NASA Procedures and Guidelines

4.1 Structure and Responsibility

4.1.1 Purpose

To identify roles, responsibilities, and authorities that will provide an organizational structure for implementing and maintaining the EMS.

4.1.2 Roles and Responsibilities

NASA HQ EMD is responsible for--

a. Establishing the basic framework and structure of the EMS.

b. Periodically assessing, reviewing, and reporting on the condition of the EMS.

c. Seeking continual improvement opportunities for the EMS.

Center Directors are responsible for--

a. Assigning roles and responsibilities for the Center EMS Representative.

b. Providing the authority needed for the EMS Representative to implement and maintain the Center EMS.

c. Providing resources for the effective operation and maintenance of the EMS.

Center EMS Representatives are responsible for--

a. Documenting and communicating roles, responsibilities, and authorities to facilitate effective implementation of the Center EMS.

b. Requesting resources for the effective operation and maintenance of the EMS.

c. Exercising the authority necessary to implement and maintain the EMS.

d. Establishing Center EMS Core Team or other means able to accomplish an equivalent function with assigned roles and responsibilities.

e. Establishing, implementing, and maintaining EMS requirements.

f. Periodically assessing, reviewing, and reporting on the condition of the EMS.

4.2 Environmental Training, Awareness, and Competence

4.2.1 Purpose

To identify training and awareness requirements to maintain competence for the EMS.

4.2.2 Roles and Responsibilities

Centers are responsible for establishing and maintaining procedures for--

a. Determining EMS training needs.

b. Conducting training as required at each relevant level and function of the organization.

c. Verifying and recording that the necessary EMS training has occurred.

4.2.3 Requirements

a. Employees engaged in activities associated with EMS impacts or compliance activities shall receive appropriate training as determined by Center under section 4.2.2.

b. Training records shall be maintained in accordance with paragraph 5.3 of this manual.

c. Employees shall be provided with the following awareness training (Note: These may be part of the employees' on-the-job training requirements):

1) Priority environmental impacts associated with work and benefits of improved performance,

2) Requirements of the EMS,

3) NASA's environmental policy,

4) Roles and responsibilities in conforming to the environmental policy and EMS requirements and awareness of consequences of deviation from these requirements, and

5) Emergency preparedness and response requirements as externally required.

4.3 Communication

4.3.1 Purpose

To establish the procedures for internal and external communication on Center environmental aspects and the EMS.

4.3.2 Roles and Responsibility

Centers are responsible for--

a. Internal communication to various organizational levels.

b. Receiving, recording, and responding to relevant communication from external parties.

4.3.3 Requirements

Centers shall follow existing communications procedures (or create new procedures as necessary) in communicating with internal and external parties.

External communication regarding high-priority environmental impacts shall be handled in accordance with Freedom of Information Act requirements, as specified by NASA at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/guide.html.

Reference documents include--

a. NPR 8820.3, Pollution Prevention.

b. NPR 8580.1, Implementing The National Environmental Policy Act and Executive Order 12114.

c. Freedom of Information Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552.

d. 14 CFR Part 1206, Availability of Agency Records to Members of the Public.

e. Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), 42 U.S.C., 11011-1105.

f. Center Emergency Preparedness Plans.

g. Center Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans.

4.4 EMS Documentation and Document Control

4.4.1 Purpose

To establish and maintain procedures for EMS documentation and document control.

4.4.2 Roles and Responsibilities

NASA HQ EMD is responsible for establishing and maintaining NPR's related to the environment.

Centers are responsible for establishing and maintaining procedures for document control.

Note: Centers may use the established ISO 9000 document control procedures or other filing systems for controlled documents.

4.4.3 Requirements

Specific document control procedures shall ensure the following:

a. Periodic review of EMS documents and update as necessary.

b. Removal of obsolete documents.

Note: Obsolete documents that are retained for legal and historical reasons should be archived per NPD 1440.6, NASA Records Management, NPR 1441.1, NASA Records Retention Schedules, and NPD 2800.1, Managing Information Technology.

EMS documentation shall be--

a. Legible.

b. Dated (with dates of revision).

c. Readily available in locations where essential operations occur.

d. Identifiable.

e. Maintained in an orderly manner.

f. Retained for a specified period.

Note: The electronic or hardcopy version under the Center EMS Representative's control meets these requirements.

Documents that are subject to document control include but are not limited to--

a. NASA's Environmental Policy.

b. This NPR.

c. EMS documented procedures required by this manual (see Appendix C).

Note: Compliance documents and records do not fall within the scope of this EMS but need to be maintained according to external requirements and need to be readily available.

4.5 Operational Control

4.5.1 Purpose

To develop, maintain, and document operating procedures for activities associated with EMS high-priority impacts.

4.5.2 Roles and Responsibilities

Centers are responsible for documenting procedures that limit adverse impacts associated with high-priority impacts to the environment or are needed in order to manage NASA's environmental policy or compliance activities.

4.5.3 Requirements

These procedures shall--

a. Stipulate the specific operating and maintenance criteria, and

b. Be communicated to suppliers and contractors as appropriate.

4.6 Emergency Preparedness and Response

4.6.1 Purpose

To address potential incidents and their attendant adverse environmental impacts, NASA Centers shall have emergency preparedness and response procedures.

4.6.2 Roles and Responsibilities

Centers are responsible for implementing NPR 8715.2, NASA Emergency Preparedness Plan Procedures and Requirements.

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