5.1.

Environmental Management
System
What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?
 

 It is an organization’s set of management tools, principles and procedures aimed at

protecting human health and the environment from the potential impacts of its
activities, products and services.
 A successful EMS implementation may lead to ISO 14001 certification.
 ISO 14000 is a series of voluntary standards and guidelines on systems published
by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a Swiss-based,
worldwide organization of national standards bodies from over 140 countries.
 The intention is to provide all industries, whether in manufacturing or services, with a
structure for an EMS that will help ensure all operational processes are consistent,
effective, and will achieve the stated environmental objectives of a given
organization.

5.1.1. Implementation of EMS

Who needs an EMS?
An EMS may be needed by an organization that:

 is looking for strategies to improve its environmental performance;

 Wants to achieve sustained compliance in existing and forthcoming regulations;
 Recognizes its environmental problems to be of significant liability;
 Lacks the time and resources and is thus prevented from effectively managing its
environmental obligations;
 Has no established effective environmental policy; and
 Is seeking a competitive edge.

 
What is needed to undertake an EMS?
Implementing an EMS requires:

 A strong commitment from the management;

 Allocation of appropriate resources;
 Development of a strategy to be implemented within a specified period of time; and
 Implementation using a combination of internal and external resources.
 
What are the steps in the implementation of an EMS?

1. Orientation and Commitment

 Chief Executive Management Training

 Performing and reporting the initial environmental review

2. Structure and Training

 Appointment of an Environmental Management Representative

 Setting up of Management and Implementation Committees

3. Environmental Policy and Documentation

 Development of an environmental policy statement

 Description of the procedures

4. Progressive Implementation

 Environmental Management Program (Objectives and Targets, Operational Controls

of 
Activities with Significant Impacts)
 Progressive implementation of procedures
 Checking, internal auditing and corrective actions

5. Certification and Registration

 Stage 1 certification (pre-assessment) and corrective action

 Final certification audit

 
What can EMS do for you?
Undertaking an EMS will:
• Help reduce waste at source
• Improve environmental performance
• Enable an organization to comply with present and future stringent environmental
regulations
• Enhance overall productivity 
• Save money and increase profits
• Improve image
5.2. Environmental Impact
Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA is:

 a “process that involves predicting and evaluating the likely impacts of a project
(including cumulative impacts) on the environment during construction,
commissioning, operation and abandonment.
  includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures
addressing these consequences to protect the environment and the community’s
welfare”.

Purpose of the EIA Process

 As a basic principle, EIA is used to enhance planning and guide decision-making.

 EIA is primarily presented in the context of a requirement to integrate environmental
concerns in the planning process of projects at the feasibility stage.
 Through the EIA Process, adverse environmental impacts of proposed actions are
considerably reduced through a reiterative review process of project setting, design
and other alternatives, and the subsequent formulation of environmental
management and monitoring plans.
 A positive determination by the DENR-EMB results to the issuance of an
Environmental Compliance Commitment (ECC) document, to be conformed to by
the Proponent and represents the project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate.
 The release of the ECC allows the project to proceed to the next stage of project
planning, which is the acquisition of approvals from other government agencies and
LGUs, after which the project can start implementation.

5.2.1. EIA Laws

Early adopters of EIA are from USA (1969) to Philippines (1978). In between includes
the country of Australia, Thailand, France, Israel and Pakistan.
 
But for now, let's have a background for EIA Laws and Presidential Issuances of the
Philippines.
 
