Environmental Management SystemsInternational Standard ISO 14001

EMS ISO 140001

Why would the North Carolina Zoological Park want to become an EMS ISO 140001 institution?

EMS ISO 140001

1. Systematically improve the Zoo’s ecological footprint.

EMS ISO 140001

2. Gain credibility for sound environmental management

EMS ISO 140001

3. Model our management principles and practices for others.

EMS ISO 140001

What does the North Carolina Zoological Park need to become an EMS ISO 140001 institution?

EMS ISO 140001

•staff commitment not just compliance

•desire to set an organizational climate of improvement

•Management support and motivation for the resources required for checking and reviewing

•realize change is gradual and needs to be practical

EMS ISO 140001

EMS ISO 14001 provides an organizedstructured approach to improve our section’senvironmental impact

CHECK

PLAN

ACT DOContinual Improvement

EMS ISO 140001

PLAN

Policy/Objectives»Environmental Policy»Environmental Aspects and Impacts»Legal Requirements»Objectives and Targets»Action Plans

EMS ISO 140001

DO

Structure/Responsibility»Roles and Responsibility»Training and Competence»Operational Control»Communications»Emergency Preparedness»Document Control

EMS ISO 140001

CHECK

Checking/Corrective Action»Corrective and Preventative Action»Monitoring and Measuring»Record Keeping»EMS Auditing

EMS ISO 140001

ACT

Review»Management Review

The Zoo’s Environmental Policy

G Growth in knowledge and continued improvement

R Reduction in use of resources and waste

E Environmentally responsible and sustainable operation

E Example to others

N Necessary compliance with environmental laws and regulations

How we arrived at the Significant Environmental Aspects and Impacts

We identified 45 activities under our control which had 130 environmental aspects and impacts.

For example an aspect may be how or where a waste is generated and an impact might be the effect of that waste on the environment.

The following criteria was used to determine potential significant aspects/impacts.

Low(1) Medium(2) High(3)

Severity

Frequency

Quantity

Potentially life threatening long term effects reversible more than 1 year

Danger non-life threatening short term reversible less than 1 year

Little impact/no danger

Less than monthly

Monthly to weekly

Weekly to daily

Pounds per year

Tons per year

Tons per month

The Process……

We added the criteria numbers together to obtain a quantitative total as our first filter of the 130 aspects/impacts.

Total rank of 5 and over was determined potentially significant.

We then applied a qualitative team judgment to prioritize the most important and significant of these aspects/impacts.

10 Significant Environmental Aspects/Impacts Were Identified

ACTIVITY ASPECT IMPACT TCompost operations Total Organic Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion

MaterialsPest management Pest management Reduce use of harmful chemicalsTotal Gasoline use Gas/Diesel Depletion of Nonrenewable

ResourcesIrrigation and watering Water use Depletion of water supplyChemical fertilizing Runoff Surface water contaminationPrescribed Burning Land preservation Conserve natural communitiesElectricity Greenhouse Electricity use Depletion of Nonrenewable

ResourcesOperating Greenhouse Propane Depletion of Nonrenewable

ResourcesMaintain surface/grading Runoff/erosion Surface water contaminationRenovating/Creating Invasive plants Reduction of native plantsLandscapes

Horticulture’s Legal Requirements Were Clarified:

Compost permitPesticide application licensesPesticide storage inspections Nursery certification permitEndangered plant permits

Burn permitsPlant importation permits

Invasive plant lawsVegetation/vermin control

Dam and Sedimentation lawsChemical/Industrial pretreatment

Nonpoint Source Pollution legislation

Horticulture’s Objectives, Targets, And Performance Indicators For

Our First EMS Program Have Been Drafted. Responsible Staff And Their Time Frames Have Been

Identified.

ACTIVITY Compost operationsASPECT Total organic materials

IMPACT Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion

Objective: Maintain compost operationTarget: Minimum of 1067 Tons waste receivedProgram: 1. Training on separation of incoming

waste2. Complete/Implement Tub

Grinder/burning study3. Complete corrugated cardboard

study and implement interimrecommendations

4. Improve sanitation of site5. Submit annual report and apply for

permit renewal

ACTIVITY Compost operationsASPECT Total organic materials

IMPACT Recycling/reusing/landfill diversion

Objective: Add other organic materials to compostTarget: Increase sources by twoProgram: 1. Gain compliance with procedure from

Sodexho2. Evaluate new sources Avian prop.

