VA Tech COTA is one of eight U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) designated EMS technical assistance centers under the Public Entity Environmental Management System Resource (PEER) Center program (www.peercenter.net). The Local Resource Centers (LRCs), located around the country, were selected to promote EMS competence and encourage government-to-government sharing and mentoring between public sector organizations on the local and regional level. Each center actively supplies communities with technical expertise, field-tested tools, and support for EMS implementation.
The PEER Center is made possible thanks to a cooperative agreement between the U.S. EPA Office of Water and the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF) and evolved from federal, local and state EMS pilot programs that have validated the environmental and economic benefit of EMSs in the public sector. Today, the PEER Center acts as a central clearinghouse specifically designed to aid local, county, and state governments that are considering implementing or have implemented an EMS and want to access the knowledge and field experience of other public entities that have done so. Among the many offerings of the PEER Center, include guidance materials, implementation tools, and mentor connections.
Joining COTA in this exciting initiative are the following LRCs:
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Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute Center for International Standards & Quality (CISQ) 151 Sixth Street 143 O'Keefe Building Atlanta, GA 30332-0640 Contact: Tim Israel Phone: (404) 894-0968 tim.israel@edi.gatech.edu www.industry.gatech.edu/quality/ |
Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute Economic Development Building - Technology Square 760 Spring Street NW Atlanta, GA 30332-0640 Contact: Deann Desai Phone: (770) 605-4474 deann.desai@gatech.edu www.innovate.gatech.edu |
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Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute 133 Ward Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-2508 Contact: Barb Johnson Phone: (785) 452-9456 barblj@ksu.edu www.sbeap.org |
Purdue University Indiana Clean Manufacturing Technology and Safe Materials Institute (CMTI) 2655 Yeager Road, Suite 103 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Contact: Lynn Corson Phone: (765) 463-4749 corson@purdue.edu www.ecn.purdue.edu/CMTI/EMS/EMS |
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Sustainable Earth Initiative 1904 Franklin Street, Suite 418 Oakland, CA 94612 Contact: Gary Lucks or Sue Sakaki Phone: (510) 268-9210 gary@sustainableearthinitiative.org or sue@sustainableearthinitiative.org www.sustainableearthinitiative.org |
University of Colorado Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy (CORE) Advance Colorado Center 1625 Broadway, Suite 950 Denver, CO 80202 Contact: Bud McGrath Phone: (303) 592-4083 or (303) 592-4066 bud@corecolorado.org or www.corecolorado.org |
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Small Business and Environmental Assistance Division 12100 Park 35 Circle Austin, TX 78753 Contact: David James Phone: (512) 239-3184 djames@tceq.state.tx.us www.tnrcc.state.tx.us www.abouttexasems.org www.tceq.state.tx.us |
University of Florida Center for Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO) 3900 SW 63rd Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32608 Contact: William Engel Phone: (352) 392-9570 Fax: (352) 392-6910 bengel@treeo.doce.ufl.edu www.treeo.ufl.edu |
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University of Massachusetts-Lowell EMS Service Center One University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854 Contact: Madeline Snow Phone: (978) 934-4875 madeline_snow@uml.edu www.uml.edu/ems |
The Zero Waste Alliance One World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon Street Portland, OR 97204 Contact: Larry Chalfan or Dorothy Atwood Phone: (503) 279-9383 Fax: (503) 279-9381 lchalfan@zerowaste.org www.zerowaste.org |