Compliance Services
Contact
| Tom Hersey Erie County Department of Environment Planning Division of Environmental Compliance Services 95 Franklin Street Buffalo, New York 14202 Tel: (716) 858-7674 Fax: (716) 858-7713 E-mail: hersey@cdbg.co.erie.ny.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$75,000 $56,000 10/01/94 - 1/1/96 |
Summary: This project built upon a very successful 1993 collection of 8000 pounds of pesticides including arsenic, DDT and chlordane. Implementing recommendations from the initial clean sweeps, Erie County regionalized the collection of agricultural waste pesticides. The Clean Sweeps II pesticides collection program provided disposal opportunities for farmers and agribusiness in Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. In addition, Clean Sweep II offered an opportunity for non-agricultural Erie County conditionally-exempt small quantity generators, such as schools, to surrender waste pesticides.
Environmental Results/Products: In April 1995, Erie County staff collected 32,300 pounds of waste pesticides from 119 registrants at 2 events. The pesticides collected included banned products such as DDT and DDT mixtures, arsenic mixtures, dinoseb, chlordane and 700 pounds of dioxin-bearing pesticides.
Conditionally-exempt small quantity generators turned in 11,000 pounds of waste pesticides. Examples of these small quantity generators include school district building and grounds maintenance departments, nurseries, and county recreational facilities.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Auto Industry Pollution Prevention Project:
Phase II
(FY94 - GL995696-01-0)
Organization: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (formerly Department of
Natural Resources)
Contact
| Marcia Horan
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Environmental Assistance Division P.O. Box 30457 Lansing, Michigan 48909-7957 Tel: (517) 373-9122 Fax:(517) 335-4729 E-mail: horanm@state.mi.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$76,680 $48,520 10/1/94 - 12/31/95
|
Summary: This project built upon previous voluntary efforts by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors (Auto Companies) to reduce the release of persistent toxic substances in the Great Lakes basin. Michigan staff focused the Auto Industry Pollution Prevention Project: Phase II efforts on establishing an Auto Project Advisory Group, enhancing coordination with the Canadian Auto Project, expanding outreach to suppliers, and evaluating the 1991 Auto Project agreement and list of targeted persistent toxics.
Environmental Results/Products: Since 1991, the year the Auto Project began, releases of the targeted 65 listed Great Lakes persistent toxic (GLPT) substances from auto company facilities (as reported under in the Toxic Release Inventory) have declined every year except one. These reductions, mainly accomplished through the use of specific pollution prevention actions, process improvements, and recycling, are explained in detail in the Auto Project pollution prevention reports and case studies.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), AAMA, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors published the Automotive Pollution Prevention Project: Progress Report II. MDEQ also published a bound document containing 33 pollution prevention case studies and an addendum with 20 case studies submitted by the auto companies. The June 1997 US Automotive Pollution Prevention Project: Progress Report III [PDF 303Kb 59pps] details efforts beyond this grant period, including data on reportable releases of U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals and pollution prevention activities and accomplishments for each of the three participating companies. It is available from MDEQ.
The project partners formed an Auto Project Advisory Group composed of representatives from trade associations, higher education, technology centers, public interest groups, a foundation and government. During the grant period, they met twice a year to review progress on the Auto Project. The Canadian Auto Project and U.S. Auto Project representatives met on a semi-annual basis to enhance binational pollution prevention efforts in the automotive industry and to exchange information regarding their respective projects.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) trade association and the Auto Companies co-sponsored the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) annual waste reduction conference in the Detroit metropolitan area in December 1994 and 1995. The U.S. and Canada Auto Project partners jointly sponsored the "North American Supplier Environmental Workshop" in October 1995. More than half the participants at the North American conference were auto suppliers. All 5,000 tier-one auto suppliers for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors received project progress reports, which included pollution prevention case studies.
