SPE - Servicios Profesionales Especializados

Our commitment is to assist industry in the search for proactive solutions that allow the integration of the environmental variable to their continuous improvement and total quality programs. This not only allows industry to keep up with recent regulations, but it also anticipates the changes to more stringent norms that NAFTA and other agreements may dictate.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS

The Environmental Audits we carry out fulfill the reference standards of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA). We verify in great detail the facilities, equipment, and operation of the plant by means of the application of 12 questionnaires which range from general information to the process operation control. Mexican Official Standards (NOM’s), environmental legislation, air, water and ground pollution, anti-pollution equipment, underground tanks, pressure storage tanks, services, contingency plans, and environmental protection policies are included. Normally, a thorough inspection is made of the facilities; this takes several days depending on the size and complexity of the plant. If required, additional measurements to those presented may be performed if requested from the client.

The Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (Secretaría de Trabajo y Previsión Social) requests that the conditions of the facilities and services for workers comply with certain standards regarding quality and safety, according to updated NOM’s published recently in the Official Journey of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación). On the other hand, it is well known that accidents, besides affecting human beings, cost a lot of money to the companies; this increases the costs of equipment, material, energy, indemnifications, and legal responsibility.

Our audits, based on the methodology of the International Loss Control Institute (ILCI), which also takes into account the standards established by OSHA, offer a valuable instrument for the prevention and control of accidents that result in loss of human lives and unnecessary costs.

All new installations or expansions that may increase production, change the use of raw material process and/or power, or increase emissions to the atmosphere, water, or ground, are required to present an environmental impact manifest in any of 4 modalities. These 4 modalities, reported in the License for Operation and the Annual Industrial Survey, are: Preventive Report, Manifest Report in its General Modality, Intermediate Report, or Specific Modality Report, according to the instructions of the Impact and Risk Environmental Office (DGIRA) of the Secretariat of Environment, and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

It is becoming more and more important for companies that plan to acquire new land for the construction of industrial plants to carry out, according to the American legislation, an evaluation of environmental status called Environmental Site Assessment. The site is inspected carefully to detect contamination problems in the area and its surroundings that can seriously affect the future operation of the plant. To date, we have performed these evaluations in phases I and II for several American companies which must first assure environmental reliability before acquiring lands and developing basic engineering.

The Integral Materials and Risk Management Office (DGGIMAR) of the SEMARNAT is demanding that high-risk industries present studies of risks in any of 3 modalities: Preliminary, Risk Analysis, and Intermediate. Companies that handle hazardous raw materials and/or products should be prepared for it.

To date, we have made several studies for Cemex, Pro Ambiente, and Cervecería, among others, including HAZOP, Fault-Tree analysis, and "What-If" studies, and the advanced simulation of negative events such as atmospheric contamination.

For some industrial plants, especially those that have notorious or unpleasant emissions, this type of analysis can be extremely important. Community reaction because of contamination problems can imply protests, street demonstrations, newspaper publications, etc. according to Title V of the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection; this reaction can possibly cause the temporary closing, partial or total, of the plant. The authorities investigate, and accept or reject the complaint presented by the community. Furthermore, a federal agency (PROFEPA), stimulates the pressure on the industry via the community.

This type of studies (27 up to 2007) have been made for 8 Industrial Groups, in several in several of their plants, with the generation of objective and weighed information in such a way that it has been used for the creation of environmental improvement programs and to help take decisions regarding the improvement of relations, communication, and image with the communities, the authorities, and the population in general.

Every industrial operation generates raw material, packaging, process, and finished product solid waste, which can be classified in two categories: Dangerous Waste (DW) and Non-Dangerous Waste (NDW). The first one is detected by means of the CRETIB test and requires strict handling supervised by the INE; the second one can be handled in particular landfills or in places authorized by state authorities.

The program includes a systematic analysis of the processes to identify areas of opportunity in the reduction of waste, striving to optimize resources and raw materials. The analysis of the generation of waste implies first their identification (MSDS) and characterization (CRETIB test). Later, once separated of other harmless residues, we quantify their real volume by means of matter and energy balance. The statistical analysis of generation versus production and other implicit factors in the processes determines viable and measurable alternatives for raw material waste reduction as products are generated.

The search for, identification, test, and use of "ecologically friendly " raw materials can be complemented to replace the present ones, reducing the generation of DW, as well as with the possibility of reusing and recycling other products.

It is an energy audit that analyses power consumption in industrial plants in two specific areas: electrical and thermal. In the electrical area, it takes into account the type of contracted tariff and its load distribution, identifying hourly consumption, peak hours, power factor, etc., to obtain electrical use efficiency. Later, an analysis of the ideal system versus the real one detects the opportunities for power optimization by areas applying the concept of "Energy Conservation Opportunities (ECO’s)". For the thermal area, an energy balance is made. This is integrated taking into account the analyses of emissions to the atmosphere to comply with the NOM’s. The combustion systems, loss of heat, etc. are analyzed, calculating the degree of thermal efficiency. With these results, the areas for optimization are recommended.

The process of buying or selling industrial plants requires more than ever a careful evaluation of the facilities from an ecological point of view.

In case of a lack of environmental control equipment, outdated procedures, inadequate handling of hazardous waste, and noncompliance with pollution control, we assist and advise on the evaluation, quantification, and negotiation.

The purpose of this evaluation is to avoid future problems, liabilities, and unexpected expenditures before negotiations are concluded.

All environmental evaluation must be sustained with measurements of the polluting agents, carried out accurately and in compliance with engineering specifications of regulatory stipulations. In the case of noise, vibrations, gas discharges, steam, total suspended particles (TSP), industrial NOx, SOx, CO, etc., solid waste, or water discharges, etc., we have the appropriate equipment and long-time experience with laboratories registered in the Mexican Accreditation Agency (EMA).

Complementing the environmental part, we also support the industry with market studies using the most advanced methodologies and techniques. We generate highly reliable and statistically valid information, in such a way that it is used in the decision-making process in a very dynamic, open, and competitive market. Our experience also enables us to make simultaneous studies nationwide and worldwide.

Another line of services we are handling and that has helped save time, resources, and opportunities for those who take it seriously is the Environmental Authorization and Permit service, which helps companies in the presentation, follow-up, and obtaining of permits, licenses, approvals, etc. related with the subject.

If this service is required, we offer it at Government Consulting and Management level. The costs are defined after quantifying the assigned time and the complementary expenses. We have more than 10 years of experience and the suitable relationships to do it.

Since 1991, we have been supporting the industry in the development Mexican Official Standards (NOMs), in coordination with the INE/SEMARNAP, specifically the glass industry in its first stage, and presently the Management and Environmental Information General Director’s Office of the INE/SEMARNAP, in the development of the standard for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). For that purpose, we have advanced electronic and computerized equipment and special programming to have immediate access to the most advanced research and investigation centers of the world.

All established companies must comply with a series of requirements, formal procedures, and environmental and safety authorizations and reports, which are periodically checked by the Federal Prosecutor for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA). We offer external support staff service (outsourcing), so that requirements can be complied with and thus avoiding the need to create new positions in the plants.

Finally, we can carry out the meticulous analysis of the pollution level that exists at the site – superficial or subsoil to depth required- identifying if the pollutants are hazardous or not. If necessary, we can go through the remedial action in either of two steps: a) Management and disposal of the hazardous waste and, b) Biologic remediation "in situ" with the most advanced techniques approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States of America.