TO: All Holders of Weather Service Operations Manual

SUBJECT: Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual

Issuance 00-12

1. Material Transmitted:

WSOM Chapter A-46, National Weather Service Environmental Compliance Policy.

2. Summary:

This chapter defines the National Weather Service (NWS) Environmental Compliance Policy. It identifies objectives and personnel responsibilities to ensure an effective Environmental Compliance Program. This policy complies with applicable Federal, state, and local environmental compliance requirements, Executive Orders, Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrative Orders, policies, and guidance documents.

This chapter supersedes the memorandum signed by the NWS Deputy Assistant Administrator, NWS Environmental Compliance Program, dated April 22, 1997.

3. Effect on Other Instructions:

None.

John J. Kelly, Jr.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE POLICY

Table of Contents Page

1. Environmental Compliance Policy                                         

1.1 Purpose                                                                

1.2 Scope                                                                  

1.3 Objectives                                                             

2. Roles and Responsibilities                                              

3. References                                                              

Appendix

A. National Weather Service (NWS) Personnel Environmental Compliance Responsibilities A-1

1. Assistant Administrator for Weather Services                            A-1

2. NWS Environmental Compliance Officer                                    A-1

3. Regional/Center/Office Directors                                        A-1

4. Environmental Compliance Officers                                       A-2

5. Meteorologists-In-Charge (MIC), Hydrologists-In-Charge (HIC), Officials-In-Charge (OIC)                                                                      A-2

6. Environmental Compliance Focal Points                                   A-3

7. NWS Employees with Assigned Environmental Compliance Responsibilities  A-3

8. NWS Employees                                                           A-3

1.   Environmental Compliance Policy.

1.1  Purpose. This chapter defines the National Weather Service (NWS) Environmental Compliance Program. It identifies objectives and personnel responsibilities to ensure an effective Environmental Compliance Program. This policy complies with applicable Federal, state, and local environmental compliance requirements, Executive Orders, and Department of Commerce and/or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrative Orders, policies, and guidance documents.

1.2  Scope. This policy applies to all NWS personnel and contractors.

1.3  Objectives.

a.  Establish environmental compliance directives, guidelines, and procedures;

b.  Establish accountability and responsibility for all activities;

c.  Allocate appropriate resources to support environmental compliance activities including training;

d.  Promote and use pollution prevention throughout NWS operations;

e.  Ensure emergency reporting procedures are in place for hazardous materials releases and permit violations;

f.  Promote environmental compliance awareness;

g.  Implement an organized and systematic approach to identify, evaluate, and mitigate environmental problems;

h.  Integrate environmental compliance requirements in planning, development, and operation of all programs or activities;

i.  Ensure no reprisal against personnel reporting environmental concerns; and

j.  Clean and restore contaminated properties.

2.  Roles and Responsibilities. Prevention and minimization of adverse impacts to human health and the environment require bottoms-up involvement of employees, as well as top-down involvement of management. The appendix defines environmental compliance responsibilities.

3.  References.

a.  Executive Order 12856, Federal Compliance with Right-to-Know and Pollution Prevention Requirements, October 1978.

b.  Departmental Administrative Order 216-17, Compliance with Pollution Prevention Standards, January 1989.

c.  Executive Order 12088, Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards, August 1993.

d.  Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, September 1998.

e.  NOAA Administrative Order 216-17, NOAA Environmental Compliance Program, October 1998.

f.  NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, June 1999.

g.  The Code of Federal Regulations Title 40, Protection of Environment.

Responsibilities

1.  Assistant Administrator for Weather Services. The Assistant Administrator (AA) has overall responsibility for ensuring implementation of environmental compliance policy NWS-wide.

2.  NWS Environmental Compliance Officer. The NWS environmental compliance officer is the principal advisor to the AA on environmental issues and is responsible for development, implementation, and administration of the NWS Environmental Compliance Program. The NWS environmental compliance officer shall develop and implement the NWS Environmental Compliance Program which, as a minimum, includes the following:

a.  Establish environmental compliance directives, guidelines, and procedures, and define personnel responsibilities for environmental compliance;

b.  Determine training requirements, plan and coordinate training courses;

c.  Ensure Regional/Center/Office Directors are aware of their responsibilities;

d.  Ensure the NWS Environmental Compliance Program is implemented and evaluated on a periodic basis;

e.  Incorporate environmental compliance requirements into operational procedures;

f.  Disseminate technical information and provide technical guidelines, lessons learned, and other assistance as appropriate; and

g.  Interact with NOAA environmental compliance personnel, as required.

3.  Regional/Center/Office Directors. Regional, National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), and NWS Headquarters Office Directors have overall responsibility for implementation of NWS Environmental Compliance Program within their organization and shall:

a.  Ensure environmental compliance directives and guidelines are established and implemented;

b. Ensure personnel understand and carry out environmental compliance responsibilities; and

c.  Designate an environmental compliance officer and provide leadership and support to the environmental compliance program.

4.  Environmental Compliance Officers. Regional and NCEP environmental compliance officers shall:

a.  Ensure applicable NOAA and NWS directives and guidelines are effectively implemented at regional office and NCEP-wide;

b.  Develop and disseminate regional/NCEP specific directives, guidelines, and procedures, as necessary;

c.  Plan and coordinate environmental compliance training of regional headquarters, field and NCEP personnel;

d.  Maintain an up-to-date list of subordinate organization environmental compliance focal points;

e.  Research state regulations and local jurisdiction environmental compliance requirements pertinent to NWS facilities and operations;

f.  Provide technical advice and assistance;

g.  Maintain and distribute DOC, NOAA, and NWS environmental compliance policies and directives; and

h.  Coordinate hazardous waste disposal and environmental remediation projects.

5.  Meteorologists-In-Charge (MIC), Hydrologists-In-Charge (HIC), Officials-In-Charge (OIC). MICs, HICs and OICs are responsible for day-to-day implementation of the NWS Environmental Compliance Program and shall:

a.  Ensure facilities and operations comply with applicable Federal and state regulations, local jurisdiction environmental compliance requirements, and NOAA and NWS directives, guidelines, and procedures;

b.  Designate environmental compliance focal points and provide support;

c.  Ensure employees with assigned environmental roles understand and carry out their responsibilities and use pollution prevention measures;

d.  Minimize hazardous and nonhazardous waste generated by a facility;

e.  Ensure required permits, test reports, hazardous material disposal certificates, and other pertinent documents are on file; and

f.  Ensure facility or site modifications are evaluated for potential environmental impacts and relevant documentation is kept on file (e.g., environmental impact statements, categorical exclusions).

6.  Environmental Compliance Focal Points. Environmental compliance focal points shall:

a.  Assist with day-to-day implementation of the NWS Environmental Compliance Program;

b.  Plan and coordinate environmental compliance training of site personnel;

c.  Establish procedures to comply with applicable State and local environmental requirements; and

d.  Promote environmental compliance awareness and pollution prevention behavior among site personnel.

7.  NWS Employees with Assigned Environmental Compliance Responsibilities. NWS employees with assigned environmental compliance responsibilities will have a statement included in their personal performance plans addressing these responsibilities.

8.  NWS Employees. Every NWS employee is responsible for protecting the environment. Environmental compliance concerns should be reported to an immediate supervisor or environmental compliance focal point.