An effective environmental compliance program involves two steps: information management and establishing procedures for employees to follow. This is best accomplished with an Environmental Management System (EMS). An EMS is a structured management system specifically designed to address EHS compliance, pollution prevention, and environmental cost containment. In essence, it is a system of policies, procedures, and documentation to ensure:

• Compliance with applicable regulations
• Detection and correction of procedural breakdowns
• Detection and correction of potential violations
• Incorporation of continuous improvement by pollution prevention, reducing wastes and cutting costs