Cal/EPA Environmental Management Systems Innovation Initiative
Meeting Summary: Northern California Working Group
April 22, 1999   San Francisco, California

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Note: this meeting was held prior to passage of AB 1102, which requires a public hearing to discuss proposed pilot projects.  References to "pilot projects" should be interpreted as "proposed pilot projects," pending public comment.

I. Introduction
Richard Corey, Cal/EPA team member from the California Air Resources Board, opened the meeting by welcoming those in attendance and describing what the Cal/EPA team hoped to accomplish with this meeting. The expectation was that attendees would gain some insight into this project by hearing about Cal/EPA’s objectives and learning what some of the pilot projects are doing to develop and implement their environmental management systems (EMS). One of the primary objectives of the meeting was to engage the attendees to decide to participate on the Working Group as it explores potential opportunities related to EMSs.

II. Overview: Cal/EPA Pilot Project Program
Jennifer Smith Grubb, Project Director, and Dr. Robert Stephens, Program Director, gave a brief overview of the elements of an ISO 14001 EMS and then described Cal/EPA’s project objectives.  At the conclusion of the presentation, Jennifer and Bob responded to questions from the meeting participants.

III. Purpose of Regional Working Group
As background for the Northern California Regional Working Group (Working Group), Richard Corey explained that the creation of this group came at the suggestion of a Statewide Stakeholders group. The Statewide Stakeholders felt that it would be valuable to establish a forum that meets to discuss several local projects. The participants also made numerous suggestions as to the purpose of the Working Group.

The roles and responsibilities of the Working Group were discussed in great detail. The following is a summary of the suggestions proposed by the participants:
(1) Assume there is something to learn from each other;
(2) listen first for understanding;
(3) build on each others ideas;
(4) trust each other’s good intentions;
(5) respect timeframes;
(6) minimize use of paper (refers to using e-mail as much as possible); and
(7) have open meetings (refers to having the press at meetings).

IV. Companies Experience/Expectations with Environmental Management Systems
With the Working Group’s concurrence, the order of the agenda was changed to allow the pilot companies to proceed with their presentations and allow enough time for questions. The companies making presentations were IBM, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., and Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CSMA). Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory withdrew as a pilot due to resource constraints and, therefore, did not attend the meeting. Tom Rose from CMSA, Jack Stein from Anheuser-Busch Inc., and Jim Dumanowski from IBM, each made a presentation describing their EMS, the reason for developing an EMS as well as the impact that the EMS has had on the environment. Each company representative also responded to questions at the end of their presentation.

V. Status of All California Pilot Projects
Jennifer Smith Grubb handed out a brief description of the California pilot projects.

VI. Where Do We Go From Here
Bryan Brock, Cal/EPA team member from the State Water Resources Control Board, described the training options for the Working Group members that he has been developing. The training is expected to consist of three 4-hour training courses: Understanding ISO 14000, Environmental Management Systems, and Environmental Auditing.   The courses are intended to give the participants a general background on ISO 14000 Environmental Management Systems.

Richard Corey asked if there was anything other than training that the group felt they would need to assist in helping them with their participation. The members suggested that a copy of the ISO 14001 standard would be a benefit to them.

During the discussion of future meetings of the Working Group it was decided that Richard would prepare a survey to be sent to the group. The survey would pose questions about where meetings should take place, length of the meetings, etc. Questions about additional training that members would like will also be included on the survey.

Prior to the close of the meeting, the Working Group evaluated what worked well at the meeting and what could be improved next time. A few things that the participants thought worked well included the open dialog among those present; the presentations were short; the attendance was good; and the meeting location was near public transit. Things that the participants thought did not work included the noise from the adjoining room; not enough participation by small business; and meeting planners did not provide maps of the location or parking. It was also suggested that a summary of meetings should be sent to the Working Group to provide a history of their activities. In addition, the members recommended that for future meetings it would be helpful if prior to the meeting they were given background material on the agenda items so that they would be prepared to discuss the topics. It was also suggested that the meeting planners ought to consider making arrangements for lunch to be delivered during the meeting.

Please contact the Cal/EPA EMS Pilot Project Manager, Richard Corey, at (916) 323-1079 or by e-mail, at rcorey@arb.ca.gov for more information about the Northern California Working Group.