Sustainability 

Highlights of GETF’s sustainability and environmental management systems work includes: 

Virginia Regional Environmental Management System (V-REMS)                Since its inception as a White House sponsored initiative over five years ago, GETF has facilitated V-REMS Partnership for the Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR).  This partnership joins together all levels of government and the private sector to participate on coordinated activities for the benefit of the overall partnership and region.  Working together, these organizations use the EMS process to significantly strengthen their lines of communication and identify and jointly address stakeholder priority issues such a water and air quality, natural resource impacts, energy issues, encroachment and growth from a regional perspective.  

In our capacity as a neutral non-profit, GETF has worked with the V-REMS partnership to identify and attain meaningful benefits to its participants. As a result, the V-REMS partnership has grown from four public organizations in the Richmond area, to a group of over 65 public and private organizations based mainly in greater Richmond but increasingly from other parts of the Commonwealth of Virginia as well.  The partnership was awarded the White House Closing the Circle Award in 2005.  Recently, the V-REMS partnership and individual partners received the 2008 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards and DOD/EPA/States Region III 2007 Environmental Colloquium Awards.  V-REMS was also recognized as the Businesses for the Bay Partner of the Year for 2007.

The International Institute of Sustainable Seaports (I2S2)                                   Developed in partnership with the American Association of Port Authorities, GETF has launched The International Institute of Sustainable Seaports (I2S2).  It is a non-profit Center of Excellence specifically designed to support port authorities, their tenants and members of the maritime community implement sustainable practices - ensuring economic vitality, while protecting environmental quality and community integrity. The I2S2 is a peer network for ports and their partners to exchange keys to success, lessons learned and cost effective approaches for implementing sustainable practices.  The I2S2 provides a policy level platform for ports to work collaboratively together on developing best practices.  The I2S2 helps ports to define sustainable solutions that proactively address long-range issues and demonstrates leadership.

Through a grant with the Port of Portland, I2S2 researched ports around the world to document how they implement sustainability and environmental best practice and processes.  In October 2009, I2S2 prepared a Summary of Best Practices for Sustainable Port Development Report based on its findings.  To view the report, click here.  On May 5, 2010, I2S2 also prepared and presented an an inventory of innovative technologies to support the Ports sector at the International Ports Sustainability Seminar in Charleston, South Carolina.  To view the inventory, click here.  

US EPA Energy Management Workshops                                                                             Starting with two workshops in New England, GETF developed eight workshops across the United States for water and wastewater utility managers. Cosponsors included EPA regional offices, state environmental and energy agencies, and professional trade associations. Over 750 participants have learned how to apply a management systems approach (Plan-Do-Check-Act) to improve energy management at their utilities.  GETF is providing follow-up activities with many workshop participants to include energy audits; prioritization of energy opportunities and benefits; implementing assessment tools and securing funding. GETF will be conducting additional workshops in the MidAtlantic and Southwestern states over the next year with participation expected in excess of 500 participants.

Port EMS/SMS Assistance Project                                                                      In partnership with the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), GETF is facilitating the 3rd Port Environmental/Security Management System (EMS/SMS) Assistance Project (2008-2010).  Modeled after the successes of the 1st Port EMS Assistance Project (2004-2005) and the 2^nd Port EMS Assistance Project, (2006-2008), this two-year project supports five public seaport authorities in developing and implementing management systems to address environmental and security issues. This collaborative learning format has helped over 50 local government entities, including twenty port authorities to date, realize substantial improvement in their environmental, economic, and security management performance.  Participants in the 2008-2010 program include the Georgia Ports Authority, South Carolina State Ports Authority, Port of Sand Diego, Port of Long Beach, and the California United Terminals.

National Public Entity EMS Resource (PEER) Center                                 Created in partnership with the U.S. EPA Office of Water, the PEER Center is an umbrella program to support Environmental Management System (EMS) implementation within the public sector.  The PEER Center was built upon data and practitioner experiences from over 100 organizations implementing EMSs through five national EMS initiatives.  The suite of ongoing complimentary programs under the PEER Center umbrella include an online clearinghouse (www.peercenter.net) of EMS information, case studies, and guidance materials, a family of eleven PEER Local EMS Resource Centers (PEER LRCs) located throughout the country to provide local communities with technical expertise, field tested tools, information sharing, and support for EMS implementation, a quarterly newsletter highlighting the latest in public entity EMS achievements and a series of technical guidance tools, including handbooks, workbooks, toolboxes, and on-line training modules.