Environmental Audit and Management Systems Report for a Company

This report addresses the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) and Environmental Audit Programme for a multi-site organization. It covers the importance of an Environmental Audit Programme, factors to consider in its development, required resources for internal audits, and strategies for proper implementation and management. The report also discusses the methodology for identifying environmental aspects, environmental impacts, and determining their significance within an EMS. Finally, it provides a comparative analysis of ISO 14001 certification versus EMAS registration for an organization new to environmental management. The report highlights the practical aspects of environmental auditing, management systems, and the benefits of environmental certifications and registrations, as well as the steps involved in identifying and assessing environmental aspects and impacts. The report is a valuable resource for students studying environmental engineering or related fields, offering insights into real-world environmental management challenges and solutions.

Jan 9th 2021 (10am – 12 Noon)
MODULE: ENVR07044 – EMS and Auditing
PROGRAMME(S):
SG_SENVI_J07 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management
STAGE: 3
EXAMINER(S):
Noel Connaughton (Internal)
Ms. Fidelma Butler (External)
TIME ALLOWED: 2 Hours + 0.5 hours to upload to Moodle Page
INSTRUCTIONS: No. of Questions: 3
Answer 2 questions.
Both questions carry equal marks.
Name:
Student Number:
1. Download the Exam Paper to your computer
2. Insert your Name and Student Number above
3. Insert your answers in this file directly after each question you attempt
4. Regularly save your file as you proceed
5. At 1pm, check through your answers
6. Save the file using the format of your lastname_firstname
7. Upload the completed file to the Turnitin link provided before 12:30pm

QUESTION 1 [50 marks]
A large multi-site organisation with a range of production, distribution and transport
and logistics operations dispersed across the country is in the early stages of
developing an organisation-wide environmental management system (EMS). None
of the sites have yet finalised their EMS and there is some confusion about what is
involved in establishing an Environmental Audit Programme.
You have been requested to prepare a short report for the senior management of the
organisation, setting out the following:
a) What is an Environmental Audit Programme and why is it important [15 marks]
b) What factors should be considered by this organisation in developing a suitable
Environmental Audit Programme [15 marks]
c) What information and resources are necessary to organize and conduct internal
audits effectively and efficiently [10 marks]
d) What factors should be considered to ensure the proper implementation and on-
going management of the Environmental Audit Programme [10 marks]
[END OF QUESTION 1]
QUESTION 2 [50 marks]
Discuss the overall methodology [6 Marks] and the detailed steps you would go
through [6 marks] as an Environmental Manager to identify environmental aspects
and environmental impacts [18 marks] and determine their significance [20 marks]
as part of the planning stage of an environmental management system for an
organisation with no previous experience of environmental management.
[END OF QUESTION 2]
QUESTION 3 [50 marks]
Prepare a brief report suitable for top management of an organisation that has not
yet developed an environmental management system, setting out the pros and cons
of seeking certification to ISO 14001 versus registration to the Eco-Management and
Audit Scheme (EMAS).
[END OF QUESTION 3]