Environmental Management Systems and Compliance Auditing
We have counseled and represented companies and trade associations on a broad range of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) auditing projects and management systems, including:
- Compliance assurance—conducting EHS audits to evaluate compliance with applicable legal requirements, industry standards, and management practices.
- Transactional auditing—conducting audits and site assessments as part of “due diligence” inquiries into the environmental liabilities of companies, and assisting in drafting related contractual documents.
- Management systems—evaluating, designing and implementing EHS management systems (including ISO 14001, alternative models, and SEC/Sarbanes-Oxley components) in connection with, or in avoidance of, federal and state enforcement proceedings and suspension/debarment actions.
- Training and strategic planning—developing and conducting training and awareness programs for EHS coordinators, plant personnel, and senior management, while developing risk analysis and management strategies with a focus on securing competitive advantage through cost-effective compliance and sustainable development policies.
Some representative projects have included:
- Appointment by the U.S. District Court in Alaska, on the joint motion of BP Amoco and the U.S. Justice Department, to monitor the design and implementation of a nationwide environmental management system at all of BP’s oil exploration, drilling, and production facilities.
- Assisting the American Chemistry Council in combining its Responsible Care® Program with the ISO 14001 environmental management standards to create a hybrid RC14001® program and an enhanced Responsible Care® management system.