1. Environmental Management Systems The ISO Approach Initial Environmental Review & Gap Analysis Presented by: NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

2. Initial Planning
Purpose is to integrate environmental management into regular operations/activities
No one way to do ISO EMS
Key is finding out what works for you within broad limits of ISO 14001
Take full advantage of existing systems and programs
* NSF 2001

3. Keys To Success
EPA EMS Pilot Program for Government Entities
Keys to Success pages 55-57:
Top management commitment and support is essential to the success of the EMS process
Organizations who build on existing organizational processes and procedures are more successful than those who create new EMS elements
The Implementation Team is pivotal to the success of the EMS program
Employee awareness, understanding and involvement in the EMS should extend across the entire organization and be recognized as an organizational priority

4. Conducting Initial Review
Allows EMS team to get their “feet wet”
Begin identifying environmental aspects
Collect information on existing environmental management:
legal and other requirements
operational procedures
previous non-compliance, NOVs, local env. concerns.
budget planning process
environmental records storage
Emergency response procedures
A time for EMS team members to begin asking questions about how their current management of environmental issues operates.

5. 4.3.1 Environmental Aspects
Identify environmental aspects
Environmental Aspect: element of an organizations activities, products , or services that can interact with the environment (See ISO Annex A – A.3.1)
Locate and collect information on
frequency and volume of waste generated
methods of control (control equipment, procedures)
violations, non-compliances, environmental emergencies, local concerns
This is a preliminary step to the process of aspects and impacts analysis and significance determination. Gets team member to start thinking about the wastes generated in their areas or positive env. activities. Make sure all areas of organization are covered. Aspects are primarily things that leave the fenceline and you should consider emissions to air, releases to water, waste management, contamination of land, use of raw material and natural resources, other local/community issues.
Additional information will prove useful during the significance determination procedure

6. 4.3.2 Legal & Other Requirements
Not just permits
Federal and State voluntary programs
MOM, SGP, etc.
Local restrictions/requirements
solid waste disposal bans
water conservation restrictions
emergency management
Business standards and contracts
ISO 14001
Contracts – do you have business contracts that have environmental specifications within? I.e. you may require contract workers or suppliers to abide by certain environmental requirements through the implementation of your EMS.

7. 4.3.2 Legal & Other Requirements
Consider making a chart to track existing legal & other requirements
Permits, external audits, reporting etc.
May want to include: required by, frequency, responsible party, location, retention time
Consider status reports on requirements
Compliance status report

9. 4.3.2 Legal & Other Requirements
Determine how to keep up-to-date on legal requirements
Various tools could be used –
Subscription service that tracks environmental regulations
Trade journals
Attend environmental regulation update seminars by public or private agencies
Coordination with corporate environmental staff
Working relationship with regulators
Determine how new regulatory information will be communicated to affected employees

10. 4.3.3 Objectives & Targets 4.3.4 Env. Management Program
Determine the existing budgeting process used by the organization
Process of selecting annual objectives and targets should occur so that essential resources can be budgeted to assure progress is made

11. 4.4.2 Training, Awareness, & Competence
Identify current environmental related training
What does it cover
When does it occur
Who receives it
Who provides it
4.4.3 Communication
Identify the existing process for handling communications from external interested parties related to environmental issues

12. 4.4.6 Operational Control
Locate existing operating procedures that relate to products, activities, or services with environmental aspects
Maintenance work orders
Operation manuals for environmental related equipment.
Written procedures
Locate existing contracts with suppliers, waste handlers, and contract workers

13. 4.4.7 Emergency Preparedness & Response
Locate existing emergency response plans
4.5.1 Monitoring and Measuring
Identify existing environmental performance indicators
Locate list of calibrated equipment
Identify current process for evaluating compliance

14. 4.5.2 Nonconformance & Corrective / Preventative Action
Determine current procedure for addressing environmental related problems.
4.5.3 Records
Identify following issues related to existing environmental records (See ISO Annex A – A.5.3)
Types
Location
Retention times

15. 4.6 Management Review
Identify current schedule for management meetings

16. Gap Analysis Compares EMS with requirements of ISO 14001
Allows EMS team to assess progress and plan future actions
Effective tool for updating upper management on progress
Global Environmental Management Initiative ISO Self Assessment Checklist
Condensed GEMI checklist

17. Scheduling Provides roadmap for management elements to be addressed
Consider including in the schedule:
EMS team meeting dates
Management review dates
Governmental EMS training dates
Potential external review dates
Gap analysis review periods