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Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Manuals > Employee and Labor Relations Manual - Issue 18 > 8 Safety, Health, and Environment > 890 Environmental Management
890 Environmental Management
891 Policy
The Postal Service complies with all applicable federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations and proactively seeks to develop
innovative and cost-effective solutions to provide its customers, employees,
suppliers, and communities with a safe and healthy environment through the
implementation of a management system.
These policies apply to all Postal Service facilities, managers and employees,
programs, projects, operations, products, and services.
893 Regulations and Authority
The Postal Service is subject to numerous federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations. Certain Executive Orders and
Environmental Protection Agency policies are recognized by the Postal
Service as guidance.
893.2 Federal Laws and Regulations
Federal environmental laws are codified in Title 40 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. The following federal laws apply to the Postal Service:
a. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
b. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
c. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
d. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
e. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA, also know as Superfund).
f. Clean Air Act (CAA).
g. Clean Water Act (CWA).
h. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
i. Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Provisions of certain federal laws may be delegated to the states for
compliance, monitoring, and enforcement. In many instances, the regulations
so delegated present complex compliance requirements that vary by locality.
To add to the complexity, states, cities, municipalities, and counties may
enact their own environmental laws and regulations.
The Postal Service environmental management program establishes the
strategic direction for, administers, and evaluates the programs and activities
needed to ensure that federal, state, and local environmental considerations
are integrated into all Postal Service operations.
894.2 Program Evaluation
The Postal Service conducts periodic evaluations of environmental
management programs at all levels of the organization to review the
effectiveness of its national environmental policies and programs based on
established metrics. The Postal Service provides a management system for
continual improvement that includes systems to manage information, allocate
resources, and identify emerging Postal Service and regulatory issues.
894.3 Compliance Review
The Postal Service conducts periodic reviews of its activities and operations
to ensure compliance with applicable Postal Service requirements and
federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
894.4 Communication and Outreach
The Postal Service communicates to employees and customers its
environmental policies and commitment to implementing environmentally
responsible business initiatives and seeks opportunities to partner with public
and private organizations to further its environmental objectives.
895 Responsibilities
895.11 Vice President, Employee Resource Management
The vice president, Employee Resource Management (ERM), Human
Resources (HR), performs the following environmental program management
functions:
a. Serves as the Chief Environmental Officer for the Postal Service.
b. Communicates environmental policies and allocates resources.
c. Serves as chief liaison with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
895.12 Director, Safety and Environmental Performance Management
The director, Safety and Environmental Performance Management (SEPM),
ERM, HR, performs the following environmental program management
functions:
a. Establishes the strategic direction for the environmental program.
b. Develops overall policies for environmental management.
c. Interacts with Headquarters stakeholders to ensure program and
activity support.
895.13 Manager, Environmental Policy and Programs
The manager, Environmental Policy and Programs, SEPM, ERM, HR,
performs the following environmental program management functions:
a. Coordinates with Finance to plan and budget for the development,
implementation, and assessment of national environmental policies and
programs.
b. Develops and supports the Postal Service's environmental policies and
programs.
c. Conducts periodic environmental program reviews to ensure alignment
with organizational objectives and management systems.
d. Establishes national environmental performance objectives with
measurable targets.
e. Develops the requirements and infrastructure to support an
environmental review program that evaluates facility activities and
operations for compliance with federal, state, and local environmental
laws and regulations.
f. Coordinates a national environmental training program based on
regulatory and operational requirements.
g. Identifies area managers of Environmental Programs and
environmental specialists with subject matter expertise to participate on
ad hoc teams set up to support emerging environmental issues.
h. Tracks EPA regulatory developments and comments on proposed
regulations.
i. Coordinates with other federal agencies, trade associations, and other
professional stakeholders on matters of environmental management.
j. Provides environmental assistance during the prevention,
preparedness, response, and recovery phases of emergencies.
895.14 Vice President, Facilities
The vice president, Facilities, performs the following environmental program
management functions:
a. Ensures that environmental policies are incorporated into all aspects of
facility management, including real estate transactions and design,
construction, alteration, repair, and excessing activities.
b. Directs all Facilities Services Offices to follow Postal Service
environmental policies and all applicable federal, state, and local
regulations when managing projects.
895.15 Facilities Services Offices
When managing projects, the Facilities Services Offices (FSOs) perform the
following environmental program management functions:
a. Maintain the reports and records required by environmental regulations.
b. Ensure that such reports and records are distributed to the appropriate
installation heads and that copies are retained in FSO project records.
895.16 Other Headquarters Functions
All Headquarters functions (especially Engineering, Delivery and Retail,
Operations, Information Technology, Emergency Preparedness, Product
Development, and Supply Management) must ensure that environmental
policies are incorporated into policies, programs, and projects under their
control.
895.21 Vice Presidents, Area Operations
The vice presidents for Area Operations perform the following environmental
program management functions:
a. Ensure adequate funding and resources to support area activities that
directly align with national environmental policies and programs.
b. Support the efforts of the area managers of Operations Support, the
managers of Environmental Programs, and the district managers and
installation heads to ensure that facilities are in compliance with
environmental laws and regulations.
c. Provide the support and resources necessary to implement
environmental reviews of facility activities and operations and to see
any corrective actions needed to successful completion.
