Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
Environmental Management Systems at EPA Region 8
The use of voluntary environmental management systems (EMS) by organizations is rapidly increasing around the world. These systems provide a framework for organizations and communities to more effectively manage their environmental obligations, including those required to comply with applicable statutes and regulations. In addition, these systems can be useful for moving beyond compliance, improving overall environmental performance, and making greater use of pollution prevention approaches. From a business standpoint, Environmental Management Systems can help organizations meet their environmental obligations more efficiently, thus, maintaining their competitive position in various markets.
EPA Region 8 is in the process of developing an EMS. Please visit the Region 8 EMS Web site for more information.
The most prominent Environmental Management Systems standard now in place is the ISO 14001 International Standard
, which was completed in September, 1996. Organizations around the world are now beginning to put in place EMS based on ISO 14001. Many are also considering becoming certified to the standard by third-party auditors.
Government agencies, especially at the federal and state level, are now beginning to look closely at the possibility of integrating the use of Environmental Management Systems into their regulatory programs, including the ISO 14001 standard. EPA and several States are pursuing pilot projects with various types of organizations, to test these EMS in order to determine if they really can help bring about improved environmental performance. Another important project EPA is undertaking focuses exclusively on counties and municipalities. Specifically, EPA is providing focused training and other forms of assistance to a select group of these communities who are interested in establishing an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard.
An Environmental Management Systems Review (EMR) looks at how various management systems at the facility operate to ensure environmental compliance. EMRs are done using the framework of a Federal interagency document called the "Generic Protocol for Conducting Environmental Audits at Federal Facilities." Phase III of the "Generic Protocol" discusses procedures for reviewing the eight disciplines which comprise environmental management systems. These eight systems include:
- organizational structure
- environmental commitment
- environmental protection programs
- formality of environmental programs
- internal and external communications
- staff resources/development/training
- program evaluation/reporting/corrective action
- environmental planning/risk management
EMRs are done at the invitation of the Federal facility. They are not compliance inspection. Compliance can be seen as the tip of an iceberg. The systems which support compliance are the other two-thirds of the iceberg. EMRs look at the systems below the waterline. They are a new form of compliance assistance along the lines of the voluntary initiatives such as ISO 14001. Within EPA Region 8, our Pollution Prevention Program has been given the lead to plan and implement EMRs.
EMRs are also not comprehensive environmental management system audits. An audit would look at all eight disciplines. For an EMR, the Federal faility selects one or two of the Protocol disciplines to be reviewed. Once the facility has selected the areas to be covered, EMR team members with the appropriate skills will be selected. In addition to members of the P2 Program, these may include staff with specific regulatory, human resources or risk management backgrounds.
The EMR initiative was developed and championed by the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office at EPA Headquarters as a tool primarily for supporting civilian Federal agencies. It is an innovative way for EPA to assist civilian facilities to establish or upgrade the systems needed to ensure effective and lasting environmental programs. EPA Region 8 is taking the lead in conducting EMRs under the new interim policy, and looks forward to making them an important part of our Federal facility toolbox. EPA's Federal Facility Compliance Program - Executive Order (E.O.) 12088, "Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards," makes the head of each executive agency responsible for ensuring that the agency's facilities, programs, and activities meet applicable Federal, State, and local environmental requirements.