ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS RESOURCES


The U.S. EPA has developed an excellent "how-to" implementation guide entitled "Environmental Management Systems: An Implementation Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Organizations" (NSF International, Ann Arbor Michigan, 11/96). It is free and downloadable on the Internet at www.epa.gov/owmitnet/wm046200.htm.

Sector-specific EMS guides are available for the metal finishing industry and the printing industry, and others are being developed. Please check the EPA EMS web site for links to copies of these documents. Also, many of the sites below contain links to other information available on the Internet.

WEB SITES OF INTEREST


The following resources provide general information on EMS's and state and federal programs and links.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI coordinates the development of American National Standards and is one of five permanent members of the governing ISO council. ANSI distributes copies of the ISO 14000 standards.

EPA National Environmental Performance Track
The national Performance Track is designed to recognize and encourage top environmental performers - those who go beyond compliance with regulatory requirements to attain levels of environmental performance and management that benefit people, communities, and the environment.

EPA Environmental Management Systems Clearinghouse
This site contains publications and policies available from EPA.

EPA Office of Reinvention and Policy
The EPA is testing innovative approaches to environmental protection through a number of voluntary initiatives. The site provides links to the various projects, including Project XL and Performance Track.

EPA Standards Network
This Enviro$sen$e site contains answers to frequently asked questions about ISO 14000.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO developed the ISO 14001 series of standards, guidance documents and technical reports, including the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard.

Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Management Systems
The Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Management Systems is a consortium of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry representatives and academia that is examining the public policy implications of environmental management systems, particularly ISO 14001. Oregon is a member state. The site includes links to other ISO 14000 information on the Internet.

National Database on Environmental Management Systems
The National Database on Environmental Management Systems is a national effort to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental management systems. This site is sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, the University of North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Multi-State Working Group. The site contains the data protocols, data, public reports and other information on the database project. The site includes links to other ISO 14000 information on the Internet.

National Pollution Prevention Roundtable ISO 14000 White Paper
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable's white paper on ISO 14000 and its strengths and weaknesses in relation to pollution prevention.

NGO Working Group on ISO 14000
ECOLOGIA and the Community Nutrition Institute (CNI) have been concerned about the lack of non-governmental organization (NGO) participation in the ISO 14000 standard setting process and are working with other environmental NGOs to influence the process through the NGO Initiative: ISO 14000 project.

North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
This site includes links to other ISO 14000 information on the Internet.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Green Permits Program
The Oregon DEQ has developed a program that recognizes and rewards facilities that use innovative approaches and achieve environmental results that are significantly better than otherwise required by law. Documents describing the program, and copies of facility applications and other information are on this site.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ISO 14000 Links
This site includes links to other ISO 14000 information on the Internet.

Principles of Pollution Prevention
A web page developed by Dr. Robert Pojasek to introduce principles of pollution, including process mapping, zero waste goals, and other methods to help facilities take a systems approach to achieve cleaner production and sustainable development goals. Distance learning tools are included.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program
Wisconsin's program for recognizing and rewarding facilities that achieve superior performance.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
This site includes links to other ISO 14000 information on the Internet.