Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned to achieve and demonstrate sound environmental performance by controlling the impact of their activities, products or services on the environment, taking into account their environmental policy and objectives.  They do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic policies and other measures to foster environmental protection, and a general growth of concern from interested parties about environmental matters including sustainable development.

Many organizations have undertaken environmental "reviews" or "audits" to assess their environmental performance.  On their own, however, these "reviews" and "audits" may not be sufficient to provide an organization with the assurance that its performance not only meets, but will continue to meet, its legal and policy requirements.  To be effective, they need to be conducted within a structured management system and integrated with overall management activity.

International Standards covering environmental management are intended to provide organizations with the elements of an effective environmental management system which can be integrated with other management requirements, to assist organizations to achieve environmental and economic goals.  These Standards, like other International Standards, are not intended to be used to create non-tariff trade barriers or to increase or change an organizationís legal obligations.

ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of such an environmental management system.  It has been written to be applicable to all types and sizes of organizations and to accommodate diverse geographical, cultural and social conditions.  The basis of the approach is shown in figure 1.  The success of the system depends on commitment from all levels and functions, especially from top management.  A system of this kind enables an organization to establish, and assess the effectiveness of, procedures to set an environmental policy and objectives, achieve conformance with them, and demonstrate such conformance to others.  The overall aim of ISO 14001 is to support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic needs.  It should be noted that many of the requirements may be addressed concurrently or revisited at any time.

There is an important distinction between ISO 14001 which describes the requirements for certification/registration and/or self-declaration of an organizationís environmental management system and a non-certifiable guideline intended to provide generic assistance to an organization for implementing or improving an environmental management system.  Environmental management encompasses a full range of issues including those with strategic and competitive implications.  Demonstration of successful implementation of ISO 14001 can be used by an organization to assure interested parties that an appropriate environmental management system is in place.

ISO 14001 contains only those requirements that may be objectively audited for certification/registration purposes and/or self-declaration purposes.  Those organizations requiring more general guidance on a broad range of environmental management system issues should refer to ISO 14004:1996, Environmental management system ? General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques.

It should be noted that ISO 14001 does not establish absolute requirements for environmental performance beyond commitment, in the policy, to compliance with applicable legislation and regulations and to continual improvement.  Thus, two organizations carrying out similar activities but having different environmental performance may both comply with its requirements.

The adoption and implementation of a range of environmental management techniques in a systematic manner can contribute to optimal outcomes for all interested parties.  However, adoption of ISO 14001 will not in itself guarantee optimal environmental outcomes.  In order to achieve environmental objectives, the environmental management system should encourage organizations to consider implementation of the best available technology, where appropriate and where economically viable.  In addition, the cost effectiveness of such technology should be fully taken into account.

ISO 14001 is not intended to address, and does not include requirements for, aspects of occupational health and safety management; however, it does not seek to discourage an organization from developing integration of such management system elements.  Nevertheless, the certification/registration process will only be applicable to aspects of the environmental management system.

ISO 14001 shares common management system principles with the ISO 9000 series of quality system Standards.  Organizations may elect to use an existing management system consistent with the ISO 9000 series as a basis for its environmental management system.  It should be understood, however, that the application of various elements of the management system may differ due to different purposes and different interested parties.  While quality management systems deal with customer needs, environmental management systems address the needs of a broad range of interested parties and the evolving needs of society for environmental protection.

The environmental management system requirements specified in ISO 14001 do not need to be established independently of existing management system elements.  In some cases, it will be possible to comply with the requirements by adapting existing management system elements.
 Environmental management systems ? Specification with guidance for use
 

Benefits of having an environmental management system

An organization should implement an effective environmental management system in order to help protect human health and the environment from the potential impacts of its activities, products or services; and to assist in maintaining and improving the quality of the environment.

Having an EMS can help an organization provide confidence to its interested parties that

- a management commitment exists to meet the provisions of its policy, objectives, and targets;

- emphasis is placed on prevention rather than corrective action;

- evidence of reasonable care and regulatory compliance can be provided; and

- the systems design incorporates the process of continual improvement.

Economic benefits can be gained from implementing an environmental management system.  These should be identified in order to demonstrate to interested parties, especially shareholders, the value to the organization of good environmental management. It also provides the organization with the opportunity to link environmental objectives and targets with specific financial outcomes and thus to ensure that resources are made available where they provide the most benefit in both financial and environmental terms.

