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Beautiful Gardens - Outreach & International Affairs - Virginia Tech

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successes," says Herbert. ;'Each locality'steam works very hard to make theirsystem effective and sustainable."With the institute's inception camethe federal Environmental ProtectionAgency's (EPA) designation of <strong>Virginia</strong><strong>Tech</strong> as a Public Entity EMS Resource(PEER) Center, making the universityone of 11 such centers throughout thecountry. The centers promote government-to-governmentsharing and mentoringbetween public sectors. Whileall the PEER centers provide a broadarray of information and tools to helppublic entities understand EMS for theiroperations, <strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong> has taken theI·ead in moving teams from learning toimplementation."<strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong> has set the standardfor other universities and nonprofitorganizations around the country interms of providing EMS assistance tolocal governments for managing theirenvironmental issues effectively andefficiently," says Jim Horne, EPA officerand, father of the PEER Center.As a former city manager, Herbert realizedthat the success of implementingEMS would hinge on the commitmentof top officials from each locality. Theinstitute requires a four-person unit toattend four workshops over the courseof two years. The composition of theteam reflects the area or facility. A typicalteam representing a city may consistof the city manager, city attorney,director of public works or utilities, anda representative of their choice, such asa council member or project manager.Prior to the workshops, an environmentalengineer and a COTA team visit eachDave Elmorelocality for a baseline environmentalassessment. They walk the sites, askquestions, identify potential "timebombs," and prepare the group fortraining at The Hotel Roanoke ConferenceCenter. After another three sitevisits and numerous team and seniormanagement conference calls to offersupport and measure progress, participantsearn EMS practitioner status.All participants have access to Webbasedsoftware for transmittinginformation and a site for postingresources and teaching tools. Localitiesalso share best practices. Homework isposted after the training is completed.As the program's reputation grew, theFederal Transit Administration contractedin 2004 with <strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong> forEMS training for public transportationnon profits. As a result, upgrading maintenancepractices, such as tracking fuelusage and air emissions, monitoringtire air pressure, and adjusting idlingtimes for vehicles, has made a hugeimpact.The Utah Transit Authority's participationled to the implementation of theirsystem-wide, ISO-certified EMS. "TheBob Herbert, a Fellow of <strong>Virginia</strong><strong>Tech</strong> 's Center for Organizationaland <strong>Tech</strong>nological Ad vancement.consults with his associate, RoseWoodford, about an upcomingEnvironmental ManagementSystems Implementation Institute.cora. vt.eaubenefits have been considerable,"said Chief Performance Officer JerryBenson. "We realized direct savings ofover $1.3 million in our first full year ofimplementation. Employees at everylevel work cleaner, more efficiently, andless wastefully."The most recent outgrowth of the programis the annual <strong>Virginia</strong> EMS Conferencedesigned to share best practices,provide updates about ISO 14001,and lend support to all those in variousstages of their EMS ventures.The EMS Institute continues to branchout and is now involved with theChesapeake Bay Initiative, an allianceof states committed to pollution controlefforts in the bay and its tributaries. Inconcert with the <strong>Virginia</strong> Department ofEnvironmental Quality and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, <strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong>is working with eight teams from wastewatertreatment plants that dischargeinto the Chesapeake Bay watershed.The evolving ventures continue between<strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong> 's Center for Organizationaland <strong>Tech</strong>nological Advancement's EMSprogram, VDEQ, and the EPA's Office ofWater. Plans include the organizationof a formal <strong>Virginia</strong> EMS Association.Meanwhile, another two-year programis underway for 13 teams that have embarkedon the journey to build cleaner,safer, and more efficient communities.<strong>Virginia</strong> <strong>Tech</strong>, Georgia <strong>Tech</strong> , Kansas State University,Purdue University, University of Colorado, University ofFlorida, University of Massachusetts, and the University ofMissouri share the designation of Public Entity EMS ResourceCenters, along with the Global Environmental and <strong>Tech</strong>nologyFoundation and the Sustainable Earth Initiative.Outreacil NOW 117

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