Project Progress Beyond the Grant Period
In 1996 the auto companies decided to broaden the project from an exclusive focus on the Great Lakes to one including operations in the entire United States. This expansion reflects the fact that pollution prevention activities are implemented on a corporate-wide basis. Current industry efforts target all materials of concern rather than being limited to the 65 persistent toxic chemicals focused on for the Great Lakes basin. It is important to note that 74% of the auto companies' U.S. facilities are located in the Great Lakes States. The Auto Project has matured from a government led and funded project to a nation-wide industry led project with support from State and Federal governments and the advisory group.
Combined pollution prevention achievements for Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors include a 56.9% reduction in U.S. EPA TRI reportable releases and a 63.9% reduction in U.S. EPA 33/50 Program releases since the 1988 base year. There has also been a 9.2% production normalized reduction in the Great Lakes Persistent Toxics, targeted since 1991 in the Great Lakes region. Excluding zinc releases, the Auto Project achieved a 54.5% production normalized reduction of Great Lakes Persistent Toxics since 1991.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Pollution Prevention Education
and Technical Assistance for the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior Basins in Wisconsin
(FY94 - GL995676-01-0)
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension, Solid and Hazardous Waste
Education Center
Contact
| Phillip (Jack) Annis Pollution Prevention Specialist University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 6000 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 Tel: (414) 227-3371 Fax: (414) 227-3165 E-mail: pannis@facstaff.wisc.edu |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$140,028 $7,101 10/1/94 - 5/30/97
|
Summary: The Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC) provided broad-based pollution prevention information, education and technical assistance to Wisconsin businesses in the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior basins. SHWEC worked with a broad spectrum of industries and businesses including manufacturers, marinas, dry cleaners, vehicle maintenance and auto body repair and medical facilities to target reduction of specific bioaccumulating substances, most frequently mercury. When working with companies, SHWEC addressed air emissions, wastewater discharges and hazardous waste. SHWEC conducted surveys at the beginning and the end of the project to gather pollution prevention trend information and to measure the project's effectiveness. SHWEC also helped establish local coalitions which are continuing to work on pollution prevention and waste reduction activities beyond the grant project period.
Environmental Results/Products:
Outreach Activity
SHWEC conducted 55 major outreach activities providing pollution prevention
information, education and guidance to over 3,000 people. Attendees at outreach programs
included many diverse industries that generate wastes and emissions of all types.
Attendees also included consulting engineers, regulatory personnel, and local government
employees. Numerous partners were involved in the outreach activities including the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Lake
Michigan Federation, Citizens for a Better Environment, Publicly Owned Treatment Works and
trades associations.
SHWEC used several methods to deliver pollution prevention information, such as; in-person training sessions, satellite downlink, an education telecommunication network and video tape. In general, the most successful outreach programs were face-to-face workshops, as measured by the number of attendees. The Industrial Cleaning and Paints & Coatings expositions, held in the Milwaukee area, were effective because they provided instant connections with vendors of equipment and materials who could help implement pollution prevention actions.
The outreach programs, while extremely effective for delivering the pollution prevention message, also served as a non-threatening method to supply regulatory compliance information. The highest rate of attendance for the programs occurred when there was an emphasis on regulatory compliance information, thus indicating that compliance issues motivate companies to investigate pollution prevention options.
Technical Assistance
SHWEC conducted 75 pollution prevention assessments for very large manufacturers with
over 200 employees to very small vehicle maintenance, machine shops and marinas with only
two or three employees. In addition, SHWEC responded to approximately 200 requests for
detailed information packages containing regulatory guidance fact sheets, new and existing
manufacturing technology information, materials substitution information and vendor
information.
The largest amount of mercury recovered was from recycling of fluorescent lamps. Specific mercury reductions occurred in medical facilities and veterinary facilities. The Childrens Hospital of Milwaukee was a 1996 winner of the Wisconsin Governors Award for Hazardous Waste Reduction. Another hospital eliminated a mercury problem when SHWEC discovered that batteries containing mercury and containers with other toxics were being incinerated instead of separated from the waste streams. In addition, many companies assessed by SHWEC implemented pollution prevention projects.