The potential benefits associated with an effective EMS include

- assuring customers of commitment to demonstrable environmental management;

- maintaining good public/community relations;

- satisfying investor criteria and improving access to capital;

- obtaining insurance at reasonable cost;

-  enhancing image and market share;

- meeting vendor certification criteria;

- improving cost control;

- reducing incidents that result in liability;

- demonstrating reasonable care;

- conserving input materials and energy;

- facilitating the attainment of permits and authorizations;

- fostering development and sharing environmental solutions;

- improving industry-government relations.
 
 

ISO 14001 specifies requirements for an environmental management system, to enable an organization to formulate a policy and objectives taking into account legislative requirements and information about significant environmental impacts.  It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence.  It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

ISO 14001 is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

a) implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system;

b) assure itself of its conformance with its stated environmental policy;

c) demonstrate such conformance to others;

d) seek certification/registration of its environmental management system by an external organization;

e) make a self-determination and self-declaration of conformance with ISO 14001.

All the requirements in ISO 14001 are intended to be incorporated into any environmental management system.  The extent of the application will depend on such factors as the environmental policy of the organization, the nature of its activities and the conditions in which it operates.  This International Standard also provides, in annex A, informative guidance on the use of the specification.

The scope of any application of ISO 14001 must be clearly identified.

NOTE  For ease of use, the subclause of the specification and annex A have related numbers; thus, for example, 4.3.3. and A.3.3 both deal with environmental objectives and targets, and 4.5.4 and A.5.4 both deal with environmental management system audit.
 

Overview of ISO 14001 and ISO 14004

As concern grows for maintaining and improving the quality of the environment and protecting human health, organizations of all sizes are increasingly turning their attention to the potential environmental impacts of their activities, products or services. The environmental performance of an organization is of increasing importance to internal and external interested parties. Achieving sound environmental performance requires organizational commitment to a systematic approach and to continual improvement of their environmental management system (EMS).

The general purpose of ISO 14004  is to provide assistance to organizations implementing or improving an EMS. It is consistent with the concept of sustainable development and is compatible with diverse cultural, social and organizational frameworks.

It should be noted that only ISO 14001 contains requirements that may be objectively audited for certification/registration purposes or for self declaration purposes. Alternatively, 14004 includes examples, descriptions and options that aid both in the implementation of an EMS and in strengthening its relation to the overall management of the organization.  An EMS provides order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities, and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes.

ISO 14004 considers the elements of an EMS and provides practical advice on implementing or enhancing such a system. It also provides organizations with advice on how to effectively initiate, improve or sustain an environmental management system.

Such a system is essential to an organization's ability to anticipate and meet its environmental objectives and to ensure ongoing compliance, with national and/or international requirements.

Environmental management is an integral part of an organization's overall management system. The design of an EMS is an ongoing and interactive process. The structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resource for implementing environmental policies, objectives and targets can be coordinated with existing efforts in other areas (e.g. operations, finance, quality, occupational health and safety).

Key principles for managers implementing or enhancing an environmental management system include, but are not limited to, the following.

- Recognize that environmental management is among the highest corporate priorities.

- Establish and maintain communication with internal and external interested parties.

- Determine the legislative requirements and environmental aspects associated with the organization's activities, products or services.

- Develop management and employee commitment to the protection of the environment, with clear assignment of accountability and responsibility.

- Encourage environmental planning throughout the product or process life cycle.

- Establish a process for achieving targeted performance levels.

- Provide appropriate and sufficient resources, including training, to achieve targeted performance levels on an ongoing basis.

- Evaluate environmental performance against the organization's environmental policy, objectives and targets and seek improvement where appropriate.

- Establish a management process to audit and review the EMS and to identify opportunities for improvement of the system and resulting environmental performance.

- Encourage contractors and suppliers to establish an EMS.

Organizations can consider the following different uses of the EMS International Standards:

- Using ISO 14001:1996, Environmental management systems-Specification with guidance for use to achieve third-party certification/registration, or self-declaration of an organization's EMS.

- Using ISO 14004, or parts of it, to initiate and/or improve its EMS. It is not intended for certification/registration purposes.

- Using ISO 14004 as a guideline or ISO 14001 as a specification for second-party recognition between contracting parties, which may be suitable for some business relationships.

- Using related ISO documents.

The choice will depend on factors such as:

- organization policy;

- level of maturity of the organization: whether systematic management that can facilitate the introduction of systematic environmental management is already in place;

- possible advantages and disadvantages, influenced by such things as market position, existing reputation and external relations;

- size of the organization.

