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Marilou Martin Innovation Program Manager Office of Science, Ecosystems and Communities

EPA’s Strategy for Determining the Role of Environmental Management in Regulatory Programs April 2004. Marilou Martin Innovation Program Manager Office of Science, Ecosystems and Communities U.S. EPA Region 5. EPA’s EMS Strategy History of EPA and EMS. Office of Wastewater Management

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Marilou Martin Innovation Program Manager Office of Science, Ecosystems and Communities

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  1. EPA’s Strategy for Determining theRole of Environmental Management in Regulatory ProgramsApril 2004 Marilou Martin Innovation Program Manager Office of Science, Ecosystems and Communities U.S. EPA Region 5

  2. EPA’s EMS StrategyHistory ofEPA and EMS • Office of Wastewater Management - 1995, funds demonstration project to assess organizations’ implementation of EMS - 1997, funds EMS pilot to test the benefit of EMS on environmental performance - 2000, collaborates with PEER Center to provide information, tools and support to help local governments adopt EMS

  3. EPA’s EMS StrategyHistory of EPA and EMS • Office of Federal Facilities Enforcement - 1996,develops Environmental Management Review (EMR) program as a compliance assistance tool which includes a review of a federal facility for environmental performance problems - now focuses on a facility’s environmental management system - available to federal agencies

  4. EPA’s EMS StrategyEPA Promotes EMS • EPA promotes EMS through voluntary programs including - Sector Strategies - Design for the Environment - Project XL - National Environmental Performance Track - EMS in Schools - State Regulatory Agency programs such as WDNR’s Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program

  5. EPA’s EMS StrategyEPA’s Position on EMSs • Executive Order 13148 – Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management - appropriate EPA Program and Regional ofices and laboratories are required to implement EMS • May 2002 EPA Position Statement Encourages the use of EMSs to achieve: - improved performance - improved compliance - pollution prevention

  6. EPA’s EMS StrategyLooking Beyond Voluntary Programs • More companies are implementing EMS because of global markets and international trade pressures • State performance based leadership programs are linking rule development and permitting to EMSs • Many theories, little actual experience • When tried, mixed results • EPA, states consulted, decide on a strategy of careful experimentation

  7. EPA’s EMS Strategy • Approved on April 12, 2004 • Announces desire to experiment, not make broad policy changes • No change in commitment to voluntary programs • No intent either to mandate EMSs or weaken environmental standards

  8. EPA’s EMS StrategyGoals of the Strategy • We are experimenting with innovation approaches to see if they can: - obtain improved environmental results - improve regulatory compliance - promote pollution prevention - use agency and facility resources efficiently - improve community understanding and input

  9. EPA’s EMS StrategyGuiding Principles • An EMS should make “business sense” • Regulators should focus on performance • Organizations should measure and report results • EMSs use a multimedia approach that considers regulated and unregulated impacts • Incentives should be proportional

  10. EPA’s EMS StrategyIdeas to Test • Can EMSs facilitate the use of performance based standards? • Can EMSs help spot cross-media impacts? • Can EMSs aid in redirecting regulatory oversight to highest priorities? • Can EMS elements substitute for, or aid in the design of, administrative requirements? • Does incorporating an EMS into a permit yield better public involvement? • Can facilities use EMSs to enhance performance of suppliers or others?

  11. EPA’s EMS StrategyGetting Started • Collaborate with State Partners on experiments • Seek proposals through State Innovation Grant Program Solicitation • Receive request from others who have contacted their state or EPA • Use design criteria and ensure projects include evaluation measures

  12. EPA’s EMS StrategyOther Opportunities: States • Approximately 20 State regulatory agencies have performance based leadership programs which may require an EMS. Incentives are primarily recognition but some programs may provide flexibility. Examples: Wisconsin’s Green Tier Program Michigan’s Clean Corporate Citizen Texas’ Clean Texas, Cleaner World Colorado Environmental Leader Virginia’s Environmental Excellence

  13. EPA’s New EMS StrategyEPA Outreach • National and Regional Roundtables with states, businesses, and organizations to discuss opportunities, benefits, and constraints of integrating EMS in regulatory programs. • Participants says EMS contributes to: - employee empowerment and ownership of environmental performance - more effective change management systems - stronger corporate control - good for business

  14. EPA’s EMS StrategyEPA Outreach • Participants ideas for opportunities in regulatory program include - focus permits on performance outcomes while reducing operational constraints - reduce record keeping requirements - implement self-permitting - alternate process change notification - implement unified inspections

  15. EPA’s EMS Strategy • Full Strategy: www.epa.gov/ems • EPA Region 5 POC: Marilou Martin martin.marilou@epa.gov 312-353-9660

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