Improved ability to meet compliance requirements

Implementing an EMS enables us to embark on a huge project we always knew we need to do but could never find the time for – to consciously identify all our regulatory requirements and formally designate responsibility for compliance and updates. We always felt we had a handle on this, but our procedure to identify our legal requirements now relieves worries that we might have missed something.

With regard to environmental compliance, we have a better understanding of our legal requirements. We have better-trained employees whose competence in their work area is critical to the environment. We expect that our EMS efforts will increase our ability to stay in compliance.

We now know where our operational hotspots are and are beginning to investigate the root causes of some of our noncompliances. This gives us a feeling of control over our environmental issues, rather than responding reactively with a “Band-Aid” approach.

The EMS has provided us a consistent method for finding the root causes of our noncompliances. We are no longer applying reactive quick fixes for violations, but are seeking to eliminate the causes of these violations and prevent future occurrences. Training, communication, monitoring and measuring and regular management review are the EMS tools we use every day that make this possible.

We’re able to push the envelope a bit. We’ve been able to carry environmental protection into areas where EPA doesn’t have regulatory programs, but which are of significant concern to our citizens, such as odor control. There are unregulated environmental issues that we’ll develop management programs for in an effort to serve our customers better. 

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