ISO 14000 bibliography:

(1) ISO 14001:1996, Environmental management systems - Specification with guidance for use.

(2) ISO 14010:1996, Guidelines for environmental auditing - General principles.

(3) ISO 14011:1996, Guidelines for environmental auditing - Audit procedures - Auditing of environmental management systems.

(4) ISO 14012:1996, Guidelines for environmental auditing - Qualification criteria for environmental auditors.
 
 

3. Definitions

The following definitions apply:

3.1 continual improvement: process of enhancing the environmental management system to achieve improvements in overall environmental performance in line with the organization's environmental policy.  NOTE- The process need not take place in all areas of activity simultaneously.

3.2 environment: surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation.  NOTE- Surroundings in this context extend from within an organization to the global system.

3.3 environmental aspect: element of an organization's activities, products or services that can interact with the environment.  NOTE- A significant environmental aspect is an environmental aspect that has or can have a significant environmental impact.

3.4 environmental impact: any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's activities, products or services

3.5 environmental management system: that part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy

3.6 environmental management system audit: systematic and documented verification process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence to determine whether an organization's environmental management system conforms to the environmental management system audit criteria set by the organization, and for communication of the results of this process to management

3.7 environmental objective: overall environmental goal, arising from the environmental policy, that an organization sets itself to achieve, and which is quantified where practicable

3.8 environmental performance: measurable results of the environmental management system, related to an organization's control of its environmental aspects, based on its environmental policy, objectives and targets

3.9 environmental policy: statement by the organization of its intentions and principles in relation to its overall environmental performance which provides a framework for action and for the setting of its environmental objectives and targets

3.10 environmental target: detailed performance requirement, quantified where practicable, applicable to the organization or parts thereof, that arises from the environmental objectives and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve those objectives

3.11 interested party: individual or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance of an organization

3.12 organization: company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration.  NOTE- For organizations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may be defined as an organization.

3.13 prevention of pollution: use of processes, practices, materials or products that avoid, reduce or control pollution, which may include recycling, treatment, process changes, control mechanisms, efficient use of resources and material substitution.   NOTE- The potential benefits of prevention of pollution include the reduction of adverse environmental impacts, improved efficiency and reduced costs.
 
 

SECTION 4

The EMS model (see figure 1) follows the basic view of an organization which subscribes to the following principles.
 

Principle 1 - Commitment and policy: An organization should define its environmental policy and ensure commitment to its EMS
 

Principle 2 - Planning: An organization should formulate a plan to fulfill its environmental policy.
 

Principle 3 - Implementation: For effective implementation, an organization should develop the capabilities and support mechanisms necessary to achieve its environmental policy, objectives and targets.
 

Principle 4 - Measurement and evaluation: An organization should measure, monitor and evaluate its environmental performance.
 

Principle 5 - Review and improvement: An organization should review and continually improve its environmental management system, with the objective of improving its overall environmental performance.
 

With this in mind, the EMS is best viewed as an organizing framework that should be continually monitored and periodically reviewed to provide effective direction for an organization's environmental activities in response to changing internal and external factors. Every individual in an organization should accept responsibility for environmental improvements.
 
 

4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

4.1 General requirements

The organization shall establish and maintain an environmental management system, the requirements of which are described in the whole of clause 4.

It is intended that the implementation of an environmental management system described by the specification will result in improved environmental performance.  The specification is based on the concept that the organization will periodically review and evaluate its environmental management system in order to identify opportunities for improvement and their implementation.  Improvements in its environmental management system are intended to result in additional improvements in environmental performance.

The environmental management system provides a structured process for the achievement of continual improvement, the rate and extent of which will be determined by the organization in the light of economic and other circumstances.  Although some improvement in environmental performance can be expected due to the adoption of a systematic approach, it should be understood that the environmental management system is a tool which enables the organization to achieve and systematically control the level of environmental performance that it sets itself.  The establishment and operation of an environmental management system will not, in itself, necessarily result in an immediate reduction of adverse environmental impact.

An organization has the freedom and flexibility to define its boundaries and may choose to implement ISO 14001 with respect to the entire organization, or to specific operating units or activities of the organization.  If ISO 14001 is implemented for a specific operating unit or activity, policies and procedures developed by other parts of the organization can be used to meet the requirements of ISO 14001, provided that they are applicable to the specific operating unit or activity that will be subject to it.  The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system, the extent of documentation and the resources devoted to it will be dependent in the size of an organization and the nature of its activities. This may be the case in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises.  Integration of environmental matters with the overall management system can contribute to the effective implementation of the environmental management system, as well as to efficiency and to clarity of roles.

