Overview of Environmental Management Systems Using ISO 14001

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

2. 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)

3. 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.

4. Environmental Management System

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. 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.)

9. 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.

10. Continual Improvement Plan Review Do Check

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

12. 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.

13. 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.