895.22 Area Managers, Operations Support
The area managers of Operations Support coordinate with the area
managers of Environmental Programs to:
a. Identify resource requirements to support area activities that directly
align with national environmental policies and programs and facilitate
compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
b. Provide the support and resources necessary to implement
environmental reviews of facility activities and operations and to see
any corrective actions needed to successful completion.
895.23 Area Managers, Environmental Programs
The area managers of Environmental Programs:
a. Consult with the manager, Operations Support, to document resource
requirements for development, implementation, and assessment of
area environmental programs that directly support national
environmental policies and programs.
b. Coordinate with the area managers of Operations Support and
manager of Environmental Policy and Programs to:
(1) Develop and implement area activities that directly support
national environmental policies and programs and facilitate
compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
(2) Plan and develop resource requirements to account for area
activities that directly align with national environmental policies
and programs.
(3) Implement area environmental performance objectives that
directly align with national environmental program objectives and
ensure compliance with state and local national environmental
laws and regulations.
(4) Deploy and implement periodic environmental reviews of facility
activities and operations to evaluate compliance with federal,
state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
(5) Assess the risks and liabilities associated with federal, state, and
local environmental laws and regulations, evaluate operational
activities against these laws and regulations, and convey this
information to district managers and installation heads.
(6) Document unique area training needs based on state and local
environmental laws and regulations and advise national
environmental training program administrators about these
requirements.
(7) Assign geographic areas of responsibility to each environmental
specialist to ensure adequate support to district managers and
installation heads.
(8) Provide technical expertise and participate on ad hoc teams set
up to support emerging environmental issues.
(9) Track state and local regulatory developments and comment on
proposed regulations.
(10) Provide environmental assistance during the prevention,
preparedness, response, and recovery phases of emergencies.
895.24 Environmental Specialists
Environmental specialists:
a. Implement area activities that directly align with national environmental
policies and programs and support district managers and installation
heads in complying with federal, state, and local environmental laws
and regulations.
b. Support managers of Environmental Programs with development of
area environmental performance objectives and state and local
environmental laws and regulations.
c. Provide support to district managers, installation heads, middle level
managers and supervisors, and employees by responding to inquiries
regarding procedures and training mandated by federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations.
d. Conduct periodic environmental reviews of activities and operations to
evaluate compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws
and regulations and recommend corrective actions, if necessary.
e. Provide technical expertise and participate on ad hoc teams set up to
support environmental issues.
f. Provide environmental assistance during the prevention, preparedness,
response, and recovery phases of emergencies.
895.3 Performance Clusters
895.31 District Managers
District managers:
a. Consult with managers of Environmental Programs and environmental
specialists to plan and budget for potential environmental tasks and
projects necessary to comply with federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations. Budgeted items must include (but
are not limited to) the following:
(1) Initiation and renewal of environmental permits and plans.
(2) Storage tank management, including removal, replacement,
conversion, repair, cleanup, and testing.
(3) Remediation and abatement activities.
(4) Waste disposal and recycling services.
(5) Vehicle washing costs.
(6) Sewer maintenance.
(7) Environmental surveys.
(8) Building alterations to comply with environmental policy and
regulations.
b. Provide the support and resources necessary for facilities under their
jurisdiction to comply with federal, state, and local environmental laws
and regulations.
c. Ensure the timely completion of environmental corrective actions within
their management control.
d. Ensure that installation heads retain environmental records required by
Postal Service policy and federal, state, and local environmental laws
and regulations.
e. Provide the support and resources necessary for facilities under their
jurisdiction to implement environmental programs.
895.32 Installation Heads
Installation heads:
a. Consult with managers of Environmental Programs and environmental
specialists to plan and budget for potential environmental tasks and
projects necessary to comply with federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations. Budgeted items must include (but
are not limited to) the following:
(1) Initiation and renewal of environmental permits and plans.
(2) Storage tank management, including removal, replacement,
conversion, repair, cleanup, and testing.
(3) Remediation and abatement activities.
(4) Waste disposal and recycling services.
(5) Vehicle washing costs.
(6) Sewer maintenance.
(7) Environmental surveys.
(8) Building alterations to comply with environmental policy and
regulations.
b. Ensure their facility's compliance with federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations.
c. Ensure that facility personnel are properly trained, as applicable, and
that such training is documented.
d. Ensure that only trained personnel manage tasks that trigger Postal
Service policy and federal, state, and local environmental laws and
regulations.
e. Maintain complete and up-to-date records pursuant to Postal Service
policy and federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
Such records include operating permits, asbestos surveys, hazardous
waste manifests, training certifications, and records of inspections.
f. Perform related tasks necessary to comply with applicable federal,
state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
895.33 Middle-Level Managers and Supervisors
Middle-level managers and supervisors ensure compliance with Postal
Service policy and applicable environmental laws and regulations within their
respective areas of responsibility.
All employees must follow Postal Service policy and applicable federal, state,
and local environmental laws and regulations in the conduct of their duties for
the Postal Service.
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