Association Support for EMSs

A number of associations that interact with public organizations and PEER Center Sectors support EMSs, including the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACO), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the American Public Works Association (APWA), among others. Many of these organizations have funded specific EMS initiatives and research.

EPA's Office of Water has recently signed an agreement with the American Public Works Association (APWA), who will also work in partnership with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), to help educate public works directors and city/county managers on EMSs. Under this agreement, APWA, EPA, and ICMA will sponsor EMS discussions at APWA and ICMA national meetings, help support a number of state and Regional workshops around the country with APWA and ICMA member chapters, and host a national webcast with national EMS experts. For more information about this initiative contact Jim Horne at EPA (horne.james@epa.gov), or Julia Anastasio at APWA (janastasio@apwa.net).

APWA June 2006 EMS Brochure

From the United States Environmental Protection Agency Position Statement on Environmental Management Systems (EMSs), signed on December 13, 2005 by EPA Administrator Johnson:

"EPA will continue to encourage organizations to design and implement EMSs that improve compliance, prevent pollution, and integrate other means of imporving environmental performance.  EPA is  also leading research designed to evaluate the effectiveness of EMSs in various settings and integrating EMSs into more of its own programs.  We are evaluating with EMS elements and applications are most effective and how these management systems might be used to strenghtne environmental programs and policies."