Cal/EPA Environmental Management System Project Report to the Legislature: Seventh Quarterly Update October through May 2001

Pilot Project Descriptions

Project descriptions include a general overview, a description of the EMS scope and maturity, and the unique characteristics of the organization's EMS.

Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated
Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated (A-BI) is a brewer of beer. A-BI and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch Companies, are headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company employs more than 24,000 employees in the United States and overseas. Operations at A-BI's Fairfield, California facility include brewing, packaging, and distributing beer. The Fairfield facility has approximately 500 employees.

The Fairfield facility began development and implementation of its EMS as part of A-BI's company-wide initiative in 1992. Since 1992, A-BI has progressively enhanced its EMS through a continual improvement process. This facility impacts air, water, and natural resources. The Fairfield facility was certified to the ISO 14001 Standard in December 1999. Because of its work in aligning the corporate EMS with the ISO 14001 Standard, the Fairfield facility can offer significant information and insight regarding the environmental and economic impact associated with establishing a comprehensive EMS. The principal objective of the A-BI project is to collect design and performance information on a mature EMS.

Wastewater Treatment Facilities
The wastewater treatment facilities project comprises Central Marin Sanitation Agency and City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Operation and Maintenance Division.

Central Marin Sanitation Agency
Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) is a public agency in northern California that operates a regional wastewater treatment facility. CMSA treats sewage collected from San Rafael Sanitation District, Sanitary Districts No. 1 and No. 2 of Marin County, and San Quentin State Prison. CMSA is a medium-sized wastewater treatment facility that currently employs 40 individuals.

CMSA decided to implement an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) to improve the management of both its environmental aspects and the environmental aspects of its dischargers. CMSA's operations primarily impact water-related media. However, air and land are also affected, as well as other regulated and non-regulated issues. The EMS is being implemented to address all of these in a multi-media approach. CMSA is working towards certification to the ISO 14001 Standard in the third quarter of this year. Involvement in these early stages will give Cal/EPA an idea of the resources and the processes necessary to implement an effective EMS.

After implementing an ISO 14001 EMS, CMSA will develop an "EMS template" for auto repair facilities. If successful in developing a suitable template, CMSA will consider regulatory revisions to encourage auto repair facilities to use an EMS to manage their regulatory compliance and environmental impacts. The principal objective of the CMSA project is to learn about the "bottom up" process of EMS development, participate and influence that process, and facilitate community participation in EMS design and implementation.

City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Operation and Maintenance Division
The City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Operation and Maintenance Division (San Diego), is a public agency that operates and maintains several wastewater collection and treatment facilities. These facilities include:

• Point Loma wastewater treatment plant;

• North City water reclamation plant;

• Metropolitan Operations Center;

• Metro Biosolids Center;

• San Pasqual water reclamation plant; and

• PS1, PS2, PS64, PS65, East Mission Gorge, and Penasquitos pump stations.

The Operation & Maintenance Division employs over 300 people.

San Diego has implemented an ISO 14001 EMS, certified in May of 1999, to improve the management of its environmental aspects and the management of its regulatory requirements. This ISO 14001 EMS includes a set of Standard Operating Procedures for environmental management. While the scope of the original certification addresses those environmental aspects that are within the authority of the Operation and Maintenance Division to control, they are currently integrating the National Biosolids Partnership EMS (http://biosolids.policy.net) into their ISO 14001 EMS. This integration will require service level agreements between San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department, Operation and Maintenance Division and the Industrial Pretreatment Program and the landfill, as well as increased public outreach with regard to biosolids management. The National Biosolids Partnership is comprised of the Water Environment Federation, the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, and the U.S. EPA. 

San Diego's operations primarily impact water quality. However, air quality, land disposal and beneficial use, and other regulated and non-regulated issues are also considered. The EMS is being implemented to address all of these in a continual improvement, multi-media framework. The principal objective of the San Diego project is quite similar to that of the companion project CMSA, which is to participate in and learn about the EMS design and implementation process and to facilitate community involvement.

San Diego has achieved the distinction of becoming the first publicly owned treatment works to certify to the ISO 14001 EMS Standard in the U.S. The perspective and experience of publicly owned and operated facilities complements the pool of pilots from the private sector. In addition, the operation and maintenance of these facilities is heavily regulated and thus presents the opportunity to strive for better performance while satisfying the requirements of many regulatory authorities.

IBM Corporation
International Business Machines (IBM) creates, develops and manufactures advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices, and microelectronics. The company employs close to 290,000 people in over 150 nations. The San Jose Storage Technology Division site employs approximately 8,000 workers who develop, manufacture, and market storage components and systems. Manufactured products include thin film magnetic recording heads, thin film storage disks, and disk drive systems.