Survey
SHWEC conducted surveys at the beginning and at the end of the project period to gather
environmental trend information relating to pollution prevention. Over 78% of the
companies responding to the surveys indicated that they have completed a project to eliminate
a hazardous waste, air emission or wastewater discharge in the last two years. The
companies surveyed represent a cross-section of hazardous waste-generating industries. The
two main reasons cited in this survey as to why companies have implemented pollution
projects are regulatory compliance and concern for the environment. Economics was not a
significant motivator.
Partnerships
SHWEC introduced a "business to business" pollution prevention roundtable by
establishing Partners for Business Environmental Quality in Waukesha County. This provides
one-stop shopping for businesses looking for environmental information including pollution
prevention, waste reduction and recycling. SHWEC also worked with coalitions such as the
Southeast Wisconsin Waste Reduction Coalition and individual industrial groups in several
Wisconsin counties.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Erie County Regional Municipal
Pollution Prevention Program
(FY93 - GL995373-01-0)
Organization: Western New York Economic Development Corporation/Erie County
Contact
| Tom Hersey Erie County Department of Environment and Planning 95 Franklin Street Buffalo, New York 14202 Tel: (716) 858-7674 Fax: (716) 858-7713 E-mail: hersey@cdbg.co.erie.ny.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$50,000 $6,000 10/01/93 - 9/30/96 |
Summary: Erie County, New York established a pollution prevention partnership with the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, Ontario. The Erie County Office of Pollution Prevention also worked with other local governments within Erie County to adopt pollution prevention policies, practices, and procedures.
Environmental Results/Products:
Bilateral Partnership with Hamilton-Wentworth
The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth and Erie County signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on March 30, 1995 which formally launched training and information sharing
networks linking the communities.
Erie County conducted two pollution prevention training sessions for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) employees. Over 100 POTW inspectors and managers from both New York and Ontario attended these sessions. The Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth hosted two Pollution Prevention Symposiums for municipal officials throughout Canada and the United States, with more than 150 officials attending these workshops.
The bilateral partnership has enhanced information sharing, allowing both governments to avoid duplicating efforts. Erie County and the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth continue to share information about pollution prevention processes, policies and training.
Erie County/Town of Amherst Pollution Prevention Alliance
The Erie County Office of Pollution Prevention (ECOPP) established a $20,000 grant
program, soliciting proposals from the 44 municipalities within Erie County. Originally,
ECOPP envisioned dividing the funds for local pollution prevention efforts between four
municipalities. However, the Town of Amherst was the only municipality which demonstrated
interest in carrying out the program. Thus the grant program focus shifted towards
supporting incorporation of pollution prevention strategies into one local government's
policies and procedures.
The Town of Amherst, with assistance from Erie County, developed a work plan to incorporate pollution prevention into its policies and procedures. A Town policy, adopted in April 1996, establishes pollution prevention as a priority in the use and management of hazardous materials. Key Town employees were trained and the project received a commitment from the Town's leadership before the project progressed. Pollution prevention has been included in the pretreatment inspection process, routine fire and safety inspections, the site plan review process, and the building inspection process. The Pretreatment Coordinator supplies pollution prevention information and assistance to Town of Amherst businesses.
Pollution prevention assessments were conducted at a hospital, a university facility management department, a university vehicle maintenance department, two large manufacturing companies, a restaurant, a hotel, two print shops, a research park, and a dental products manufacturer. The assessments were voluntary and confidential. Town and County staff identified opportunities for local businesses to both reduce the amount of waste they generate and to save money.
