Project Grant 95303801

DESCRIPTION:THIS BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (ALSO KNOWN AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT) FUNDED GRANT PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., INFORMATION, TRAINING, TOOLS) TO BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM DEVELOP AND ADOPT SOURCE REDUCTION PRACTICES (ALSO KNOWN AS POLLUTION PREVENTION (P2)). P2 MEANS REDUCING OR ELIMINATING POLLUTANTS FROM ENTERING ANY WASTE STREAM OR OTHERWISE BEING RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO RECYCLING, TREATMENT, OR DISPOSAL. P2 PRACTICES CAN HELP BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY BY REDUCING THEIR RESOURCE USE, EXPENDITURES, WASTE AND LIABILITY COSTS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND HELPING TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WORK WILL FOCUS ON MINIMIZING POLLUTION FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS NATIONAL EMPHASIS AREAS BY PROVIDING FREE INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR EIGHT MANUFACTURING PLANTS. THESE ASSESSMENTS WILL RESULT IN A REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCING OR ELIMINATING POLLUTANTS FROM ENTERING ANY WASTE STREAM OR OTHERWISE BEING RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO RECYCLING, TREATMENT, OR DISPOSAL. THE TECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS WILL INCLUDE IDENTIFYING CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP MANUFACTURERS SAVE MONEY BY REDUCING THEIR RESOURCE USE, EXPENDITURES, WASTE AND LIABILITY COSTS REDUCING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. ACTIVITIES:THE PRIORITIES FOR P2 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND TOOLS) ALIGN WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE PROGRAM'S NATIONAL EMPHASIS AREAS (NEAS). SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE REPORTING AND SHARING CASE HISTORIES AND INFORMATION ON POLLUTION PREVENTION BEST PRACTICES THAT OTHERS CAN REPLICATE, WHILE MARKETING THIS PROGRAM. SUBRECIPIENT:A SUBAWARD WILL BE ISSUED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTER TO STRENGTHEN BOTH THE CENTER AND SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY CAPABILITIES, EFFICIENCY, AND EFFECTIVENESS IN PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE CYCLES OF THE P2 AND P3 PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND OPERATING COSTS IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. THESE EFFORTS WILL PROVIDE INVALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THEIR LESSONS LEARNED, EPA AND OTHER CALCULATION TOOLS WILL BE USEFUL IN EXECUTING INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS AND COMPLETING CASE HISTORIES. OUTCOMES:THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONDUCTED BY THE GRANTEE WILL BENEFIT FACILITIES AND, IF APPLICABLE, MAY ADDRESS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE GRANTEE IS EXPECTED TO REPORT ON P2 PERFORMANCE MEASURES (OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES) AND NOTE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS COMMIT TO FOLLOWING-UP WITH FACILITIES TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED. SPECIFICALLY, THE GRANTEE ANTICIPATES PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE EPA TO MEET ITS GOALS IN THE P2 NEA OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO HELP STUDENTS MAKE THEIR EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR PURSUING A NEW GREEN CAREER IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS LOCATED IN OVERBURDENED AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES SO THAT LEGACY POLLUTION CONCERNS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT SUCH COMMUNITIES MAY BE ADDRESSED.