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Environmental Newsletter

Directorate of Public Works (DPW) » Environmental Division »

Environmental Management System (EMS)

EMS is:

…a Management System that ties organizational concerns and issues to an organization’s processes.
…a Structure that organizes planning, procedures and processes with a focus on environmental improvement at
all levels of an organization.
…a Proactive Continual Process
to avoid environmental problems by increasing awareness and developing sustainable practices.

An EMS is NOT:

…strictly a DPW Environmental Division effort. Every individual in the military Community has an impact on the environment.
…an Environmental Program. It is an overarching systematic approach to managing the environmental posture of an installation.
…complete when the procedures are written. Implementing and evaluating procedures and continual environmental improvement are ongoing processes.

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a management process designed to help an organization meet its environmental responsibilities and achieve continually improving environmental performance. Environmental awareness is integrated into day-to-day mission planning and execution. Executive Order Executive Order 13148, issued April 2000, was the overall impetus and framework for the establishment of an EMS at U.S. Army Garrisons.

Environmental accountability was implemented step by step into agency day-to-day decision making and long-term planning processes. Executive Order 13423, issued 24 January 2007, replaces Executive Order 13148, underlines the importance of environmental protection at federal installations and further supports EMS implementation. The EMS of USAG Schweinfurt meets the requirements of ISO 14001 and declared in July 2009 “ Conformance to Army Policy and EMS requirements of EO13423”. Since then USAG Schweinfurt is continual improving its EMS performance.

Key Components of the Environmental Management System

Policy Environmental Policy	Provides the framework of the Garrison's EMS
Plan Planning Policy	Activities inside the Garrison that have an impact on the environment are determined. Of these activities the negative environmental impacts are determined and evaluated to identify (significant) aspects. Considering legal and other requirements, objectives and targets related to the identified (significant) aspects are defined and recorded in the environmental program, which is continuously reviewed and updated.
Do Implementation	Roles and responsibilities are defined and personnel get appropriate training. Procedures are established to control documents and optimize operational activities, particularly those included in the environmental program. Processes are implemented to ensure proper internal and external communication.
Check Checking and Corrective Action	Activities with significant aspects are frequently inspected and evaluated. In addition, the implementation of the EMS is audited every year by internal personnel and every three years by external auditors. Based on the identified deficiencies corrective and preventive actions are developed.
Act Management Review	Every year the implementation status of the EMS is assessed by the Garrison Commander in order to evaluate its effectiveness and to make adjustments where necessary.

To ensure continual improvement regarding the Garrison's environmental performance, the plan-do-check-act cycle is continuously repeated.

Environmental Management Policy

The EMS Policy, outlining the Garrison's commitment to protect the environment, is signed by the Garrison Commander and forms the basis of our EMS. The EMS Policy states that everyone at the garrison will:

Comply with all applicable environmental policies, laws, and regulations
Continually assess activities, products, and services to determine their effect on the environment and to identify significant environmental impacts
Identify potential sources of pollution to meet or exceed Army goals for pollution prevention
Make environmental awareness and compliance a routine part of daily operations
Actively pursue improvements on organizational environmental management

In addition, an EMS handbook (EMS Manual) was developed that documents the scope and the main requirements of the Garrison's EMS. It describes the Garrison's EMS, the main components, and their interrelationships.

Environmental Aspects and Impacts

ISO 14001 defines environmental aspects as “elements of an organization’s activities, products, and services which can interact with the environment.”

An environmental aspect signifies the potential for an environmental impact, whether good or bad.

Aspects(Cause)	Impacts
Generation of solid waste	Disposal of solid waste
Energy consumption	Global warming and depletion of resources
Generation of hazardous waste	Disposal of hazardous waste
Storage and use of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL)	depletion of petroleum resources and risk of spills and fir
Spills/Emergency situation	Contaminated water or ground
Handling/Disposal of Asbestos containing material	Health risk to occupants and workers

An environmental program was developed that outlines the Garrison's Objectives & Targets. Objective and targets are goals that the Garrison sets itself to achieve to mitigate or minimize adverse environmental impacts.

View the Environmental Program Site to learn more.

For this purpose, the USAG Schweinfurt Environmental Regulation 200-1 was developed. Each chapter outlines its purpose and applicability, provides work instructions and defines responsibilities.

EMS Awareness Training is provided throughout the Garrison to create a basis for and understanding of EMS principals and raise awareness of our significant aspects. It provides an overview of the purpose, scope, and importance of EMS and explains the environmental significant aspects.

Please contact the DPW Environmental Division for the current Training Schedule. If no training session is scheduled for the near future, you can also click through the training material and brochures compiled by the Environmental Division.

Read and learn more here.

For those that are interested, USAG SW Environmental Division offers several documents (courtesy translation), flyers, and other information in German language. Feel free to get in contact us at 09721-966795, DSN 354-6795, or visit us in our office at the DPW Compound near Ledward Barracks Bldg. 251, Room 224.