ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & SAFETY

PHILOSOPHY

Subject Code: IS-202

Chapter 1: ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Presented by

Dr. Keka Rana

Chapter 1: ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1. Environmental Aspects:

An environmental aspect refers to an element of an organization’s activities, products, or

services that can interact with the environment. These can be positive or negative.

Examples of Environmental Aspects:

Energy use Waste generation Air emissions

Resource Use of hazardous

Water discharges
consumption substances

Noise and vibration Packaging

2. Environmental Impacts:

An environmental impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or

beneficial, that results wholly or partly from an organization's activities, products, or
services.

Examples of Environmental Impacts:

Air pollution (e.g., CO₂ emissions contributing to climate change)

Water pollution (e.g., chemical spills into water bodies)

Soil contamination

Depletion of natural resources (e.g., excessive water or energy use)

Noise pollution

Habitat destruction or biodiversity loss

Relationship Between Aspects and Impacts:

Activity Aspect Impact

Manufacturing process Use of electricity Depletion of energy
resources, GHG emissions
Vehicle operation Fuel combustion Air pollution, greenhouse
gas emissions
Product packaging Use of plastic materials Waste generation, pollution

Cleaning and maintenance Use of detergents/chemicals Water pollution, health risks

Waste disposal Generation of solid waste Land pollution, resource

depletion
Managing Aspects and Impacts in EMS (e.g., ISO 14001):

1. Identification: Identify all environmental aspects of operations.

2. Evaluation: Assess the significance of each aspect based on:

Legal requirements Frequency

Stakeholder
Potential severity of
concerns
impact
3. Control Measures: Implement operational controls, policies, and training to
minimize or eliminate negative impacts.
4. Monitoring and Review: Regularly audit and review environmental
performance and compliance.
5. Continuous Improvement: Set environmental objectives and targets for
continual improvement.

Understanding environmental aspects and impacts is essential for any EMS. Proper identification and
management help reduce ecological footprints, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance
sustainability practices. Organizations that manage these effectively not only protect the
environment but also improve operational efficiency and corporate reputation.
Environmental Policy:

An Environmental Policy is a written statement of an organization's commitment to:

Protect the environment

Comply with environmental regulations

Prevent pollution

Continuously improve its environmental performance

Key Elements:
1. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
2. Pollution Prevention and resource conservation.
3. Continual Improvement of environmental performance.

4. Setting Objectives and Targets to manage environmental aspects.

5. Communication to employees and stakeholders.
Environmental Policy:

Example of Environmental Policy Statement:

"Our company is committed to conducting business in an environmentally responsible

manner. We strive to reduce pollution, conserve resources, comply with all applicable
environmental regulations, and continually improve our Environmental Management
System."

Summary:

Component Purpose
Environmental Aspect Identify how company activities interact with the
environment
Environmental Impact Understand the resulting effects of those aspects
Environmental Policy Define organizational commitment to environmental
protection
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA):

EIA is a process used to evaluate the environmental consequences of a proposed

project before decisions are made.

Key Steps in EIA: 1. Screening – Decide if EIA is needed

2. Scoping – Identify key issues and impacts

3. Impact Analysis – Evaluate potential effects

4. Mitigation – Propose measures to minimize impacts

5. Reporting – Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

6. . Review and Decision-Making

7. Monitoring and Compliance

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA):

Objective in EIA:

Ensure sustainable development

Minimize environmental degradation

Inform stakeholders and decision-makers

Summary:

Component Description

Aspect Element of activity interacting with the environment

Impact Environmental change caused by the aspect

Policy Organizational commitment to environmental goals

EIA Predicts and evaluates environmental effects of a project

Environment Management System: Process and Methodologies:-

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a structured framework that

helps an organization manage its environmental impacts through consistent,
sustainable practices. The EMS outlines processes and methodologies that
ensure compliance with environmental regulations, reduce waste, and improve
environmental performance over time.

Key Processes of an Environmental Management System (EMS)

Based on ISO 14001 (the most widely adopted EMS standard), an EMS follows the
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle:

1. Plan:

Establish the environmental objectives and processes:

1. Environmental Policy: A formal statement of the organization's commitment

to the environment.
1. Plan:

2. Identification of Environmental Aspects: Determine which activities,

products, or services impact the environment.

3. Legal & Regulatory Requirements: Identify applicable environmental laws

and obligations.

4. Objectives & Targets: Set measurable goals for reducing environmental

impact.

5. Environmental Management Programs: Define action plans to achieve

objectives.
2. Do:

Implement the environmental management system:

1. Training & Awareness: Educate employees on their roles in the EMS.

2. Operational Control: Develop procedures for activities with environmental

risks.

3. Communication: Ensure proper internal and external communication

about EMS.

4. Documentation & Records: Maintain EMS manuals, policies, procedures,

and logs.

5. Emergency Preparedness & Response: Develop plans to respond to

environmental emergencies.
3. Check:

Monitor and measure performance:

1. Monitoring & Measurement: Track environmental performance and

compliance.

