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EMS Refresher Training. April 2009. What is the EMS?. EMS is E nvironmental M anagement S ystem. It is the environmental component of the Jefferson Lab ISMS. The System comprises a tiered series of documents: The EMS Plan Fifteen EMPs (procedures)
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EMS Refresher Training April 2009
What is the EMS? • EMS is Environmental Management System. • It is the environmental component of the Jefferson Lab ISMS. • The System comprises a tiered series of documents: • The EMS Plan • Fifteen EMPs (procedures) • The Lab-wide implementing documents to control environmental hazards, such as SOPs
Significant Aspects • This is EMS-talk for the most important potential environmental hazards at the facility. • Significant Aspects are systematically identified and prioritized on a regular basis. • The current list of Significant Aspects includes: • Industrial wastewater and releases to surface water • Hazardous and nonhazardous waste • Low level radioactive waste • Activation of soil and groundwater • Nanomaterials • Water use • Energy use • Ozone-Depleting Substances
Mitigating Significant Aspects • Lab-wide policies and plans for water and energy conservation, pollution prevention, and recycling are designed to address some of these aspects. • Task- or area-specific SOPs address others. • Some require multiple approaches.
New Activities • Every new activity or substantive change in materials or operations should be reviewed for environmental considerations.
Compliance • Not every Significant Aspect (such as habitat protection) is associated with a law, permit, or regulation … but many are. • The EMS is set up to: • Make sure we have the knowledge and tools to achieve and maintain compliance • Periodically assess our degree of compliance • Annually report on our compliance status (through the Site Environmental Report) (http://www.jlab.org/ehs/ser/)
Environmental Permits • Industrial wastewater: limits on pH (cannot be below 5) and tritium. • Groundwater quality: activation products are limited. • Groundwater quantity: dewatering under Halls. • Stormwater runoff: • Associated with construction • As a result of everyday operations
Other Important Components • Training • Environmental data quality • Top management awareness of environmental issues • Control of records and documents • Communications • Emergency preparedness
Lab-Wide Responsibilities • Know how your job can affect the environment. • We are all responsible for water and energy conservation. • Properly manage wastes; use less hazardous substances; use correct disposal methods. • Pass along ideas for improved environmental protection. • New or changed activities or materials need an evaluation. Get help from ES&H professionals if needed. • Report possible releases to the environment immediately.