ISO 14001 contains management system requirements, based on the dynamic cyclical process of "plan, implement, check and review".

The system should enable an organization to:

a) establish an environmental policy appropriate to itself;

b) identify the environmental aspects arising from the organizationís past, existing or planned activities, products or services, to determine the environmental impacts of significance;

c) identify the relevant legislative and regulatory requirements;

d) identify priorities and set appropriate environmental objectives and targets;

e) establish a structure and (a) programs) to implement the policy and achieve objectives and targets;

f) facilitate planning, control, monitoring, corrective action, auditing and review activities to ensure both that the policy is complied with and that the environmental management system system remains appropriate;

g) be capable of adapting to changing circumstances.

Commitment and policy

Principle 1 - Commitment and policy: An organization should define its environmental policy and ensure commitment to its EMS
 

General

The organization should begin where there is obvious benefit, for example, by focusing on regulatory compliance, by limiting sources of liability or by making more efficient use of materials.

As the organization grows in experience, and its EMS starts to take shape, procedures, programs and technologies can be put in place to further improve environmental performance. Then, as the EMS matures, environmental considerations can be integrated into all business decisions.
 

Top management commitment and leadership

To ensure success, an early step in developing or improving an EMS involves obtaining commitment from the top management of the organization to improve the environmental management of its activities, products or services.  The ongoing commitment and leadership of the top management are crucial.
 

Initial environmental review

The current position of an organization with regard to the environment can be established by means of an initial environmental review. The initial review can cover the following:

- identification of legislative and regulatory requirements;

- identification of environmental aspects of its activities, products or services so as to determine those that have or can have significant environmental impacts and liabilities;

- evaluation of performance compared with relevant internal criteria, external standards, regulations, codes of practice and sets of principles and guidelines;

- existing environmental management practices and procedures;

- identification of the existing policies and procedures dealing with procurement and contracting activities;

- feedback from the investigation of previous incidents of non-compliance;

- opportunities for competitive advantage;

- the views of interested parties;

- functions or activities of other organizational systems that can enable or impede environmental performance.

Practical help - Initial environmental review

An important first step is to develop the list of areas to be reviewed. This can include organization activities, specific operations or a specific site.

Some common techniques for conducting a review include

- questionnaires,

- interviews,

- checklists,

- direct inspection and measurement,

- record review.

- benchmarking

Organizations, including SMEs, can consult a number of outside sources such as;

- government agencies in relation to laws and permits;

- local or regional libraries or databases;

- other organizations for exchange of information;

- industry associations;

- larger customer organizations;

- manufacturers of equipment in use;

- business relations (e.g. with those who transport and dispose of waste);

- professional help.
 
 

SECTION 7

Top management shall define the organizationís environmental policy and ensure that it:

a) is appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products or services;

b) includes a commitment to continual improvement and prevention of pollution;

c) includes a commitment to comply with relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes;

d) provides the framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets;

e) is documented, implemented and maintained and communicated to all employees;

f) is available to the public.

The environmental policy is the driver for implementing and improving the organizationís environmental management system so that it can maintain and potentially improve its environmental performance.  The policy should therefore reflect the commitment of top management to compliance with applicable laws and continual improvement.  The policy forms the basis upon which the organization sets its objectives and targets.  The policy should be sufficiently clear to be capable of being understood by internal and external interested parties and should be periodically reviewed and revised to reflect changing conditions and information.  Its area of application should be carefully identifiable.

The organizationís top management should define and document its environmental policy within the context of the environmental policy of any broader corporate body of which it is a part and with the endorsement of that body, if there is one.

NOTE Top management may consist of an individual or group of individuals with executive responsibility for the organization.
 

An environmental policy establishes an overall sense of direction and sets the principles of action for an organization. It sets the goal as to the level of environmental responsibility and performance required of the organization, against which all subsequent actions will be judged.

A growing number of international organizations including government, industry associations and citizen's groups have developed guiding principles such as The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the International Chamber of Commerce (see below). Such guiding principles have helped organizations define the overall scope of their commitment to the environment. They also help to give different organizations a common set of values. Guiding principles such as these can assist the organization in developing its policy, which can be as individual as the organization for which it is written.

