Center Passes Environmental Management System Audit

By Greg Falzetta

During the week of March 26, the Technical Center underwent an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 registration audit for its Environmental Management System (EMS). The Center successfully passed this rigorous five-day evaluation and is on its way to becoming EMS Certified. There are several different forms of EMS, but the most widely used and accepted is the ISO 14001 format.

The Center started its EMS implementation process in December 2002 as a result of Executive Order 13148, “Greening the Government through Environmental Management.” The Center was one of two pilot EMS projects in the FAA and is the first FAA facility or organization to achieve third party EMS certification.

Some may not be aware of what EMS is and why we are pursuing certification. An Environmental Management System is a process designed to enable an organization to integrate environmental decision-making into its everyday business process. The result being that our products, services, and operations follow established environmental principles to avoid harmful human exposure, conserve energy and resources, and minimize the use of ecologically detrimental materials. In practical terms what this means to you is that we take a proactive approach to recycle our trash, dispose of our chemicals, conserve energy, and preserve our facilities and natural resources. An easy way to remember the Center’s goals under EMS is CONSERVE, COMPLY, PREVENT (CCP).

It’s important to understand that EMS certification is a continuous process with internal and surveillance audits required several times pert year. Everyone’s involvement is needed to insure that our EMS Processes are working. All employees are encouraged to learn what they can do to make the Center’s work environment a healthy and safe one. For more information, visit the Earth Day exhibit in the Building 300 Atrium the week of April 16, visit the Centers EMS website at http://environmental.act.faa.gov/ems or contact Greg Falzetta, EMS Coordinator at 485-5787.