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                  Strategy  for  Determining the  Role of
                  Environmental Management  Systems
                  in  Regulatory  Programs
   On April 12, 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new
   the Ro/e of Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) in Regulatory Programs (EMS Strafe^. The EMS Strategy encourages
   carefully designed experimentation to determine whether EPA and States, by considering EMSs in permits and
   regulations, can achieve better environmental results at less cost, improve compliance, target resources more
   effectively, and enhance public involvement.
  The Strategy responds to increasing stakeholder interest in EMS use in permits and rules with some States already
  initiating such programs and more expected to do so in  the future.  Projects conducted under the Strategy will be
  based on a defined set of principles, policy ideas to test, and design considerations to ensure a continued high level
  of health and environmental protection.


  EPA policy is to encourage the widespread use of EMSs, across a range of organizations and settings, with particular
  emphasis on adoption of EMSs to achieve improved environmental performance and compliance, pollution prevention
  through source reduction, and continual improvement. EPA will implement the new EMS Strategy within the broader
  context of the Agency's substantial success working with interested parties to promote voluntary EMS use.


  EMSs do not replace the need for regulatory programs but, where properly designed and implemented, can complement
  them. The new EMS Strategy does not amend existing EMS policy nor does EPA intend to mandate the use of EMSs
  in permits or rules.  Rather, EPA will use  the Strategy to  determine the benefits and pitfalls of providing options,
  within the regulatory structure, for organizations that choose to adopt EMSs. EPA hopes that this experimentation
  will position  it to consider broader policy implications within approximately 3 years.


  EPA encourages interested stakeholders to review the EMS Strategy and share viewpoints, reactions, and suggestions
  with the Agency.  EPA welcomes general feedback on our priorities in this area,  as well as input provided in the
  context of EPA-State-stakeholder collaboration on specific experimental projects.
  States or others interested in carrying out experimental projects should feel free to contact EPA at any time (please
  contact Beth Termini at (617) 918-1662, termini.beth(o),epa.gov. or the Office of Environmental Policy Innovation
  at (202) 566-0495).
NCE
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  http://www.epa.gov/ems
NATIONAL CENTER FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION

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