Environmental Protection Policy
Environmental Protection Policy Overview
The Energy Group strives to protect the environment and to control and prevent pollution. We shall comply with federal, state, and local regulations, corporate policies, and other requirements to which we subscribe.
The purpose of environmental management is to minimize the impact on the environment. It is critical that we understand the importance of our work and how it relates to the environment.
The Energy Group intends to optimize environmental performance by controlling the impact that our activities, products and services have on the environment. These impacts include:
• Degrading the air, water, or soil
• Depletion of natural resources
• Creation of waste
• Potential health concerns
• Impacts to fish and wildlife.
Environmental Aspects and Your Role In Protecting The Environment
Asbestos
• Look for signs indicating the presence of asbestos.
• Report any asbestos that is exposed, friable, or, any unlabeled insulation to your supervisor. If the site contains asbestos, assume any unlabeled insulation contains asbestos until notified otherwise.
• Perform work on asbestos-containing pipe covering only if accredited by the State of Michigan as a minimum of Class III level abatement worker.
Chemical Products (such as cleaning compounds, xylene, gasoline, lube; hydraulic; and fuel oils)
• Minimize use and toxicity of chemicals.
• Eliminate nonessential use of aerosols.
• Obtain approval for all chemicals brought on site.
• Provide an MSDS for each chemical brought on site.
• Store chemical products in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
• Remove all unused chemicals upon job completion.
Chemical or Oil Spills
• Practice good house- keeping and vehicle maintenance to minimize spills.
• Immediately report any spill to your supervisor.
• Do not wash a spill down a drain.
• If safe to do so, tape-off, contain, or otherwise isolate the spill and stay upwind.
• Clean up a spill only when authorized by environmental personnel.
Contaminated Soils
Soils within some work areas may have historical or recent contamination.
• Look for signs indicating the site has a Due Care Plan. If so, follow due care work instructions.
• Notify your supervisor if you observe any staining or other indications of soil contamination.
• Remove contaminated soil only after receiving approval from environmental personnel, this will typically require analysis.
Paint and Paint Thinners
• Assume all painted or coated surfaces contain lead unless notified otherwise.
• When removing leaded paint, follow all legal requirements and.
• Store waste in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
PCB’s
• Look for PCB labels on oil-filled electrical equipment. If unlabeled, assume it contains PCBs.
• Wear proper PPE and follow appropriate work instructions if working on PCB-containing equipment.
• Immediately report any oil leak from PCB-containing equipment to your supervisor.
Soil Erosion
• Conduct activities to limit the area of impact to soils and minimize wind and water erosion.
• Ensure silt fencing is properly installed around potential erosion areas.
• Repair silt fencing when damaged.
• If a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan is required:
1. Implement all required activities and installations required by the plan.
2. Have a copy of the plan immediately available on the construction site.
3. Perform any required inspections (only if accredited by the MDEQ).
4. Immediately implement all corrections identified by site inspector.
Temporary Fuel Oil Tanks
Common requirements for temporary aboveground storage tanks (ASTs):
• If the AST has a roof, the vents must extend through the roof.
• Must be labeled “KEEP 40 FEET FROM BUILDING, COMBUSTIBLE. KEEP FIRE AND FLAME AWAY”
• Must have a 10’ clear zone around the tank of any combustible materials.
• No more than 3 ASTs per site. The ASTs must be separated from the other ASTs by > 3 feet.
• The AST must meet the following separation distances:
1. Property line – 40’
2. Public areas (sidewalks) – 25’
3. Sources of ignition – 25’
4. Storm drains – 50’
5. Public assemblage of 50 or more people – 100’
• The dispenser must be locked when not in use.
• The tank owner must have a fire extinguisher and spill response equipment nearby.
Vehicle Use and Emissions
• Utilize scheduling tools to minimize vehicle mileage when performing work at more than one substation.
• Keep work vehicles and associated equipment well maintained to minimize fuel use and maintenance failures (e.g. hydraulic hose failures).
Waste Handling
• Minimize waste using the hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
• Store waste in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
• Notify your supervisor of the wastes that will be generated in the process of your work.
• Dispose of waste at approved disposal facilities.
Water Discharges to Sanitary or Storm Drains
• Be cautious in the use of indoor and outdoor drains. Discharge material into a drain only if authorized by your supervisor or environmental personnel.
• Never discharge wastewater to basins/ streams or surrounding surface waters.
• Do not pour chemicals down sink drains (may lead to storm drains).
• Place only sanitary waste into the sanitary system.
