Cal/EPA Environmental Management System Project
Final Evaluation and Monitoring Parameters
Adopted June 20, 2000

In July of 1999, Governor Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 1102, thus establishing the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Innovation Initiative Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Project. Pursuant to AB 1102, Cal/EPA is conducting voluntary pilot projects to determine whether and how the use of an environmental management system (EMS):

• increases public health and environmental protection and
• provides better public information than existing regulatory requirements.

This document describes the Evaluation and Monitoring Parameters that Cal/EPA is using to evaluate pilot projects’ EMSs. Through these pilot projects, Cal/EPA collects information on the characteristics, operation, and performance of EMSs.  Each pilot project contributes data in the following categories:

• environmental performance,
• regulatory compliance,
• use of pollution prevention techniques,
• continual improvement,
• employee involvement,
• involvement of interested parties,
• quality and quantity of environmental information produced,
• EMS design, and
• EMS costs and benefits.

To determine baseline conditions, pilots contribute data prior to implementing the EMS. To assess the short-term results of establishing an EMS, pilots submit four semiannual updates of data following the introduction of the EMS. Descriptive information about the EMS design is submitted to evaluate distinguishing EMS features and superior practices.

Multi-State Working Group National EMS Data Collection Protocols

The majority of data is collected using the National EMS Data Collection Protocols (National Protocols) developed by the Multi-State Working Group (MSWG). The MSWG is a collection of state environmental agencies, U.S. EPA, and a substantial number of businesses, public interest groups, and academic institutions interested in EMSs. The National Protocols are used by several other states conducting similar pilot projects on EMS performance. The National Protocols provide consistency between pilot projects in other states and allow the development of a national database on EMS performance.

The National Protocols can be obtained by calling or writing Cal/EPA at:

Cal/EPA Innovation Initiative EMS Project
Attention: Keith Smith
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, California
Phone (916) 322-2155
ksmith@calepa.ca.gov

or directly from the web site www.eli.org/isopilots.htm.

California’s Supplemental Data Questions to the National Protocols

Cal/EPA has analyzed the National Protocols to determine if they adequately address the questions presented in AB 1102 and the research objectives of the Cal/EPA EMS Pilot Project. Cal/EPA has concluded that relying on the National Protocols alone will not provide all the data necessary to answer the questions in AB 1102 and meet the research objectives of the EMS Pilot Project.  For example, the National Protocols do not address whether an EMS provides better public information than existing regulatory requirements. Therefore, additional questions relating to the quantity and quality of information provided to the public have been adopted. The research objectives of the EMS Project, in regards to an EMS providing increased public health and environmental protection however, are largely met through the National Protocols. Cal/EPA has determined that only a few additional questions are needed to supplement the information already collected by the National Protocols. Therefore, Cal/EPA is supplementing the National Protocols with the following additional questions.

Subject: Emergency Preparedness

1. How is emergency preparedness (e.g. Hazardous Material Business Plan) integrated into your EMS?
2. How has your EMS affected the way in which you prepare for emergencies?

Subject: Environmental Performance

1. In what areas has your EMS lead to performance in excess of regulatory requirements?

Subject: Pollution Prevention

1. How did implementation of the EMS affect pollution prevention techniques at your facility?
2. What pollution prevention activities were in place prior to implementing your EMS?
3. Describe any mechanisms you have developed for sharing pollution prevention techniques and whether these are a result of your EMS?

Subject: Continual Improvement

1. How does the continual improvement cycle initiate change in your organization?
2. Please describe this process and the types of changes that have been identified.
3. What type of continual improvement process existed prior to implementing your EMS?

Subject: Employee Involvement

1. Please describe changes in employee awareness and involvement in environmental improvements since implementing your EMS.

Subject: Regulatory Innovations

1. Please identify any opportunities that an EMS presents for improving the regulatory process (e.g., consolidated information reporting).

Subject: Supply Chain

1. Please describe whether and how you are encouraging the use of EMSs within your supply chain.
2. Please describe whether and how others in your supply chain, or your customers, influence your company in regards to implementation of an EMS.
3. Please describe how you have incorporated other environmentally preferable measures into your supply chain (e.g., green purchasing, education or mentoring).

Subject: Quality and Quantity of Information

1. What part of your EMS is available to the general public?
   1. policy statement
   2. environmental aspects
   3. environmental impacts
   4. objectives and targets
   5. operation and procedures
   6. compliance information
   7. hazardous waste generation data
   8. air emission data
   9. water discharge data
   10. resource consumption data: energy, water, raw materials
   11. solid waste generation data
   12. other environmental information.
2. Where is information on your EMS available to the public?
   1. web site
   2. public relations department
   3. newsletter
   4. annual report
   5. other, please describe
3. What environmental information do you make available to the public that is also reportable to environmental agencies? Where is this information available?
4. How has your EMS changed the way you communicate with the public on environmental issues?
5. How has the sharing of environmental information changed the way your customers view you?

Subject: Negative Consequences of an EMS

1. In your experience, what are some of the disadvantages of EMS implementation?
2. Has implementing an EMS caused any negative consequences in environmental performance?

Announcement of Pilot Project Selection and Adoption of Final Documents

Final Selection Criteria and Descriptions of Pilot Projects

Final Model Pilot Project Work Plan