PLANNING
Procedure for Determining Environmental Aspects that have a Significant Environmental Impact
Purpose
To establish a methodology for determining environmental aspects that have or can have significant impact(s) on the environment within the defined scope of the EMS
Definitions
Environment: The surroundings in which Missouri S&T operates including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation
Environmental Aspect: An element of Missouri S&T’s activities that interacts with the environment
Environmental Impact: A change to Missouri S&T’s environment, whether adverse or beneficial, which is a result of an environmental aspect
Significant Environmental Aspect: Those aspects that have an associated legal requirement or have a negative environmental impact, high likely hood of occurrence, potential to harm public image, and potential for fine that Missouri S&T has declared programmatic ease of implementation and low cost.
Negative Environmental Consequence: An effect that results in catastrophic damage to surroundings or illness or loss of life to plant, animal, or human. (i.e., fire, explosion, chemical release, etc.)
High Frequency of Occurrence: When a negative consequence has the potential to occur at least 50% of the time. Also when a product is used or an activity is performed by at least 50% of the campus population.
Harm to Public Image: When a consequence results in a negative view point toward Missouri S&T. These viewpoints are generally published or presented by outside organizations. (i.e., news and social media, television, networks, etc.)
Potential for Fine: When the consequence of a performed activity or use of a product has the chance to result in a monetary expenditure by Missouri S&T.
Procedure
A. Procedure to determine environmental impact
1) List the end products (outputs) associated with the environmental aspects identified during the “Procedure to Identify Environmental Aspects”
2) Identify the effect of the output (environmental impact) listed in step 1).
3) Document the information collected in the Identification Worksheet tab of the “Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet”
B. Procedure to determine significant environmental aspects
1) Identify if there is a legal requirement associated with listed environmental aspects
a. If yes, environmental aspect is determined to be significant, proceed to step 5).
b. If no, proceed to step 2)
2) Use the following four criteria to determine if an environmental aspect is significant:
a. Is there a negative environmental impact (identified in step 1)) associated with said aspect?
i. If yes, score as two (2)
ii. If possible, score as one (1)
iii. If no, score as zero (0)
b. Is there a high likelihood of occurrence associated with said aspect?
i. If yes, score as one (1)
ii. If no, score as zero (0)
c. Is there a potential for harm to Missouri S&T’s public image associated with said aspect?
i. If yes, score as one (1)
ii. If no, score as zero (0)
d. Is there a potential for fines associated with said aspect?
i. If yes, score as one (1)
ii. If no, score as zero (0)
3) Document results from step 2) in the Evaluation Worksheet tab of the “Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet”
a. If the four criteria from step 2) result in a score of three (3) or greater those aspects will be listed in the Cost Vs. Implementation Matrix tab of the “Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet” identified in step 4).
4) Use the Cost Vs. Implementation Matrix tab of the “Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet” to determine those aspects which Missouri S&T can influence and control by plotting them on cost vs. implementation matrix.
a. Environmental aspects that fall within the quadrant that indicate programmatic ease of implementation and low cost will be declared significant.
5) Write an operational control for those aspects that are declared significant.
Documentation
Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet Location - Y:/ems/Aspect-Impact Program/Aspect and Impact Identification Worksheet.xls
Date Revised 05/26/2015