Strategies for Governmental EMS (Environmental Management System) Workshop – EMS Basics

January 31, 2001

Beth GravesEMS Project Coor.

NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

What is an EMS? Systematic way of managing an

organization’s environmental affairs Based on Plan-Do-Check-Act Model

(PDCA) Focused on Continual Improvement of

System Addresses immediate and long-term impact

of an organization’s products, services and processes on the environment.

A tool to improve environmental performance

Policy

Planning

ImplementationCheckingCorrective Action

ManagementReview

EMS Model – Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA)

Why Implement an EMS?

Helps to identify the causes of environmental problems.– better to make a product right the

first time– cheaper to prevent a spill– cost effective to prevent pollution

Trade and competitive issues– marketing tool

Why Implement an EMS? Struggling to stay in compliance and

keep track of regulations/laws Environmental management just one of

many responsibilities Employee turnover Establish a framework to move beyond

compliance Vehicle for positive change; improved

employee morale, enhanced public image

Much of an EMS may already be in place

EMS Models National Biosolids Partnership EPA’s Sustainable Industries EMS

Templates Trade Association EMS Templates

(ex. SGIA) Compliance-Focused EMS (CFEMS) –

revised Jan. 2000 – 12 elements ISO 14001:1996

ISO 14001 Model – Required Elements

Env. Policy 4.2 Document control 4.4.5

Env. Aspects 4.3.1 Operational control 4.4.6

Legal and other req. 4.3.2 Emergency preparedness and response 4.4.7

Obj. and targets 4.3.3 Monitoring and measurement 4.5.1

Env. Mgmt. Program 4.3.4 Corrective/preventive action 4.5.2

Structure and Responsibility 4.4.1 Records 4.5.3

Training, awareness, and competence 4.4.2

EMS audit 4.5.4

Communication 4.4.3 Management Review 4.6

EMS documentation 4.4.4

Policy Statement Identification of Significant

Environmental Impacts Development of Objectives and Targets Implementation Plan to Meet Obj. and

Targets Training Management Review

How you meet elements is up to you.

Key EMS Elements/Framework

An organization evaluates and addresses its own significant aspects, including non-regulated aspects

May be positive or negative Examples:

Aspect – Cardboard recycling Impact -- Conservation of natural resources

Aspect – Engine operations Impact – Degradation of air quality

Aspects and Impacts

Consider: Air emissions Solid/hazardous waste Contamination of land Noise, vibration and odor Water effluents Land use, energy use, water use Raw material and resource use Positive environmental issues

Aspects and Impacts

Encampment

Lead Responsibility - Fish and Wildlife Division, Compliance Division, and Planning Division

Environmental Aspects

Input (raw material and labor)

Conservation

Soil disturbance leading to Erosion and SedimentationAccidental Spillage - Vehicle /Helicopter/Equipment fluidsGray water

Soil disturbance leading to Erosion and SedimentationAccidental Spillage - Vehicle/Helicopter/Equipment fluidsGray water

Accidental Spillage - Vehicle/Helicopter/Equipment fluidsGray water

Fuel Consumption - Use of a Nonrenewable ResourceTraining within a Natural Environment (Plant, Wildlife, Wetlands)Training within species habitat

Disposal of Spill ResidueDisposal of Solid WasteDisposal of Hazardous Waste

Particulate Matter from Operating Vehicles Off-roadAir Emissions from equipment and vehiclesOutdoor burning - PM

Surface Water Impacts

Waste Impacts

Soil Impacts

Air Impacts

Groundwater Impacts

Resource Impacts

Nuisance Impacts

Marine Corps ISO 14001 Pilot Project

From Environmental Concerns such as: regulatory/legal exposure health risk/people resource conservation

To Business Concerns such as: effect on the public image/community cost savings cost recovery period equipment/facility

Significance Scoring --Prioritize

Also may consider issues such as: scale of impact duration of impact zone of impact probability of occurrence or likelihood -

frequent, likely, possible, rarely, unlikely severity of impact - catastrophic, severe,

moderate, minor

Significance Scoring (cont.)

Setting legal framework for the EMS identify and access legal requirements

(federal, state, local) keep up-to-date communicate to the right people

Legal Environmental Requirements

Objectives &Targets- Continual Improvement

Establish and maintain environmental objectives and targets.

Can include commitment to:– reduce waste – reduce or eliminate release/spill of a

pollutant– design product/operations to minimize

environmental impact in production, use, and disposal.

Objectives &Targets

Keep objectives simple, flexible, and measurable.

Be realistic. Considerations:

– legal and other requirements– significant env. aspects– technological options– financial requirements– operational requirements– business requirements– views of interested parties

EMS Example

Policy : Improve the environmental quality of the workplace

Objective: Improve indoor air quality by reducing solvent odors

Target : Reduce solvent odors (VOC levels) by 90% by mid 2001.

Set Environmental Mgmt. Program

Env. Mgmt. Program Plan: Switch to water cleaning process Action- Substitute water-based cleaning

process for vapor degreasing process Responsibilities - Process Engineering Schedule -

Bench top trials - 2 months (date)Full scale pilot - 3 months (date)Implementation period - 1 month (date)

Resources needed - 1 FTE for 4 mon. Est. Budget $12,000

Implementation

Structure/responsibility Training, awareness, & competence Communication (internal/external) Env. Mgmt System Documentation and

control where needed Operational control (ex. maintenance) Emergency preparedness

and response

Monitoring and Measuring –How are you doing?

Establish procedures to monitor and measure key operations that can have a significant impact on the environment.

Track how well the system

is working Analyze root causes of problems

Are you meeting your EMS requirements?

How will you run an EMS audit program?

EMS Internal Auditing

Management Review Collect information to evaluate EMS Review EMS to ensure its continuing

effectiveness Consider changes – continual improvement

Becoming ISO 14001 certified ISO 14001 is the only certification standard Registration body examines EMS for

conformity to the ISO 14001 standard Not a compliance audit, an EMS audit Facility awarded registration Does NOT mean that products are more

environmentally friendly Does mean have a documented EMS that is

fully implemented and consistently followed

DPPEA offers free on-site EMS

assistance and training DPPEA EMS web site

http://www.p2pays.org/iso/index.htm Beth Graves, EMS Project Coor., 800-763-0136 or

919-715-6506, Beth.Graves@ncmail.net EMS Development Course, Julie Woosley, 919-715-

6527, Julie.Woosley@ncmail.net

For More Information