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Frequently Asked Questions About EMS
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- We already have a compliance program – why do we need an EMS?
An EMS can help you to comply with regulations more consistently and effectively. It also can help you identify and capitalize on environmental opportunities that go beyond compliance.
- How big does an organization need to be to successfully implement an EMS?
EMS have been implemented by organizations ranging in size from a couple of dozen employees to many thousands of employees. The elements of an EMS (as described in this Guide) are flexible by design to accommodate a wide range of organizational types and sizes.
- Will an EMS help us to prevent pollution?
A commitment to preventing pollution is a cornerstone of an effective EMS and should be reflected in an organization’s policy, objectives and other EMS elements. Examples throughout this Guide show how organizations have used an EMS to prevent pollution.
- To implement an EMS, do we have to start from scratch?
Much of what you have in place now for environmental management probably can be incorporated into the EMS. There is no need to “start over”.
- How will an EMS affect my existing compliance obligations?
An EMS will not result in more or less stringent legal compliance obligations. But an EMS should improve your efforts to comply with legal obligations, and, in some cases, may lead to more flexible compliance requirements. (See discussion of Performance Track in Appendix B.)
- Do we need to be in 100% compliance in order to have an EMS?
No. The concept of continual improvement assumes that no organization is perfect. While an EMS should help your organization to improve compliance and other measures of performance, this does not mean that problems will never occur. However, an effective EMS should help you find and
fix these problems and prevent their recurrence.
EPA encourages the use of EMS that improve compliance, pollution prevention and other forms of environmental performance. The Agency is assessing how EMS can be used to strengthen environmental programs and policies.
“We needed a system to manage things that came up in a consistent way. Our area is growing and an EMS will help us handle development issues such as controlling soil erosion and preserving the natural features of the area. An EMS is a way to control environmental problems in a rapidly growing community.”
-- Steve Daut, Council Trustee, Village of Chelsea, Michigan
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