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H. The Methods and Practices of EnTA John Hay provided a comprehensive description of the EnTA methodology and the associated best practices. He noted that, to help ensure the success of EnTA, it is appropriate to develop an action plan for undertaking the assessment. EnTA is best divided into five linked steps, in addition to preparation, reporting and follow-up activities (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Overview of the EnTA Process The start of any EnTA requires the evaluation team to establish the assessment framework, goals, commitment, and resources available. In this phase the tasks, responsibilities, timetable and budget for the project should also be established. Step 1 includes describing the proposed technology by defining the technology being considered, identifying the goals the technology is intended to satisfy, identifying the stakeholders and by characterising the operation and development of the technology. The next step (Step 2) involves identifying the raw materials, land, energy, labour, infrastructure and supporting technologies required for the technology to operate, and the wastes and hazardous products produced by the technology. The potential environmental and related impacts associated with each of these components are also characterised in this step. The inputs and outputs are considered over the lifecycle of the technology. The significance of the potential impacts identified in Step 2 are elaborated in Step 3, leading to an overall assessment of the environmental risks. Information gaps and uncertainties are also identified, contributing to the decision as to whether there is sufficient information to reach a consensus regarding the impacts. An important part of EnTA is consideration of alternative technologies that may also achieve the same goals as the proposed technology. Other technologies are considered in Step 4, in order to determine if they are likely to achieve the same goals, but with lower overall environmental impact. The fifth step is to combine all of the previously acquired information in order to reach a consensus as to the suitability of the proposed technology, and any alternatives. This step also involves identification of any gaps and uncertainties in the assessment process that may prevent development of consensus-based recommendations. Important actions after the completion of the preceding five steps include reporting the findings and recommendations to the interested parties. Completion of the steps in the EnTA Manual should not be considered the end of the assessment. Follow-up activities include monitoring of the use of the findings and identifying where subsequent assessments might be strengthened. Although Figure 1 suggests that the five steps of the EnTA process are sequential, this is not necessarily the case. In many instances the various steps in the technology evaluation can be undertaken simultaneously or in a different order, depending upon the timeframe and resources available to the assessment team. Also, EnTA can be an incremental and circular process (as Figure 1 implies), continually incorporating new information, understanding and assumptions as they become available. I. Practical, field-based exercises in EnTA The practical nature of the workshop was facilitated by participants being given the opportunity to visit and assess the PRI secondary lead plant at Bulacan, close to Manila. In 1995 PRI commissioned state of the art US designed and sourced lead recycling (battery breaking and desulfurizing) equipment. But the company is always seeking new technology developments that will further improve its environmental performance, productivity and product quality. The company has teamed up with local universities and lead industry bodies, such as the Battery Council International and the ILMC, to test and develop cleaner and more robust processes. The plant complies with the Philippine's environmental legislation for emissions, discharges and occupational exposure and was awarded ISO 14001 accreditation in November 1999. PRI has been a focus of the UNCTAD-ILMC Study on Lead Acid Battery Recycling in the Republic of the Philippines and it has been actively involved in the Private Sector Participation in Managing the Environment (PRIME) Project of the Philippine's Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. PRI is the largest government licenced battery recovery and secondary lead smelting facility in the Philippines, and the company plays a leading role in the protection and preservation of the environment. Thus the Bulacan facility of PRI made an excellent case study, consistent with the workshop objectives.
Prior to the field trip participants were briefed on the recycling operations of the Bulacan plant, including personal health and safety requirements. Participants were also divided into three working teams, based on criteria that resulted in teams having a mix of technical, policy, environmental, regulatory and national backgrounds and expertise. Each team was asked to appoint a facilitator to ensure that best use was made of the expertise in the group, that all members can and do contribute and that all tasks were completed, with appropriate allocation of time to each. Each team also appointed a rapporteur, to ensure that the results of discussions were recorded, and to communicate the findings of the team to other workshop participants. One team was tasked to initiate an EnTA related to the collection, transport and storage of used lead acid batteries at the plant . They were also asked to develop a set of goals for the assessment, with these goals being clear, achievable and measurable. In addition, the team was asked to identify potential stakeholders and report back to the full group. A second team was asked to initiate an EnTA related to the hydro-metallurgical reprocessing of used lead acid batteries and therefore develop a set of goals for the assessment, with the goals again being clear, achievable and measurable. A preliminary checklist of potential environmental impacts was to be developed, and potential stakeholders identified. All findings were to be reported to all workshop participants. The third team was given similar tasks to the second team, except the focus was on enhanced pyro-metallurgical recycling of used lead acid batteries. The teams were advised of the time allocation for their activities, such that approximately 15 minutes were to be allocated to self introductions that described current employment and responsibilities and identified the expertise being brought to group. The group exercise was to take some 60 minutes and reporting back around 30 minutes. The teams used the EnTA Manual to guide them in their preparatory work. Given the fact that the plant was already in operation, the EnTA procedures adopted by the teams involved an assessment of the existing plant (to provide a baseline for environmental and related impacts), identifying specific new or incremental technologies, and subsequently assessing their environmental performance relative to the baseline. After further briefings at the plant, related to plant operations and health and safety requirements, each assessment team was divided into two groups (to keep group sizes manageable) and all participants were issued with the required safety clothing and respiratory equipment. Team members then toured the plant, accompanied by knowledgeable members of the PRI staff. In addition to gaining an oversight of the plant's operations, the groups gathered the information required to complete the relevant worksheets in the EnTA Manual, with each team focusing their assessment on the tasks assigned during the preparatory activities. Information gathering was undertaken by a combination of visual inspection, questioning of appropriately experienced team members and PRI staff and by inspection of relevant documentation held at the plant. The assessment required approximately four hours on site. This would be a minimum amount of time required for an assessment of the type undertaken in the present case study, and also assumes considerable preparation has been undertaken prior to the site visit.
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