Using EMSs and Other Environmental Performance Improvement Tools In Department Programs
Summary: This policy establishes steps that DEC will take to motivate New York's regulated community to implement systems to improve environmental performance. An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of management processes, procedures, and performance objectives that allows a facility to continuously analyze, control, and reduce the environmental impact of its activities, products, and services. Within this framework, facilities use pollution prevention techniques and sustainable business practices to potentially achieve performance beyond minimum environmental compliance levels. The policy further calls for EMSs to be implemented in a manner that ensures full compliance with DEC's environmental requirements.
Under this policy, DEC will establish an Environmental Leadership Program, which will be called New York Environmental Leaders. New York Environmental Leaders will provide recognition and incentives for organizations with high performing EMSs and will be open to organizations that have a high level of commitment to superior environmental performance that is sustained and systemic. This program will help motivate others to use EMSs and other management tools to improve their performance.
The policy also directs the development and use of environmental performance improvement tools in the Department's environmental enforcement program. Integrating such concepts into enforcement programs will help ensure that those with a history of compliance problems are putting in place systems and tools that will help ensure their long-term compliance as well as to enhance the opportunity for violators to not only return to, but go beyond minimum compliance.
The policy also seeks to test the use of EMSs at DEC facility operations. An EMS can be applied to any organization, and DEC will set a positive example for those that are considering an EMS by demonstrating the application of these systems at our own operations.
