Introduction to Environmental Management
Systems
At the end of this topic, the
students can:
a) explain the concept of EMS;
b) discuss EIA/EIS/EMP process.
What is an Environmental Management System?
• “The part of the overall management
system that includes organizational
structure, planning activities,
responsibilities, practices, procedures,
processes and resources for developing,
implementing achieving and reviewing
the environmental policy.” ISO14001
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What is an Environmental Management System?
An environmental management system
brings together the people, policies,
plans, review mechanisms, and
procedures used to manage
environmental issues at a facility or in
an organization.
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Things About EMS You May Not Know
• You already have one
• May not meet requirements of ISO 14001
• After this class, you may be able to
identify ways to improve your EMS
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An EMS is Environmental
• Facilitates environmental compliance
• Addresses environmental impacts
• Broadens environmental responsibilities
to all whose work can have a significant
impact on the environment
• Environmental office has technical
expertise to contribute
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An EMS is Management
• Must have commitment of top managers
• EMS owned by facility manager
• Must be consistent with other
management systems
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An EMS is a System
• Requires awareness of formal structure
• Addresses policies, procedures, programs
• Doesn’t specifically address compliance
components (drums, labels, etc.)
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Continual Improvement Cycle
Etc.
Plan
Implement
Implement
Plan
Review Implement Check
Check
Review
Plan
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EMS Frameworks
• ISO 14001 Standard
• Code of Environmental Management
Principles
• Compliance-Focused EMS
• Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
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ISO 14001 Components
• Environmental Policy
• Planning
• Implementation and Operation
• Checking and Corrective Action
• Management Review
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Environmental Policy
• Issue a policy statement signed by
facility manager
• At a minimum, commit to
• Continual improvement
• Pollution prevention
• Environmental compliance
• Identifies EMS framework
• Publicly available
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Planning
• Identify aspects and impacts from
facility activities, products, and services
• Review legal requirements
• Set objectives and targets
• Establish formal EMS program
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Implementation and Operation
• Define roles and responsibilities
• Provide EMS training
• Establish internal and external
communication mechanisms
• Establish document control system
• Establish operational controls
• Integrate with or establish emergency
preparedness procedures
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Checking and Corrective Action
• Conduct periodic monitoring of
environmental performance
• Identify root causes of findings and
conduct corrective and preventive actions
• Maintain environmental records
• Conduct periodic EMS audit
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Management Review
• Conduct periodic senior management
review of EMS
• Revise policies as needed
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ISO 14001 Elements
Management
Review Environmental
Policy
Continuous Planning
Checking/ Improvement
Corrective Actions • Environmental Aspects
• Measurement and Monitoring • Compliance
• EMS Nonconformance and • Objectives and Targets
Corrective Actions
• Records • Environmental Mgmt.
• EMS Audits Programs
Implementation
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Training and Communication
• EMS Document Control
• Emergency Preparedness
and Response
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Other ISO 14001 Terms
Registration - An external audit of an EMS for
conformance with ISO 14001 by an entity
certified in the US by Registrar Accreditation
Board (RAB)
Registrar - Entity that conducts external audit of
EMS for registration
Conformance - Adherence to ISO 14001 standard
measured externally or internally
Self-Declaration - An assertion by an organization
that it is in conformance with the ISO 14001
standard based on an internal audit of its EMS
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Benefits of an EMS
• Helps maintain compliance
• Reduce operating costs
• Integrate environmental programs into mission
• Increase employee involvement
• Reduce environmental impacts
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What’s Missing?
• Structure
• Continual improvement
• Top level management commitment
• Management review or ownership
• Formal awareness of “system”
• Or is it something else?
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Summary
• An EMS is the combination of people, policies, procedures,
review, and plans to help address environmental issues
• Important EMS elements include continual improvement,
management commitment, formalization, and awareness of
system approach
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