History

History of MnTAP

2015

MnTAP celebrates 30 years of providing technical assistance to Minnesota businesses.

2012

MnTAP begins a waste reduction project focused on organics for Ramsey and Washington Counties.

The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services awards a contract to MnTAP to provide water conservation assistance to metropolitan businesses with private wells.

2011

Long-time MnTAP Director, Cindy McComas, retires from MnTAP.

Laura Babcock is named new MnTAP Director.

MnTAP completes the DOE-funded project (Phase I) for developing energy efficiency resources for Minnesota businesses. Phase II begins in the fall.

MnTAP completes the U.S. EPA Region 5 grant for providing pollution prevention and energy efficiency assistance to hospitality facilities.

MnTAP begins U.S. Department of Agriculture-supported projects on wastewater treatment plant energy efficiency.

MPCA awards MnTAP a sub-contract to provide assistance to fiber reinforced plastics facilities as part of a U.S. EPA Region 5 grant.

MnTAP begins two projects funded by the U.S. EPA Region 5: one focused on reducing organic waste in event centers and one focused on reducing blue wrap waste in surgical centers.

2010

MnTAP celebrates 25 years of providing technical assistance to Minnesota businesses.

The Department of Energy (DOE) awards MnTAP through the Minnesota Department of Commerce a grant to further develop energy efficiency resources for Minnesota businesses. The grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Xcel Energy provides funding for a variety of projects at MnTAP including trainings and two intern projects.

MnTAP completes the industrial energy efficiency and benchmarking study for the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

2009

MnTAP begins offering pollution prevention and energy efficiency assistance to hospitality facilities through a U.S. EPA Region 5 grant.

The University of Minnesota Communicators Forum awards a Maroon Award for the video created during the 2008 intern program.

Non-hospital healthcare facilities become the focus of a new pollution prevention project involving both the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and MnTAP.

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) provides MnTAP with a grant to update pollution prevention opportunity assessments and the pollution prevention plan developed in 2005.

2008

MnTAP is awarded a U.S. EPA Region 5 grant to begin offering technical assistance to metal fabrication and machining facilities.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Office of Energy Security awards a contract to MnTAP for a project that uses utility information to identify high energy users and energy efficient technologies that can reduce energy use.

MnTAP works closely with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on a P2 integration project.

2007

MnTAP Director Cindy McComas receives the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) MVP2 Award for Volunteer of the Year.

MnTAP begins offering assistance to medical device manufacturers.

2006

Minnesota Environmental Initiative is a finalist for healthcare compliance/pollution prevention project with metro counties.

2005

MnTAP and Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) wins a MVP2 Award from NPPR. Technical assistance targeted to incorporate P2 into Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) multi-media inspections for healthcare begins.

MnTAP celebrates 20 years of providing assistance and Materials Exchange celebrates ten years of reuse.

P2 in the Upper Mississippi River Basin project completed. Companies reduced 35,100 lbs of phosphorus, 4.5 million lbs of BOD and TSS loading, 37 million gal of water, saving $348,000.

MnTAP staff members complete the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs (DMA) project.

A technical assistance project integrating energy efficiency with pollution prevention for metal casters begins.

The MPCA and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) merge as one agency.

The European Union requires manufacturers to finance the collection, recycling and recovery of waste electronics and electrical equipment.

2004

MnTAP begins work with Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to improve healthcare compliance and environmental performance.

Demonstrating P2 in healthcare facilities using Hospitals for a Healthy Environment products project completed. Facilities eliminated 394 lbs of mercury, 751 gal of hazardous chemicals and 250,000 lbsof solid waste, saving $152,600.

2003

Intern projects begin to incorporate energy efficiency assistance.

MnTAP begins working with the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to prepare P2 opportunity assessments and a P2 plan.

The P2 in the Upper Mississippi River Basin project begins and aims to reduce loading of phosphorus and other pollutants from industrial point sources.

MnTAP develops the Phosphorus Management Plan with MPCA to provide P2 technical assistance to cities and industrial users to reduce phosphorus.

2002

MnTAP develops a technology diffusion project to increase the adoption of P2 technologies for fiberglass and wood finishing.

The Lower Mississippi and Minnesota River Basins project is finished. Reductions total 30,796 lbs of phosphorus, 3,025,272 lbs of BOD and TSS loading, 66.5 million gal of water, saving $2.8 million.

A Canadian Pacific Railway train derails near Minot, North Dakota, spilling more than 200,000 gal. of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer.

2001

Corporate Reuse project to establish internal materials exchange programs begins and MnTAP partners with several businesses.

A project to provide technical assistance to 600 publicly-owned treatment works is completed. Participants reduce 30,796 lbs of phosphorus, 3,025,872 lbs of BOD and TSS, 66.5 million gal of water and savings of $2,831,490.

The demonstrating P2 for healthcare facilities using Hospitals for a Healthy Environment products project begins.

A project focused on fiber reinforced plastics is completed. Shops reduce 108,400 lbs of styrene emissions and 17.7 tons of landfill waste, saving $119,150.

As a result of a 1997 intern project, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture helps dairy farms replace mercury manometers with non-mercury gauges, removing 1,134 lbs of mercury from farms.

