Best Management Practice and Environmental Management Systems: Are You Really Prepared?, 1999 Environmental Conference Proceedings

John F. Spisak

BE&K/Terranext

American Purification, Inc.

Paul Eisen

BE&K/Terranext

Even the most environmentally aware mill with the best programs and procedures can discover it is no match for a series of events that bring the regulators and the lawyers to their doorstep. Solid, thorough, and compliant programs and procedures are not sufficient. Total, involved corporate commitment along with regularly trained and drilled personnel are essential to protecting any facility from the onslaught that can result when circumstances conspire to create a “situation”.

This “paper” is in fact a participatory melodrama that will challenge facilities’ programs as well as their professionals’ skills and preparedness. A “regulatory event” will occur and a group of participants will deal with the prime event and subsequent events in real-time. The consequences of those actions will be described and dealt with as if it were a legal and regulatory setting. Thus, this “paper” will be “written” by the session participants.