# Presentation: 307254

## Environmental Management System Eglin Air Force Base 

- Briefing to the USFS Botanist/Ecologist National Meeting
- Presented By: Kim Kennedy Matyskiela

**Notes:**
SAIC was established 35 years ago and has grown into a Fortune 500 firm by using science and technology expertise to solve problems of national and regional importance for government agencies and commercial clients.  

Our expertise in IT, systems integration, environmental services, and eSolutions are ideally suited for addressing the issues related to EMS.

## Introductions - SAIC	

**Established in 1969**
**Largest employee-owned research and engineering company in U.S.**
**Over 45,000 employees spread throughout all Forest Service Regions and WO area**
**Know EMS, FS, IT, systems integration, environmental services, and eSolutions**

**Notes:**
Employee owned – motivation and less external pressure.

A lot of great technology that could aid FS.

## EMS at Eglin Air Force Base

**Pilot Study in 1998**
**Words of Wisdom**
**Evolving Process and System**
**Helpful website:**** **_**[http://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/ems/index.html](http://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/ems/index.html)**_** **
**Innovative web-based solutions**

**Notes:**
EMS began with voluntary Pilot Study participation in 1998.
Formed a dedicated cross-functional Team to begin planning an EMS for Eglin.  
	EMS Training
	Conducted environmental aspect analysis to identify activities, products, and services that 	interact with the environment.  
	Defined significance; identified existing procedures or developed new if required.
	Identified and utilized existing systems, processes, procedures as much as possible
	Dev EMS manual.

Challenges: 	team composition important – personalities, connections, knowledge, initiative
	level of detail when id aspects (oil change v. vehicle mtc)
	don’t let existing policy necessarily drive the aspect impact analysis; no predetermining
	everyone doesn’t have to understand everything about EMS, accessible
	maintain cross-functional team; don’t go back to separate offices	
	nuture and feed the EMS – dedicated personnel both in time and spirit

Evolving – CSI - aspect impact analysis, significance determination, expanding sites to include NR aspects; 
team disbanded (and may be reinstated), Process Specific Opportunity Assessments to identify objectives and targets for significant aspects.

Other DoD Installations: Ft. Lewis, MCB Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point. WEBSITE

Compliance Site Inventory, Document Control System, Terms and Conditions Database, 813.

## IT Tools for EMS

**Compliance Site Inventory (CSI)**
**Terms and Conditions Database (T&C)**
**Document Control System (DCS)**
**Request for Environmental Impact Analysis (“813”)**

**Notes:**
Developed for Eglin but not initially as part of EMS – focus shifted to EMS, Eglin faced challenges like a lot of manual/paper based processes, decentralized material, inaccessibility of existing systems, multiple application with no connectivity.  So we worked with Eglin to identify ways to leverage their existing info, enhance systems they already had in place or dev new ones (as cost/benefit warranted), to consolidate info, reduce redundancy, and maximize access.

The IT tools are all web-based, which increases accessibility, user-friendly, and adaptable/transferrable – Core/module idea.

## Compliance Site Inventory System

**Notes:**
Compliance Site Inventory – web-based, accessible on Eglin intranet

Linked to live datasets maintained by Program Managers. 

Used for Aspect Impact Analysis to assess a site’s significance. 

Scored using an Eglin-specific algorithm that incorporates criteria from the Air Force Staff in Pentagon and Major Command. 

Initially sites were all traditional compliance (EPCRA, RCRA, Clean Air, etc); Eglin is expanding into less traditional sites such as invasive exotic species, T&E species, and road/stream crossings.

For instance (CLICK), I am interested in a this particular rd/stream crossing which is classified as a NPS site. I click on the site (CLICK) and it links me to a site description, who is responsible for the site and the score of the site.  I may also be interested (CLICK) in where the site is, so I link to a GIS map, and if available photos of the site and pertinent reports. 

## Terms and Conditions Database

**Notes:**
Terms and Conditions Database 
Repository of information pertaining to informal and formal consultations with external regulators (USFWS and NMFS) - terms and conditions, management requirements, monitoring requirements as set forth in BAs and BOs. 

Has the ability to track implementation.

Builds credibility through transparency - all info is there and accessible by the people who need to see it.  Demonstrates a commitment to monitoring and measuring progress.  

A funny story about Eglin – when they initiated the T&C database and showed it to the FWS from Panama City, the FWS said, “We need that!”

Just to show you a quick example, I’m a biologist and I got an email from the T&C database (It can do that) reminding me that I need to be on site when the fuel break goes in. So to refresh my memory, I go to the T&C database (CLICK), click on the link for proposed fuel break...
NEXT SLIDE

## Terms and Conditions Database

**Notes:**
And I can see what species we consulted on, and what mgmt req I’m responsible for. 

So the database (CLICK) helps us to track the requirements set forth by regulators; enhances our ability to stay in compliance by making the info up-to-date, readily available and trackable, which in turn facilitates not only our internal communication but also communication with external regulators.

## Document Control System

**Notes:**
The Document Control System is a virtual library for documents pertaining to the EMS – ranging from EMS procedures, to agency regulations, laws, policies, and even local memos (eg prescribed fire OT auth).  

Documents are readily accessible and downloadable.

Formalizes the process of keeping documents current and readily accessible. 

## Request for Environmental Impact Analysis

**Submit a proposed action**

**Notes:**
The 813 interactive system is the Planning component of EMS.
813 System:	Screens proposed activities 
	Document the environmental review by broad ID team.
	Determine the level of NEPA analysis and documentation 	required.

Link LMP to project.  This would be accomplished by including the components of the Plan – desired conditions, objectives, guidelines, suitability of areas, special areas – and measuring the compatibility of proposed actions with those Plan components.  

Basically, the bottomline is SAIC has created hands-on, useful tools that are user-friendly and which provide the ability to link to existing data. 
The tools have been proven transferable and I think they could be helpful to the FS as it embarks on putting into place the EMS.