About the Environmental Management Systems Service Program
The EMS Service Program helps organizations improve and sustain environmental performance through Environmental Management Systems. An EMS is a system of processes that helps an organization:
- Identify its environmental priorities
- Establish plans to reach environmental goals
- Make environmental understanding and responsibility part of everyone’s daily business
Put another way, an EMS is a way to figure out:
- Who has what impact on the environment
- How to prevent or minimize that impact
- How to stay out of trouble, save money, feel and look good over a long period of time
Why develop an EMS?
Organizations with EMSs report:
- Cost savings
- Reduced insurance premiums
- Improved bond ratings
- Improved compliance with regulations
- Prevention, reduction, and management of environmental impacts
- Progress moving towards sustainability
- Improved relationships with regulators
- Increased employee awareness, involvement, responsibility and morale
- Improved labor-management relations
- Improved public image
Designated by EPA as a Local Resource Center in the PEER Center Network, the Program has been working with colleges and universities, public transportation agencies, public schools, and municipal Departments of Public Works in a variety of efforts to improve environmental performance and sustainability.
Selected Projects of the EMS Service Program
- Training and support to a large public transit authority in their efforts to improve environmental compliance
- Training for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on EMSs and the role they can play in regulatory programs
- Development of Environmental Guide for Colleges and Universities for EPA Region 1 New England
- A symposium on the use of EMSs to improve environmental health and safety in K-12 schools
- Design and facilitation of Environmental Innovation, A Dialogue on the Role of Government, Law and Regulatory Approaches
For Further Information
The EMS Service Program is Directed by Madeline Snow, 978-934-4875,
