1999 Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention - Request for Nominations

Pollution Prevention Defined

Pollution prevention is the use of source reduction techniques to reduce risk and, as a second preference, the use of environmentally sound recycling. Pollution prevention includes waste minimization, avoids cross- media transfers (of wastes and/or pollutants), and is multimedia in scope, addressing all types of waste and environmental releases to the air, water and land.

Nominations Requested

Since 1986, Ohio EPA has coordinated the Annual Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention to recognize companies, organizations, or individuals who have made exceptional efforts in reducing pollution through source reduction or recycling waste. Ultimately, these efforts help protect Ohio's environment and public health. The State of Ohio is soliciting nominations for the thirteenth annual Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention. Nominations are requested by July 16, 1999.

Eligibility

The awards program is open to any individual, business, industry, trade association, professional organization, or local government of Ohio. Applicants may nominate themselves. Nominations by second parties are welcomed also. Eligible projects or programs may focus on any or all of the following:

• Input Change: Replacing a toxic material used in a production unit with a less toxic or non-toxic material.
• Product Reformulation: Changing the design, specifications, or composition of an existing or new product to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic materials.
• Production Process Redesign and/or Modification: Developing or using production or processing equipment of a different design or configuration; upgrading, modernizing, or renovating production or processing equipment to reduce the use of toxic materials; and/or modifying the production process to use less toxic material or eliminate using toxic materials.
• In-process, In-line or Closed-Loop Recycling: Installing recycling operations that are conducted on-site in a closed loop. While these operations are a form of pollution prevention, they do not reduce the industrial use of toxic materials. For the purposes of these awards, they will be given some but not equal consideration with those practices listed above.
• Research and Development: Developing new products or new technology that helps companies implement pollution prevention.
• Technical Assistance, Outreach and Education: Conducting technical assistance, outreach and educational programs to promote pollution prevention practices and the benefits of pollution prevention. Technical assistance programs must result in the actual reduction or elimination of the use of toxic materials or the generation of environmental wastes. Applicants should be able to show progress and results.
• End-of-pipe environmental management techniques (e.g. off-site or open-loop recycling, treatment, incineration, disposal) do not qualify as pollution prevention projects and will not be considered for awards under this program. Projects that are solely designed to increase energy efficiency are not eligible for this award. Projects that focus on the environmental benefits of an existing product or service are not eligible for this award.

Ohio Prevention First

Participants in the Ohio Prevention First initiative will receive additional consideration, and their membership will enhance their nomination. Ohio Prevention First is a voluntary planning initiative seeking reduction in pollution generated throughout Ohio. This initiative provides an important opportunity for Ohio business and industry to take a leadership role in environmental protection without additional regulatory mandates.

Submission of Nomination

Please submit a cover sheet, a one-page summary, and a narrative description. Optional supporting documents, including charts, photographs, news clippings, news releases, publications, or other materials, may be included if it will provide greater understanding of the activity. Be aware that all information will be accessible to the public. Do not include any trade secret information.

Please provide complete information in the following format. If an element does not apply, please explain why it does not apply. Remember, your nomination will be judged against other nominations.

A. COVER SHEET (Applicant Information)

• Name and address of the entity being nominated and the name, title and telephone number of a contact person who can answer questions regarding the pollution prevention project. (In the case of second party nominations, include name, title, organization, address and telephone number of the person submitting the nomination);
• General description of the entity; and
• Number of employees at the facility.

B. SUMMARY

• A brief one-page overview of the activities and achievements that includes significant dates.

C. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION

• Description of Project, Program or Technology: Describe the pollution prevention project, program or technology. How does it differ from past environmental and/or plant management practices?
• Environmental Benefits: In what way is this project, program or technology helping protect the environment? How has the generation of toxic materials or environmental wastes been reduced or eliminated through this project, program or technology? Provide numerical data where possible. Describe the methods used to measure progress. Please do not describe your reuse, waste treatment, remediation, or pollution control techniques.
• Health and Safety Benefits: How has the project, program or technology reduced occupational exposures and/or improved working conditions and community safety?
• Management Commitment: How is pollution prevention promoted through company policy? How are employees encouraged to find pollution prevention opportunities in the workplace? How does management reward employee innovations?
• Transferability: How may the project, program or technology be transferred to other businesses? Provide examples of how your business currently shares this information with others.
• Economic Benefits: Describe any cost savings, both short term and long term, realized from the new project, program or technology.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Activities should be true pollution prevention, not pollution control or treatment.
2. Activities should show innovation, improved efficiency, and economic and environmental benefits through facility implementation or outreach education.
3. The nominee should show active promotion of pollution prevention as the preferred approach to protecting the environment and human health.
4. Activities should be voluntary and in advance of regulatory requirements, but could be a creative response to regulatory programs.
5. The nominee should have a good comprehensive environmental compliance record. Environmental enforcement actions with either Ohio EPA or the Ohio Attorney General's Office for the two years prior to the nomination deadline will be used as a primary factor in making this evaluation.
6. The submission should be complete, address each of the items listed under "Submission of Nomination" and provide adequate information to support the nomination.
7. Finalists may be asked to host a site visit to provide reviewers with a better understanding of the nomination.

Deadline

Entries must be received by close of business on July 16, 1999. Direct inquiries or nominations to the Office of Pollution Prevention, Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus OH 43216- 1049, 614-644-3257 or 614-644-3469, fax number 614-728-1245.

1998 Award Recipients

ALCOA Building Products Inc., Shelby County was recognized for eliminating 190,000 pounds of ethylene glycol released, reducing chrome waste by 89 percent and reducing water discharge by 85 percent or 42 million gallons per year.

BP Oil, Toledo Refinery, Lucas County was recognized for installing flare flow meters to reduce hydrocarbon emissions while achieving economic benefits.

Hedstrom Corporations, Ashland County was recognized for implementing a variety of multi-media projects that minimized the amount of waste the company generated, reduced their VOC emissions, and increased the amount of material being recycled.

Honda of America's Motorcycle Plant, Union County was recognized for using powder coat paint technology instead of solvent-borne paints to paint its motorcycle and sport utility vehicle frames and gas tanks. This reduced VOC emissions by 26.1 tons in 1997.

Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Science, Hamilton County was recognized for providing pollution prevention technical assistance, outreach and education since 1992.

Lubrizol's Wickliffe Facility, Cuyahoga County was recognized for integrating pollution prevention throughout the company's operations and developing a method to ensure that pollution prevention is used when developing new products.

RJF International Corporation, Washington County was recognized for substituting raw materials to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used in producing the company's products. Since 1993, the company reduced TRI releases by 97.7 percent, eliminated more than 236,700 pounds of hazardous waste and eliminated more than 160,000 pounds of toxic air pollutants from the processing operation.

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