Talk:Chem395:February 22 discussion

This is the location for the first meeting of the Environmental Committee of Acme Chemical Company as part of the Chemistry 395 role playing scenario.

Date and time

Based on previous schedules, I'd suggest we meet at 2:00-3:00pm on Wednesday.

Agenda

The recent incident on the plant. Take a look at the newspaper story if you haven't seen it. The EPA people come here on Friday to look at environmental aspects of the incident, and I'd like your thoughts on what we should tell them. Bob will introduce this.

How can we put our environmental plans onto the fast track? I'd like to be able to tell the Chamber of Commerce folks next week that we are really a responsible company, and our plans should help. The main plans include looking at:

• Design for the environment (DFE)
• ISO 14000

In this meeting I'd like Chris to take the lead in talking about DFE, and Jesse should handle ISO 14000.

Discussion

We're about to start. If you have a minute, take a look at [this newspaper story - not good! Once everyone's here, I'll get the ball rolling then ask Bob to say a bit about what happened. Walkerma 13:57, 27 February 2008 (EST)

OK, let's get started. We have the press sensationalizing our recent incident, OSHA fining us, and now the EPA is breathing down our neck. We first have to figure out what to do. Jesse, Chris, are you here now? Walkerma 14:03, 27 February 2008 (EST)

I'm here Murphy44 14:02, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Here!J-Fed 14:04, 27 February 2008 (EST)

I feel we need to figure out what happened and what concerns if any the towns people should have and report this to the public so they know. Murphy44 14:06, 27 February 2008 (EST)

We could also plug our green project and let the people know that we are doing everything in our power to protect our workers and the surrounding environmentMurphy44 14:07, 27 February 2008 (EST)

myspacebardoesntwork!!!Ineedtoswitchcomputers.J-Fed 14:08, 27 February 2008 (EST)

We had an explosion in the reactor V388, while running the DMBTFE process. We introduced formal hazard assessments after the 1998 incident, but for some reason we missed this scenario. We're still figuring out the cause (see homework 2). Bob Johnson 14:08, 27 February 2008 (EST)

So, what do we tell the EPA? Walkerma 14:09, 27 February 2008 (EST)

This I feel is where we really need to push our new green initiative. After this incident the EPA will be watching us very closely so the greener we can be the faster we can regain their trust and prove to them that we really do have the environment in our best interest. Murphy44 14:11, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Yes, very true, we need all the brownie points we can get. Walkerma 14:13, 27 February 2008 (EST)

I feel that this could be a great way to jump on the EPA's Design for the environment project Murphy44 14:14, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Yes, I agree. The ISO certification that we are going for and the new initiatives the company is heading towards need to be put out to the public. The sooner we can become green, the better future the company has. J-Fed 14:15, 27 February 2008 (EST) 14:13, 27 February 2008 (EST)

I think we can tell them that in the short term we will make DMBTFE a priority for a fresh hazard assessment. Then over the next year or two, we can start work on making a greener version of this process, since I believe we're supposed to be getting orders for this compound for the next few years. Bob Johnson 14:15, 27 February 2008 (EST)

This sounds like a smart course of action Bob, the public also should know that DMTFE is our priority and is being reassessed as well. Murphy44 14:16, 27 February 2008 (EST)

OK, sounds good. I want to fast track these initiatives. At the last meeting we talked about Design for the Environment and ISO 14000. I'd like to have a provisional report on each by by March 21, and the final draft by Friday April 11, 2008. Can we do that? Walkerma 14:18, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Yes I will work on getting a committee together today to start researching what needs to be done for DFE project Murphy44 14:21, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Good point. Review the process and try to make it better. ISO 14000 is a series of standards, and guideline reference documents, which cover the following

   * Environmental Management Systems
   * Environmental Auditing
   * Eco Labeling
   * Life Cycle Assessment
   * Environmental Aspects in Product Standards
   * Environmental Performance Evaluation J-Fed 14:20, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Mine is on the ISO 14000? J-Fed 14:21, 27 February 2008 (EST)

I can gather the necessary people and materials, yes. How long is the report? J-Fed 14:22, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Yeah boss, what do you want to know from us in our reports? Murphy44 14:23, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Chris, it would be great if you can take on Design for the environment? Jesse, thanks for doing ISO 14000. It will be only around 1000 words, but it needs to be convincing. Walkerma 14:24, 27 February 2008 (EST)

Excellent that sounds very feasible to me a great step in the right direction. DFE has a great Integrated Environmental Management Systems (IMES) Partnership that I think would fit ACME well. Murphy44 14:26, 27 February 2008 (EST)

In time we could even strive towards becoming a IMES lead organization, then the EPA would be embracing us instead of breathing down our necksMurphy44 14:28, 27 February 2008 (EST)