The Town and the County organized pollution prevention workshops for: Health Care Facilities; Hotels and Restaurants; and Vehicle Maintenance Facilities. These industry sectors were chosen because they are ubiquitous throughout the Town of Amherst.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Program and Pollution Prevention Assessments
(FY93 - GL995415-01)
Organization: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (formerly Department of
Natural Resources)
Contact
| Julie Feldpausch, Program Analyst
Environmental Assistance Division Michigan Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 30457 Lansing, MI 48909-7957 Tel: (517) 335-0081 Fax: (517-335-4729 E-mail: feldpauj@state.mi.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$150,000
($100,000 for waste collection, and $50,000 for technical assistance)
$5,000 10/1/93 - 9/30/96 |
Summary: This project focused on waste collection and technical assistance in the Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin portions of the Lake Superior Basin.
Collection
The purpose of this project was to provide Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Lake
Superior basin homeowners and users of agricultural products a means to dispose of
unwanted household hazardous waste and unusable agricultural pesticides. By providing this
service at no cost to the participants, it assured that the materials collected would be
recycled or disposed in an environmentally safe manner, thus avoiding the possible
environmental consequences of improper disposal.
Environmental Results/Products: Local contact agencies put out educational information on the need for the project, and the times, locations and types of materials eligible for collection. This included newspaper articles or advertisements, radio and television spots, and informational bulletins distributed by local recycling or environmental groups. The publicity and information distribution added greatly to the success of this project.
Staff collected over five semi-truck loads of hazardous wastes. The wastes collected at the five central collection/assembly areas (Duluth, Marquette, Houghton, Ironwood, and Escanaba) included 455 pounds (lbs.) of mercury (including lab pack solutions, lab pack solids and elemental), 8,999 lbs. loose pack pesticide liquids (dioxins <30%), and 1,017 lbs. of florescent bulbs.
Pollution Prevention Assessments
More than forty retired engineers, scientists, and other professionals were hired
through the Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) and trained to conduct
on-site waste reduction assessments for local businesses and Publicly Owned Treatment
Works (POTWs) whose discharges affect Lake Superior. RETAP staff provided specific
guidance to industries and businesses to reduce the release of toxins. These retired
professionals were located throughout the State and represented diverse industrial and
occupational disciplines. Their extensive experience garnered respect and receptivity
among Michigan businesses and institutions. All pollution prevention activities were
closely coordinated with the local POTWs.
Environmental Results/Products: After detailed on-site assessments, RETAP staff identified problems and opportunities to reduce waste and achieve cost savings for the facilities. The assessments were free, voluntary, nonregulatory, and confidential. RETAP conducted 26 preassessments and 14 full assessments at 10 industries and 16 institutions. The types of industries assessed included wastewater treatment, metals/machinery fabrication, wood products, corrugated medium, solid waste management, automotive, and pulp and paper. The types of institutions assessed included hospitals and schools—elementary, high school, community college, and university. Industrial and institutional organizations continue to request additional assessments beyond the scope of the funded project. Potential annual cost savings from RETAP recommendations ranged from $10,000 to $1.5 million per company.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Mercury/PCB Outreach and Collection
Program and Technical Assistance
(FY93 - GL995440-01-0)
Organization: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Contacts
| Mercury/PCB Project | Technical Assistance Project |
| Emily Moore
Minnesota Office of Environmental Problem Materials Program 520 Lafayette Road N. (2nd Floor) St. Paul, MN 55155-4100 Tel: (612) 215-0201 Fax: (612) 215-0246 E-mail: emily.moore@moea.state.mn.us |
Ned Brooks Assistance Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155 Tel: (612) 297-8680 Fax: (612) 297-8676 E-mail: ned.brooks@pca.state.mn.us |
|
Award Amount: $115,000 |
|
Summary: Minnesota conducted an outreach program for mercury and PCB-containing products and delivered pollution prevention technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses in the Lake Superior basin.
Environmental Results/Products:
Outreach
Staff identified mercury and PCB-containing wastes generated by service industries and
conducted a series of meetings and interviews with stakeholders to discuss the needs of
the affected community and suggestions for how to address the problem. Project
stakeholders included contractors, businesses, trade associations, chambers of commerce,
local and State governments, utilities, product manufacturers and suppliers, haulers, and
recycling and disposal companies. Staff also participated in trade shows and monthly
meetings of business organizations in order to educate attendees about mercury issues.
