Environmental Management System (EMS) - Policy

Environmental Policy

The Environmental Policy is the foundation of an EMS and is the basis for environmental objectives and targets.

The Northern Region’s environmental policy is the same as the Forest Service-wide policy stated in Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1331 – Environmental Management System:

In conjunction with the Forest Service mission (FSM 1020.21), vision (FSM 1020.22), and guiding principles (FSM 1021), the Northern Region is committed to:

• Complying with applicable legal and other requirements,
• Pollution prevention, and
• Continual environmental improvement.

EMS Objectives, Targets and Programs

Environmental objectives, targets, and programs help the organization make progress in improving the environment with the EMS process. Objectives, targets and programs outline tasks to accomplish measurable progress toward alleviating an environmental concern.

The following are the objectives being addressed by the five National Forests implementing EMS in 2006 (the 5 National Forests are the Bitterroot, Flathead, Idaho Panhandle, Kootenai and Lolo.):

Invasive Weeds Objective:

1. Reduce invasive weed introduction or spread through improved and more effective control and management.

Vegetation Management:

1. Restore or maintain vegetation health (consistent with fire-adapted vegetation composition, function and structure relative to desired conditions) including the improvement or maintenance of resilient, native wildlife habitat;
2. Reduce fuels in a pattern and location to decrease fire intensity in the proximity of WUI or Community Wildfire Protection Plan areas.

Travel Management:

1. Reduce the existing road systems’ contributed sediment and impairment of water quality and aquatic habitats.
2. Improve security for grizzly bears and elk through the designation of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use.

In 2008, the National EMS focuses on Forest Service operations, specifically with fleet management and the impacts on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions) from using petroleum fuels. The following objective is being addressed by all Region One National Forests and Grasslands and the Regional Office:

1. Reduce consumption of petroleum-based fuel by 2% (two percent) annually through 2015.

USDA Forest Service - Northern Region
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23 July 2008 at 13:19:46 EDT