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It is a set of management processes and procedures that allows an organization to analyze, control and reduce the environmental impact of its activities, products and services and operate with greater efficiency and control. All appropriate federal facilities are required to have an EMS.
EMS is the primary management approach for addressing environmental aspects of internal agency operations and activities, including environmental aspects of energy and transportation functions. Therefore, this portion of the guide will focus on applicable terms,
processes, and access points relevant to your responsibilities as
a manager implementing EMS practices.
- Executive Order (EO) 13423 (7 pp, 110KB About PDF) signed in January 2007, expanded the scope of environmental management systems as the framework for managing and continually improving sustainable practices within federal agencies. The EO requires federal agencies to lead by example in advancing the nation’s energy security and environmental performance by making achievements in the following areas:
- Energy efficiency: Reduce energy intensity.
- Greenhouse gases: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through reduction of energy intensity.
- Renewable power: Purchase renewable energy.
- Building performance: Construct or renovate buildings in accordance with sustainability strategies, including resource conservation, reduction and use; siting; and indoor environmental quality.
- Water conservation: Reduce water consumption intensity.
- Vehicles: Increase purchase of alternative-fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles when commercially available.
- Petroleum conservation: Reduce petroleum consumption in fleet vehicles.
- Alternative fuel: Increase use of alternative-fuel consumption.
- Pollution prevention: Reduce use of chemicals and toxic materials and purchase lower risk chemicals and toxic materials.
- Procurement: Expand purchases of environmentally sound goods and services, including biobased products.
- Electronics management: Electronic products purchased must meet Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool standards where applicable; enable ENERGY STAR features on 100 percent of computers and monitors; and reuse, donate, sell, or recycle 100 percent of electronic products using environmentally sound management practices.
- Clarification of Declaration of Conformance Requirements in Instructions to Executive Order 13423. This document, issued by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, clarifies what is required to declare conformance with the EMS requirements of EO 13423.
- Implementing instructions for EO 13423 (51 pp, 151KB About PDF). This document, issued by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, defines agency requirements for implementing 13423 and broad strategies for achieving them.
- Federal agencies usually have individual EMS policies broadcast to all employees. EPA issued a position statement (2 pp, 255KB About PDF) on EMSs. The Headquarters EMS Policy states the Agency’s commitment to integrate environmental stewardship into all facets of Headquarters' operations.
- EPA's Stewardship Initiatives and Requirements (6 pp, 73KB About PDF) lists goals, objectives, targets and metrics for EPA's EMS.
- EPA regional offices have also developed EMSs.
Other requirements and information can be accessed at the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive's EMS site.
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Every
facility’s EMS identifies several aspects of its activities,
products, and services that have a significant impact on the environment.
Implement the components of a sustainable facility:
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy;
- Water efficiency;
- Environmentally preferable building materials and specifications;
- Waste reduction;
- Toxics reduction;
- Indoor air quality; and
- Smart growth and sustainable development.
Include programs and practices at your facilities, such as:
- waste prevention and recycling;
- buying products with recycled content;
- contracting services that are environmentally preferable;
- reducing the use of hazardous chemicals in your building supplies, materials, and cleaning products;
- creating fleets that are energy efficient and include alternative-fuel vehicles; and
- buying, maintaining, and responsibly disposing of electronic equipment.
These practices are often combined with safety and health requirements of a facility's operations and maintenance.
In addition to these, you should:
- Identify which environmental aspects are significant in your office.
- Incorporate EMS practices into employee orientation and office manuals.
- Delegate responsibility to a specific person or team for consistent implementation of the EMS.
Check the EMS at your facility to find out what you can do. For more information on developing an EMS, visit EPA’s EMS Web site.
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EPA Resources
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) Resources
Other Resources
- FedCenter.gov’s EMS Web page includes the latest guidance, examples, and resources for EMS development and implementation.
- General Services Administration (GSA) Environmental Management System Web site gives information to federal agencies and interested organizations on how GSA accomplishes the twin goals of environmental stewardship and compliance.
- ISO 14000: Environmental Management Standards
 is the international standard for EMS. The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a non-governmental organization that develops and publishes international standards for many products and services.
- The Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Technical Library—A Road to a Successful EMS Web page is supported by the Joint Services, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
- The EMS Policy and Guidance Section of the Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Technical Library Web site (supported by the Joint Services, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard).
- The Other EMS Tools Section of the Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Technical Library Web site (supported by the Joint Services, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard).
- The Public Entity EMS Resource (PEER) Center provides a broad array of information and tools to help public entities sustainably manage their organizations using a proven Plan-Do-Check-Act framework embodied in environmental management systems and similar approaches.
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EPA EMS Training Information
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) EMS Training Information
Other Sources
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- EPA
Headquarters crafted a comprehensive EMS that seeks to minimize
the environmentalimpacts
associated with the 20 Headquarters facilities and nearly 8,000
Headquarters employees.
- The Agency’s Environmental
Science Center in Fort Meade, MD, has gained ISO
14001-certification.
- EPA New England targeted two facilities: the Boston
office and the New
England Regional Laboratory in Chelmsford, MA. Check
out its EMS
fact sheet (2 pp, 343KB About
PDF).
- EPA New
England integrated its EMS into an existing, active Green
Team.
- In
Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic
office designed a EMS
fact sheet (2 pp, 216KB About
PDF) and an awareness
training (52 pp, 1,196KB About
PDF) for employees.
- Likewise, check out the basic EMS
awareness training (29 pp, 126KB About
PDF) developed by the Southeast
office in Atlanta.
- To
bring the message to employees, Region
6 in Dallas, TX, created a list
of what you can do daily, and held a kick-off EMS fair.
- Region 7 has developed an EMS for its main
facility and its Science and Technology Center in Kansas City, KS.
- Region 8 developed an EMS for its main
office in Denver, CO (Word), and Region 9 created
an EMS for its regional
office in San Francisco, CA.
- Region 10 developed an EMS and completed
self-certification for its Seattle
building and Manchester
Lab.
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Department of Defense Initiatives
Other Agency Initiatives
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