In June 1997, as part of IBM's program to register all of its manufacturing and development sites worldwide, the San Jose Storage Technology Division site became the first IBM facility in the U.S. registered to ISO 14001. This facility has since undergone annual audits to ensure its continued conformance with the ISO 14001 Standard. IBM's San Jose facility has identified its significant environmental aspects, including air emissions, water use, waste discharges and employee transportation. The EMS implemented at this facility addresses each of its significant aspects and their respective environmental impacts.

Because IBM was certified to ISO 14001 in 1997, it provides a unique opportunity to see pre- and post-EMS data much earlier in the pilot project process. The IBM project affords the opportunity for production of a rich performance data set from a complex facility in a highly competitive business sector.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company - Palmdale
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company - Palmdale (LM Aero-Palmdale), formerly Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, is a private aerospace company within Lockheed Martin Corporation. LM Aero-Palmdale specializes in the rapid development of advanced aerospace prototypes, technology, and systems. LM Aero-Palmdale was created to design and develop the P-80 Shooting Star, America's first production jet aircraft. Their work continued with the development of the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, and Low-Observable Technology aircraft like the F-117A Stealth Fighter, F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter, and the Joint Strike Fighter. Approximately 4,500 employees work at the Palmdale, California facility.

The environmental management system operated by LM Aero-Palmdale has been in place since 1992. Their system combines occupational health aspects with environmental compliance and pollution prevention and is referred to as the Environmental, Safety and Health Management System (ESH-MS). LM Aero-Palmdale self-declared conformance to the ISO 14001 Standard in 1998. The ESH-MS is part of a corporate-wide EMS program. Corporate audits and reviews are integral to the Lockheed Martin EMS program. The unique objective in this pilot is to collect design and performance information on a mature EMS from the defense sector to learn how an EMS can improve the quality and quantity of information shared with stakeholders.

Artistic Plating
Artistic Plating is a medium-sized, 145 employee, metal finishing facility in Anaheim, California. The facility performs copper, nickel, brass, and chrome electroplating. Artistic specializes in electroplating zinc die-cast parts and aluminum wheels for commercial customers.

The special focus of this project is to learn about the value of an EMS template, workshop and contractor assistance, as well as the support of an industry association, for EMS implementation with small and medium-sized enterprises. Artistic is in the developmental stages of implementing an EMS. Involvement in these stages is giving Cal/EPA an idea of the resources and the processes necessary to implement an effective EMS at small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

Artistic Plating has volunteered to test an EMS template developed by U.S. EPA as part of the Merit Partnership Metal Finishing EMS (MFEMS) Template project. The Merit Partnership for Pollution Prevention (Merit) is a cooperative venture of the public and private sectors whose mission is to develop and promote pollution prevention practices and technologies that both protect the environment and contribute to economic growth. Merit is conducting a series of pilot projects to evaluate the environmental and economic results of ISO 14001-based EMSs in various industries. The MFEMS Template is intended to provide a simplified and industry-specific template that can form the basis for a company's EMS, and that could, when implemented, serve as an initial step towards ISO 14001 certification. 

Unique aspects of this project include:

• development of an industry-specific EMS template,

• focus on small and medium sized enterprises and how EMSs might help them,

• involvement with the industry association, and

• demonstration of a joint U.S. EPA and Cal/EPA pilot project.

Nine metal finishing companies, including Artistic, completed a series of workshops learning to develop and implement an EMS at their facilities. U.S. EPA sponsored these workshops for interested members of the Southern California Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program (Strategic Goals Program). The Strategic Goals Program is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder program aimed at improving environmental performance, exceeding compliance, and reducing business and environmental costs at metal finishing facilities. At its core is a set of environmental performance goals for metal finishers and a set of "enabling actions" other stakeholders will undertake to help metal finishers achieve the goals. Members of the Strategic Goals Program include U.S. EPA, Cal/EPA, local regulatory agencies (i.e. water and air), metal finishing companies, the Metal Finishing Association of Southern California, academics, and non-governmental organizations.

Pentel of America, Ltd.
As a leading international manufacturer of writing instruments, stationary goods, and art supplies, Pentel Company, Ltd. has facilities located worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company employs a total international workforce of 2,100 employees. Products manufactured include automatic (mechanical) pencils, non-refillable roller ball pens, refillable ballpoint pens, gel ink pens, ink, lead, erasers, correction fluid, highlighters, markers, crayons, water and oil paints, pastels, glue, and artist brushes. Pentel invented roller ball technology and pioneered graphite lead. In addition, Pentel is the only writing instrument company to receive the Deming Award for recognition of the highest standard of quality.

Pentel of America, Ltd. is headquartered in Torrance, California. Although there are offices in several states, and a separate blister packaging facility in Torrance, all U.S. manufacturing is carried out at the Torrance Factory. Operations include precision metal machining, plastic injection molding, water-base ink production, and writing instrument assembly and packaging. There are approximately 200 employees at the Torrance Factory.

