Overview of Environmental Management Systems Using ISO 14001

Overview of Environmental Management Systems Using ISO 14001 John Rupe Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region

ISO 14001 • Voluntary standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1996 (revised in 2004. ) • Each of over 100 countries participates in ISO through its national standards body (ANSI represents U. S. and manages its distribution)

Required Use of ISO 14001 • Executive Order 13148 (April 2000) requires EMS for all Federal facilities. • January 2005 Forest Planning Regulation (36 CFR 219) requires EMS as a prerequisite for its use.

Environmental Management System

Business Principles about Management Systems • Effective management systems are planned so that all the pieces work together. • Effective business processes are well defined and documented. • Business processes must be fully implemented. • After you say what you do, DO what you say.

Management System • A set of interrelated elements to establish policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives. Organization Structure Planning Activities Staffing and Responsibilities Practices and Procedures Processes and Resources

Environmental Management System • Integral part of the overall management system. Organization Structure Planning Activities Staffing and Responsibilities Practices and Procedures Processes and Resources

Environmental Management System • Integral part of the overall management system. • Used to develop AND implement the organization’s environmental policy (continual improvement, prevention of pollution, compliance with legal requirements); AND • Used to manage the aspects of an organization’s activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment (environmental aspects. )

Important Points About ISO 14001 • Designed for all organizations: government, large and small businesses, manufactures, service organizations, etc. • Environmental process standard, not a performance standard. • Describes the internal structures that should be in place (policies, procedures, training, communication, documentation. ) • You can meet the standard and have occasional regulatory noncompliances. • Focus is on continual improvement.

Continual Improvement Plan Review Do Check

ISO 14001 Elements Management Review Checking/ Corrective Actions • Measurement and Monitoring • Compliance • EMS Nonconformance and Corrective Actions • Records • EMS Audits Environmental Policy Continuous Improvement Implementation • Roles and Responsibilities • Training and Communication • EMS Documentation • Operational Control • Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning • Environmental Aspects • Legal Requirements • Objectives and Targets • Environmental Mgmt. Programs

Potential Uses in the Forest Service • Foundation for adaptive management. • Identifying needed changes to Forest Plans, project plans, how projects are implemented. • Providing a transparent and consistent framework for the public. • Useful in prioritizing agency resources. • Increasing accountability.

EMS – Forest Planning Connection • The collaborative Forest Planning process can identify key topics that may be considered in building the EMS. • Information from EMS checking and corrective actions and EMS review may be used to evaluate the Forest Plan. • We’re still designing the system.