ALEXANDRIA, VA, Aug. 19, 2004 -- The King County Wastewater Treatment Division, of Seattle, WA, was recognized for successfully achieving independent, third-party verification of the National Biosolids Partnership's environmental management system (EMS) for biosolids program.
The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) is an alliance of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), with advisory support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A related ceremony will be held in Seattle on Aug. 26.
With certification and admission into the NBP EMS program, this achievement recognizes that the agency has been independently verified as having an effective biosolids environmental management system. King County's biosolids EMS was independently verified on July 19, 2004 by NSF International to conform to the NBP's EMS guidance. "WEF is pleased with King County's successful completion and certification into the NBP EMS program," said WEF President Bill Bertera. "The Federation believes that instituting an EMS for utility management is vital to enhancing environmental excellence in local communities."
The EMS certification signifies that King County supports excellence in biosolids management, exceeds regulatory compliance obligations and provides meaningful opportunities for public participation. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division is the third of 70 demonstration agencies participating in the NBP EMS for biosolids program to achieve the "Seal of Approval". "The Federation believes that King County's audit will be viewed as a model by wastewater treatment facilities following the EMS path," said WEF Vice President J. Michael Read. "WEF and the NBP are very pleased to have them as a leader in this national effort."
For more information about the NBP's EMS program, visit: www.biosolids.org.
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