2. Internal Audits: Regularly assess the EMS’s effectiveness.

3. Non-conformance & Corrective Action: Identify, investigate, and correct

deviations.

4. Records Management: Retain proof of compliance and improvement.

4. Act:

Review and improve the EMS:

1. Management Review: Senior management reviews EMS outcomes and

decides on changes.

2. Continual Improvement: Use audit results and performance data to

enhance the EMS.
Methodologies Used in EMS:

Methodology Purpose
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Evaluates environmental impacts from cradle
to grave.
Environmental Impact Predicts environmental effects of proposed
Assessment (EIA) activities.
Risk Assessment Identifies and evaluates risks to the
environment.
Environmental Auditing Periodic checks to verify compliance and
effectiveness.
Benchmarking Comparing performance against industry
standards.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Investigates environmental incidents to
prevent recurrence.
Key Performance Indicators Tracks specific metrics like emissions, energy
(KPIs) use, or waste.
Common Tools and Techniques:

ISO 14001 Standard

SWOT Analysis (Environmental Focus)

Environmental Scorecards

Carbon Footprinting

Water and Energy Audits

Sustainability Reporting (e.g., GRI Standards)

Environment Management System: Administrative Procedure for
Environmental Clearance:-

Administrative Procedure for Environmental Clearance as part of an Environment Management

System (EMS). This procedure ensures that all proposed projects or modifications are assessed for their
environmental impact and comply with legal requirements before implementation.

1. Objective:

To establish a standardized process for obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC) for proposed projects
or changes that may have environmental implications, in accordance with national and local
environmental regulations (e.g., Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification in India,
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the US, etc.).

2. Scope:

Applies to all new projects, expansions, or significant modifications undertaken by the organization
that may have an impact on the environment.
Administrative Procedure for Environmental Clearance:-

3. Responsibilities:

Role Responsibility

Project Proponent Prepare and submit EC documents; coordinate with

regulatory bodies
Environmental Officer / EMS Facilitate EC process, ensure legal compliance, maintain
Coordinator documentation
Top Management Approve budget and resources for EC process
Regulatory Liaison Officer Coordinate communication with regulatory agencies

4. Procedure:

Step 1: Project Screening

Identify whether the project requires environmental clearance.

Refer to applicable regulations (e.g., EIA Notification 2006 in India or EPA guidelines in the US).

Classify the project under applicable category (Category A/B in India, for example).
 The environmental clearance (EC) process in India
categorizes projects into A and B

Category A Category B
Projects Projects being further classified into B1 and B2.
requiring mandatory
clearance from the B1 projects need an Environmental Impact
Ministry of Assessment (EIA) and are appraised by the State
Environment, Forest, Environmental Impact Assessment Authority
and Climate Change (SEIAA)
(MoEF & CC)
B2 projects are exempted from EIA. The process
generally involves screening, scoping, public
consultation, and appraisal stages.
Administrative Procedure for Environmental Clearance:-
4. Procedure:

Step 2: Scoping and Terms of Reference (ToR)

Submit project details to the relevant regulatory authority.

Obtain approved ToR for conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), if applicable.

Step 3: Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Engage accredited environmental consultants.

Conduct baseline environmental studies (air, water, noise, soil, biodiversity, socio-economic).

Identify potential impacts and propose mitigation measures.

Prepare EIA Report & Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

Step 4: Public Consultation (if required)

Conduct public hearings (as per regulation).

Record and address public concerns and integrate them into final EIA/EMP.

Step 5: Submission of Final EIA Report

Submit final EIA and EMP to the regulatory authority.

Include response to public hearing and updated project details.

Administrative Procedure for Environmental Clearance:-
4. Procedure:

Step 6: Appraisal by Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)

Project is reviewed by a panel of experts.

Presentation may be required by the project proponent.

Committee may seek clarifications or additional data.

Step 7: Grant or Rejection of Environmental Clearance

Based on the appraisal, clearance may be:

Granted with specific conditions

Rejected

Deferred pending further clarification

Step 8: Post-Clearance Compliance

Implement Environmental Management Plan (EMP) as per clearance conditions.

Submit periodic compliance reports to the authorities.

Monitor and record environmental parameters.

Administrative Procedure for Environmental Clearance:-
4. Procedure:
Step 9: Documentation and Record-Keeping

Maintain all EC-related documentation:

Clearance letters
EIA reports

Public consultation minutes

Monitoring reports

Archive records as per EMS and legal retention requirements.

5. References:

Environmental (Protection) Act and Rules EIA Notification (e.g., 2006 in India)

ISO 14001: Environmental Management System Guidelines issued by MoEF &CC (India) or EPA (US)

6. Forms and Formats:

EC Application Form

EIA Report Template

Public Hearing Record

Compliance Reporting Format
EMS Audit – ISO 14001:2015:-

1. Purpose:
To ensure the Environmental Management System (EMS) conforms to:

ISO 14001:2015 standard

Organizational environmental policy and objectives
Legal and other applicable requirements
2. Scope:
Covers internal audits of all processes, departments, and activities under the EMS across the organization.