Slide Shows
Staff developed two slide presentations. The first slide show targets trade groups that
generate mercury and PCB containing wastes and is designed for use with brochures (see
below). It motivates contractors and service technicians to manage their wastes properly
and to keep mercury and PCBs out of the waste stream. The second slide show, designed for
the general public, is specifically about mercury. It encourages consumers to purchase
alternative products, where appropriate, and informs consumers how to dispose of
mercury-containing products.
Brochures
Staff developed brochures on mercury and PCBs. The mercury brochure
contains fact card inserts describing common items which contain mercury.
Display
Staff developed a display to show the types of products that contain mercury. The
display titled, "WHO ME? Do I Contribute Mercury to the Environment?," has two
components. There is a three-panel display board with pictures and text about mercury's
effect on the environment. A collection of mercury-containing products assembled on the
table in front of the display board shows items such as a thermostat, switches and
fluorescent lights. This collection is accompanied by text about mercury contained in the
products and non-mercury alternatives.
State specific copies of the display are housed at the Michigan and Wisconsin environmental regulatory agencies, and throughout Minnesota. Two generic copies are housed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago.
Collection
Minnesota staff worked with the partners to identify collection needs, potential
collection sponsors, regulatory and economic barriers to collection and proper management
of mercury- containing wastes. There is a need to develop waste collection systems which
are convenient and economically feasible for service industries and businesses.
Staff obtained the rights to use a logo for florescent bulb recycling projects. This logo, modeled after the chasing arrows recycling symbol, is in the public domain and thus can be used as part of a unified campaign around Lake Superior (and beyond) for lamp collection programs.
Technical Assistance
A team from the University of Minnesota-Duluth Department of Chemical Engineering
generated a potential client list for pollution prevention assessments, cataloged and
reviewed pollution prevention literature, and called potential clients. They used data
from five Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) to scan for priority pollutants. They
also conducted an information needs assessment and examined the way businesses used
existing pollution prevention information.
Site Assessments
Nine pollution prevention assessment site visits were made to businesses (3 oil
distributors, 2 printing companies, a furniture refinisher, a laboratory, a veterinary
hospital, a printed circuit board assembler, and a large forest products facility). Based
on the site visits, team members drafted a report which included recommendations for
pollution prevention opportunities. Each assessment took approximately 50 staff-hours to
complete and included four team members visiting the businesses, gathering pollution
prevention information, and writing the report.
Lessons Learned
Focusing on one or two business types for visits would reduce amount of background
pollution prevention information gathered and allow for development of generic reports
which could be quickly modified for each business visited.
Having two rather than four team members per assessment could increase the number of site visits possible.
Soliciting clients via letters and phone calls yielded clients who were already practicing pollution prevention. These clients probably chose to participate to find out if there was any more they could do. The project did not reach the businesses that could have benefitted the most because these businesses probably would not voluntarily allow an assessment to be conducted. Other methods to locate clients might include: referral by regulatory agencies or other agencies involved in pollution prevention/hazardous waste minimization activities, referral by bank loan officers, or referral by POTW officials.
Pollution Prevention Database User Needs Assessment
A survey of businesses examined use of pollution prevention data bases. Findings for
Minnesota's Lake Superior basin showed that while 73% of the businesses responding to the
survey did own a computer, 51% indicated that they did not know what an electronic data
base was nor how to use one. A majority, 52%, indicated that they would use a pollution
prevention technical assistance center.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Ohio Great Lakes Basin Pretreatment
Pollution Prevention
(FY93 - GL995374-01-0)
Organization: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Contact
| Mohammed Islam
Pretreatment Unit Division of Surface Water Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Project P.O. Box 1049 1800 Watermark Drive Columbus, OH 43216-1049 Tel: (614) 644-2018 Fax: (614_ 644-2329 E-mail: mohammed.islam@epa.state.oh.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Timetable: |
$80,000 $4,210 9/01/93 - 9/30/96
|
Summary: This was an education project which introduced pollution prevention into Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and industrial user operations and into Ohio pretreatment programs in the Lake Erie basin.
