Expert: Aaron Overbeek - 9/17/2009

Question
Dear Mr.Aaron,

Please explain the following terms and how we can develop links among one another

i.   EMS
ii.   Environmental aspect
iii.   Significant aspect
iv.   Objective & target
v.   Environmental management programme

Thank you in advance


Answer
i. EMS - Environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner. It includes the organisational structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection.

An Environmental Management System (EMS):

Serves as a tool to improve environmental performance
Provides a systematic way of managing an organization’s environmental affairs
Is the aspect of the organization’s overall management structure that addresses immediate and long-term impacts of its products, services and processes on the environment
Gives order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes
Focuses on continual improvement of the system
What is the EMS Model?

An EMS follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, or PDCA. The diagram shows the process of first developing an environmental policy, planning the EMS, and then implementing it. The process also includes checking the system and acting on it. The model is continuous because an EMS is a process of continual improvement in which an organization is constantly reviewing and revising the system.

This is a model that can be used by a wide range of organizations — from manufacturing facilities to service industries to government agencies.

What are some key elements of an EMS?

Policy Statement - a statement of the organization’s commitment to the environment
Identification of Significant Environmental Impacts - environmental attributes of products, activities and services and their effects on the environment
Development of Objectives and Targets - environmental goals for the organization
Implementation - plans to meet objectives and targets
Training - instruction to ensure employees are aware and capable of fulfilling their environmental responsibilities
Management Review
Can existing environmental management activities be integrated into the EMS?

Yes. An EMS is flexible and does not require organizations to necessarily “retool” their existing activities. An EMS establishes a management framework by which an organization’s impacts on the environment can be systematically identified and reduced. For example, many organizations, including counties and municipalities, have active and effective pollution prevention activities underway. These could be incorporated into the overall EMS.

Can EMS be used to assist with maintaining compliance?

Yes. As an example, the Massachusetts DEP has opted to assist with the use of EMS in compliance cases. The EPA also produces a Guidance on the Use of EMS in Enforcement.

ii. Environmental aspect - element of an activity, process, or service that can interact with the envirnment. (The environmental aspects of an activity is that part of it that creates a possibility for an environmental impact.  As such, it is equivalent to the concept of "hazard", in Safety, which is also defined as the mere possibility of a negative event.)

iii. Significant aspect - environmental attributes of products, activities and services and their effects on the environment

iv. Objectives and Target - environmental goals for the organization

v. Environmental Management Program - set environmental goals for the organization and plan actions to achieve objectives and targets