AWMA'S 113TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE EXHIBITION

摘要

We have continually observed that a key need for industrial operations around the globe involves bridging the gap between corporate or facility reporting requirements, permitting requirements, and correlation of data directly to or from the process areas subject to these requirements. An effective "bridge" must facilitate smooth flow of data between these three tiers of reporting permitting and operations in a sustainable way that assures compliance. For example operations personnel regularly deal with activities and data related to raw material throughputs with air permit implications, hazardous waste generation, Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), or production processes. These activities are strongly influenced or controlled by aspects of the process itself but are also regulated by the tiers of permitting and reporting fequirements Most industrial facilities we speak with are challenged to successfully connect these three tiers and meet the requirements for each one. Because of the gap we observe between these tiers, there is always a "crunch" time that occurs just prior to reporting, rather than managing the data flow in a consistent way throughout the year, The size of facility or type of operation doesn't matter; this problem is persistent across the board. The purpose of this presentation, therefore, is to discuss this issue and its implications, then provide our lessons learned in supporting facilities with this challenge. Our presentation will define the three tiers and how they are intended to interconnect as context for the discussion. We will provide examples of the issues that arise as a result, including the opportunity cost of continuing historic data management that does not bridge this data flow gap Then our presentation will focus on some case studies addressing the range of solutions that are available to a facility We will discuss how digital solutions can be used to bridge the data now gap when warranted and when an Environmental Management Information System replacement may be warranted. Interim or small-scale solutions often provide significant progress towards addressing the challenge and set the stage for a larger system change should that be an appropriate step. We will also emphasize the importance of successfully managing change to bridge the data flow gap in environmental compliance tiers to provide confidence in the overall compliance assurance approach.