Environmental Results/Products: Brochures with general pollution prevention information were distributed to approximately 20,000 industrial users of POTWs and 75,000 homeowners throughout the Ohio portion of the Lake Erie basin. A newsletter was distributed to the Lake Erie POTWs.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a Pollution Prevention Training Resource Guide for Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
In October 1994, Ohio EPA conducted training for POTWs in Archbold, Sandusky, and Akron, Ohio. Two hundred forty-seven individuals attended these training sessions. Approximately 50 copies of the training manuals were sent to representatives in each of the Great Lakes States and to several Indian Nations. Ninety-nine copies were distributed to Ohio Pretreatment Coordinators who did not attend the training and manuals were given to the Operator Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO) for the purpose of incorporating pollution prevention into OTCO training sessions.
As part 1994 pollution prevention training evaluation, several POTWs in the Lake Erie basin indicated that they were interested in additional pollution prevention assistance. Ohio EPA selected four of the facilities requesting additional pollution prevention assistance. The assistance included two waste reduction assessments for industrial users identified by the POTWs (ITT Automotive in Archbold POTW and Metokote in Lima POTW), POTW operations assessment and training for personnel at Archbold and Wauseon POTWs, workshops on pollution prevention for industrial users in Archbold and Freemont POTWs and working with Lima POTW on a public outreach campaign to reduce mercury discharges to the sewer. A final report was prepared summarizing this part of the project.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Toxics Pollution Prevention Mentoring
(FY93 - Grant # GL995412-01-0)
Organization: Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Contact
| Tim Tuominen Western Lake Superior Sanitary District 2626 Courtland Street Duluth, MN 55806-1894 Tel: (218) 722-3336 x324 Fax: (218) 727-7471 E-mail: p2team@cp.duluth.mn.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$95,000 $5,000 9/1/93 - 9/30/96
|
Summary: The purpose of this project was to help Lake Superior communities build pollution prevention capabilities. The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) worked directly with Virginia, Minnesota; Marquette, Michigan; Ashland, Wisconsin; and Superior, Wisconsin to develop toxic reduction plans. Project activities included: pollution prevention awareness for wastewater treatment plant managers and operators; a toxic pollution prevention needs survey; facilitating local toxic reduction meetings; developing business-specific pollution prevention opportunities and waste management guidelines; and assisting local communities around Lake Superior to develop toxic reduction plans. The grant included funds for the pilot communities to develop and implement the plans.
Environmental Results/Products:
Pollution Prevention Awareness
WLSSD developed a short presentation for wastewater treatment plant managers and
operators on the regulatory need to reduce toxics in Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
discharge, an overview of pollution prevention and its advantages, and examples of
successful pollution prevention projects in industry. WLSSD presented this information at
local State operator meetings in Marquette, Michigan; Ashland, Wisconsin; and Aurora,
Minnesota.
Needs Survey
WLSSD surveyed Lake Superior POTWs to determine what they believed would be most
effective in reducing toxics at their source. There is a need for communication about
toxics with industrial, business and residential POTW customers. There appears to be a
need for POTWs to learn what can and cannot go down the drain and which materials contain
toxics of concern for Lake Superior.
Specific Business Opportunities
WLSSD distributed pollution prevention information to pretreatment operators,
hospitals, and dentists.
Community Toxic Reduction Plans
Virginia, Minnesota; Marquette, Michigan; Ashland, Wisconsin; and Superior, Wisconsin
all took different tacks when developing toxic reduction plans. In Virginia, Minnesota the
project was run by the POTW operator, a private consulting firm. In Marquette, Michigan,
city employees ran the program, with consultant support for the final reporting. In
Ashland, Wisconsin a partnership was formed between the city, Northland College,
businesses, and environmental groups. All of the pilot cities developed public information
campaigns.
