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VEEP Program logoThe Virginia Environmental Excellence Program encourages superior performance through environmental management systems and pollution prevention.

Links

The following links may be of assistance when you  are developing your environmental management system:

  • EPA website of Environmental Stewardship that seeks to help businesses, government and private citizens make intelligent choices on sustainable environmental benefils.
  • EPA's On-line EMS Training Course: EPA's website includes an excellent on-line EMS overview course that might be useful for your facility. Check it out!
  • Cost Analysis for Pollution Prevention
    Many pollution prevention opportunities cost very little to carry out and can be quite profitable; others must be analyzed carefully to weigh their profitability. This analysis involves identifying all the major costs involved in a current process and possible pollution prevention alternatives, and then comparing the costs and savings.
  • EMS Topic Hub of the P2 Regional Information Center
    This website intended to serve those who are interested in learning more about what an EMS is, how it works, reasons to adopt an EMS, how an EMS can help reduce waste, and where to turn for additional implementation and ongoing operational support. The resources linked to this hub provides access to information resources for all ranges of EMS , from novice to expert. EMS proponents, both internal and external to an SME, should find the narrative useful in preparing basic information about an EMS, with links to resources that provide ample information to explore the topic more fully.
  • National Database on Environmental Management Systems
    This website presents the research results of the National Database on Environmental Management Systems (NDEMS), funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NDEMS is a research study of facilities that are implementing environmental management systems such as ISO 14001. The site provides access to research papers and reports, databases and research protocols produced by this study, as well as other resources on environmental management systems.
  • Environmental Management Implementation Tool Kit
    The Environmental Management System Implementation Tool Kit is intended for the use of the Department of the Army Installations seeking to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) modeled after the international Environmental Management System Standard Specification (ISO 14001).
  • National Performance Track 
    This is a program designed to motivate and reward top environmental performance by companies and facilities of all types, public and private.

    National Performance Track linkage to state programs.

  • EMS-Plus 
    This is a web-based toll developed by Research Triangle Institute. It offers a free, easy to use tool for a facility to consider aspects and impacts as well as objectives and targets that go beyond the minimum in developing an EMS. The tool also considers pollution prevention when looking at ways to achieve targets.

Sector-based EMSs :

  • Case Studies in Successful EMS Implementation at Universities
     EPA has developed case studies describing how five different universities have approached their implementation of an environmental management system (EMS). The five participating  schools are: University of Massachusetts - Lowell, University of Michigan, University of  Missouri-Rolla, University of South  Carolina, and Washington State University - Pullman Campus.

    This  project is part of the overall environmental strategy for this sector.  Each case study provides an overview of the institution, the champions who made it  happen,  lessons learned  from their EMS implementation efforts, and actual benefits gained from their EMS. These   experiences will help inform other campuses that are considering putting an EMS in place. To   read or download the case studies, please visit www.campusEMS.org. For more information, contact Peggy Bagnoli at 202-566-2957 or bagnoli.peggy@epa.gov.
  • Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development  (the  MYER  Guide).
    Development  (the  MYER  Guide). This assistance tool was created through a  joint effort by EPA, industry trade groups, states, other federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The MYER Guide contains two sets of checklists and  detailed information on environmental  responsibilities of the construction industry  (including storm water management). The Guide will help builders and developers understand which environmental regulations apply to them and then use that understanding throughout all phases of a construction project.  Contractors can use the Guide at the Pre-Bid phase to learn about applicable environmental requirements, so compliance costs can be taken into consideration early.  They can use the responsibility-assignment checklist during the Pre-Construction phase  to allocate environmental responsibilities before breaking ground. During the Construction phase, they will find answers to many environmental questions and can conduct self-audits by using available checklists in the Guide.  Each checklist and chapter can be pulled out and used in the field. Download an electronic  copy of the Guide from the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center or EPA's  Compliance  Assistance website.  Free hard copies are available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at  (800)  490-9198.  Specify document number EPA305-B-04-003.  For more information, contact Peter Truitt at 202-566-2950 or truitt.peter@epa.gov.
  • Guide to Help Wastewater Utilities Develop EMSs and Manage Critical Issues
    The Office of Water has issued an important new tool to help wastewater utilities develop environmental management systems (EMS) for their operations entitled Achieving Environmental Excellence: An Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Handbook for Wastewater Utilities. EMSs are a powerful and proven tool that can help utilities realize a number of important benefits and address a wide array of challenges—including the need to ensure sustainable infrastructure.

    The Handbook, which was developed in cooperation with the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF), takes utilities through a step-by-step process for developing an effective EMS, using numerous examples and other tips from utilities that have successfully implemented EMSs for their own operations.
  • EMS Implementation Guide for the Meat Processing Industry: EPA's Environmental Management System (EMS) Implementation Guide for the Meat Processing Industry has been specifically designed to assist meat processing facilities with a 10 module, step-by-step EMS implementation process.
  • EMS Implementation Guide for the Metal Finishing Sector: Several years ago EPA Region 9 sponsored the development of an EMS Implementation Guide for the metal finishing sector (MFEMS Template). The MFEMS Template is closely aligned with ISO 14001 in both structure and jargon, but reflects a focus on collecting and using data from companies' everyday operations. To reduce the burden many small- and medium-sized companies perceive regarding the paperwork associated with EMSs, the MFEMS Template includes numerous tools that are both industry-specific and easy to use as well as sample procedures for each of the EMS elements. The overriding goal of the MFEMS Template is to provide a text companion to the workshop series and lower the hurdle that documentation and administrative exercises often pose for companies with limited resources. The latest revision to the MFEMS Template now presents self-explanatory footnotes that indicate changes that would be recommended on the basis of Performance Track EMS criteria, ISO 14001 EMS requirements, or both of these together. That is, for facilities wishing to pursue these programs, the footnotes point out additional language that should be adopted or changed to conform to the Performance Track EMS criteria or the ISO14001 EMS standard.
  • EMS Implementation Guide for the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry: In summer, 2003, the final version of the EMS Implementation Guide for the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry was released. Created in partnership with ASA and SCA, the Guide describes an EMS that is based on the ISO 14001 standard and reflects EPA's National Environmental Performance Track emphasis on sustained compliance, pollution prevention, and information-sharing with the community. The Guide provides detailed information to shipyards interested in implementing an EMS and incorporates lessons learned and examples drawn from the experience of shipyards that participated in the SSP pilot.
  • Metal Finishing Guidance Manual
    A comprehensive guide on compliance, pollution prevention, and environmental management systems, written in plain language. Contains both federal and state regulatory information and a compliance calendar. 

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