Erie County, New York Department of Environment & Planning

Erie County, New York

Department of Environment & Planning

Division of Environmental Compliance Services

Phase II Storm Water Regional Coalition

A forum for the 23 regulated municipalities of Erie County to work collaboratively to achieve compliance with the Phase II Storm Water regulations.


• Representatives from each municipality meet every other month

• Workgroups address each of the six minimum controls to identify existing programs & mechanisms that meet the requirements as well as areas of need.


• Currently in the process of developing plans to address areas of need

• Will eventually equip municipalities with tools to develop their Storm Water P2 Plans w/ Erie County DEP assuming a technical assistance role


Erie County DEP has secured funding from the Great Lakes Commission to address the Public Education/Public Participation requirements & allow the regulated communities to focus their efforts on the remaining four.

Mercury P2 in Healthcare Initiative

Funding agency: U.S. EPA – Region V

Great Lakes National Program Office


Primary Objective:

To utilize a pilot study format to eliminate the use of mercury-containing products in healthcare facilities & replace them with suitable mercury-free alternatives


Secondary Objectives:

• implement in-house mercury awareness & education campaigns

• identify & quantify mercury in use & storage

• implement mercury-free purchasing policies

• identify opportunities for solid waste reduction


Results:

• 364 lbs. of mercury no longer in use due to sphygmomanometer replacements

• eliminated purchase of >931 mercury-weighted feeding tubes

• ~ 5lbs. of mercury amalgam will be recycled annually

• > 1,800 mercury fever thermometers no longer purchased


Results:

• 949 thermometers exchanged by employees of the hospitals

• Visiting Nurses Association now provides mercury-free thermometers & eliminated existing stock of mercury-based

• hospitals now recycling lead foil from dental operations


For more information contact:

Mary Rossi (716) 858-7583

[email protected]

Computer Recycling Program




Objective:

To reduce the amount of lead and mercury entering the nonhazardous wastestream through improper disposal of computer components.


Collection Details

• drop-off style collection for household generated computers

• County staff unload participants’ vehicles


Collection Results

Monitors: 2,509

CPUs: 2,259

Printers: 1,375

For more information contact Susan Attridge (716) [email protected]

Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) Reduction through

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)



Objectives• Identify products which contain or

release PBTs, find less-toxic alternatives, and replace those products

• Work with Bureau of Purchasing to change invitation to bid wording for products

• Educate requisition clerks regarding EPP in general, as well as specific products

PBT Reduction Through EPP

Bio-based oils pilot project• The County’s golf course maintenance

crew is using Terresolve Technologies EnviroLogic products in their golf course greens mowers throughout the 2002 season.

• A cost/performance comparison of the bio-based product vs. petroleum-based lubricants will be completed at the end of the season.


Replacement of Naphthalene mothballs with cedar wood

• Erie Community College Arts Department has replaced naphthalene mothballs and flakes with cedar boards on the shelves that house yarn.


EPP Open House• During Pollution Prevention Week for all County requisition clerks and department heads.

PBT Database• A database of products containing PBTs currently in use & alternatives in Erie County facilities is being compiled.


EPP Intranet listserv for Requisition Clerks

• A forum for requisition clerks to make inquiries about PBT free products, provide feedback and suggestions

For more information contactLauren Makeyenko (716) 858-8555

[email protected]


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Pollution Prevention Unit

Tools to Improve Environmental Performance

To conduct a dialogue on emerging environmental management tools to allow states to become better informed with regard to the utility & best application of these emerging tools.

Contact: John Vana (518) 402-9490


Green Building Tax Credit

NYS is in the process of finalizing a program that will offer a tax credit to developers and builders of environmentally friendly buildings to encourage them to design, construct and operate buildings in a sustainable manner.

Contact: Laurie Rizzo (518) 402-9469


Improving Compliance & Environmental Performance at Auto Recyclers

A statewide program to assist automobile recyclers, vehicle dismantlers and scrap processors in improving their compliance with environmental regulations.

Contact: Patrick Bologna (518) 402-9469


Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

The P2 Unit has completed a three-part guidance series on EMS entitled: Understanding and Implementing EMS – A Step-by-Step Guide for Small and Medium Sized Organizations



National Strategic Goals Program (SGP) – Metal Finishing Sector

To date, two performance ladder certificates of achievement have been awarded and the Technical Review Board has received four new applications from metal finishers for placement on the performance ladder.

Contact: Dennis Lucia (518) 402-9484


Dairy Farm Mercury Manometer Project

An estimated 1300 mercury manometers are in use in NYS containing approximately 1000 lbs. of mercury. Currently investigating funding opportunities to implement a manometer exchange program.

Contact: Jim Reagan (518) 402-9477


Comparative Risk Project

Identifies environmental stressors that pose the highest risks to the citizens & environment of NYS in order to develop a pollution prevention strategy aimed at reducing risk.



Outreach Programs

P2 for Marinas & Yacht Clubs

P2 for Healthcare Facilities

Ski Facilities P2

Lead Fishing Products P2 (proposed)

Toxics in Schools (proposed)


A detailed summary of the NYSDEC P2 Programs is available on the information dissemination table or via Deb Jacobson


Erie County, New York Department of Environment & Planning

Documents

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