environmental Strategist, between the lines: This article talks about Environmental Management Systems (EMS) which are part of ISO 14000. I offer this competitive intelligence to show, for the aviation industry the environmental bar is raising. You will find below a list of potential environmental exposures faced by the aviation industry that comes from www.estrategist.com.
Part of an environmental Management Strategy (eMS) is to find out who your client’s are doing business with. Do you have any clients contracting with aviation businesses who could have an indirect impact upon their operations? They could benefit from this competitive environmental intelligence.
Before a client expenses time and resources to meet ISO 14000, our research shows a business will minimize risk, maximize value and optimize performance if they first develop and execute their eMS.
As an environmental Strategist (eS) when we use the term eMS we are referring to an environmental Management Strategy. I am happy to inform you that we were using eMS years before ISO. So this leads to the question, are they copying us?
Bottom line, your aviation clients need you to assist them in development and execution of their eMS, in the process you will become indispensable.
AIRPORT AND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
The most common environmental exposures at airport and aircraft maintenance facilities include: Inadequate secondary containment of aboveground fuel storage tank; Inadequate containment/control at fuel receiving/dispensing areas; No secondary containment/spill control at aircraft fueling sites; No spill containment at areas where filled fuel trucks are parked; Spills from pipelines carrying fuels onto the property and throughout the facility; Inadequate containment of areas where maintenance chemicals are stored and dispensed; Improper application of glycol solutions used for de-icing that cause potential impairment through contaminated storm water runoff; Poor maintenance and/or carelessness that results in chronic spills and leaks that cause non-sudden storm water contamination; Inadequate controls and containment for fire fighting water; History of past on-site spills and releases to the environment (especially with older facilities); Improperly maintained oil/water separator systems; Poor underground storage tank management programs; Extensive underground fuel dispensing pipeline networks that have inadequate cathodic protection and leak detection; Insufficient testing of bulk fuel storage tanks for corrosion through the bottom which causes leaks into underlying soils; Past disposal of hazardous maintenance chemicals (such as trichloroethylene) on the property causing contamination; Volatile organic air emissions from fuel storage/dispensing sites; Storm water drains near the aircraft fueling locations; Inadequate spill control materials and emergency response contractor agreements; Inadequate auditing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste handling and disposal-contractors; Poor information on the possible adverse reactions and interactions of chemical compounds that accidentally commingle during a fire; hazardous materials stored or staged waiting shipment.
Airplane departures burn a tremendous amount of fuel. It is estimated that a loaded 747 uses over 10,000 pounds of fuel on a single take-off, spreading its emission over a 144 square mile area. Emissions include carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and nitrous oxides (Nox). Both VOC’s and Nox can cause respiratory problems in humans.
Deicing procedures for airplanes uses ethylene glycol or propylene glycol to remove ice and snow from the wings and fuselages. They deplete oxygen from the waters they flow into and have toxic effects on those ecosystems. Few airports have containment traps, thus the material is allowed to run into the surrounding environment, i.e. ground, ground water, rivers, ponds, etc..
1. American Airlines, under threat of indictment, pleaded guilty to illegally storing hazardous waste at the Miami airport and transporting hazardous and poisonous material improperly on its passenger jest for the last five years. The company will pay $8 million in fines along with making changes to ensure its passengers are safe. They will also apologize in a full-page ad in the Miami Herald. An investigation of the company began after an illegally marked, undocumented bag of pesticide broke open in the cargo hold on a flight to Ecuador, releasing fumes that forced the evacuation of 53 passengers and crewmembers.
2. A federal Express cargo plane carrying hazardous materials crashed at the Newark International Airport. The airport, one of the nations busiest, was closed after the crash as authorities tried to clear the tarmac and put out the flames on the aircraft. After seven hours the airport was reopened but only for departures.
How can airports design and implement environmental management systems that are effective, cost-efficient and consider airports` unique situations?
Courtesy of Environmental Opportunities, Inc.
Originally published Mar. 2006
Dave Meyer (BC San Diego office): In spite of post 9/11 security concerns and associated measures, the aviation industry has not seen heightened environmental scrutiny and regulation to the same degree that many other industries have experienced.
There may also be a general reluctance to burden the industry with “expensive and time consuming environmental programs,” because of the key role that aviation plays in the global economy and infrastructure of modern society.
Airports and the Environment
Airports have the potential to affect the natural environment, as well as the commonly large populations that live in close proximity to airports. In controlling these effects, many large airports throughout the U.S. are adopting new environmentally oriented principles which include:
• recognition of aviation infrastructures potential and real environmental effects;
• compliance with the strictest environmental rules and regulations and other industry standards;
• rigorous monitoring of environmental impacts and improvement in environmental performance;
• reduction or elimination of pollutants at source and efforts to maximize its material and energy efficiency; and
• engaging tenants and other in support the organizational environmental commitment
Advent of Environmental Management Systems
Among the greatest challenges for airports is attaining and maintaining consistent compliance with environmental requirements without disrupting daily operations. An increased emphasis on effective facility management and pollution prevention helps provide for lower-cost, higher-value ways to meet regulatory requirements. In recent years, many North American airports including Dallas-Fort Worth, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Denver, Miami, Westchester (MA), Vancouver, and Portland have implemented Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) in response to increased regulatory scrutiny or to satisfy the specifications of ISO 14001 ( See Table 1 – Examples of Excellence .
An EMS is a systematic process for identifying all environmental impacts of its operations, assessing current environmental performance, setting goals, and developing and implementing plans for continuing improvements in environmental performance.
EMS`s Are Not Created Equally
A systematic approach of EMS implementation offers airports increased opportunities to protect the environment, leverage compliance risk, maintaining vital operations for both the airport and its tenants, and secure stakeholder support for future infrastructure needs.
All EMSs are NOT created equally, however, nor should they! Most EMSs are built on the continual improvement i.e. “Plan, Do, Check, Act” model, and may be based on programs and procedures developed internally by a corporation to address specific requirements (such as storm water quality or air emissions), or be widely focused to achieve independent third party registration to the international ISO 14001-2004 standard.
Table 1 – Examples of Excellence
Airport
EMS Type
Key Features
Dallas-Fort Worth
Airport
Compliance Focused EMS
Clean Fleet Programs; Enhanced Storm Water Collection and De-icing Management
Massport
ISO 14001
Sustainable Design; Toxics Control; Air Emissions management; Contractor Controls
Denver International
Airport
ISO 14001
Enhanced compliance; Tenant Management; State of Colorado Environmental Leadership Program
Westchester Regional
Airport
ISO 14001
Contractor Management; Enhanced Noise, Groundwater and Storm Water Management
Port of Portland
(Oregon)
Environmental Stewardship /Sustainability Focused EMS (ISO 14001 model)
Water quality & natural Resources Protection; energy usage reductions; “Clean fuel” programs
Which type of EMS is best fitted to any specific airport facility depends on:
• Perceptions and “worldview” of your organization toward environmental management, industry/association trends and the local community;
• Resources available to design, implement and maintain your organization`s environmental performance;
• Processes and metrics for continual improvement; and
• Performance history, objectives and aspirations for going forward.
Through our work we`ve found that, in most cases, airports need a ‘hybrid` EMS – not quite ‘standardized` but not quite fully customized. Each one has to be “just right”.
Contact: Dave Meyer (858-571-6760); San Diego Office