United States Air Force Environmental Management Systems Review
Abstract
The Environmental Division (ILEV) in the office of The Air Force Civil Engineer is responsible for enhancing U.S. Air Force (AF) operational readiness by effectively managing and conserving environmental resources, ensuring compliance, and supporting global environmental stewardship. As part of the Air Force's ongoing responsibility in this area, ILEV must ensure AF installations meet the requirements of the series of new Executive Orders (EOs) for the "Greening of Government" and incorporate them into future Air Force environmental compliance and pollution prevention programs. Of particular relevance, Section 401(a) of EO 13148, Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management (April 2000), requires all federal agencies to perform a self-assessment using a recognized Environmental Management System (EMS) framework as a benchmark. Accordingly, this report analyzes the current environmental programmatic infrastructure established by AF policy directives, instructions, and guidance against two EMS models. Specifically, the AF Environmental Program is compared to the specifications of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Specification with Guidance for Use (1996) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Code of Environmental Management Principles (CEMP). This report identifies the similarities between the AF Environmental Program and the respective EMS models to illustrate relative levels of alignment and conformance. Additionally, differences or "gaps" between existing AF programs and the provisions of ISO 14001 and CEMP are highlighted. The selection of these two EMS models provides AF decision makers with a range of possible options for Service-wide implementation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 22, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA435052