FTA Environmental Management System: Los Angeles Case Study
1. FTA EMS Institute
Workshop #4: Los Angeles Case Study
Cris B. Liban, D.Env., P.E.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
November 2, 2011
FTA
2. Outline
• Metro Environmental and Sustainability
Program
• EMS at Metro
• Lessons Learned
• Current and Future EMS Efforts
• Questions/Discussion
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6. Environmental and Sustainability Efforts
Environment and
Sustainability
Environmental Environmental Environmental Environmental Due
Planning Compliance Remediation Diligence and Liabilities
Policy Development Environmental Climate Change and
Energy Management and Implementation Management System Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Management
Regional Outreach
and Coordination
Environmental Compliance and Services Dept. administers all but one program.
Several groups matrix together to address these issues.
EMS allows coordination while maintaining independence.
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7. Metro’s Sustainability and
Climate Change Management Policies
POLICIES
• Metro Environmental Policy
• Metro Energy and Sustainability Policy
• Metro Construction and Demolition Debris
Recycling and Reuse Policy
• Metro Environmental Liabilities Reduction
and Reporting Policy
• Metro Water Use and Conservation Policy
• Green Construction Policy
• Renewable Energy Policy
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8. Clean Air and Climate Change Management
• Emissions Reduction Initiatives
– Nation’s 1st and Largest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Fleet: >2,500 and growing
– Newer vehicle technologies are always considered
– Expansion of rail system that tap “Green” Power
– All system vehicles have multi-mobility capabilities
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9. Green Buildings and Renewables
Metro Gateway HQ
• LEED-NC and LEED-EBOM Buildings
Division 9 Building • Renewable Energy Technology
and Other Solutions
Wayside Energy Storage System
Chatsworth Sun Valley Carson Downtown LA
213KW + 213KW + 417KW + 1000KW 9
10. Sustainable Large Capital Projects
• Metro Orange Line (MOL) and MOL Canoga Extension
– Implementation of “LEED-like” sustainability principles
– Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Update of Design Criteria and Contract Documents
– Energy Efficiency, Low Impact Development, Sustainable
Practices
• Coordination with Construction Authorities
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11. Other Efforts
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
• Annual Sustainability Reports
• Water Action Plan
• Cost-Effectiveness Study for Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Strategies
• Bike Path and Bike Count Studies
• Environmental Institute
• Energy Conservation and Management Plan
• Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
• Partnerships with Colleges and Universities
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12. Environmental Management System (EMS)
PLAN
ACT DO
CHECK
• System that integrates Metro’s environmental best management
practices
• Key elements
– Staff initiated
– Management endorsed Continual Improvement
– Board supported 12
13. EMS and Sustainability
• Allows systematic assessment of Metro’s needs
and fundamental environmental issues
• Assists in the development of plan of action to
reduce liabilities and operational costs
• Reduced liabilities and financial obligations mean
cost savings
• Creates value through more efficient operations
• Leads to overall sustainability
14. Metro EMS Initiative
• Pilot Programs at Divisions 10 and Red Line Yard
• Agency-wide baselining: environmental issues
• Integrated policies using EMS as the tool to address issues
• Goal of agency-wide ISO 14001 Certification
• Management reviews are used as reality check
– Program relevance
– Resource and programming
• Cost savings determination
– Cost avoidance
– Reduced operating cost
– More efficient operations
16. Why the Red Line Yard?
• We wanted to create a success story
• Best practices and environmental programs
already exist
• Have several business units in same location
– Better bang for the buck
• If we can do it at Wayside Systems, we can do it
everywhere else….
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17. Capitalizing on Our Existing Programs
• Regular Division Staff Inspections for Facility and Process
Changes
• Complementary Sustainability Projects
• Management Audits
– Environmental Liabilities Audit
– Environmental Compliance Audit
• Stakeholder Outreach and Training
• Storage Tanks Program
• Stormwater Management Program
• Management Review and Discussions
• Building a culture of regulatory
compliance and environmental responsibility
19. Identified Environmental Issues
80 Aspects in 7 Categories in All of Red Line Yard
Process Activity Person Activity Impact on Activity Control Regulations Significance of Impacts Aspect
- Above-ground Storage Tank
Creating
Informatio
Environment Useage Ranking
(Percent)
- Underground Storage Tank
n
- Rail Car Wash Activities
Quarterly - Yearly
Weekly - Monthly
Internal Audits
Change Ability
Waste Mgmt.
