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Environmental management at Lab focus of MOA

The Laboratory, KSL Services and Protection Technology Los Alamos recently signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop, implement and maintain an Environmental Management System.

The partners agreed to a single sitewide approach to environmental improvement, using the International Organization for Standards 1400 as a model.

"The EMS will enable the Laboratory to evaluate compliance with all environmental laws and regulations, stress pollution prevention and strive for continued improvement," said Dennis Hjeresen, program manager of the Pollution Prevention/Sustainability (RRES-PP) program and EMS team leader.

The MOA is based on an agreement that the implementation of the EMS will be one of continual improvement, assessment and adjustment under Department of Energy Order 450. The DOE directive states that all facilities must have an EMS implemented by December 2005.

"A critical element in meeting the EMS requirements is management engagement," said Hjeresen. "A telling measure of EMS effectiveness is top management involvement in the systems' development, implementation and continuous improvement."

Management reviews also establish the continued suitability of EMS goals, targets and objectives in light of changing environmental impact and issues, regulatory developments, concerns among interested parties, internal changes or organizational activity changes and shifts in the environment, Hjeresen added.

For more information about the Environmental Management System call the EMS team office at 7-4348.

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