Environmental Protection Policy Overview
The Energy Group strives to protect the environment and to control and prevent pollution. We shall comply with federal, state, and local regulations, corporate policies, and other requirements to which we subscribe.
The purpose of environmental management is to minimize the impact on the environment. It is critical that we understand the importance of our work and how it relates to the environment.
The Energy Group intends to optimize environmental performance by controlling the impact that our activities, products and services have on the environment. These impacts include:
• Degrading the air, water, or soil
• Depletion of natural resources
• Creation of waste
• Potential health concerns
• Impacts to fish and wildlife.
Environmental Aspects and Your Role In Protecting The Environment
Asbestos
• Look for signs indicating the presence of asbestos.
• Report any asbestos that is exposed, friable, or, any unlabeled insulation to your supervisor. If the site contains asbestos, assume any unlabeled insulation contains asbestos until notified otherwise.
• Perform work on asbestos-containing pipe covering only if accredited by the State of Michigan as a minimum of Class III level abatement worker.
Chemical Products (such as cleaning compounds, xylene, gasoline, lube; hydraulic; and fuel oils)
• Minimize use and toxicity of chemicals.
• Eliminate nonessential use of aerosols.
• Obtain approval for all chemicals brought on site.
• Provide an MSDS for each chemical brought on site.
• Store chemical products in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
• Remove all unused chemicals upon job completion.
Chemical or Oil Spills
• Practice good house- keeping and vehicle maintenance to minimize spills.
• Immediately report any spill to your supervisor.
• Do not wash a spill down a drain.
• If safe to do so, tape-off, contain, or otherwise isolate the spill and stay upwind.
• Clean up a spill only when authorized by environmental personnel.
Contaminated Soils
Soils within some work areas may have historical or recent contamination.
• Look for signs indicating the site has a Due Care Plan. If so, follow due care work instructions.
• Notify your supervisor if you observe any staining or other indications of soil contamination.
• Remove contaminated soil only after receiving approval from environmental personnel, this will typically require analysis.
Paint and Paint Thinners
• Assume all painted or coated surfaces contain lead unless notified otherwise.
• When removing leaded paint, follow all legal requirements and.
• Store waste in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
PCB’s
• Look for PCB labels on oil-filled electrical equipment. If unlabeled, assume it contains PCBs.
• Wear proper PPE and follow appropriate work instructions if working on PCB-containing equipment.
• Immediately report any oil leak from PCB-containing equipment to your supervisor.
Soil Erosion
• Conduct activities to limit the area of impact to soils and minimize wind and water erosion.
• Ensure silt fencing is properly installed around potential erosion areas.
• Repair silt fencing when damaged.
• If a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan is required:
1. Implement all required activities and installations required by the plan.
2. Have a copy of the plan immediately available on the construction site.
3. Perform any required inspections (only if accredited by the MDEQ).
4. Immediately implement all corrections identified by site inspector.
Temporary Fuel Oil Tanks
Common requirements for temporary aboveground storage tanks (ASTs):
• If the AST has a roof, the vents must extend through the roof.
• Must be labeled “KEEP 40 FEET FROM BUILDING, COMBUSTIBLE. KEEP FIRE AND FLAME AWAY”
• Must have a 10’ clear zone around the tank of any combustible materials.
• No more than 3 ASTs per site. The ASTs must be separated from the other ASTs by > 3 feet.
• The AST must meet the following separation distances:
1. Property line – 40’
2. Public areas (sidewalks) – 25’
3. Sources of ignition – 25’
4. Storm drains – 50’
5. Public assemblage of 50 or more people – 100’
• The dispenser must be locked when not in use.
• The tank owner must have a fire extinguisher and spill response equipment nearby.
Vehicle Use and Emissions
• Utilize scheduling tools to minimize vehicle mileage when performing work at more than one substation.
• Keep work vehicles and associated equipment well maintained to minimize fuel use and maintenance failures (e.g. hydraulic hose failures).
Waste Handling
• Minimize waste using the hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
• Store waste in separate, appropriate, and labeled containers.
• Notify your supervisor of the wastes that will be generated in the process of your work.
• Dispose of waste at approved disposal facilities.
Water Discharges to Sanitary or Storm Drains
• Be cautious in the use of indoor and outdoor drains. Discharge material into a drain only if authorized by your supervisor or environmental personnel.
• Never discharge wastewater to basins/ streams or surrounding surface waters.
• Do not pour chemicals down sink drains (may lead to storm drains).
• Place only sanitary waste into the sanitary system.