In Virginia, Minnesota on-site assessments were completed at a number of large facilities and other places known to discharge chemicals of concern for Lake Superior. These included a small electric cooperative, a municipally owned steam electric utility, a manufacturer, and a dental practice. The municipality placed information on mercury in the local paper and developed a zero discharge workbook listing businesses and possible toxics that they could likely discharge.
The Marquette, Michigan plan included a public awareness campaign which emphasized what residents and businesses could do to eliminate discharge of Lake Superior chemicals of concern. Outreach to a hospital and local businesses centered on reduction of toxic discharges. Marquette developed 11 educational handouts and 12 newspaper ads and a public service announcement which addressed the pollutants of concern for Lake Superior. These materials stress the use of non-polluting alternatives, and provided techniques and instructions for the appropriate disposal of household hazardous waste. Pollutant-specific fact sheets on mercury, lead, copper, silver, formaldehyde, and PCBs were published in local newspapers.
Ashland, Wisconsin produced two reports: Zero Discharge Model Project, Ashland, Wisconsin and Zero Discharge Campus Project, Northland College. With a community- based focus group, the municipality evaluated commercial, industrial and residential sources of the nine chemicals of concern for Lake Superior.
In the Superior, Wisconsin toxic reduction plan, data on effluent was examined to determine whether any additional compounds should be focused on. Industry-specific pollution prevention information was sent to targeted industries: photographic industries, dentists, clinics, nursing homes, a university and a technical school. Pollution prevention information was also published in the local newspaper.
Lessons Learned
It is important to educate the local pollution prevention champion at the POTW.
Support from management, the local governing body, and the community early in the process is crucial.
Each community needed to go through the process of deciding which chemicals of concern were a problem for them and thus should be the focus for their pollution prevention efforts.
A professional group or the general public, rather than a specific facility, may be the appropriate target for pollution prevention activities. It is important to develop a strategy with specific pollution prevention activities in cooperation with the targeted group or facility personnel.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Pollution Prevention
Assessments in Support of the Lake Superior Binational Program - Technical Assistance
to Industries
(FY93 - GL995466-01)
Organization: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Contact
| Phillip (Jack) Annis Pollution Prevention Specialist University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 6000 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 Tel: (414) 227-3371 Fax: (414) 227-3165 E-mail: pannis@facstaff.wisc.edu |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$57,000 $3,000 10/01/93 - 09/30/95 |
Summary: The Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC) provided pollution prevention information, education and technical assistance to waste generators in the four Wisconsin counties in the Lakes Superior basin. Building awareness among the waste generators about the resources available from SHWEC, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and local resources, and building linkages with municipal operations, primarily Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in the Lake Superior basin, were key project objectives. Though the project was designed to target reductions of specific bioaccumulating substances, primarily PCBs and mercury, facilities were approached with the opportunity to reduce all types of wastes.
Environmental Results/Products: SHWEC inventoried and identified companies discharging directly to the Lake Superior watershed and to the POTWs. SHWEC provided training to POTW pretreatment coordinators on basic pollution prevention concepts with special emphasis on discharges from dentists, photo developers and medical laboratories.
SHWEC completed 15 technical assistance assessments. Many of the targeted businesses were reluctant to invite SHWEC to their facilities. This may have been due to a distrust of government. Local partnerships (e.g., "Green Star" programs in Ashland and Superior, Wisconsin) can help establish the trust that is needed among waste generators, the community, regulators, and technical assistance programs.
SHWEC conducted five workshops for marinas and boat repair facilities, small quantity generators, and the wood finishing industry.
Outreach materials included information on services offered by SHWEC and other resources (including county Community Resource Development Agents) for targeted businesses in the Lake Superior basin in Wisconsin.
