GEP Holds Chemical and Plastics Workshops

The Georgia Environmental Partnership (GEP) and the U.S. Department of Energy sponsored two Energy and Environmental Compliance Management Tools workshops this fall. The first workshop (held on August 12th and 13th) concentrated on the chemical industry, while the second event (on September 13th) focused on the plastics manufacturing industry. Both workshops were held on Jekyll Island, GA. The plastics workshop was originally planned to be held from the afternoon of the 13th until noon on the 14th. However, the impending arrival of Hurricane Floyd necessitated a change in the agenda. John Adams of the Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute said, "We found out about 4 PM on the first day that we would be getting orders to evacuate the island by 8 AM the next day. Since our speakers were already there, the workshop attendees decided to stay through the evening to finish all the topics, so our workshop continued until 8 PM." Attendees at the two events represented manufacturing, consulting, government, and university organizations, including some representatives from companies outside Georgia.

Topics covered on the first day of the chemical program included: the energy management system, MSE200, developed at Georgia Tech; EPA Toxics Release Inventory; air pollution control systems; risk management planning requirements pertinent to chemical manufacturers, and a demonstration of the Department of Energy's decision support software tools. The agenda on the second day of the program included presentations regarding spill and runoff planning, utility deregulation, selection of wastewater treatment systems, and pollution prevention case studies.

Compliance topics covered at the plastics workshop included Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know requirements, risk management plans, spill planning, industrial storm water permitting issues, and OSHA safety issues. Other sections of the workshop focused on energy and environmental management systems, tools for energy management available from DOE, recycling and waste minimization, and a case study of an energy audit at a plastics manufacturer. If you would like to receive more information about any of the topics covered at the workshops, please contact John Adams at (404) 894-4138.