[Dodp3] R4: EMS Implementation Training Opportunity

Tue Apr 16 19:10:40 EDT 2002

On behalf of the entire Region 4 P2 Partnership's Steering Committee, the purpose of this note is to quickly survey the interest level of military staff/support personnel in EPA Region 4 for the above subject work.  i.e. If you are a DOD employee or contractor, please scan the info below and let us know : 

A.  Do you like the proposed idea?  (Yes or No)

B.  Would you like to learn more?   (Yes or No)  

The following  information contains an informal description (benefits and cost) for participating in a proposed 12-15 month long EMS Implementation Training Alliance for military facilities in EPA Region 4.   The proposed effort is being highly considered for funding, but we'd like to hear how you feel about it.  If funded, this would amount to a DOD investment of about $450k!  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1.  References:

a.   Executive Order 13148, "Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management", April 22, 2000:  <https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Legislation/EO/note72.html> https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Legislation/EO/note72.html

b.  DOD EMS website on DENIX  with each service's specific EMS  info:   <https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/DOD/Library/EMS/ems.html> https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/DOD/Library/EMS/ems.html

c.  Region 4 DOD/EPA/State Pollution Prevention Partnership and University Grants Program:    <http://wrrc.p2pays.org/DoDPartnership/> http://wrrc.p2pays.org/DoDPartnership/

d.  Annual DOD/EPA/State Federal Facility Env Conference in Atlanta, GA , 25-27 Jun 2002,  Heavy emphasis this year on EMS systems,    <http://aec.army.mil/usaec/reo/region4/index.html> http://aec.army.mil/usaec/reo/region4/index.html

2.  Through the Regional  DOD/EPA/State  P2 Partnership (Ref 1.c), DOD grant funds are being made available to support pollution prevention projects at military facilities in Region 4.  A portion of those funds have been targeted to support implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) at DoD installations. There is not enough funding for full implementation at DoD installations; however, through the use of group training and coaching, we could initiate ISO 14001 at installations that are willing to contribute personnel, time, and some funds for training and travel.  

3.  Specifically, four regional universities in KY, TN, GA, and SC have partnered and jointly submitted a proposal to pool their talent/experience and help develop a Region 4 military-sector alliance (user-group) for delivery of EMS training, exercises and technical assistance.  The EMS focus will heavily be weighted on compliance and environmental performance improvement in the area of pollution prevention (P2).  The Region 4 DOD EMS Alliance's focus will be on helping participating installations learn how to plan, implement and audit ISO 14001-aligned EMSs.   The training will occur both at a regional and state level with group meetings occurring primarily at military facilities over a 12 to 18 month time period.  Lead Auditor training would be provided to the EMS Management Representative  (MR) from participating installations.  

4.  A significant challenge to EMS implementation is obtaining and maintaining top management support with good drivers as well as initiating cultural changes needed for the EMS to take root initially and be sustainable over the long-term.  The target audience for the proposed implementation training is meant to include management designated EMS representatives and coordinators for their installations.

5.  Anticipated benefits for the training would include the following:  

*	If a facility has a short/long term goal to begin implementation of an EMS, they will receive mentoring and one-on-one guidance to help them get a head start at no additional cost.   Participating facilities can take advantage of some of the best regional talent and experience at the university level  while participating in a group effort of other service and facility representatives throughout the region.  The universities have helped numerous companies and municipalities struggle through the EMS implementation process and know how to best guide their alliance members. 

*	Even if a facility has already funded for outside EMS implementation assistance, the universities are still be able available for third party consultation.  The group dynamic could prove to be invaluable. 

*	A real part of the training includes a commitment by the participating facilities to actually implement an EMS system on a reduced scale at their location.  By doing so, participating members and their respective facilities will hopefully "learn by doing".  Future risk will hopefully be reduced when it comes time to invest in a larger scale implementation  effort   (Ref 1.a and Ref 1.b)   

*	 By participating in the group training, facilities can help provide a valuable role to both other participating members and their respective service HQs as they continue to develop future implementation policy and guidance.  How often do you get a chance to do this ?   The Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and Environment  (ODUSD- I&E) is newly aware of the proposed initiative and is very interested in  its successful outcome.     

*	 Participation in the training will provide professional training and career development opportunities to potentially include EMS lead auditor training/certification?

6.      Participation in the Regional EMS Implementation Training will be limited and therefore competitive.  Criteria for participation is likely to include the following  types of commitments :

*	Command endorsement/commitment at the Garrison Commander level to support an eighteen month initiative for the implementation of an EMS at the installation. 

*	Willingness to commit fiscal resources to participate in the training (TDY for Installation EMS  Management Representative (MR ), 2-3 trips to Atlanta, GA; 3-4 trips to other installations for training  primarily within the states of Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina )  

*	Commitment of installation personnel resources for the implementation of EMS (EMS Management Representative and necessary management and operational personnel at all levels )   

*	Willingness to host a workshop or meeting  

*	Willingness to mentor other installations as they begin their EMS implementation process  

*	Willingness to participate in documenting and collecting implementation performance data for that facility's  EMS implementation  

*	Willingness to submit a brief plan/approach for EMS implementation at the installation  prior to engagement (Full implementation, fence to fence implementation, implementation at selected functions)

7.  The four state partnership's proposal is being highly considered for funding, but we'd like to hear how you feel about it.  If funded, this would amount to a DOD investment of about $450k! 

8.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks,

Ed  Engbert
Army Southern Regional Environmental Office
101 Marietta Street, NW, Suite 3120
Atlanta, GA 30303-2711

Phone: 404-524-5061, ext 228
Facsimile: 404-524-5162
Email Address: eengbert at sreo.army.mil

Check out the SREO homepage at:
 <http://aec.army.mil/prod/usaec/ro/southern/sreo.htm> http://aec.army.mil/prod/usaec/ro/southern/sreo.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://kirk.p2pays.org/pipermail/dodp3/attachments/20020416/74a36d9d/attachment.htm