Presidential Decree  1151 (1977) – Philippine Environmental Policy

 Requires sponsors of projects affecting the quality of the environment to prepare

environmental impact statements
 Required Environmental Impact Statement for undertakings with significant
environmental impacts

Took note of the conflicting demands of:

–The individual
–Population growth
–Industrial expansion
–Rapid natural resource utilization
–Increasing technological advances

 Recognized the right of the people to a healthy environment

 Stressed the urgent need to formulate an intensive, integrated program of
environmental protection through EIA
 Requires:
–ALL agencies & instrumentalities of the national government
–Government-owned & controlled corporations
–Private corporations, firms, and entities
 To prepare, file, & include in EVERY action, project or undertaking which
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS the environment

 A detailed statement on the following:

–The ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT of the proposed action, project, or undertaking

–Any ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT which cannot be avoided should the
proposal be implemented
–ALTERNATIVE to the proposed action
–A determination that the short-term use of the resources of the environment are
CONSISTENT with the maintenance & enhancement of the long-term productivity of the
same; and
–Whenever a proposal involves the use of depletable or non-renewable resources, a
finding must be made that such USE & COMMITMENT are WARRANTED
 
 
Presidential Decree 1586 (1978) - EIA Law

  Establishment of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS)

w/ the then National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC) as the lead agency
 Established to facilitate the attainment & maintenance of a rational & orderly balance
between socio-economic growth & environmental protection
 Introduced the concepts of Environmentally Critical Projects (ECP) and projects
within Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA) as projects requiring the submission of
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
 "No person, partnership or corporation shall undertake or operate any
environmentally critical project (ECP) or locate a project within and environmentally
critical area (ECA) without first issuing an Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC)"

 
Presidential Proclamation 2146 (1981) 

   Proclaims certain areas and types of projects as environmentally critical & w/in the
scope of the PEISS
 PEISS Coverage Technical Description: ECPs in ECA

 
Environmental Critical Projects (ECP) includes:

 Heavy industries
 Resource extractive industries
 Infrastructure projects.

Category A - projects or undertakings which are classified as environmentally critical

projects (ECPs) under Presidential Proclamation No. 2146 (1981), Proclamation No.
803 (1996), and any other projects that may later be declared as such by the President
of the Philippines.

Category B –projects or undertakings which are not classified as ECP under Category
A, but which are likewise deemed to significantly affect the quality of the environment by
virtue of being located in Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) as declared under
Proclamation 2146 and according to the parameters set forth in the succeeding
sections.
 
Category C –projects or undertakings not falling under Category A or Bwhich are
intended to directly enhance the quality of the environment or directly address existing
environmental problems.
Category D –projects or undertakings that are deemed unlikely to cause significant
adverse impact on the quality of the environment according to the parameters set forth
in the Screening Guidelines. These projects are not covered by the Philippine EIS
system and are not required to secure an ECC.
 
 
Environmentally Critical Areas:

 All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves,
& sanctuaries
 Areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots
 Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened species of
indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora or fauna)
 Areas of unique historic, archeological, or scientific interests
 Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural communities or tribes
 Areas frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural calamities, geologic hazards,
floods, typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.
 Areas with critical slopes
 Areas classified as prime agricultural lands
 Recharged areas of aquifers
 Water bodies (tapped for domestic purposes, within protected areas; which support
wildlife and fishery activities)
 Mangrove areas (primary and pristine, adjoining mouth of major river systems,
natural buffers etc.)
 Coral reefs (50% and above, spawning and nursery, act as natural breakwater of
coastlines)

 
 
Administrative Order 42 (2002) 

    Rationalizing the Implementation of the Philippine EIS System giving authority, in

addition to the DENR Secretary, to the EMB Central and Regional Office Directors to
grant or deny issuance of ECCs

5.2.2. Analysis of Environmental

Impacts
There are considerations in the Analysis of Environmental Impact. 
 
1. Direct Impacts
This occur through direct interaction of an activity with an environmental, social, or
economic component.
For example, a discharge of any industry or an effluent from the Effluent Treatment
Plant (ETP) from the industrial estates into a river may lead to a decline in water quality
in terms of high biological oxygen demand (BOD) or dissolved oxygen (DO) or rise of
water toxins.
o  Pollution due to discharge of waste streams into air/water/land
o  noise pollution due emission of sound from plant activities
o  intentional addition of substances such as pesticides, herbicides etc,
o  contamination of physical environment due to accidental release of hazardous
substances or addition resulting from spills blowouts, explosion
 