Sustainability
Public Image
Specific SOP
Change Cost
Yearly - Plus
Raw Mat'ls
Probability
Concerns
Exposure
Duration
Industry
Severity
Ground
Reports
Federal
- Wastewater and Stormwater Management
Water
Local
Scale
Daily
State
Air
- Battery Management
- Waste Management, added after ISO 14001
Fueling certification
Above-Ground Diesel Hi-Rail
Vehicle Fueling W. Jones X X X X X X X X X 3 3 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 3 52
Underground Diesel Storage -
Generators W. Jones X X X X X X X X X 3 3 2 3 4 4 3 5 4 4 70
Fuel Emergencies W. Jones X X X X X X X X X 3 3 2 1 3 2 3 2 3 3 50
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20. Other Identified Challenges
Environmental Compliance
• Overlapping environmental and related functions
and Services Department
agency-wide
Environmental Clearance Planning Department
Sustainability
Environmental Remediation and Mitigation
Environmental Liabilities Treasury and Financial Services
Due Diligence Investigations Real Estate Department
Legal Support County Counsel
Environmental Compliance
Facility/Asset Inspections Facilities Maintenance
Biological Waste Cleanup
Industrial Hygiene
Permits Corporate Safety/Operations
Hazardous Materials
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21. Other Identified Challenges
• Emergency Response System Testing
– Emergency Plan tested but failed
I am so confused!!!!
– Confusion on the roles and responsibilities participants
– Fire Department did not know location
– HazMat Crew Arrived 2 hours later
• Emergency Plan Updated December 2009
• Tested but failed one more time
• New protocol was not followed
• Evacuees walked into the chlorine cloud
• Did not know who were observers or participants
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22. Other Identified Challenges
• Existence of environmental liabilities/vulnerabilities
• Training employees on environmental issues in general
and EMS in particular
• Update of MSDS sheets and other monitoring
information
• Development of new and implementation of current
Standard Operating Procedures related to EMS,
especially at Wayside Systems
• No budget and resources
• Marketing
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23. Achievements
• Board Adoption of Environmental Policy
• Form EMS Templates for document consolidation
• Identification of Metro’s environmental vulnerabilities
• Development of an Action Plan to address environmental issues
• Formed Internal/External Partnerships
• ISO Certification Winter 2011
• Creation of an EMS Awareness Video
and other marketing materials
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25. An Angeleno’s View of the FTA Training Institute
• What am I doing here in Roanoke?
• I love that peanut soup!!!
• There is the Hotel Roanoke, the Hotel Roanoke, and the
Hotel Roanoke.
• Where are the people?
• A few restaurants are actually open for dinner.
• Great architecture, and those cigars….
• There is no line at the airport.
• Bob, Rose and the VT staff are the best!
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26. But Seriously…
• We learned more about ourselves as Metro and
as individuals
• We sent the most appropriate staff to Roanoke
• We began the process of breaking down our
cylinders of excellence
• We were able to engage with Executive
Management in terms of commitment and
resources
• We were able to assure staff that “change” is
indeed real
• We continue to engage with other agencies
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27. Take Home Messages from FTA Effort
• You will never resolve everything all at once
• Keep the momentum going no matter what
• Create a win-win situation for all participants
• Make the system work for you
• Capitalize on all your available resources
• Be creative and innovative
• Having no money or support just means you need to work
harder
• Patience is a virtue; and yes, it was lonely at the top
• Lead or fail
• Have fun doing it!
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29. Bus Division 10 Pilot Effort
• Work completed independent of FTA/VA Tech Support
• Template for all Bus Facilities
• Capitalize on Red Line Yard efforts
• Three major aspects
– Brake Lathe Dust Monitoring
– Paint Booth
– Waste and Waste Stream Management (Employee Incentives)
• Lighting and Energy Efficient Opportunities
• Bus wash processes
– Water use efficiency, conservation and recycling
– Cleaning agents
– Water and workspace heat generation
– Paper recycling
• Bus Idling
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30. Current Program
• Budget of about $900,000 per year, 1 FTE + Consultants
• Volunteers across the agency in all business units
• EMS video is seen by all new employees
• EMS principles are fundamental to the accomplishment of
agency environmental and sustainability goals
• EIMS is a central repository of all environmental information
• Empowered employees “invest” into the program by becoming
involved outside of work
• Sustainability Capital Program is robust and growing
• Metro’s success is its contribution to the industry
Fact: Metro now saves approximately $2M/year as a result of the
application of EMS; and the ideas keep on coming….
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31. Recent Awards and Recognitions
• National Training Institute Model Program Award for
Sustainability Awareness Training
• ISO 140001:2004 certification of Red Line Yard
• LEED-NC and LEED-EBOM Buildings
• Energy Star Certification of Gateway Headquarters
• Federal, State, Local Grants
• Air Quality Awards
• AASHTO, APTA, FTA Case Study
• Finalist at the METROs Awards
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