Teaching a new dog old tricks: The synergy of ISO 14000, NEPA, and integrated ES and H management

Conference · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:500843

Wilkinson, C H ^[1]

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1. Washington Operations Office, Germantown, MD (United States). Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

For more than twenty-five years, federal agencies have wrestled with (and even learned from) the planning and decision-making processes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Accordingly, agencies have developed established processes for environmental planning, impact assessment, and environmental-based decision making. Agencies are now faced with an opportunity to align existing environmental planning systems developed under NEPA with those of ISO 14001, the new international standard for environmental management systems. Through experience gained with NEPA, agencies may have an opportunity to assist the private sector through sharing of lessons learned in identification and mitigation of environmental aspects and impacts. However, agencies should also learn from the private sector how integrated environmental management includes integrating environment, safety, and health (ES and H) considerations in such a way as to add direct value to the business. In times of continued and increasing federal agency downsizing, the government can streamline ES and H management planning by integrating ES and H values with business goals.

• OSTI ID: 500843
• Report Number(s): CONF-9705100--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
COMPLIANCE
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT