Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization cont'd

DOE-HDBK-1139/1-2006

DOE's impact on the environment and minimizing potential health effects on

workers using toxic or hazardous substances or handling wastes, reducing

compliance vulnerabilities, and saving money otherwise spent on waste

management. Pollution prevention is one of the fundamental principles underlying

Environmental Management Systems and, as such, should be part of each DOE

site's ISMS. DOE and contractor pollution prevention coordinators should be

consulted to assist with tailoring pollution prevention integration to meet program

requirements and site needs.

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 established a hierarchy of preferred practices:

Pollution Prevention

Act

Prevent or reduce at the source (source reduction);

Recycle in an environmentally safe manner;

Treat in an environmentally safe manner; and

Employ disposal or other release into the environment only as a last

resort and conduct in an environmentally safe manner.

In a memorandum dated November 12, 1999, the Secretary of Energy announced a

November 12, 1999,

Memo

pollution prevention and energy efficiency leadership program that includes the

following::

Design and operate DOE facilities using pollution prevention processes

that lead to minimal waste generation and lowest life-cycle costs; and

Diminish use of environmentally harmful materials, equipment, and

processes to minimize releases of toxic chemicals, ozone-depleting

substances, and greenhouse gases.

On April 21, 2000, the President signed Executive Order 13148, "Greening the

Government through Leadership in Environmental Management." This Executive

Order calls for Federal agencies to set new goals for reductions in the release and

offsite transfer for treatment and disposal of toxic chemicals and for reductions in

the use of specified chemicals, which will be identified in future guidance. It also

requires that agencies review the feasibility of implementing centralized

procurement and distribution systems that allow facilities to track the acquisition,