Preliminary Program

For information on follow up activities to this conference see http://www.PollutionPrevention.com.

Introduction
This Engineering Foundation Conference will explore how problem-solving and decision-making tools can be utilized as a "bridge" to help prevention disciplines communicate with one another.

On the first two days of the conference, the participants will examine a large number of "tools" that are currently used in pollution prevention programs. These will range from the checklists, questionnaires, and worksheets (currently utilized in the U.S. EPA's "Facility Pollution Prevention Guide" and the U.S. Department of Energy's "Model Pollution Prevention Opportunity Assessment Guidance") to the quality management tools in the Systems Approach to Pollution Prevention.

A number of problem solving and decision making tools have been developed and utilized primarily in the quality improvement field. These structured analysis tools are designed for team use in implementing pollution prevention. Their use provokes constructive questioning and leads to understanding. All the tools provide a visual product which facilitates communication not only among team members, but also with those who will be affected by the changes. These tools have been extensively used in many industrialized countries. Some of the most common tools in use include: process mapping, Pareto analysis, cause and effect diagrams, brainstorming, bubble-up/bubble-down, criteria matrices, and action plans. Much literature is available on the nature and use of these tools. It is hoped that these tools can be used to facilitate communication among the professionals involved in pollution prevention.

On Wednesday and Thursday of the conference, the participants will break into teams of 5 to 6 people to use the available tools for specific applications and cases. Some of the cases will target facilities at the hotel/conference center (very hands on). Other cases will be formulated on the LISTSERVER and brought to the conference. Different groups will use different tools to work on the cases. Plenary sessions will be held at the end of each day to see how differently groups handled the cases. Do any of the tools offer a better way to conduct pollution prevention assessments?

On Friday, the participants will assemble a tool box that will be used in the revision of the U.S. EPA "Facility Pollution Prevention Manual." Information will be generated to describe how each tool was used and what were the strengths and weaknesses of each. In addition, this information will be available as curriculum material and research agendas to universities and other groups involved in training future pollution prevention assessment personnel.

Sunday, August 16, 1998

04:00 pm - 06:00 pm Registration

06:00 pm - 07:30 pm Dinner

07:30 pm - 08:30 pm Conference Introduction
Robert Pojasek, Conference Chair
Henry Shaw, Engineering Foundation

"The Zero Concept"
Robert Pojasek

08:30 pm - 10:00 pm Opening Reception

Monday, August 17, 1998

07:00 am - 08:30 am Breakfast Buffet

08:30 am - 12:00 noon Session I
Speakers on Current Experiences using Pollution Prevention Tools (User Communities, Private Sector and Government)

Presentations will include discussion of the tools that have been used, accomplishments, and areas of need to facilitate progress.

10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee Break

12:00 noon - 01:30 pm Lunch

01:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ad hoc small group sessions/free time

06:00 pm - 07:30 pm Dinner

07:30 pm - 09:30 pm Session II
Speakers on "The Quest for Zero" from the User

Communities--Private Sector and Government.
Presentations will include discussion of approaches and tools used to change standard practice by looking toward zero levels of error, waste, loss-time accidents, or maintenance requirements.

The emphasis will be on the nature of the tools used and the progress achieved through use of new approaches.

09:30 pm - 10:30 PM Social Hour

Tuesday, August 18, 1998

07:00 am - 08:30 am Breakfast Buffet

08:30 am - 12:00 noon Session III-A
Speakers from industry, government, academia, and pollution prevention tool creators and developers discussing the nature, application, and limitations of new, but currently available tools.

10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee Break

12:00 noon - 01:30 pm Lunch

01:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ad hoc small group sessions/free time

06:00 pm - 07:30 pm Dinner

07:30 pm - 09:30 pm Session III-B
Continuation

09:30 pm - 10:30 pm Social Hour

Wednesday, August 19, 1998

07:00 am - 08:30 am Breakfast Buffet

08:30 am - 12:00 noon Session IV
Working groups will be established to apply the tools or other approaches to pollution prevention assessments and planning to actual cases. The cases will be supplied by the conference committee from Crested Butte area facilities or will be supplied by Conference attendees.

10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee Break

12:00 noon - 01:30 pm Lunch

01:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ad hoc small group sessions/free time

06:00 pm - 07:30 pm Dinner

07:30 pm - 09:30 pm Session V
The working groups will present the results of their case studies including discussion of the results of application of the tools (where attempted) or other pollution prevention approaches.

09:30 pm - 10:30 PM Social Hour

Thursday, August 20, 1998

07:00 am - 08:30 am Breakfast Buffet

08:30 am - 12:00 noon Session VI
The working groups will work on a different pollution prevention case. One objective is to determine whether the group decides to modify its approach based on the discussion of the previous evening about possible areas of application of the tools.

10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee Break

12:00 noon - 01:30 pm Lunch

01:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ad hoc small group sessions/free time

06:00 pm - 07:30 pm Dinner

07:30 pm - 09:30 pm Session VII
The working groups will present the results of their case studies, including discussions of any lessons learned about the areas of application or non-utility of individual tools or approaches.

09:30 pm - 10:30 pm Social Hour

Friday, August 21, 1998

07:00 am - 08:30 am Breakfast Buffet

08:30 am - 12:00 noon Session VIII
Summary of the results of the working groups. Discussion of further needs to enhance the available tools or to make the tools more applicable to specific pollution prevention opportunities. In addition, discussion and recommendations about how to apply the lessons learned at the conference to plan future products, processes, or facilities will conclude the morning.

10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee Break

12:00 noon - 01:30 pm Lunch and Conference Adjournment

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