2. Indirect and Induced Impacts
 
Indirect impacts on the environment are these which are not a direct result of the
project, often produced away from or as a result of a complex impact pathway. The
indirect impacts are also known as secondary or even third level impacts.
For example, ambient air SO2 rise due to stack emissions may deposit on land as
SO4 and cause acidic soils. Another example of indirect impact is the decline in water
quality due to rise in temperature of water bodies receiving cooling water discharge from
the nearby industry.
This may, in turn, lead to a secondary indirect impact on aquatic flora in that water body
and may further cause reduction in fish population. Reduction in fishing harvests,
affecting the income of fishermen is a third level impact. Such impacts are characterized
as socioeconomic (third level) impacts.
 
The indirect impacts may also include growth- inducing impacts and other effects
related to induced changes to the pattern of land use or additional road network,
population density or growth rate (e.g. around a power project). In the process, air,
water and other natural systems including the ecosystem may also be affected.
 
3. Cumulative Impacts
Cumulative impact consists of an impact that is created as a result of the combination of
the project evaluated in the EIA together with other projects causing related impacts.
These impacts occur when the incremental impact of the project is combined with the
cumulative effects of other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects.
 
The cumulative impacts can be, due to induced actions of projects and activities that
may occur if the action under assessment is implemented such as growth inducing
impacts and other effects related to induced changes to the pattern of future land use or
additional road network, population density or growth rate. Induced actions may not be
officially announced or be part of any official plan. Increase in workforce and nearby
communities contributes to this effect.
They usually have no direct relationship with the action under assessment and
represent the growth- inducing potential of an action. New roads leading from those
constructed for a project, increased recreational activities, and construction of new
service facilities are examples of induce actions.

5.2.3. ISO 14001 Specifications

Short history for ISO 14001:

 1979: ISO 9000 – management standards for quality management and quality
assurance systems
 1991: investigation into whether an international environmental standard could:

–Promote a common approach to environmental  management

–Enhance an organization’s ability to attain and measure improvements in
environmental performance
–Facilitate trade and remove trade barriers

 1993: Preparation of separate ISO after concluded that the knowledge required for
EM is distinct enough to warrant

 
 
ISO 14001 Specifications

 0 Introduction
 1 Scope
 2 References
 3 Definitions
 4.0 Specification

–4.1 General
–4.2 Environmental policy
–4.3 Planning

 4.3.1 Environmental aspects

 4.3.2 Legal & other requirements
 4.3.3 Objectives & targets
 4.3.4 Envi mgt program

–4.4 Implementation and operation

 4.4.1 Structure & responsibility

 4.4.2 Training, awareness, & competence

 4.4.3 Communication
 4.4.4 EMS documentation
 4.4.5 Document control
 4.4.6 Operational control
 4.4.7 Emergency preparedness & response

–4.5 Checking and corrective action

 4.5.1 Monitoring & measurement

 4.5.2 Non-conformance & corrective & preventive action
 4.5.3 Records
 4.5.4 EMS audit

–4.6 Management review

 
 
Planning

 Identify environmental aspects of activities, products and services

 Determine which are associated with significant environmental impacts
 Identify and track legal and other applicable requirements
 Establish objectives and targets
 Establish an EMS

 
Identifying Aspects and Impacts

 
Evaluating Significance

 
Legal and Other Requirements

 What might be:

–legal requirements?
–other requirements?

 How could they be tracked?

