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Environmental Management System (EMS) Pilot Program
As an outcome of the 2008 legislation, House File 2570,*pdf was signed into law. The legislation establishes a program and process that allows solid waste planning areas to be designated as environmental management systems (EMS) by demonstrating compliance with a set of solid waste reduction and beneficial environmental activities with a commitment to continuous improvement. A provision in the bill created a nine-member advisory council appointed by the director of the Department of Natural Resources. The main function of the council is to make recommendations as to which solid waste comprehensive planning areas who apply for the EMS designation should be selected. Such designation qualifies a planning area to take advantage of the incentives set forth in the legislation. The council also makes recommendations on how the Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) funding allocated to support this program should be spent. All of the above recommendations are subject to the approval of the Environmental Protection Commission. The Council Members are:
The advisory council determined it would be beneficial to have outside assistance in this initial year of implementing EMS. After a competitive process, the advisory council selected Gresham, Smith and Partners, a firm with a great deal of experience in start up of EMS programs to assist pilot project areas and the council. In October, 2009, the Environmental Protection Commission approved the contract for Gresham, Smith and Partners and the selection of six solid waste pilot areas as recommended by the advisory council. The six areas are:
The initial training meeting for the pilot areas was held in November. Watch this website for more information on this process. Meeting minutes and other pertinent documents and data will be posted here. For more information regarding the State of Iowa’s current solid waste management policies and programs please see the Department’s white paper titled
“Argument for Change, Vision for the Future”.
Documents Approved by the Council:
Schedule of future meetings:
March 25, 2010 Meeting
February 18, 2010 Meeting
January 26, 2010 Pilot Quarterly Meeting
January 25, 2010 Meeting
December 17, 2009 Meeting
November 17-18, 2009 Pilot Kick-off Meeting
November 16, 2009 Meeting
September 18, 2009 Meeting: September 17, 2009 Meeting: September 2, 2009 Meeting: July 20, 2009 Meeting: June 23, 2009 Meeting:
May 28, 2009 Meeting/Workshop:
May 11, 2009 Meeting: May 1, 2009 Meeting:
March 9, 2009 Meeting:
February 11, 2009 Meeting:
January 26, 2009 Meeting: January 6, 2009 Meeting: December 15, 2008 Meeting:
November 13, 2008 Meeting: October 28, 2008 Meeting:
October 10, 2008 Meeting:
September 16, 2008 Meeting:
DNR Contact
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