2003 Pollution Prevention Internship Program
Internship Final Report
September 9, 2003
Project Title: Pollution Prevention Intern/Intern Liaison
Intern:
Maunie Brewster
HCR 63 Box 435
So. Acworth, NH 03607
Home phone: 603-863-1109
Email: mlb@cisunix.unh.edu
Facility:
N.H. Department of Environmental Services
Pollution Prevention Program
6 Hazen Dr.
Concord, NH 03301
Contact:
Sara Johnson
Pollution Prevention Program Manager
Phone: 603-271-6460
Email: sjohnson@des.state.nh.us
Executive Summary
During the summer of 2003, I interned at the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services, Pollution Prevention Program (NHPPP) in Concord, NH.
Throughout the duration of my internship, I took on many responsibilities. These
responsibilities included: creating and updating websites; various research projects;
attending on-site assessments; creating surveys, brochures, letters and documents;
suggesting guidelines for state agency recycling in New Hampshire; assisting the NHPPP
staff on daily tasks; and being an intern liaison.
Creating and updating websites, included performing research on various topics and
reformatting existing websites. Attending site visits consisted of researching information
about the companies existing permits and waste streams that they may have, assessing the
company to determine if they are in compliance with the rules and regulations,
researching any information the company may need, and writing an evaluation report
about the company. Outreach documents were created to inform the public of various
pollution prevention strategies and regulations. These documents included: a recycling
brochure that is to be given to state agency employees about state agency recycling; a NH
Assistance brochure that provides contact information for free, confidential, nonregulatory assistance offered by experts in the specific field; emails, surveys and letters
sent to home and health care associations, mental health clinics and nursing homes for
mercury reduction strategies.
Introduction/Background
NHPPP provides non-regulatory, free and confidential
assistance to New Hampshire businesses, municipalities, public
agencies, organizations and residents. NHPPP features technical assistance, site
assessments, workshops and training, and governor’s award program. NHPPP’s
technical staff can research information relating to: process modifications that follow the
pollution prevention (P2) hierarchy to eliminate, reduce and recycle; solid and hazardous
waste management; regulatory questions; air and wastewater issues, and; energy and
water conservation. NHPPP can provide you with information on new technologies,
pollution prevention products and vendors, fact sheets, case studies, and success stories
right from their library. The main focus for NHPPP is to eliminate pollution or wastes at
the source and to minimize their release into the environment prior to recycling, treatment
or disposal.
Goals/Objectives
My goals at the DES over the ten-week period, included: creating and
updating websites; various research projects; attending on-site assessments;
creating surveys, brochures, letters and documents; suggesting guidelines for
state agency recycling in New Hampshire; assisting the NHPPP staff on
daily tasks; and being an intern liaison.
Some personal goals, included: learning more about state agencies, NH
rules and regulations, and pollution prevention techniques and strategies.
Approach and Accomplishments
Creating and Updating Websites:
Approach: A good portion of my internship was spent updating and reorganizing the
NHPPP website. I reformatted many websites so that it will be easier for the public to
utilize. I drafted the websites using word, and once the websites were designed in the way
that the NHPPP staff agreed upon, the documents were sent to the web master at the DES
who put the website together.
Accomplishments: My accomplishments included: reorganizing the Universal Waste
website; reformatting the Pollution Prevention at Health Care Facilities website, the
Mercury Thermometer websites, the Dioxin Reduction at Healthcare Facilities website
and the Mercury Reduction at Healthcare Facilities website; creating the Mercury-Free
Thermometer website and the Infectious Waste websites.
Research Projects:
Approach: There were several research projects that were assigned to me throughout the
duration of the internship. These projects included: non-toxic nail care
products; pollution prevention techniques for woodworking; chemicals
that remove chrome, and; storm drain run off rules and laws. These
projects were done via the Internet. My first attempt at researching
this information was through the Department of Environmental Services web site, if I
couldn’t find adequate information there I would then search the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) website, and then I would use the Google search engine on
the internet.
On-Site Assessments
Approach: Throughout my internship at the DES, I attended several
site visits. Before I could attend these visits, research had to be done
on the facilities. The research included finding out if the facility had
any permits, underground storage tanks and any waste streams.
Once this was done, then the next step would be to attend the
facility. This included taking a tour of the facility and asking appropriate questions to
determine if they are in compliance with the existing rules and regulations. After the tour
of the facility, my next task was to write a report that included all the information
discussed at the visit, including any pollution prevention techniques that the company can
benefit from. Along with the repot, I would also include fact sheets to help the company
learn more about specific topics, such as: Waste Antifreeze: Management Requirements
for Handlers and Transporters, Contaminated Cloth Wipes for Laundering, Mercury
Containing Devices and many others.
Accomplishments: I used the One-Stop website, found on the DES website, to research
the facilities. This website gave me all of the information that was needed. During the
visit, I would take appropriate notes so that I would be able to write the report. I visited a
department of public works, two wastewater treatment plants, an automobile restoration
facility and a Jr./Sr. high school.
Creating Documents
Surveys:
Approach: NHPPP has extended their outreach to include not only
hospitals but to also include home health care facilities, nursing homes
and mental health clinics. The outreach will assist these facilities in
the management of mercury-containing devices by promoting
pollution prevention techniques. The outreach included sending out anonymous surveys
to various facilities to determine their management of mercury-containing devices. The
first task that I had to do was to research what devices these facilities uses. After doing
this research, I’ve concluded that these facilities use: mercury thermometers, mercury
thermostats, blood pressure cuffs, batteries and fluorescent bulbs. The next step was to
create questions for the survey in a way that people could easily understand.
Accomplishments: I created surveys to be sent out to home health care associations,
nursing homes and mental health clinics. The information provided from the surveys will
allow NHPPP to determine the areas they need to focus on for further outreach
opportunities.
Brochures:
Approach: I created a state agency paper-recycling brochure that
will be given to new state employees. This brochure includes why
recycling is important, what are acceptable and non-acceptable
recycling items, and general information on recycling paper. I
found all of the necessary information via an Internet search.
Accomplishments: I have created a State Office and Agency Recycling (SOAR)
brochure that will be given to new state employees. This brochure will inform the
employees of the importance of recycling and what items are accepted for recycling.
Letters:
Accomplishments: I created several letters, including:
A follow-up letter to hazardous waste coordinators who attended the
hazardous waste coordinator training. This letter briefly mentions the
pollution prevention (P2) topics that were discussed at the training, including the benefits
of P2 and the services NHPPP offers.
Letters and emails about dioxin and mercury to be sent to home health care facilities,
nursing homes and mental health clinics.
Documents:
Approach: N.H. has passed a law, stating that all state agencies must
recycle paper. The problem with this law is that there are no rules or
guidelines for state agencies to follow. One of my tasks this summer was to
suggest guidelines for paper recycling at state agencies. I did this task by
researching other state agency paper recycling guidelines and to determine which rules
would best suit N.H. The states that I researched include: California, Nevada, Virginia,
Florida, Vermont, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Accomplishments: After researching other state agency recycling rules, I put together a
set of guidelines that N.H. could use to enforce state agency recycling.
Intern Liaison:
Approach: As an intern liaison I was responsible for answering any
questions that other P2 interns had. I was also responsible for organizing
the two P2 presentations.
Because I worked at the DES, it was very easy for me to respond quickly to questions
that interns had. I was able to use the resources that are readily available at the DES
along with the Internet and/or documents. Some questions that I had included:

