Environmental Management System

Standard Criteria | Small Business Criteria | Site Visits | Annual Performance Reporting| Independent Assessment

During the application process, Performance Track facilities certify that they have adopted and implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS)), and that the EMS has undergone an independent assessment in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Independent Assessment Policy [PDF, 224KB, 3 pp].

Because each facility is unique, the scope and formality of its EMS will vary according to its size, sector, and complexity. A qualifying EMS includes the following elements:

1. Policy
2. Planning
3. Implementation and Operation
4. Checking and Corrective Action
5. Management Review

Policy

• An environmental policy committing the facility to:
   
  
  • Compliance with legal requirements and voluntary commitments
     
    
  • Pollution prevention
     
    
  • Continuous improvement in environmental performance, including areas not subject to regulations
     
    
  • Sharing information on environmental performance with the community.
     
    

Back to top

Planning

• Identification of significant environmental aspects and legal requirements, including procedures for integrating anticipated changes to the facility's requirements.
   
  
• Measurable objectives and targets to meet policy commitments and legal requirements, to reduce the facility's significant environmental impacts, and to meet the performance commitments made as part of the facility's participation in the program. In setting objectives and targets, the facility should consider preventing non-compliance, preventing pollution at its source, minimizing cross-media pollutant transfers, and improving environmental performance.
   
  
• Active, documented programs to achieve the objectives, targets, and commitments in the EMS, including the means and time frames for their completion.

Back to top

Implementation and Operation

• Established roles and responsibilities for meeting objectives and targets of the overall EMS and compliance with legal requirements, including a top management representative with authority and responsibility for the EMS.
   
  
• Defined procedures for:
   
  
  • Achieving and maintaining compliance and meeting performance objectives.
     
    
  • Communicating relevant information regarding the EMS, including the facility's environmental performance, throughout the organization.
     
    
  • Providing appropriate incentives for personnel to meet the EMS requirements.
     
    
  • Document control, including where documents related to the EMS will be located and who will maintain them.
     
    
• General environmental training programs for all employees, and specific training for those whose jobs and responsibilities involve activities directly related to achieving objectives and targets and to compliance with legal requirements.
   
  
• Documentation of the key EMS elements.
   
  
• Operation and maintenance programs for equipment and for other operations that are related to legal compliance and other significant environmental aspects.
   
  
• An emergency preparedness program.
   
  

Back to top

Checking and Corrective Action

• An active program for assessing performance and preventing and detecting non-conformance with legal and other requirements of the EMS, including an established compliance audit program and an EMS audit program.
   
  
• An active program for prompt, corrective action of any non-conformance with legal requirements and other EMS requirements.

Back to top

Management Review

• Documented management review of performance against the established objectives and targets and the effectiveness of the EMS in meeting policy commitments.

Back to top