Environmental Management Systems

A sector-specific approach for promoting the use of Environmental Management Systems has been selected. The targeted sectors include metal finishing, electronics, printing, wood products, food, and health care. The P2 Unit has developed industry-specific compliance assistance and P2 manuals for these industries and will promote them through a series of workshops.

NYS DEC is also promoting the development of EMSs at state agencies by conducting workshops to inform state agencies of the benefits of EMSs and the EMS implementation resources available.

An EMS training course entitled "Improving Environmental Protection through Environmental Management Systems" is currently being developed for offering to DEC staff. The goal of this course is to enable staff to learn more about how businesses, municipalities, government facilities, educational institutions, and others are implementing EMSs to effectively manage their environmental affairs. The training will encourage DEC staff to further consider how the use of EMSs in the regulated community may influence the way the Agency approaches its mission of protecting the environment. The University of Massachusetts at Lowell will be presenting this training in April and May of 2006 in Rochester and Albany, respectively.

The NYS DEC is pursuing the use of EMS implementation in lieu of penalties in enforcement orders for private sector and public sector facilities.