How to begin a recycling program at Velcro?

Who can I call to recycle shrink-wrap, fiber drums and other plastics?

Where can I find a format for creating a RCRA plan?

Where can I find a website for nationally banned pesticides?

Where can I find a list of vapor recover “State 2” equipment that hospitals can
buy?
Other tasks that I performed as an intern liaison included: creating an agenda for the P2
presentations and forwarding the emails to the interns that the P2 coordinator would
direct to me.
Chemical usage, equipment needs:
None
Release/waste generated at the facility
None
Pollution Prevention Benefits
Promoting pollution prevention, reducing waste, properly managing
mercury-containing products and dealing with compliance issues are
all pollution prevention benefits that NHPPP offers. Promoting
pollution prevention has several benefits, including: saving money, using raw
materials, staff resources, equipments, energy and water more efficiently; improving
worker health and safety, decreasing regulatory requirements, and; improving community
relations, company image and customer loyalty. The benefits of pollution prevention will
protect the environment by reducing the risk of toxic releases into the atmosphere.
References:

New Hampshire Pollution Prevention Program, August 13, 2003,
http://www.des.state.nh.us/nhppp/.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, August 2003, http://www.epa.gov.

“Recycling Household Paint,” New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services, 2003. www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/sw/sw-25.htm.

“Pollution Prevention Tips for Paint,” New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services, 2003. www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/hw/hw-14.htm

Waste Management Universal Waste, New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services, 2003. www.des.state.nh.us/uw.htm.

Business Assistance Wood Furniture Manufacturing Compliance and Pollution
Prevention Workbook, July 2003.
www.pprc.org/pprc/sbap/workbook/tocwood.html

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, August 2003. www.h2e-online.org/

Health Care Without Harm, August 2003. www.noharm.org.
Appendix
- To get more information on “green” cleaning products
Mike Sawchuk
120 Eglinton Ave
East, Suite 1100
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E2
Phone: (416) 440-4212 Fax: (416) 487-4125
Email: msawchu@attglobal.net
- To find out California’s state agency recycling regulations
Brian Foran
Phone: (916) 341-6597
Email: bforan@ciwmb.ca.gov
- To find out what chemicals are used for chrome etching
George Cushnie
National Metal Finishing Resource center
10507 Walter Thompson Drive
Vienna, VA 22181
Phone: 703-255-2240
Fax: 703-255-2248
Email: george@caiweb.com