| This discourse is a descriptive study using survey techniques to measure impacts related to a new program implementation and evaluation. The recent and present introduction of formal Environmental Management Systems into the practices of local governments offers a clear opportunity to measure the environmental and economic rewards of this initiative. From a public policy perspective, this research offers a mechanism to better understand the achievement of environmental and economic goals of a local government entity. This research sheds light on environmental policy questions, such as the correct mechanism to pursue to improve local government environmental performance, regulatory compliance and cost-effectiveness related to environmental compliance. Local government officials may be able to incorporate the Environmental Management System into future municipal/county policy to enhance environmental compliance and continuous improvement while minimizing costs to citizens. To date there has been little, if any, systematic research on the integration of Environmental Management Systems into local government entities, and specifically no research directly related to the real or perceived improvement. To date, only the study completed in 2003 by the University of North Carolina Department of Public Policy [1] addressed Environmental Management Systems versus improved performance. However, the North Carolina study utilized survey techniques to look at the organizational level, whereas this study focuses at the individual employee level. The purpose of this discourse is to explore the relationship between implementation of an Environmental Management System and a local government authority's status with respect to environmental impacts. Using data collected from individual employee surveys, an empirical analysis was conducted to examine this relationship. Such research is essential both to answering the stated research question [Does implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) improve a local government authority's status with respect to environmental impacts (less overall impact on the environment), and regulatory compliance with federal and state environmental regulations?] and in providing an additional tool to determine the environmental and economic results of Environmental Management System implementation at the local government level. |
