Module- I

Environmental Management System (EMS)

 Environmental Management System
(EMS)

 EMS refers to the

management of an
organization’s environmental
programs in a
comprehensive, systematic,
planned and documented
manner.
 It includes the organization
structure, planning and
resources for developing,
implementing protection.
The term can also refer to
software systems for
organizational environment
management.
Definition of an Environmental Management
System
 Serves as a tool to improve environmental performance.
 Provides a systematic way of managing an organization's
environmental affairs.
 Is the aspect of the organization's overall management
structure that addresses immediate and long-term
impacts of its products, services and processes on the
environment?
 Gives order and consistency for organizations to address
environmental concerns through the allocation of resources,
assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of
practices, procedures and processes
 Focuses on continual improvement of the system.
 EMS Model:
• An EMS model follows a Plan- Do – Check act cycle, or PDCA.
The diagram shows the process of first developing an
environmental policy, planning the EMS, and then
implementing it.
• The process also include checking the system and acting on
it. The model is continuous because an EMS is a process of
continual improvement in which an organization is constantly
reviewing and revising the system.
The key elements of ISO 14001:2004
EMS.
 17 requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 standard:-

 Environmental policy –
 Environmental aspects –
 Legal and other requirements
 Objectives and targets –
 Environmental management program
 Structure and responsibility –
 Training, awareness, and competence -
 Communication –
 EMS documentation -
 Document control -
 Operational control –
 Emergency preparedness and response
 Monitoring and measurement
 Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action -
 Records - Maintain and manage records of EMS performance.
 MS audit - Periodically verify that your EMS is operating as intended.
 Management review -
Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA):
 The objective of environmental Impact assessment is to achieve
sustained development with
 (a) Minimal environmental degradation
 (b) Prevention of long term environmental adverse effected by
incorporating suitable mitigating (less harsh) measures.
 Impact assessment is a concept that evolved in the search for ways to
render development and in the complex and interdependent world of
today.
 To be really meaningful impact assessment has to taken up at the
project inception stage so that the selection of the site (location),
choice of process technology, selection of appropriate layout and
building materials can be done to ensure environmental compatibility.
 Planning is not done for an individual project but for the ecosystem as a
whole by fully utilizing the concept of carrying capacity of the system
which essentially consists of air, water, soil, flora and fauna.
Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA)…….
 The environmental appraisal of project is an important
responsibility of the Department of Environment (DoE)
Government of India. Presently the have Environmental
Appraisal Committee for following sectors of development
project /activities.

 ● River vally project / irrigation hydel power and multipurpose

 ● Minning projects
 ● Industrial projects
 ● Thermal power projects
 Special expert groups/ committees and task force are constituted
for assessment of other major projects referred to the DoE from
time to time.
 Environmental Assessment:

 The environmental Assessment is an attempt to evaluate the

consequences of a proposed action on each of the descriptor
(parameters) in the environmental inventory. The essential
steps in an environmental impact assessment are:
 Prediction of an anticipated change is an environmental
descriptor.
 Determination of the magnitude of scale of the particular
change.
 Application of an importance of significance factor to the
change
 In order to accomplish an environmental assessment as well
as to prepare an statement, an interdisciplinary, systematic
and reproducible approach is used.
Environment Impact Statement (EIS):
 The environmental impact statement is a document written in
the format as specified by DoE. The EIS represents a summary
of the environmental inventory and the finding of the
environmental assessment.
 There are two categories of EISs draft statements in document
prepared by an agency proposing an action;
 it is circulated for review and comment to other federal
agencies, state and local agencies and public and private
interest groups.
 The final statement is the draft statement modified to include
a discussion of problems and objections raised by reviewers.
The final statements must be on file with DoE for least 30-
days period prior to initiation of construction on a project.
Aims and objectives of EIA:
 The aims and objectives of EIA can be divided into
two categories.
 The immediate aim of EIA is to inform the process of
decision making by identifying the potentially
significant environmental effects and risks of
development proposals.
 The ultimate (long term) aim of EIA is to promote
sustainable development by ensuring that
development proposal do not undermine critical
resources and ecological functions or the well-being
lifestyle and livelihood of the communities and
peoples who depend on them.
Immediate objective of EIA are…..
 Improve the environmental design of the
proposal
 Ensure that the resources are used appropriately
and efficiently.
 Identify appropriate measures for mitigating the
potential impacts of the proposal , and
 Facilitate informed decision making including
setting the environmental terms and conditions
for implementing the proposal.
Long term objective of EIA are……

 Protect human health and safety

 Avoid irreversible change and serious damage

to the environment.

 Safe guard valued resources, natural areas and

ecosystem components.

 Enhance the social aspect of the proposal.