2000

MnTAP partners with Wenck Associates and provides technical assistance to 300 Grand Rapids businesses to evaluate waste reduction opportunities.

The Great Printers Project is completed. Of participating printers, 65% reduce need for rework and 60% change to a press cleanup solvent which has lower VOC emissions.

Technical assistance begins for reducing phosphorus and wastewater in Lower Mississippi and Minnesota River Basins.

Recession begins. Manufacturing output fell 6%.

1999

Technical assistance is targeted to fiber reinforced plastics and boat manufacturing industries. MnTAP partners with the Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on this effort.

The Minnesota Materials Exchange Alliance grows to eight sites providing statewide service and offers a Web site.

1998

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) tool development begins and MnTAP partners with the U.S. EPA and American Hospital Association (AHA) on the project.

Technical assistance is targeted to 600 publicly-owned treatment works to help meet discharge limits by working with their industrial users to reduce phosphorus, BOD, TSS, and water use.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) and U.S. EPA sign a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage healthcare facilities to eliminate the use of mercury-containing products and reduce waste.

1997

MnTAP’s work with wood finishers results in reducing VOC releases by 24,100 lbs. This project was conducted in partnership with Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

A project targeting vapor degreasing ends and reduced CFCs, trichloroethane, and trichloroethylene and resulted in a savings of over $60 million over 7 years. This project was in partnership with the Minnesota Association of Metal Finishers.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lowers personal exposure limit (PEL) for methylene chloride.

1996

The Great Printers Project begins; technical assistance is targeted to reduce solid and hazardous waste and VOCs.

MnTAP establishes a Web site.

Assistance efforts to dry cleaners result in reducing perchloroethylene by 16% and saving $140,000. This project was a partnership with MPCA’s SBAP and the Minnesota Cleaners Association.

OSHA lowers exposure standard for styrene.

A manufacturing ban of CFCs results from the Montreal Protocol.

1994

Technical assistance is targeted to facilities affected by Clean Air Act: dry cleaners for perchloroethylene use, chrome platers for chromium emissions, wood finishers for VOCs, and auto body shops for vehicle-related waste and emissions.

The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (MOEA) is established.

The first Minnesota Paint and Powder Coating Expo is held. MnTAP partnered with the Twin Cities Chemical Coaters Association and MOEA.

1993

MnTAP begins offering solid waste source reduction assistance and technical assistance to facilities affected by Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards.

Industry begins submitting pollution prevention information to the EPA and the state as part of the toxic chemical release inventory (TRI).

Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention Act (TPPA) requirements are extended to non-manufacturing industries.

1992

A research project assesses and ranks high-risk non-hazardous industrial waste in Minnesota including foundry sands and machining waste.

Pollution prevention plans are developed and progress reports are submitted by Minnesota industry.

A reuse law passes allowing feeding of non-meat food waste to livestock.

1991

MnTAP partners with MPCA to provide technical assistance and outreach to develop and evaluate a risk screening and priority ranking method for hazardous air emissions as part of the Pollution Prevention Incentives to States program.

The Governor’s Awards Program for Excellence in Waste & Pollution Prevention begins.

1990

MnTAP expands to provide technical assistance to help companies prevent toxic pollution.

The Clean Air Act amendment sets stage for new National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards.

The Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention Act (TPPA) passes, establishing state policy encouraging the prevention of toxic pollution.

Federal Pollution Prevention Act passes, establishing pollution prevention as a national objective.

1989

Multimedia assistance to businesses of all sizes begins.

Waste exchange listings printed in newsletter.

Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) form submission to the U.S. EPA and the State begins.

The Minnesota Office of Waste Management (OWM) is established to coordinate pollution prevention and planning for managing hazardous and solid waste, and to develop markets for recycled materials.

Hazardous Waste Capacity Assurance Plan emphasizes increased pollution prevention to eliminate need for new hazardous waste management facilities.

The Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound becoming the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

1988

MnTAP starts a solvent waste reduction project to assist nine companies with various solvent waste issues.

1987

MnTAP begins offering non-hazardous industrial waste assistance.

1986

MnTAP begins publishing the Source newsletter.

The Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) passes, including Emergency Planning & Community Right- to-Know Act amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Act increases public access to information on chemicals at individual facilities, their use, and releases into the environment

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident occurs in the USSR (now Ukraine).

1985

MnTAP begins offering a student intern program.

Cindy McComas is named MnTAP director.

1984

MnTAP begins offering technical assistance for hazardous waste management and reduction.

Hazardous Waste Management Plan identifies waste reduction as a best management option for hazardous waste.

Minnesota Legislature authorizes Minnesota Waste Management Board (WMB) to create a hazardous waste technical assistance and reduction grant program.

Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) phase out land disposal of hazardous waste.

A gas explosion occurs at Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhophal, India.

1983

Minnesota Superfund program begins to help expedite clean-up of contaminated sites.

1981

A sewer explodes in Louisville, Kentucky, due to illegal discharge of the solvent hexane.

1980

The Federal Superfund Act passes.

The Minnesota Waste Management Act passes, creating the Minnesota Waste Management Board (WMB).

First hazardous waste regulatory information submitted to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).