The responsibility for setting environmental policy normally rests with the organization's top management. The organization's management is responsible for implementing the policy and for providing input to the formulation and modification of the policy.

An environmental policy should consider the following:

- the organization's mission, vision, core values and beliefs;

- requirements of and communication with interested parties;

- continual improvement;

- prevention of pollution;

- guiding principles;

- coordination with other organizational policies (e.g. quality, occupational health and safety);

- specific local or regional conditions;

-compliance with relevant environmental regulations, laws and other criteria to which the organization subscribes.

Some issues to be considered in environmental policy

1. Does the organization have an environmental policy that is relevant to its activities, products and services?

2. Does the policy reflect the organization's values and guiding principles?

3. Has the environmental policy been approved by top management and has someone been identified and given the authority to oversee and implement the policy?

4. Does the policy guide the setting of environmental objectives and targets?

5. Does the policy guide the organization towards monitoring appropriate technology and management practices?

6. What commitments are embodied in the environmental policy, for example, support for continual improvement, support for the prevention of pollution, monitoring, meeting or exceeding legal requirements, and consideration of the expectations of interested parties?

Practical help - Environmental policy

All activities, products or services can cause impacts on the environment. The environmental policy should recognize this.

A detailed review of the guiding principles of The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the International Chamber of Commerce can help in drafting an appropriate policy. The issues addressed in the policy depend on the nature of the organization. In addition to compliance with environmental regulations, the policy can state commitments to

- minimize any significant adverse environmental Impacts of new developments through the use of the integrated environmental management procedures and planning;

- development of environmental performance evaluation procedures and associated indicators;

- embody life cycle thinking;

- design products in such a way as to minimize their environmental impacts in production, use and disposal;

- prevent pollution, reduce waste and the consumption of resources (materials, fuel and energy), and commit to recovery and recycling, as opposed to disposal where feasible;

- education and training;

- sharing environmental experience;

- involvement of and communication with interested parties;

- work towards sustainable development;

- encourage the use of EMS by suppliers and contractors.
 
 

SECTION 8

4.3.1 Environmental aspects

The organization shall establish and maintain (a) procedures(s) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services that it can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence, in order to determine those which have or can have significant impacts on the environment.  The organization shall ensure that the aspects related to these significant impacts are considered in setting its environmental objectives.

The organization shall keep this information up-to-date.
 

Subclause 4.3.1 is intended to provide a process for an organization to identify significant environmental aspects that should be addressed as a priority by the organizationís environmental management system.  This process should take into account the cost and time of undertaking the analysis and the availability of reliable data.  Information already developed for regulatory or other purposes may be used in this process.  Organizations may also take into account the degree of practical control they may have over the environmental aspects being considered.  Organizations should determine what their environmental aspects are, taking into account the inputs and outputs associated with their current and relevant past activities, products and/or services.

An organization with no existing environmental management system should, initially, establish its current position with regard to the environment by means of a review.  The aim should be to consider all environmental aspects of the organization as a basis for establishing the environmental management system.

Those organizations with operating environmental management systems do not have to undertake such a review.

The review should cover four key areas:

a) legislative and regulatory requirements;

b) an identification of significant environmental aspects;

c) an examination of all existing environmental management practices and procedures;

d) an evaluation of feedback from the investigation of previous incidents.

In all cases, consideration should be given to normal and abnormal operations within the organization, and to potential emergency conditions.

A suitable approach to the review may include check-lists, interviews, direct inspection and measurement, results of previous audits or other reviews depending on the nature of the activities.

The process to identify the significant environmental aspects associated with the activities at operating units should, where relevant, consider

a) emissions to air;

b) releases to water;

c) waste management;

d) contamination of land;

e) use of raw materials and natural resources;

f) other local environmental and community issues.

This process should consider normal operating conditions, shut-down and start-up conditions, as well as the realistic potential significant impacts associated with reasonably foreseeable or emergency situations.

The process is intended to identify significant environmental aspects associated with activities, products or services, and is not intended to require a detailed life cycle assessment.  Organizations do not have to evaluate each product, component or raw material input.  They may select categories of activities, products or services to identify those aspects most likely to have a significant impact.

The control and influence over the environmental aspects of products vary significantly, depending on the market situation of the organization.  A contractor or supplier to the organization may have comparatively little control, while the organization responsible for product design can alter the aspects significantly by changing, for example, a single input material.  Whilst recognizing that organizations may have limited control over the use and disposal of their products, they should consider, where practical, proper handling and disposal mechanisms.  This provision is not intended to change or increase an organizationís legal obligations.
 

