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Environmental Management System
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EMS title

 Environmental Management System Plan

EMS bullet What is EMS?
EMS bullet Policy Statement
EMS bullet Employee Responsibilities
EMS bullet Helpful Links

 

What is EMS?

The USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL) in Sidney, MT conducts research on soil and water stewardship and the biological and cultural management of insects, pathogens and weeds within production systems that enhance profitability and environmental quality. In keeping with this stewardship emphasis, NPARL established its Environmental Management System (EMS) in October 2005 and updates it annually in accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13423 entitled "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, ensuring that it also conforms to International Standard Organization (ISO) 14001 standards. On this page you will find more information regarding the EMS policy statement, employee responsibilities, and helpful links.

 

NPARL EMS Policy Statement

NPARL will continue to manage its operations and programs in a manner that protects the environment and the safety and health of its employees, and the health of the public. In doing so, NPARL abides by guldelines listed in its EMS program policy statement, which is available upon request.


Employee Responsibilities

 

NPARL Research Leaders have the ultimate responsibility for implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of the lab's EMS plan, and shall provide leadership in, and support for EMS compliance in their units and in the lab as a whole.  The location EMS Manager and EMS Coordinator will monitor for compliance with the objectives of the EMS and provide EMS training for staff.

 

The EMS Committee will provide guidance in implementing tasks and will update the EMS in response to changing regulations or directives. The Committee will and does meet monthly in conjunction with another lab site meeting. In addition, the EMS coordinator attends monthly Plains Area EMS teleconferences to keep the committee abreast of any new EMS information. The NPARL EMS committee will also audit, review and revise any component of the EMS plan annually or as needed.
  
 

Helpful Links