3. References:

ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with guidance for use

ISO 19011:2018 – Guidelines for auditing management systems

Organizational EMS Manual and Environmental Policy

Legal and regulatory environmental requirements

EMS Audit – ISO 14001:2015:-
4. Types of EMS Audits:

Audit Type Description

Internal Audit Conducted by trained internal auditors to verify EMS compliance.
External Audit Performed by certification bodies or regulatory agencies.
Surveillance Audit Periodic audit by external certifier post-certification.
Compliance Audit Focuses specifically on legal and regulatory compliance.

5. EMS Internal Audit Procedure:

Step 1: Audit Planning

Develop an annual audit plan covering all EMS elements.

Consider environmental aspects, previous audit results, and risks.

Assign trained auditors (independent of the area being audited).

Step 2: Audit Preparation

Review EMS documents: environmental policy, aspects and impacts register, legal
register, and past non-conformities.

Prepare an audit checklist based on ISO 14001:2015 clauses.

5. EMS Internal Audit Procedure:

Step 3: Audit Execution

Conduct opening meeting with auditee.

Perform audit via interviews, document review, and on-site inspection.
Verify compliance with:

Clause 4: Context of the Organization

Clause 5: Leadership

Clause 6: Planning (including risks & opportunities, legal compliance)

Clause 7: Support (competence, communication, documentation)

Clause 8: Operation (including control of outsourced processes)

Clause 9: Performance evaluation (monitoring, auditing, management review)

Clause 10: Improvement (nonconformity, corrective action)

Step 4: Reporting

Record findings as:

Conformities Observations Nonconformities (major/minor)

Provide clear, factual, and objective evidence.

Hold a closing meeting to present findings.

5. EMS Internal Audit Procedure:

Step 5: Corrective Actions

Auditee must investigate root cause and propose corrective actions.

Set deadlines for implementation and follow-up.

Verify effectiveness of actions in subsequent audits.

6. Documentation:

Document Description
Audit Plan Yearly schedule for EMS audits

Audit Checklist Based on ISO 14001:2015 clauses

Audit Report Summary of findings and conclusions

NCR (Non-Conformity Report) Detailed record of each non-conformity

Corrective Action Record Track resolution of nonconformities

7. Competence of Auditors:
Internal auditors must be trained in:

ISO 14001:2015 standard

EMS principles and organization-specific
aspects
ISO 19011 audit techniques
8. Benefits of EMS Audits:

Identifies non-compliance before regulatory violations occur Drives continual improvement

Ensures EMS effectiveness and sustainability Builds confidence for external certification audits

9. Audit Frequency:

Minimum: Once per year for each functional area.

More frequent if:

High-risk activities are involved

Past nonconformities occurred

Changes to operations or regulations

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM : GUIDELINES RELATED TO
INDUSTRIAL SITING:-
Guidelines related to Industrial Siting under the Environment Management System (EMS) are
established to ensure that industries are located in environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable, and
legally compliant areas. These guidelines help prevent environmental degradation, reduce health risks,
and promote sustainable development.

1. Regulatory Framework:
These guidelines are generally based on national and international environmental laws.
In India, for instance, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF & CC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issue specific industrial
siting criteria.

2. Site Selection Criteria:

Environmental Sensitivity:
Avoid locating industries near:

Protected areas (e.g., national parks, wildlife sanctuaries)

Ecologically sensitive zones

Forests and wetlands

Water bodies (lakes, rivers, coastal zones)

Flood-prone or earthquake-prone areas

2. Site Selection Criteria:
Buffer Zones:
Minimum distance requirements from:

Residential areas
Water bodies

Roads and public utilities

Sensitive receptors (schools, hospitals)

Air and Water Quality:

Site should be in an area with:

Adequate air dispersion capacity

Sufficient water availability and waste assimilation capacity

3. Infrastructure and Accessibility:
Availability of:
Transport (roads, railways, ports)

Water supply Power supply

Communication facilities Waste disposal facilities
4. Social and Community Impact:
Ensure:

Minimal displacement of local communities

No adverse impact on public health

Community involvement in planning process

5. Zoning and Land Use Planning:

Preference for:

Designated industrial zones or parks

Non-agricultural land

Areas with existing infrastructure for pollution control

6. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):

Mandatory for many industrial projects: includes

Baseline environmental studies

Impact prediction and mitigation

Public consultation

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

7. Categorization of Industries (Red, Orange, Green, White):
Based on pollution potential:

Red: High pollution (e.g., chemical plants, tanneries)

Orange: Medium pollution (e.g., food processing)

Green: Low pollution (e.g., assembly units)

White: Negligible pollution (e.g., solar panel assembly)

Red category industries are often restricted from being located near eco-sensitive zones.:

8. Risk Assessment & Disaster Management:

Evaluate risks (fire, chemical leaks, explosion) and Prepare
Onsite and Offsite Emergency Plans

Disaster Management Plans

9. Sustainability and Resource Efficiency:

Promote:

Use of renewable energy

Recycling and reuse of water and materials

Cleaner production technologies

10. Monitoring and Compliance:
Periodic audits and inspections

Compliance with:

Pollution control norms

Environmental clearance conditions