Principle 2 - Planning: An organization should formulate a plan to fulfill its environmental policy.
 

The environmental management system elements relating to planning include

- identification of environmental aspects and evaluation of associated environmental impacts;

- legal requirements;

- environmental policy;

- internal performance criteria;

- environmental objectives and targets;

- environmental plans and management program.
 

An organization's policy, objectives and targets should be based on knowledge about the environmental aspects and significant environmental impacts associated with its activities, products or services. This can ensure that the significant environmental impacts associated with these aspects are taken into account in setting the environmental objectives.

The identification of the environmental aspects is an ongoing process that determines the past, current and potential impact (positive or negative) of an organization's activities on the environment. This process also includes the identification of the potential regulatory, legal and business exposure affecting the organization. It can also include identification of health and safety impacts, and environmental risk assessment.

Some issues to be considered in identification of environmental aspects and evaluation of environmental impacts

1. What are the environmental aspects of the organization's activities, products and services?

2. Do the organization's activities, products or service create any significant adverse environmental impacts?

3. Does the organization have a procedure for evaluating the environmental impacts of new projects?

4. Does the location of the organization require special environmental consideration, for example sensitive environmental areas?

5. How will any intended changes or additions to activities, products or services affect the environmental aspects and their associated impacts?

6. How significant or sever are the potential environmental impacts should a process failure occur?

7. How frequently will the situation arise that could lead to the impact?

8. What significant environmental aspects; considering impacts, likelihood, severity and frequency?

9. Are the significant environmental impacts local, regional or global in scope?
 

The relationship between environmental aspects and environmental impacts is one of cause and effect.  An environmental aspect refers to an element of an organization's activity, product or service which can have a beneficial or adverse impact on the environment. For example, it could involve a discharge, an emission, consumption or reuse of a material, or noise.  The identification of environmental impact refers to the change which takes place in the environment as a result of the aspect. Examples of impacts might include pollution or contamination of water or depletion of a natural resource.

The identification of environmental aspects and the evaluation of associated environmental impacts is a process that can be dealt with in four steps.

Step 1 - Select an activity, a product or service

The selected activity, product or service should be large enough for meaningful examination and small enough to be sufficiently understood.
 

Step 2 - Identify environmental aspects of the activity, product or service

Identify as many environmental aspects as possible associated with the selected activity, product or service.
 

Step 3 - Identify environmental impacts

Identify as many actual and potential, positive and negative, environmental impacts as possible associated with each identified aspect.

Step 4 - Evaluate significance of impacts

The significance of each of the identified environmental impacts can be different for each organization. Quantification can aid judgement.  Evaluation can be facilitated by considering the following.

Environmental concerns:

- the scale of the impact;

- the severity of the impact;

- probability of occurrence;

- duration of impact.
 

- potential regulatory and legal exposure;

- difficulty of changing the impact;

- cost of changing the impact;

- effect of change on other activities and processes;

- concerns of interested parties;

- effect on the public image of the organization.
 
 

SECTION 9

4.3.2 Legal and other requirements

The organization shall establish and maintain a procedure to identify and have access to legal and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, that are applicable to the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services.
 

Examples of other requirements to which the organization may subscribe are:

a) industry codes of practice;

b) agreements with public authorities;

c) non-regulatory guidelines.

The organization should establish and maintain procedures to identify, have access to and understand all legal and other requirements to which it subscribes, directly attributable to the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services.

Some issues to be considered in legal and other requirements

1. How does the organization access and identify relevant legal and other requirements?

2. How does the organization keep track of legal and other requirements?

3. How does the organization keep track of changes to legal and other requirements?

4. How does the organization communicate relevant information on legal and other requirements to employees?

Practical help - Legal and other requirements

To maintain regulatory compliance, an organization should identify and understand regulatory requirements applicable to its activities, products or services. Regulations can exist in several forms:

- those specific to the activity (e.g. site operating permits)

- those specific to the organization's products or services;

- those specific to the organization's industry;

- general environmental laws;

- authorizations, licenses and permits.
 

- all levels of government;

- industry associations or groups;

- commercial databases;

- professional services.

To facilitate keeping track of legal requirements, an organization can establish and maintain a list of all laws and regulations pertaining to its activities, products or services.
 
 
 

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