Environmental Management Consulting Services

Our approach to environmental management is readily adaptable to meet the client’s needs. We can help design and implement an EMS, fine tune an existing EMS, install discrete system elements such as environmental reporting methodology, or help a client prepare to undertake ISO 14001. Any of these options can be pursued in a manner that maximizes protection of sensitive information under attorney-client or work product privilege.

GEI has developed some supporting EMS tools, including our own proprietary decision support system (DSS), which provides framework for the decision making process that arrives at an objective analysis of data input during the process. This decision support system was developed for and has been successfully used for alternative project evaluations and permitting requirements and alternatives.

The GEI team has in-depth experience with the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems. We know that each EMS program must be sized appropriately to the needs of each client. A "one-size fits all" approach will not work. EMS programs will differ from one organization to another depending on the culture, size of the organization, level of risk, nature of operations, and funding.

We have designed effective EMS systems to help the people "in the trenches" stay in compliance, and improve the effectiveness of the EMS program.

Our approach to EMS focuses on understanding the needs of your operations, understanding your goals, and looking at effective ways to implement environmental operations. Our team has worked with more than 50 companies to help them strengthen their EMS, and offers an added dimension of personnel who have worked in industry and in the military, where we have designed and implemented effective EMS programs.

GEI provides services that complement EMS development including compliance auditing, environmental software and information system development, permitting and regulatory analysis.

As part of the implementation of an EMS for an independent power producer, GEI personnel provided training to power plant employees. The training covered compliance with the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Regulations, selected OSHA regulations and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.

The GEI team typically follows a phased approach in evaluating EMS programs:

• A Gap Analysis—identify the environmental systems that are in place and evaluate existing systems that can be built upon and expanded.
• Prioritized Recommendations—for developing and strengthening the EMS so the client can review and choose portions of the phased EMS approach that suits their needs.
• Action Plan Preparation—with careful consideration of the priority of recommendations and results from client-focused brainstorming sessions, the GEI team will prepare an action plan to define the role of the consultant and how we will interact with the client’s staff.