ISO 14001 1996 4 3 1 Environmental Aspects

ISO 14001: 1996 4. 3. 1 Environmental Aspects NC DPPEA

Core Element of EMS n Most other elements are directly associated with results from identifying and ranking aspects and their associated impacts: – – – – – Policy Objectives and Targets Management Program Training/Awareness Operational Control Emergency preparedness Monitoring and measuring Corrective and Preventative Action Auditing

Definition of Aspect / Impact n Environmental aspect (cause) – n element of organizations activities, products, or services which can interact with the environment. Environmental impact (effect) – any change to the environment whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities, products, or services

Aspect and Impact Example Activity, Aspect Product, Service Boiler Air emissions Operations Fuel consumption Boiler blowdown Water consumption Impact Air pollution Natural resource depletion Water pollution Natural resource depletion

Step One 1) Establish a team. Examples: representative of QA/QC, maintenance, utilities, production divisions, office, environmental 2) Educate the team on purpose and implications of this activity.

Purpose and Implications n Determining the significant environmental aspects and associated impacts allows a facility to focus its time and resources on those issues with the greatest potential for environmental impact.

Purpose and Implications n The evaluation of environmental aspects and their associated impacts should be primarily “fenceline” issues. – 3. 12 Definition of organization will establish “fenceline” or boundaries. – Internal issues should not be a primary focus unless health and safety are included in management system.

Purpose and Implications n The organization only has to identify those environmental aspects that it “can control and over which it can be expected to have influence”. – Control includes fiscal control (financial ability that can affect aspect) and organizational control (decision making authority that can effect aspect) – The facility should not spend resources assessing aspects it cannot do anything about.

Purpose and Implications n The following activities for identified significant environmental aspects will have to be completed under other elements: – Operational procedures – Education, competence and training of employees whose activities affect these aspects. – Monitoring and measuring techniques.

Step Two Identify Aspects / Impacts n Select an activity, a product or service. n Identify as many environmental aspects as possible associated with the selected activity. n Identify as many actual and potential, positive and negative, environmental impacts associated with each identified aspect.

Example Aspect / Impact Form

Identifying Aspects of Activities Activity Inputs: Outputs: Raw material Electricity Water Finished product Exhaust Waste products

Identifying Aspects and Impacts n Aspects of activities that should be considered include: – Emissions to air / releases to water » Surface and groundwater – Waste disposal / land contamination – Raw material / natural resource use » energy, water, chemicals, lumber, etc. – Local environmental / community issues » noise, odor, land use, appearance, etc.

Sources of information process flow diagram n input/output (mass balance) n regulatory reports n utility bills n QC information (defects, product changes) n waste hauling records n purchasing receipts n records of external communication n

Step Three Identify significant aspects 1) Develop a definition of significance and determine what factors will be considered in determining significance » Should involve input from top management 2) Establish a rating scheme for the factors of significance

Factors to Consider n Environmental Concerns such as: – – n The scale of the impact The severity of impact The probability of impact Duration of impact Business Concerns such as: – – – Potential regulatory and legal exposure Difficulty and cost of changing the impact Effect of change on other activities and processes Concerns of interested parties Effect on the public image of the organization

Example Rating Scheme Significance Criteria Rating Scheme Legal Liabilities: Is the aspect regulated Low (1): Issue not regulated Medium (2): Violation or possible fine High (3): Criminal Action Public Concern: Has the Public ever expressed concern about the aspect Low (1): never Medium (2): sometimes High (3): Often Frequency: What is the overall frequency or probability of the aspects impact Low (1): less than once a year Medium (2): Between 1/mn and 1/yr High (3): Occurs monthly or more freq. Severity: What is the overall severity of the aspects impact Low (1): impact aesthetic, amenity Medium (2): impact water, air, soil quality High (3): detrimental to human, flora fauna

Example Significance Matrix Activity, Product, Service Aspect Impact Legal Liability Public Concern Frequency Severity OSR Significance (OSR>2. 5) Dissolve Mineral Ore Water use Resource depletion 1 3 2 1 1. 75 No Natural Gas Use Resource depletion 1 1 2 2 1. 50 No Natural Gas Use Air pollution (Nox) 1 2 2 1 1. 50 No Use of Strong Acids Spills to land or water 3 2 3 3 2. 75 Yes

Additional Resources ISO 14004 n See DPPEA website http: //www. p 2 pays. org/iso/index. htm n Refer to Alcoa and Uniroyal Chemical Co. EMS Manuals in your notebook n