The Torrance Factory officially began EMS development in October of 1999, with the intention of obtaining ISO 14001 EMS registration in the late summer of 2001. Pentel manufacturing facilities in Ibaraqi and Yoshikawa, Japan have successfully completed ISO 14001 registration, while the factory at Soka, Japan is nearing implementation of its EMS. These efforts together reflect the Japan headquarters' long-held policy to preserve and improve the environment, and its support of ISO 14001 is one of the tools for accomplishing this objective.

Pentel's Torrance Factory directly impacts air and waste, and to a lesser extent, water and traffic. The EMS that is being implemented at this facility will address each of these impacts. Although a formally identified EMS will be a new addition, environmental concerns have traditionally influenced management decision-making and planning. Recently, the company made a significant investment in the installation of a state of the art, self-contained and completely enclosed, carbon dioxide degreasing system to reduce solvent use and thereby minimize air quality impacts. It is expected that the systematic approach of an EMS will result in further environmentally related benefits in the areas of reduced waste generation, increased recycling of plastics and other materials, more efficient hazardous waste handling, and additional improvements in air quality, particularly in oil and particulate emissions.

This pilot project contributes the perspective and experience of working with a medium-sized manufacturing facility, which is seeking to integrate, to the degree possible, an ISO 14001 EMS with the currently existing ISO 9001 registered quality system. Furthermore, the heterogeneous nature of this particular manufacturing plant combines a variety of manufacturing processes within a single facility, providing a more extensive trial of the ISO 14001 EMS model than would occur in more homogeneous industries.

Vineyard and Winery EMS Project
Two wineries, Davis Bynum and Benziger Family Winery, participate in the Vineyard and Winery EMS Pilot Project.

Benziger Family Winery
The Benziger Family Winery is located on the east side of Sonoma Mountain, above the village of Glen Ellen, where it is bordered by Jack London State Park to the west. The Benzigers have operated their winery and vineyards at this location since purchasing the 85-acre Sonoma Mountain Ranch in 1980. Sixty-five acres of vines are planted at the ranch. Another twenty-acres of vines are planted in nearby Sonoma Valley. Grapes are also purchased from more than 60 growers. The Benziger Family Winery is a medium-sized winery producing 180,000 cases of wine per year.

Davis Bynum Winery
The Bynum family has owned and operated their winery and vineyards on 83 acres near the town of Forestville in the Russian River Valley since 1973. Twenty acres of the ranch are planted in vines. Davis Bynum is a small winery, crushing 250 to 275 tons of grapes annually to make approximately 15,000 cases of wine per year. The winery and vineyard is primarily operated by four members of the Bynum family and a head winemaker. Davis Bynum also purchases grapes from neighboring growers.

Both Davis Bynum and Benziger have operated their wineries and vineyards in an environmentally conscious manner, and while they do not have fully developed EMSs, they do implement environmental business practices. Both of their wineries, excluding vineyards, have been certified as Sonoma Green Businesses and Bay Area Green Businesses. This means that they comply with all environmental regulations and incorporate pollution prevention and resource conservation into their business practices. 

Each of their vineyards has been insecticide and herbicide-free for several years and has practiced sustainable agriculture techniques. Davis Bynum is in the process of registering with the California Department of Food and Agriculture organic growers program and the California Certified Organic Farming (CCOF) program. Davis Bynum is now exploring the use of permaculture (permanent agriculture) in their vineyards and has started by developing a three-acre Mediterranean Permaculture Food Forest. Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. 

Benziger is now practicing biodynamic farming in their vineyards. While similar to organic agriculture in the elimination of chemicals, biodynamics goes further in responding to the earth's natural energies and cycles and in its emphasis on a closed, self-contained ecosystem. The Benziger family plans to have their two properties in Sonoma County certified in 2001 by the Demeter association, the international organization that monitors and approves biodynamic practices. 

As a Cal/EPA Pilot Project, Davis Bynum and Benziger Family Winery are now organizing their environmental business practices into an ISO 14001-based EMS. Their EMSs will include and integrate winery and vineyard operations.

This pilot project will allow Cal/EPA to study the development and application of an EMS in an agricultural sector (wine grape vineyards). The participation of both wineries in the Sonoma Green and Bay Area Green Business Programs is another unique aspect of the pilot. These programs certify businesses that are in compliance with all environmental laws and are operating beyond compliance by implementing pollution prevention and resource conservation activities.

Removal of Gene's Plating from the Cal/EPA EMS Project
One of the pilots was removed from the Cal/EPA EMS Project. After expressing initial interest in developing an environmental management system (EMS), Gene's Plating failed to follow through and implement an EMS. An investigation by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Los Angeles County Fire Department, and a subsequent enforcement action by the Los Angeles City Attorney's office last year led to Gene's Plating being removed from the project. Gene's Plating was notified of their removal from the project by letter dated November 30, 2000. An analysis and some initial conclusions are summarized in the Report to the Legislature: Fifth Quarterly Update (October through December 2000).

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