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MDE’s national award-winning Environmental Management System (EMS) program, a program that helps organizations manage both their regulated and unregulated environmental impacts, invites businesses to register for the next group starting in March 2007. 
 
The Maryland Department of the Environment, in partnership with the University of Maryland Technology Extension Service (MTES), offers free assistance to Maryland companies in developing and implementing EMSs based on the ISO 14001 standard. The program, which was recognized in 2006 for its excellence by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, has helped 30 companies implement an EMS.

"The MDE/MTES EMS program has been a tremendous help for us,” said Reggie Prime, Corporate Manager, Environmental Affairs for Coca-Cola Enterprises.  “We're now is a position to prepare a template for our other bottling facilities and couldn't have done it without this program.”

Businesses participate in four workshops held over a six-month period. Participants shown how to complete assignments to implement procedures that assure compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Workshop attendees also learn how to identify and implement cost-saving pollution prevention opportunities. In addition to the workshops, the companies receive extensive on-site assistance in completing the assignments.

For more information on this valuable service, visit
http://www.mde.state.md.us//BusinessInfoCenter/PollutionPrevention/
technical/iso_14001_ems.asp and contact MDE Pollution Prevention Coordinator Laura Armstrong at 410-537-4119, larmstrong@mde.state.md.us.  There is no cost to participate in this program.