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- EPA supports and will help promote the development and use of
EMSs, including those based on the ISO 14001 standard, that help an
organization achieve its environmental obligations and broader
environmental performance goals. In doing so, EPA will work closely
with all key stakeholders, especially our partners in the States.
"EPA encourages the use of EMSs that focus on
improved environmental performance and compliance as well as source
reduction (pollution prevention) and system performance. EPA
supports efforts to develop quality data on the performance of any
EMS to determine the extent to which the system can help bring
about improvements in these areas. EPA also encourages
organizations that develop EMSs to do so through an open and
inclusive process with relevant stakeholders, and to maintain
accountability for the performance outcomes of their EMSs through
measurable objectives and targets. EPA encourages organizations to
make information on the actual performance of their environmental
management systems available to the public and governmental
agencies. In addition, through initiatives such as Project XL and
the Environmental Leadership Program, EPA is encouraging the
testing of EMSs to achieve superior environmental performance. At
this time, EPA is not basing any regulatory incentives solely on
the use of EMSs, or certification to ISO 14001."
- The US Government is also a party to the Commission for
Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Council, which, on June 12, 1997,
issued a resolution (#97-05) ``future cooperation regarding
environmental management systems and compliance.'' In the
resolution, the Council, composed of the Governments of the United
States, Mexico and Canada, declared that:
"Governments must retain the primary role in
establishing environmental standards and verifying and enforcing
compliance with laws and regulations. Strong and effective
governmental programs to enforce environmental laws and regulations
are essential to ensure the protection of public health and the
environment. Voluntary compliance programs and initiatives
developed by governments can supplement strong and effective
enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, can encourage
mutual trust between regulated entities and government, and can
facilitate the achievement of common environmental protection
goals; Private voluntary efforts, such as adoption of Environmental
Management Systems (EMSs) such as those based on the International
Organization on Standardization's Specification Standard 14001 (ISO
14001), may also foster improved environmental compliance and sound
environmental management and performance. ISO 14001 is not,
however, a performance standard. Adoption of an EMS pursuant to ISO
14001 does not constitute or guarantee compliance with legal
requirements and will not in any way prevent the governments from
taking enforcement actions where appropriate."
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