Environmental Management System
At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the same creeks and bays beside which we work during the day, serve as our fishing and recreation outlets after work. Each and every person can have a positive or negative impact on these sensitive environments. Our Environmental Management System helps us to consider and manage the impacts that our operations have on the environment.
Goddard’s Environmental Management System
Goddard’s environmental policy GPD 8500.1 is to consider environmental factors in the planning, decision-making, and performance of all Center activities. The Environmental Management System (EMS) enables us to reduce risk to Goddard’s mission and reduce potential environmental impacts.
What is an Environmental Management System?
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a management structure that addresses the immediate and long-term impact of activities on the environment. It helps to anticipate and meet growing environmental performance and regulatory expectations and ensure ongoing compliance. It provides a framework for managing an array of elements.
What is an Environmental Policy?
The environmental policy is a robust, clear environmental statement endorsed by senior management. The policy is the guiding environmental principle for each individual. The policy includes commitment to applicable laws, continuous improvement, prevention of pollution, and sustainable practices.
Click here to view the Environmental Policy
What is my role in EMS?
The following EMS training discusses general environmental awareness, roles and responsibilities, and alignment of program areas to mission criticality.
If you have access to SATERN, please click here to take the EMS training and quiz. (internal).
For non-SATERN users, please use the links below.
Click here to view the Wallops EMS Training if you do not have access to SATERN.
Click here for the PowerPoint version of the Wallops EMS quiz.
Click here to view the Greenbelt EMS Training if you do not have access to SATERN.
What are the current high priorities?
MEMD, Environmental Program Managers and the Project Team (comprised of members from all directorates) identify and prioritize the impacts that Goddard has on the environment. Each fiscal year, the past performance of the EMS and forecasted activities and missions are considered while selecting the High Priority Environmental Aspects.
The current high priorities for Greenbelt are as follows:
- Sustainability
- Water Quality
- Site Restoration
The current high priorities for Wallops are:
- Water Quality
- Natural and Cultural Resources
- Site Restoration
- Tank Management
- Sustainability
- Environmental Planning
Contact Us
To contact us with your ideas, comments, or questions, please email Ken Yargus.
