AM-96-14 A NEW APPROACH FOR FACILITY ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS

Description:

Unlike financial auditing, which has long-established standards to guide auditors, environmental auditing is a relatively new practice, with most industry programs started during the 1980s. Today, major transitions are occurring in EH&S auditing programs, spurred by several driving forces: Federal EH&S legislation and regulations continue to proliferate and grow in complexity. States and municipalities are becoming more sophisticated with regard to EH&S issues, resulting in more and tougher state and local regulations. The EPA continues to increase the aggressivenesso f its enforcement initiative. Many companies have already felt the sting of audits from the National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC). Senior management has serious concerns about certain provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments and the potential for criminal liability resulting from the EPA’s Sentencing Guidelines. The Department of Justice’s Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine and beefed-up staff, and the environmental focus of the Clinton administration mandate a very close watch over EH&S compliance.