 
Objectives and Targets
Need to:
–reflect environmental policy and the identified significant impacts
–consider financial, operational, and business requirements
–be set by the organization for each relevant function and level of the organization
–be specific
–be achievable
–where practicable, be quantifiable
–have deadlines
 
Implementation and Operation

 Structure and responsibility

 Training, awareness and competence
 EMS documentation
 Document control
 Operational control
 Emergency preparedness and response

 
Checking and Corrective Action

 Measure, monitor and evaluate environmental performance

 If problems occur, apply corrective action
 Maintain environmental records to demonstrate conformance of EMS to ISO 14001
 Audit the EMS

 
Management Review

 Ensure EMS’ continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness

 Consider audit results, changing circumstances, commitment to continual
improvement
 Address possible changes to policy, objectives

5.2.4. ISO 14001 Benefits and

Concerns
What are the benefits and concerns of ISO 14001?
Benefits

 international standards help level the playing field

 reduce duplicity, conflicting requirements of different markets
 satisfy stakeholder interests
 lower insurance rates-due diligence
 internal benefits - reduce costs
 pollution prevention, not end-of-pipe

 
Concerns

 increased costs
 create trade barriers
 does not ensure better environmental performance
 registration issues – inconsistent interpretation of standards

 
Criticisms

 Does it help implement Agenda 21 or any international environmental convention?

 Can ISO 14001 become an international trade standard without operative
participation from governments or NGOs?
 How will an ISO14001 certified company demonstrate that it has good
environmental performance?
 How do governments, workers, and the public get access to the environmental
information prepared by an ISO 14001 certified company?

6.1. Environmental Compliance

Certificate
We have discussed that EIA is a planning and management tool that will help
government, the proponent, the affected communities and other decision makers
assess whether the benefits of the project will outweigh the negative consequences or
risks on the environment.
 
A good EIA results to an approriately designed Environmental Management Plan
(EMP). And when attained, entities will be given the Environmental Compliance
Certificate (ECC).
Any project in the Philippines that poses a potential environmental risk or impact (such
as mining, agriculture projects, and construction) is required to secure an Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of the Environment and Natural
Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Board.
 
An ECC is issued by DENR-EMB after a positive review of the project’s application. This
certificate indicates that the proposed project or undertaking will not cause a
significantly negative impact on the Philippine environment. The ECC contains specific
measures and conditions that must be met by the project proponent before and during
the operation of the project. In some cases, conditions are listed to be performed during
the project’s abandonment phase to lessen identified potential environmental impacts.
 
An ECC also certifies that the proponent has complied with all the requirements of the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System and has committed to implement its
approved environmental management plan.

6.1.1. Requirements and

Procedures for ECC Application
Basic Requirements:
1. Proponent must submit a letter of request to EMB stating desire to receive ECC
2. Must attach Project Description, which should include raw materials used, the
process or manufacturing technology to be implemented
3. Submit the project estimated capacity, type and volume of products and discharges
4. Proof of possession of necessary capital for proposed subject
5. Location map of project area
6. Manpower Requirements
 
Procedures
1. Conduct EIA and EMP
2. Submission of application letter to EMB board (meets twice a month)
3. Review of Project by DENR-EMB (sometimes it is required to present project direct to
the board at their discretion
4. Site Inspection
5. Approval issued during EMB meeting if all requirements are satisfied and it appears
no environmental damage resulting from the project
6. Issuance of ECC from DENR released
 
Note:
If in case where EMB finds that ECC is not applicable, a Certificate of Non-Coverage
(CNC) shall be issued confirming that the proposed project is not part of the
ENvironmental Impact Statement and poses no environmental threat.

6.1.2. Contents of ECC

The ECC contains specific measures and conditions that the project proponent has to
undertake before and during the operation of a project, and in some cases,  during
abandonment phase, to mitigate identified environmental impacts. The following are
salient features of ECC:

 Scope of project or undertaking

 Conditions conformed by the proponent to implement mitigating measures for
potentially negative impacts and enhancement measures for potentially positive
impacts
 Recommendations to concerned permitting, deciding and monitoring entities

 
Validity

 Once project is implemented, ECC remains valid and active for the lifetime of the
project (unless otherwise specified);
 The continued validity of the ECC sustains the active commitments of the Proponent
to comply with ECC conditions and with environmental regulations

 
Expiry

 Not implemented w/in 5 years from ECC issuance

New ECC is necessary if baseline characteristics have significantly changed to the

extent that the impact assessment w/c was the basis of the EMP is no longer
appropriate.