Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)? The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines environmental management systems as "that part of the overall practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy." EMS focuses on environmental management practices rather than the activities themselves. It provides the structure by which certain activities can be carried out; it ensures operator training and that proper procedures are in place but doesn't specify methods or frequency of sampling. The EMS allows Federal agencies and facilities flexibility to adapt the system to their needs and priorities.

To learn more about EPA's Environmental Management System for Federal agencies and facilities, please see the Environmental Management Systems Publications page.

Please also visit FedSite, EPA's virtual compliance assistance center for Federal agencies, and for general EMS information affecting Federal agencies, see US EPA's Environmental Management Systems site.