The goal of environmental management is to reduce environmental pollution and minimize risks associated with a facility's production, operations and maintenance. An environmental management program oversees the environmental functions within an agency, generally providing guidance and technical support throughout the entire organization. An environmental audit program is a critical component of an agency's ongoing environmental management program. Auditing increasingly is being used as a systematic method for verifying compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, evaluating the effectiveness of environmental management systems already in place, and identifying unregulated risks present at a facility. In essence, environmental auditing provides the data for a facility or agency to prepare a 'report card' to ensure that the goals and objectives of their ongoing environmental program are achieved. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental auditing as a systematic, documented, periodic and objective review of facility operations and practices related to meeting environmental requirements. In addition, EPA policy encourages all Federal agencies to develop auditing programs and offers technical assistance to help Federal agencies design audit programs. The guidance document is one means by which EPA is following through on its commitment to provide such assistance to other Federal agencies.

"August 1989." "EPA/130/4-89/001"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references. Prepared with assistance from Booz, Allen & Hamilton Inc. under two contracts,

Unique aspects of federal facility auditing -- Establishing audit program needs and objectives -- The framework of an environmental audit program -- Implementing an environmental audit program -- Reporting results of an environmental audit -- Problem resolution -- Evaluating an environmental audit program -- Appendix A. EPA's environmental auditing policty statement -- Appendix B.A portion of Department of Labor's position management and organizational review -- Appendix C. Smithsonian Institution's budget planning -- Appendix D. Sources of information and training -- Appendix E. Annotated bibliography on environmental auditing.