Charter

Rev: 07-13-10

Home | Charter | Members| Documents | Best Practices

Purpose

The Environmental Subgroup (ENVSG) is a working committee of the Energy Facility Contractor Group (EFCOG) Environmental Safety & Health (ESH) Working Group (WG).  The ENVSG serves to promote excellence environmental management systems (EMS) and sustainable site management within Department of Energy (DOE) contractor community by sharing information, operational experience, best practices, and lessons learned.  EFCOG member companies are encouraged to use the ENVSG as an opportunity and forum to share information on EMS programs within the context of an Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS)

Subgroup participation will provide each EFCOG member company the opportunity to exchange information and to discuss the benefits of EMS within ESH as required by DOE Order 450.1a (Environmental Protection Program) including the functioning of these systems within the context of an Integrated Safety Management system (ISMS).

Objective

The ENVSG serves as a forum within the ESH WG to:

  • Enhance the effectiveness of EMSs as a key component of an ISMS;

  • Promote mutual assistance to EFCOG member companies and provide identification of best environmental management and sustainability practices for distribution throughout the DOE contractor community;

  • Share lessons learned and best practices on tools and techniques to enhance the effectiveness of environmental management and sustainability

  • Identify changes in regulatory requirements that can impact operations throughout the DOE contractor community

These efforts may also involve partnering with other SGs within the ESH WG, with other EFCOG WGs, and with Department of Energy Topical groups.

Scope

At the request of DOE, the SG may provide technical input on regulatory changes, strategic directions, draft policy statements, guidance, etc.  The Environmental SG will operate within the scope of the ESHWG.  Specific focus areas of the SG may include, but are not limited to,

  • EMS (DOE Order 450.1a and its associated directive documents) within the ISMS

  • EMS standards or guidelines

  • Executive Orders covering environmental management and sustainability practices;

  • Environmental performance evaluations

  • Environmental performance metrics;

  • Environmental aspects (potential environmental impacts) analyses;

  • Environmental life-cycle assessment;

  • EMS audits;

  • P2/waste minimization/E2

The Environmental steering committee may add or delete focus areas, in consultation the leadership of the ESHWG and the DOE liaison.

Organization

  • The Environmental SG steering committee, consisting of the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary, will direct the overall actions of the Environmental SG, and accept direction from the ESH EFCOG Chair and/or the EFCOG Board of Directors.

  • The ESH WG Chair and the SG steering committee will select a new vice chair at least every two years, or as needed to fill vacancies in the SG leadership.  Selection will be from the EFCOG member company SG representatives.  The SG vice chair will serve one to two years as vice chair, and then assume the SG chair position for another one to two years.  The ESH WG chair and SG steering committee will work to maintain a balance between companies and sites for those serving in SG leadership positions, and will consider past participation, willingness to serve, company support, ability to attend biannual meeting, etc. when selecting the new vice chair.  The SG chair and vice chair will seek a volunteer from the SG membership to serve a secretary to the SG.

  • EFCOG member companies may identify one contact to facilitate communication; however, EFCOG member companies are not limited in the number of employees that may participate in the workings of the Environmental SG.  Member companies operating multiple sites may elect to have multiple representatives to address specific site needs/issues

  • Only employees of EFCOG Member Companies, with current EFCOG members, can be members of the SG.  Other members may participate with approval from the ESH WG Chair.

  • The Environmental SG will maintain a balance in membership, to the degree possible, of member company representatives.  The steering committee will review the company representation at least annually.

  • The Environmental SG Chair may request and appoint volunteers to lead Task Groups within the SG to manage specific projects/deliverables.  The SG may identify specific Task Groups to develop and produce specific deliverables in areas of interest such as those listed in the "Scope" section of this Charter.  Task Groups will apply principles of project management to their functions to identify specific objectives, deliverables, and schedules.

Process

  • The Environmental SG Chair will hold meetings and conference calls as needed to accomplish the purpose and objectives of the SG.

  • The Environmental SG steering committee will review accomplishment of the objectives, Task Group progress, and benefits of the SG annually and document the review in the Environmental SG Annual Report to the ESH Chair.

  • A change to this charter requires approval from the ESH WG Chair.

  • The ESH WG Chair or EFCOG Board of Directors may direct changes to this Charter or revoke this Charter if it determines that the group is no longer providing a value-added service.

 

 

Rev: 07-13-10