Mammal prop., wildlife rehab3. Review existing sources for

compliance

ACTIVITY Pest managementASPECT Pest management

IMPACT Reduce use of harmful chemicals

Objective: Use least toxic, effective method of pest control

Target: Evaluate two control methodsProgram: 1. Review, document and update

operating procedures2. Train on operating procedures3. Study alternative herbicides4. Evaluate Fire Ant control products5. Evaluate Entomologist services

ACTIVITY Total Gasoline useASPECT Gas/Diesel

IMPACT Depletion of Nonrenewable Resources

Objective: Reduce consumption of Gas/Diesel fuelTarget: Formal plan of action developed and 5%

reduction in fuel consumptions from2002 levels for 2003

Program: 1. Determine usage by Vehicle/ Equipment for first 6 months of2002

2. Pilot study of usage patterns viavolunteers

3. Driving Tips awareness4. Explore Alternative vehicles/equip.5. Formal plan for efficiency measures6. Develop, Document, Train on SOP’s

ACTIVITY Irrigation and wateringASPECT Water use

IMPACT Depletion of water supply

Objective: Apply Xeriscaping principles to greatestextent feasible

Target: Implement Xeriscape principles on GardenFriends, Chimp, and Rhino.

Program: 1. Implement Xeriscaping principles on Garden Friends landscape

2. Develop, Document and Train on SOP’s for Garden Friends garden

3. Water metering program for Chimp.4. Develop, Document and Train on

SOP’s for Chimp exhibit5. Develop irrigation system for Rhino

using Xeriscape principles

ACTIVITY Irrigation and wateringASPECT Water use

IMPACT Depletion of water supply

Objective: Apply Xeriscaping principles to greatestextent feasible

Target: Train 80% of affected horticulture staff onXeriscape principles

Program: 1. Improve awareness of Xeriscaping principles

ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff

IMPACT Surface water contamination

Objective: Fertilize with environmentally friendly products at proper levels

Target: Exterior protocols in place by 2002 and research Interior protocols 2003

Program: 1. Maximize Exterior use of organic fertilizers through protocols

2. Research organic fertilizer use in interior exhibits

ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff

IMPACT Surface water contamination

Objective: Maintain or Improve water qualityTarget: Assess impact of Horticulture on Water

qualityProgram: 1. Develop and implement a testing

program2. Determine major contributors to

water quality3. Determine methods to evaluate

water quality

ACTIVITY Chemical fertilizingASPECT Runoff

IMPACT Surface water contamination

Objective: Maintain or Improve water qualityTarget: Implement Water Quality management planProgram: 1. Develop plan of action

2. Develop, Implement and Train on SOP’s

ACTIVITY Prescribed burningASPECT Land preservation

IMPACT Conserve natural communities

Objective: Conserve natural communitiesTarget: Maximize use of natural methods of

management using ecological factors like prescribed burns

Program: 1. Review, Update and Train burn team on operating procedures

ACTIVITY Electricity use at GreenhouseASPECT Electricity use

IMPACT Depletion of NonrenewableResources

Objective: Conserve electricityTarget: Comply with standard operating proceduresProgram: 1. Review, Update and Train

appropriate staff on operatingprocedures

ACTIVITY Operating GreenhouseASPECT Propane

IMPACT Depletion of NonrenewableResources

Objective: Conserve propaneTarget: Comply with standard operating proceduresProgram: 1. Review, Update and Train

appropriate staff on operatingprocedures

ACTIVITY Maintain surface/gradingASPECT Runoff/erosion

IMPACT Surface water contamination

Objective: minimize runoff/erosionTarget: Document standard operating proceduresProgram: 1. Document and Train appropriate

staff on operating procedures

ACTIVITY Renovating/Creating Landscapes ASPECT Invasive plants

IMPACT Reduction of native plants

Objective: Conserve Native PlantsTarget: Develop standard operating proceduresProgram: 1. Develop and Train appropriate

staff on operating procedures

Currently Discussing Roles and Responsibilities of the Program.

Mary Joan Pugh – EMS CoordinatorCore Team –Management Review Board

Gin Wall – Horticulture Management Representative, Approve EMS documents

Cathy Lewis – Maintain documentation

Associate Curators – EMS Team Representatives, Develop Protocols/Procedures, Trainers

Hort. Supervisors – EMS Team Representatives, Update instructions, Responsible for EMS reporting

Hort. Technician & Grounds workers – EMS Team Representatives

Organizing Training and Record Keeping

Tracking the EMS program appears to be complex but we are looking at a decentralized database that once in place could be used for other training record keeping.

We are currently identifying:

Who needs training on what

Who the trainers should be

What documents should the trainer use

Who has authority to revise the document

Horticulture staff’s accomplishments toward sustainable operations has been admirable. But we hit a plateau.

“Picking the Low Hanging Fruit….”

Composting

IPM

OrganicFertilizers

Recycling

Land use planning

Managementplanning

It has become harder to figure out what we should do especially on our more fixed and necessary operations.

Conferences

Conservation Captains

Internet research

Other Zoo’sprograms

We’ve used various sources for tips and ideas of how to improve our operations but never had a process in which to focus on and break down the more complex activities into manageable ideas.

Starting with the low hanging fruit helped us begin…

Now having a structured process and highly motivating internal and external audits should take us…

1. To More Sustainable Operations

2. EMS Certification

3. “Walking the Talk”.