Training key to understanding environmental responsibilities Published Dec. 4, 2008 By 435th Civil Engineer Squadron RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Do you perform in a manner that will minimize your impact to the environment? Are you aware of the goals of the Executive Order 13423? Do you continuously strive for process improvements? Our challenges are increasing regulatory requirements, declining resources (manpower and funds), major climate changes, and the need to ensure that mission activities today do not undermine the conditions necessary for future operations. The federal initiative is to optimize our business processes and reach sustainability by using the Environmental Management Systems strategic approach. It is a relatively simple framework that allows clearly identifying and then managing environmental responsibilities in a more systematic way. By establishing monitoring for determined measurable progresses it becomes a powerful tool. An EMS allows operating with greater efficiency and ensures enhanced performance and control. It is mandated to be used as the primary management approach for addressing environmental aspects and targets of the E.O. 13423 and requires that senior management plays an active role in evaluating its status and progress. The sustainability goals of the E.O. are to reduce the usage of energy and other resources, use alternative energy, and purchase products that have no or a low impact on the environment. EMS is not a stand-alone environmental program or a data management program. The true benefit is to involve all members of the organization to streamline operations, create awareness, enhance and prioritize existing programs to improve overall performance. While designing and implementing a successful EMS takes resources, the cost savings and other benefits that result from the investment make it worthwhile. For the KMC we estimated potential savings of over $ 16,000,000 by end of 2015. Each KMC organization had to designate a cross functional team member to expedite implementation of the E.O. and collaborate with other agencies. The CFTs are the responsible persons who ensure that the EMS elements get executed within their organization. They develop management plans and are tracking the performance, control and steer the processes to reach the reduction targets. EMS is not just a paper standard. It demands the commitment of the entire organization. All KMC employees need to perform the environmental management system training by Dec. 12 on the AF Portal: https://www.my.af.mil/gcssaf/USAF/ep/contentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&contentId=1415901&programId=1415951 . When done, please make a screen shot of the last screen, and send it electronically to your CFT or training manager. If the environment benefits and if our mission performance is enhanced, then our EMS is successful. For more information please contact your CFT or the KMC EMS Coordinator Mr. Rüdiger Schmitt at DSN: 480-9318.