Partnership tests program for 2001 rollout

Last month, the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), based in Alexandria, Va., launched a pilot program in which 25 biosolids organizations are testing the group’s Environmental Management System (EMS). Scheduled for rollout next year, the EMS is a set of procedures that biosolids professionals can undertake voluntarily to improve program management and increase public support.

“The EMS is a tool that biosolids producers and appliers can use to demonstrate to their communities that biosolids products meet market and regulatory standards and to explain how [the producers and appliers] are working to further improve their practices,” explains NBP in a published summary of the EMS goals. “It also may help facilities to more effectively meet existing regulatory obligations and should lead to greater efficiency and cost reduction.”

Ultimately, the EMS model will incorporate three elements:

– compliance with all applicable regulations as a baseline;

– a series of uniform steps for developing the EMS; and

– a system for third-party verification of performance.

Additionally, a facility seeking to establish an EMS must:

– subscribe to the NBP Code of Good Practice, which is currently being refined and, when complete, will define broad goals to guide biosolids management programs;

– identify overall objectives for an EMS;

– select management practices that meet the facility’s objectives;

– measure the effectiveness of the EMS at critical control points;

– conduct internal audits of the system to ensure that objectives are being met;

– take corrective action if any objectives are not met;

– establish management feedback; and

– establish a communication link with the community and stakeholders.

Community involvement is one of the hallmarks of the EMS, says Sam Hadeed, NBP’s technical communications manager. “Building community oversight and involvement into programs helps maintain recognition that biosolids projects are meeting strict safety and health requirements,” he explains. “The EMS also provides an opportunity for the public to better understand the value of biosolids.”

In addition to developing the Code of Good Practice, NBP is working on several tools for facilities implementing the EMS. They include:

– a Manual of Good Practices, which describes the full range of management practices (e.g., beneficial use, incineration, surface disposal);

– Common Procedures, a series of steps, with accompanying guidance, for designing and implementing an EMS; and

– a program for independent, third-party verification and citizen input.

Pilot testing for the EMS will continue into next year, followed by full-scale, national implementation of the program. By the end of 2001, NBP would like to have 80 to 100 organizations participating in the EMS initiative.

Formed in 1997, NBP is a not-for-profit alliance of the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, Washington, D.C.; the Water Environment Federation, Alexandria; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the organization or the EMS, visit www.biosolids.org on the Web.