EPA's Own EMS Policy

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The following is the text of EPA's Environmental Management System Implementation Policy signed by Administrator Christine Todd Whitman on May 17, 2002. A PDF version of the statement is available for download: EPA's Environmental Management System Implementation Policy (PDF 57KB)

EPA's Environmental Management System
Implementation Policy

EPA's mission is to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment by setting standards for environmental protection, assisting others in reducing or preventing pollution, conducting environmental research and enforcing environmental protection standards in conjunction with other government agencies. In support of that mission, proper management of the environmental impacts of our own operations and facilities is essential.

EPA continues to encourage regulated entities to use effective environmental management systems that focus on compliance, pollution prevention, and public outreach. With this policy, EPA is committing to implement EMSs with these attributes for our own employees, operations and facilities. EPA will endeavor to become a leader in executing a model environmental management system within the Agency.

At EPA, we commit to reduce the environmental impacts and consumption of natural resources from our facility operations and comply with all legal and applicable requirements. Our environmental management system (EMS) will be designed to meet the following goals:

• Ensure compliance by meeting or exceeding all applicable environmental requirements;
• Strive to continuously improve environmental performance in terms of both regulated and unregulated environmental impacts (e.g., energy and water conservation);
• Employ source reduction and other pollution prevention approaches whenever practicable;
• Require consideration of environmental factors when making purchasing and operating decisions;
• Establish, track and review specific environmental performance goals; and
• Share information on environmental performance with the public and allow appropriate opportunities for input into EMS development and implementation.

Date: May 17, 2002

Signed: Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator

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