Jennie Romer Joins EPA as the Deputy Administrator for Pollution Prevention
EPA recently welcomed Jennie Romer as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. In this role, Romer will help EPA advance its pollution prevention programs, leverage P2 work to complement EPA’s risk reduction efforts, and integrate pollution prevention considerations into the Agency’s environmental justice work. Romer is the author of the book “Can I Recycle This?” and has considerable experience in recycling and waste systems. Most recently, she was with the Surfrider Foundation, where she contributed her plastic pollution policy expertise to that organization’s efforts to protect and preserve oceans and beaches. An attorney by training, she is a member of the state bars of both California and New York. She also holds degrees in zoology, environmental studies, and Black studies.
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In Remembrance of Kenneth A. Zarker
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Kenneth A. Zarker on October 10, 2021. Zarker was a longtime leader and innovator in pollution prevention, toxics reduction and waste minimization. He worked for the Texas state government for 23 years, starting in the Municipal Hazardous Waste Program in the Texas Department of Health. In 2005, he moved to Washington state where he led the Pollution Prevention and Regulatory Assistance Section in the Department of Ecology for nearly 16 years. Among his accomplishments, Zarker led the development and implementation of Washington’s toxics in products laws, including the Children’s Safe Products Act, which regulates lead, cadmium, and certain flame retardant chemicals allowed in children’s products and requires manufacturers to report chemicals of high concern to children. Ken was also the chair and champion for the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable where he led the expansion of pollution prevention nationally and internationally.
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Upcoming Webinars
The Cost-Benefit of Pollution Prevention and Source Reduction in Manufacturing: Triple Bottom Line Approach
November 4, 2021, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m EDT
This webinar will center on the “Triple Bottom Line,” a system used by many businesses to assess the profitability of sustainability practices including pollution prevention. Speakers will provide an overview of P2 concepts and practices in manufacturing and discuss the basics of P2 implementation costs and cost benefit and cash flow analyses. This webinar is sponsored in part by EPA’s P2 program and East Carolina University’s Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering.
Speakers:
- Tarek Abdel-Salam, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, East Carolina University, Department of Engineering
- David Mayo, Teaching Instructor, East Carolina University Miller School of Entrepreneurship
NCDEQ ESI Environmental Benchmarking Series: Smithfield Foods
November 16, 2021, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST
Hosted by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI), this webinar will examine the water reduction efforts by the Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation. An ESI steward, Smithfield cut water use in half over two years at its Wilson, N.C., facility through adjustments to equipment, modifications to daily procedures and the implementation of a wastewater re-use program. These measures helped the Wilson facility surpass the company-wide 10 percent water reduction goal two years ahead of schedule and achieved annual savings of more than $225,000.
Speaker: Kerry Strong, Environmental Coordinator, Smithfield Foods
Program Updates
New P2 Resource Search Tool
EPA has launched a new search tool on its website to connect visitors to P2 resources such as case studies, webinars, articles about P2 solutions, practices, and technologies. The tool allows searches by keyword, sector, and even process type.
ICYMI: Recording of 2022 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Webinar
A recording of the September 22, 2021, webinar hosted by EPA to educate stakeholders on the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and the nomination process is now available. The webinar reviewed the history of the awards, the categories within the awards, eligibility requirements, and what is needed to submit a nomination. EPA is currently accepting nominations for the 2022 awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment. Nominations are due to the agency by December 10, 2021.
 In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackle the climate crisis, EPA has added a new award category to recognize technology that reduces or eliminates greenhouse gas emissions. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute will formally judge the 2022 nominations and make recommendations to EPA. EPA anticipates giving awards to outstanding green chemistry technologies in six categories next June.
Grantee Highlights
EPA Support Brings W.A.S.T.E. Stream Mapping to Indiana Manufacturers
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), with support from an EPA Region 5 Pollution Prevention grant, has partnered with the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to offer on-site and virtual technical assistance at a significantly reduced cost to Indiana manufacturers. Under the grant, Purdue MEP uses a process improvement assessment called W.A.S.T.E. Stream Mapping to identify opportunities to reduce water use, air pollutants, solid waste, toxic chemicals use, and energy use (W.A.S.T.E.). Selected manufacturers receive 16 hours of training, and up to 40 hours of technical assistance, and are eligible for seed funding to implement improvements identified by the assessments. Applications for the next round of assistance are due by November 10, 2021. For additional information, contact Kelly Weger with Purdue MEP at weger@purdue.edu.
To see how W.A.S.T.E. Stream Mapping in action, check out IDEM’s new video on its work in Indiana manufacturing facilities.
NPPR Award Recognizes TMAC for P2 Assessment
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) has awarded a 2021 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) award to the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) in recognition of gains resulting from an on-site, P2 assessment made possible by an EPA Region 6 P2 grant. TMAC provided an Economy, Energy and Environment (E3) Assessment to NorTex Metal Finishing in Garland, Texas. The NorTex facility was evaluated for lean, energy and environmental improvement opportunities and associated cost savings. Among other potential improvements, the TMAC assessment identified 85,000 kilowatt hours of electricity savings, over $6,000 in electricity cost savings, and a $3,500 tax refund for NorTex’s manufacturing electricity usage.
P2 Helpline
The P2 Hub Helpline offers information and resources about pollution prevention. Please contact the Helpline at p2hub@epa.gov or (202) 566-0799.
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