Cal/EPA Agency-Wide Environmental Management System

DRAFT Selection Criteria and Descriptions of Proposed Pilot Projects

Wastewater Treatment Facilities: 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.

EMS Scope and Maturity
CMSA has 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, land, and traffic are also affected. The EMS is being implemented to address all of these issues in a multi-media approach. CMSA is in the developmental stages of implementing an EMS. Involvement in these early stages will give Cal/EPA an idea of the resources and the processes necessary to implement an effective EMS.

Unique EMS Characteristics
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.

Stakeholder Involvement
CMSA is working with a local advisory group, composed of local and regional government, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders, to ensure a transparent approach to implementing their EMS. The local advisory group also acts as a facilitator for public outreach and EMS awareness.

CMSA also participates in the Cal/EPA Northern California EMS Working Group. Participants include representatives of community groups, environmental organizations, industry, academia, and local, state and federal regulatory agencies. The working group is developing a common understanding and knowledge of EMSs. The working group will be advising pilot organizations on the development and continual improvement of their EMSs; evaluating the performance of EMSs; and exploring related public policy issues.

Research Value for California Study
CMSA has committed to provide information consistent with the national research protocols as adopted by the Multi-State Working Group. Data categories include environmental performance, regulatory compliance, use of pollution prevention techniques, continual improvement, employee awareness, involvement of interested parties, EMS design and implementation, and costs and benefits. In addition, Cal/EPA will be collecting information about the quality and quantity of public information provided by organizations before and after implementing an EMS. Collection and analysis of this data is an integral part of the Cal/EPA EMS Project.

Contact Information
Please contact Cal/EPA EMS Pilot Project Manager Bryan Brock at (916) 227-4574 or by E-mail at brockb@cwp.swrcb.ca.gov for more information about the local advisory group or the proposed CMSA pilot project.

Evaluation of Proposed Pilot Project
Cal/EPA staff evaluated the proposed pilot project based on the draft selection criteria. In staff’s judgement, this proposed pilot satisfies all the criteria, as tabulated below.

Selection Criteria	Central Marin Sanitation Agency
(1) Pilot projects will have an ongoing or planned EMS that can reasonably be expected to produce greater environmental protection than would otherwise be achieved by the existing regulatory process.	Yes Implementing ISO 14000 EMS
(2) Pilot projects will engage in a multi-media environmental approach (e.g., air, water, solid and hazardous waste).	Yes
(3) Pilot projects will pursue appropriate pollution and waste prevention opportunities.	Yes
(4) Pilot projects will share information learned from EMS implementation with Cal/EPA, regional and/or local working groups, and the public. Pilot projects agree to provide specific data on the goals, implementation, and performance of their EMS as reported in the national and California supplemental data protocols.	Yes
(5) Pilot projects will participate on the Northern or Southern California EMS Working Group.	Yes Northern California EMS Working Group
(6) Pilot projects will declare to Cal/EPA any current and past (three years) violations cited by environmental regulatory agencies.	Yes
(7) Pilot projects will address known regulatory deficiencies, as required by the appropriate regulatory agency, through their EMS.	Yes
(8) Pilot projects' top management will make a full commitment to participate in the project through a letter of intent.	Yes Board authorization and commitment
(9) Pilot projects should represent diversity in terms of location/geography, size, industry type or sector, environmental impacts, and in the range of EMS maturity.	Medium-sized, publicly owned and operated WWTP in Northern California

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 312 people.

EMS Scope and Maturity
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. The scope of the EMS addresses those environmental aspects that are within the authority of the Operation and Maintenance Division to control.

San Diego’s operations primarily impact water quality. However, air quality, land disposal and beneficial use, and traffic impacts are also considered. The EMS is being implemented to address all of these issues in a continual improvement, multi-media framework.

Unique EMS Characteristics
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. This proposed pilot project contributes the perspective and experience of a publicly-owned and operated facility to complement the pool of proposed 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.

Stakeholder Involvement
San Diego has a local advisory group, specific to their project, composed of local and regional government and a non-governmental organization. This group has reviewed the objectives and targets in addition to participating in internal audits. San Diego participates in the Cal/EPA Southern California EMS Working Group. Participants include representatives of community groups, environmental organizations, industry, academia, and local, state and federal regulatory agencies. The working group is developing a common understanding and knowledge of EMSs. In support of this goal, San Diego has provided a facility tour and made presentations on their EMS. The working group will be advising pilot organizations on the development and continual improvement of their EMSs; evaluating the performance of EMSs; and exploring related public policy issues.

Research Value for California Study
San Diego has committed to provide information consistent with the national research protocols as adopted by the Multi-State Working Group. Data categories include environmental performance, regulatory compliance, use of pollution prevention techniques, continual improvement, employee awareness, involvement of interested parties, EMS design and implementation, and costs and benefits. In addition, Cal/EPA will be collecting information about the quality and quantity of public information provided by organizations before and after implementing an EMS. Collection and analysis of this data is an integral part of the Cal/EPA EMS Project.

Contact Information
Please contact Cal/EPA EMS Pilot Project Manager Renée Lawver at (916) 255-2655 or by E-mail at rlawver@ciwmb.ca.gov for more information about the local advisory group or the proposed pilot project.

Evaluation of Proposed Pilot Project
Cal/EPA staff evaluated the proposed pilot project based on the draft selection criteria. In staff’s judgement, this proposed pilot satisfies all the criteria, as tabulated below. 

Selection Criteria	City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Dept. O&M Division
(1) Pilot projects will have an ongoing or planned EMS that can reasonably be expected to produce greater environmental protection than would otherwise be achieved by the existing regulatory process.	Yes Third-Party Certified to ISO 14000 EMS Standard
(2) Pilot projects will engage in a multi-media environmental approach (e.g., air, water, solid and hazardous waste).	Yes
(3) Pilot projects will pursue appropriate pollution and waste prevention opportunities.	Yes
(4) Pilot projects will share information learned from EMS implementation with Cal/EPA, regional and/or local working groups, and the public. Pilot projects agree to provide specific data on the goals, implementation, and performance of their EMS as reported in the national and California supplemental data protocols.	Yes
(5) Pilot projects will participate on the Northern or Southern California EMS Working Group.	Yes Southern California EMS Working Group
(6) Pilot projects will declare to Cal/EPA any current and past (three years) violations cited by environmental regulatory agencies.	Yes
(7) Pilot projects will address known regulatory deficiencies, as required by the appropriate regulatory agency, through their EMS.	Yes
(8) Pilot projects' top management will make a full commitment to participate in the project through a letter of intent.	Yes Wastewater Dept. authorization and commitment
(9) Pilot projects should represent diversity in terms of location/geography, size, industry type or sector, environmental impacts, and in the range of EMS maturity.	Large, publicly owned and operated wastewater collection and treatment facilities in Southern California

DRAFT Selection Criteria and Descriptions of Proposed Pilot Projects