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Do you perform in a manner that will minimize your impact on the environment? Are you aware of the goals of Executive Order 13423? Do you continuously strive for process improvements?
Our challenges are increasing regulatory requirements, declining resources
(manpower and funds), major climate changes, and the need to ensure that
mission activities today do not undermine the conditions necessary for future operations.The federal initiative is to optimize our business processes and reach sustainability by using the EMS strategic approach.
It is a relatively simple framework that allows clearly identifying and then managing environmental responsibilities in a more systematic way.
By establishing monitoring for determined measurable progresses it becomes a powerful tool.
An EMS allows operating with greater efficiency and ensures enhanced performance and control.
It is mandated to be used as the primary management approach for addressing environmental aspects and targets of the E.O. 13423 and requires that senior management play an active role in evaluating its status and progress.
The sustainability goals of the E.O. are to reduce the usage of energy and other resources, use alternative energy and purchase products that have no or a low impact on the environment.
EMS is not a stand-alone environmental program or a data management program. The true benefit is to involve all members of the organization to streamline operations, create awareness, enhance and prioritize existing programs to improve overall performance.
While designing and implementing a successful EMS takes resources, the cost savings and other benefits that result from the investment make it worthwhile.
For the KMC, we estimated potential savings of more than $16 million by the end of 2015.
Each KMC organization had to designate a cross functional team member (CFT) to expedite implementation of the E.O. and collaborate with other
agencies.
The CFTs are the responsible people, who ensure the EMS elements get executed within their organization.
They develop management plans and are tracking the performance, control and steer the processes to reach the reduction targets.
EMS is not just a paper standard. It demands the commitment of the entire organization.
All KMC employees needed to perform the environmental management system training by Dec. 12. If the environment benefits and if our mission performance is enhanced, then our EMS is successful.
For more information, contact your CFT or KMC EMS Coordinator Rüdiger Schmitt at 480-9318.
(Courtesy of the 435th Civil Engineer Squadron)
