Pprc will assist six (6) industrial entities, located in vulnerable communities in the pacific northwest, by helping them reduce the amount of hazardous material, pollutant, or toxic contaminant…

The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) was awarded a $121,053 project grant from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 under the Source Reduction Assistance federal grant program (CFDA 66.717).

The grant will fund PPRC's delivery of pollution prevention technical assistance services to six industrial facilities located in economically disadvantaged communities in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Services will include hosting roundtable discussions on pollution prevention best practices, conducting on-site assessments to identify source reduction opportunities, developing recommendations customized to each facility's operations, and providing guidance to implement changes from October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. PPRC will also create educational case studies and bilingual fact sheets summarizing the work and share results through a national webinar to promote adoption of source reduction practices in similar at-risk communities.

Pprc will assist six (6) industrial entities, located in vulnerable communities in the pacific northwest, by helping them reduce the amount of hazardous material, pollutant, or toxic contaminant that is generated as a result of their processes. This reduction will minimize the potential of unintended toxic releases in disadvantaged communities meeting the EPA environmental justice criteria. The project will achieve source reduction by: 1) hosting roundtable discussions with facility leadership and staff to impart the importance of pollution prevention at their location within a vulnerable community and providing potential projects of interest based on their unit operations, 2) conducting a thorough P2 assessment in each facility, 3) developing P2 recommendations based on information identified during the assessments, and 4) providing technical assistance and guidance during the implementation of the recommendations. Activities:activity 1: plan, coordinate, and host at least two (2) sector-based virtual roundtables for industrial facilities located in economically-disadvantaged communities across the region in conjunction with our state environmental partners and the fire marshals of each state. Task 1.1: use EPA's ejscreen tool to identify priority areas in washington, idaho, and oregon, and cross-reference with priority facilities identified by using EPA's risk-screening environmental indicators (rsei) in consultation with state environmental agency partners and the state fire marshal. Task 1.2: organize two (2) virtual P2 roundtables for the industries identified and recruit at least twelve (12) target facilities to each event. The roundtables will focus on communicating the risks of the industries' emissions in the disadvantaged community and will provide examples of P2 practices for each group of industries based on unit operations with the highest potential for P2 savings for their industrial sector. For example, if the industries are spray coaters, information on how to find and use less hazardous coatings, more efficient equipment cleaning, and spray coating efficiency may be the focus of one roundtable. If the industries use vapor degreasing, information on how to use aqueous cleaning instead of halogenated solvents may be the focus of the other roundtable. Pprc will coordinate with state partners to identify and recruit potential industrial facilities to attend the virtual roundtables. Task 1.3: successfully recruit at least six (6) industrial participants from the roundtable attendees. This includes getting upper-level management buy-in. Conduct direct, on-site P2 technical assistance at each facility, collect baseline P2 data, and provide recommendations. Task 1.4: discuss P2 recommendations with the facility management team and, based upon their priorities, work with each facility to adopt and implement changes that will reduce the generation of hazardous materials and introduce toxics reduction practices. Task 1.5: measure P2 improvements and collect data on all actions taken. Activity 2: pprc will create and publish educational materials on its website and promote them via its newsletter and social media: task 2.1: one case study showing the number and nature of P2 practices adopted by a facility, their motivations for adoption, and results. Task 2.2: two fact sheets that summarize P2 practices for the unit operations identified for the virtual roundtables. Each fact sheet will be produced in english and spanish (four fact sheets in total). Activity 3: pprc will share results and lessons learned in a national webinar. Task 3.1: pprc will organize a national webinar focused on lessons learned and P2 improvements made within identified sectors of concern in EJ communities. Task 3.2: record webinar and post IT on the pprc youtube channel. Task 3.3: produce two short (1-3 minute) highlights from the webinar that show the key changes and motivations of industries to adopt P2 p