Environmental Management Systems

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its business and environmental goals. Most EMSs are built on the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" model. This model leads to continual improvement based upon:

• Planning, including identifying environmental aspects and establishing goals [plan];
• Implementing, including training and operational controls [do];
• Checking, including monitoring and corrective action [check]; and
• Reviewing, including progress reviews and acting to make needed changes to the EMS [act].

• South Carolina Innovation Pilot Project
• South Carolina Innovations Pilot Program EMS Guidance Document
• The Use of Environmental Management Systems in Permitting Decisions Project
• General Comparison of ISO 14001:2004 EMS and Permit Requirements white paper

• Multi-state Working Group on Environmental Performance
• EPA - Environmental Management Systems
• Public Entity Environmental Resource Peer Center