Environmental Management System
At Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), the same creeks and bays beside which we work during the day, serve as our fishing and recreation outlets after work. Each and every person can have a positive or negative impact on these sensitive environments. Our Environmental Management System helps us to consider and manage the impacts that our operations have on the environment.
What is an Environmental Management System?
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a management structure that addresses the immediate and long-term impact of activities on the environment. It helps to anticipate and meet growing environmental performance and regulatory expectations and ensure ongoing compliance. It provides a framework for managing an array of elements.
What is an Environmental Policy?
The WFF environmental policy is a robust, clear environmental statement endorsed by senior management. The policy is the guiding environmental principle for each individual at WFF. The policy includes commitment to applicable laws, continuous improvement, prevention of pollution, and sustainable practices.
Click here to view the WFF Environmental Policy
What is my role in EMS?
Goddard Policy Directive (GPD) 8500.1 requires WFF to have an EMS and ensure that all employees are be trained in varying facets and degrees of EMS awareness.
The following EMS training discusses WFF's own unique policy, general environmental awareness, roles and responsibilities, and alignment of program areas to mission criticality.
If you have access to SATERN, please click here to take the EMS training and quiz.
For non-SATERN users, please use the links below.
Click here to view the EMS Training if you do not have access to SATERN.
Click here for the PowerPoint version of the EMS quiz.
What are the current high priorities?
The Environmental Office, Environmental Program Managers and the Project Team, comprised of members from all directorates, identify and prioritize the impacts that WFF has on the environment. Each fiscal year, the past performance of WFF's EMS and forecast activities and missions are considered while selecting the High Priority Environmental Aspects. Click here for the current High Priority Environmental Aspects.
Contact Us
To contact us with your ideas, comments, or questions, please email us at theodore.j.meyer@nasa.gov or call TJ Meyer at x1987.
An EMS is Environmental
- Reviews environmental aspects and impacts of all relevant activities
- Targets significant environmental impacts
- Places responsibility for environmental performance with staff performing the activity
- Enhances communication on environmental issues
- Establishes oversight for environmental documents and records
- Helps to maintain environmental compliance
An EMS is Management
- Based on commitment and increased involvement of top management
- Alignment of environmental and mission objectives
- Transition of responsibility for managing environmental programs
- Consistent with other management systems
An EMS is a System
- Interrelated procedures and controls
- Informal becomes formal
- Checks and balances
- Continual improvement
EMS Mantra
- Say what you're going to do and
- Do what you say
