Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 3251

Development of a Draft ISO 14001 Environmental Management System for a Pulp Plant

Donald J. Fournier, Jr., John Cervantes, Cyndi Gaudet The University of Southern Mississippi

Abstract

During the Spring Semester of 1998, undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Environmental Management Systems-ISO 14000 for the Pulp Industry worked closely with Georgia-Pacific’s Leaf River Pulp Operations to prepare the documentation for a draft ISO 14001Environmental Management System (EMS) for the mill. The mill already has an extensive, detailed EMS due to the numerous regulations associated with their operation and has not yet decided to pursue registration to ISO 14001. The primary goal of this project was for students enrolled in the course to prepare a draft ISO 14001 EMS document for the mill, and by doing so gain practical experience related to ISO 14000, environmental management systems, mill environmental affairs and project management. Working with the students, mill management and environmental engineers learned about ISO 14000 and now have a framework for development of an ISO 14001 EMS for the mill should they elect to pursue registration. In developing the ISO 14001 EMS document, students referred to the mill’s ISO 9000 Quality System, existing EMS, corporate environmental policy, ISO 14004, and other references. The ISO 14001 EMS document provides the commitment and framework for the mill’s EMS, but is intentionally brief and undetailed as recommended by ISO 14004. The specifics for the system are provided by sixteen student-prepared Environmental Management System Procedures (EMSPs) appended to the ISO 14001 EMS document, and by other mill procedures and documents incorporated by reference.

Introduction

Companies in the U.S. have become increasingly aware of the impact of their activities on the environment. This realization results from a sense of increased responsibility for the environment and to future generations, legislative pressure, permit requirements, market pressure, and a need to reduce costs. In many parts of the world, environmental responsibility has come to the forefront as companies and governments move towards the philosophy of sustainable development. Sustainable development is the concept that development by this generation should leave sufficient resources to permit future generations to continue appropriate levels of industrial and societal output and growth.

To support the movement towards increased environmental responsibility, a number of environmental managements systems have been created. An environmental management system (EMS) is the management structure for controlling the impact of an organization’s activities, products and services on the environment. It allows a company to be proactive about environmental performance, including compliance with national and international requirements.

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Cervantes, J., & Fournier, D. J. J., & Gaudet, C. (1999, June), Development Of A Draft Iso 14001 Environmental Management System For A Pulp Plant Paper presented at 1999 Annual Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina. 10.18260/1-2--7579