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Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Agriculture and Agribusiness – EMS Basics

Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Agriculture and Agribusiness – EMS Basics. December 18, 2000 Beth Graves EMS Project Coor. NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. August 28, 2000

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Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Agriculture and Agribusiness – EMS Basics

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  1. Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Agriculture and Agribusiness – EMS Basics December 18, 2000 Beth GravesEMS Project Coor. NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

  2. August 28, 2000 The Progressive FarmerBy necessity and inclination, U.S. farmers are early adapters. Here's a look at the latest in high-tech down on the farm. By CARLENE HEMPEL The News & Observer

  3. What is an EMS? • Systematic way of managing an organization’s environmental affairs • Based on Plan-Do-Check-Act Model (PDCA) • Focused on Continual Improvement of System • Addresses immediate and long-term impact of an organization’s products, services and processes on the environment. • A tool to improve environmental performance

  4. EMS Model – Plan, Do, Check, Act Policy Planning Management Review Implementation Checking Corrective Action

  5. Why Implement an EMS? • Helps to identify the causes of environmental problems. • better to make a product right the first time • cheaper to prevent a spill • cost effective to prevent pollution • Trade and competitive issues • marketing tool

  6. Why Implement an EMS? • Struggling to stay in compliance and keep track of regulations/laws • Environmental management just one of many responsibilities • Employee turnover • Establish a framework to move beyond compliance • Vehicle for positive change; improved employee morale, enhanced public image • Much of an EMS may already be in place

  7. Build on What’s There • Animal Waste Management Plans • Best Management Practices (BMPs) • On Farm Assessment Program (available to pork producers) • EMS Templates being developed • Beef, poultry, dairy • New programs – ex. United Egg Producers Project XL agreement

  8. ISO 14001 Model – Required Elements

  9. Becoming ISO 14001 certified • ISO 14001 is the only certification standard • Registration body examines EMS for conformity to the ISO 14001 standard • Not a compliance audit, an EMS audit • Facility awarded registration • Does NOT mean that products are more environmentally friendly • Does mean have a documented EMS that is fully implemented and consistently followed

  10. Key EMS Elements/Framework • Policy Statement • Identification of Significant Environmental Impacts • Development of Objectives and Targets • Implementation Plan to Meet Obj. and Targets • Training • Management Review How you meet elements is up to you.

  11. Aspect and Impacts • An organization evaluates and addresses its own significant aspects, including non-regulated aspects • May be positive or negative • Examples: • Aspect – Pesticide Container Recycling • Impact -- Conservation of natural resources • Aspect – Engine operations • Impact – Degradation of air quality

  12. Aspects and Impacts • Consider: • Air emissions • Solid/hazardous waste • Contamination of land • Noise, vibration and odor • Water effluents • Land use, energy use, water use • Raw material and resource use • Positive environmental issues

  13. Marine Corps ISO 14001 Pilot Project Nuisance Impacts Fuel Consumption - Use of a Nonrenewable Resource Training within a Natural Environment (Plant, Wildlife, Wetlands) Training within species habitat Resource Impacts Particulate Matter from Operating Vehicles Off-road Air Emissions from equipment and vehicles Outdoor burning - PM Air Impacts Disposal of Spill Residue Disposal of Solid Waste Disposal of Hazardous Waste Waste Impacts Soil disturbance leading to Erosion and Sedimentation Accidental Spillage - Vehicle /Helicopter/Equipment fluids Gray water Soil Impacts Accidental Spillage - Vehicle/Helicopter/Equipment fluids Gray water Groundwater Impacts Soil disturbance leading to Erosion and Sedimentation Accidental Spillage - Vehicle/Helicopter/Equipment fluids Gray water Surface Water Impacts Environmental Aspects Encampment Input (raw material and labor) Conservation Lead Responsibility - Fish and Wildlife Division, Compliance Division, and Planning Division

  14. Significance Scoring --Prioritize • From Environmental Concerns such as: • regulatory/legal exposure • health risk/people • resource conservation • To Business Concerns such as: • effect on the public image/community • cost savings • cost recovery period • equipment/facility

  15. Significance Scoring (cont.) • Also may consider issues such as: • scale of impact • duration of impact • zone of impact • probability of occurrence or likelihood - frequent, likely, possible, rarely, unlikely • severity of impact - catastrophic, severe, moderate, minor

  16. Legal Environmental Requirements • Setting legal framework for the EMS • identify and access legal requirements (federal, state, local) • keep up-to-date • communicate to the right people

  17. Objectives &Targets- Continual Improvement • Establish and maintain environmental objectives and targets. • Can include commitment to: • reduce waste • reduce or eliminate release/spill of a pollutant • design product/operations to minimize environmental impact in production, use, and disposal.

  18. Objectives &Targets • Keep objectives simple, flexible, and measurable. • Be realistic. • Considerations: • legal and other requirements • significant env. aspects • technological options • financial requirements • operational requirements • business requirements • views of interested parties

  19. EMSExample • Policy : Improve the environmental quality of the workplace • Objective: Improve indoor air quality by reducing solvent odors • Target : Reduce solvent odors (VOC levels) by 90% by mid 2001. • Set Environmental Mgmt. Program

  20. Env. Mgmt. Program • Plan: Switch to water cleaning process • Action- Substitute water-based cleaning process for vapor degreasing process • Responsibilities - Process Engineering • Schedule - Bench top trials - 2 months (date)Full scale pilot - 3 months (date)Implementation period - 1 month (date) • Resources needed - 1 FTE for 4 mon. Est. Budget $12,000

  21. Implementation • Structure/responsibility • Training, awareness, & competence • Communication (internal/external) • Env. Mgmt System Documentation and control where needed • Operational control (ex. maintenance) • Emergency preparedness and response

  22. Monitoring and Measuring –How are you doing? • Establish procedures to monitor and measure key operations that can have a significant impact on the environment. • Track how well the system is working • Analyze root causes of problems

  23. EMS Internal Auditing • Are you meeting your EMS requirements? • How will you run an EMS audit program?

  24. Management Review • Collect information to evaluate EMS • Review EMS to ensure its continuing effectiveness • Consider changes – continual improvement

  25. For More Information • DPPEA offers free on-site EMS assistance and training • DPPEA EMS web site http://www.p2pays.org/iso/index.htm • Beth Graves EMS Project Coor. 800-763-0136 or 919-715-6506 Beth.Graves@ncmail.net

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