Publications developed by SHWEC include:
- Small Business Pollution Prevention Guide
- Conducting an Internal Mercury Audit for Manufacturing Facilities, a 6-page fact sheet;
- The Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLWQI), a 2-page fact sheet;
- Pollution Prevention/Waste Minimization Options for Metal Finishing Processes, Implementing a "Closed Loop" Process, a 5-page fact sheet;
- Lake Superior Business and Industry Assistance Quick Reference List, a 1-page fact sheet;
- Pollution Prevention for Wood Finishing and Manufacturing, an 85-page guidebook; and
- Pollution Prevention for Marinas and Boat Yards, a 35-page guidebook.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Industrial Waste Water Operator
Pollution Prevention Training
(FY92 - X995882-01-0)
Organization: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources)
Contact
| Robert Jackson, Chief
Grants Information (SARA Title III) Unit Pollution Prevention Section Environmental Assistance Division Michigan Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 30004 Lansing, Michigan 48909 Tel: (517) 373-2731 Fax: (517) 373-3675 E-mail: jacksorc@state.mi.us |
Award Amount: Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$40,000 $2,105 10/1/92 - 2/15/95 |
Summary: Michigan has eight major dischargers to Lake Superior: four industrial, and four municipal. This project focused on pollution prevention training for the Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) which treat the waste from these dischargers. Michigan developed pollution prevention training materials specific to the operation of a WWTP and to the pollutants of concern for Lake Superior.
Environmental Results/Products: Staff conducted training in Lansing and Marquette, Michigan in January 1995. Staff developed the Pollution Prevention Training Manual for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators [PDF Kb 87pps].
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
Title: Pollution Prevention and
Public Awareness Campaign for Lakes Superior and Michigan Basin
(FY92 - X995881-01-0)
Organization: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in partnership with Illinois, Indiana
Michigan and Wisconsin State environmental agencies.
Contact
|
Ned Brooks Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155 Tel: (612) 297-8680 Fax: (612) 297-8676 E-mail: ned.brooks@pca.state.mn.us |
Dollars Leveraged: Project Timetable: |
$160,000
(Pollution Prevention Awareness Campaign - $100,000, Minnesota, Wisconsin Household Hazardous Waste - $20,000, Very Small Quantity Generator Program Development - $40,000) $8,000 10/1/92 - 9/30/94 |
Summary: This grant supported a pollution prevention awareness campaign for Lakes Michigan and Superior, household hazardous waste collection between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a program for management and reduction of waste from very small quantity generators.
Environmental Results/Products:
Pollution Prevention Awareness Campaign
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin conducted a unified public
awareness campaign that addressed pollution prevention and toxics of concern in the Lake
Superior and Lake Michigan drainage basins. Partners in this project included U.S. EPA,
State Remedial Action Plan coordinators, the Lake Superior Bi-National Work Group
Communication Team, and the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan team.
The partners produced two outreach pieces: Protecting Our Great Lakes, a pollution prevention public awareness campaign for individuals in the Lake Superior and Michigan basins, and a Disposal Guide to Household Hazardous Wastes, detailing responsible ways to dispose of various products commonly found in homes and garages. The disposal guide can be found at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/index.html on the Internet.
Minnesota- Wisconsin Household Hazardous Waste
Through funding under this grant, Wisconsin residents were able to deliver household
hazardous waste to the permanent household hazardous waste education and collection center
in Duluth, Minnesota.
Very Small Quantity Generator Program Development
There are approximately 2,000 conditionally exempt or very small quantity generators
(VSQGs) of hazardous waste in the Minnesota portion of the Lake Superior basin. These
generators have few options for properly disposing of their waste and need information and
assistance to begin preventing pollution. With funds from this grant, the Western Lake
Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) developed a program for VSQGs in Minnesota and
Wisconsin for management and reduction of waste. In addition
to collecting already generated hazardous wastes, Minnesota assisted participating VSQGs
in identifying opportunities and resources for pollution prevention with an emphasis on
toxics of concern for Lake Superior.
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594