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Westchester
County Airport's Environmental Management System Analyzed and Found to
Meet Tough International Standards
Airport only 3rd in nation to be certified to have met prestigious “ISO 14001 Standard”
As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental excellence, the Westchester County Airport has become only the 3rd airport in the nation to have its environmental management system certified to have met an internationally recognized standard.
The certification of the airport’s environmental management system to the “ISO 14001” standard was
the focus of a ceremony Tuesday.
“My administration has long been committed to making this airport meet the highest environmental standards,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “This is more than just talk. To become ISO 14001 certified, we worked for three years to develop a system that would measure the environmental activities at the airport of all tenants, permittees, contractors, vendors and eight county departments that have any airport responsibilities. This process involved hundreds of people.
“We then invited independent auditors to look at every element of our environmental management system. This prestigious certification means we have set a standard with the breadth and depth of our system. We will now work diligently to make sure that we maintain this milestone, which has to be reviewed annually.”
The ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard, is an internationally recognized standard developed under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland. It is
based upon the Deming “Plan-Do-Check-Act” model for the continual improvement of an organization. The ISO 14001 standard is recognized by government organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as corporate and environmental organizations worldwide, as an effective method to improve an organization's environmental performance.
The ISO 14001 designation is the second significant development for the airport within a week. Last Wednesday, Spano
signed a law that codifies restrictions on the number of commercial flights at the airport.
To obtain the ISO 14001 designation, the airport brought in TÜV America Inc., an authorized independent firm recognized by the International Organization for Standards, to audit the county’s Airport Environmental Management System (“AEMS”).
On August 31, after having conducted an intensive on-site audit of the AEMS, TÜV America, Inc. issued its certification of the AEMS to the ISO 14001 standard.
In determining that the county’s AEMS satisfies the requirements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard, the auditors said in part, “The Office of the County Executive has demonstrated through word and action its commitment to provide adequate resources for the implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the Westchester County Airport.”
The county’s AEMS, developed over the last three years, consists of a management structure and procedures that allow the airport to better identify, analyze, avoid and reduce the environmental impact of all its activities; better ensure environmental compliance; and operate with greater awareness, efficiency and control so as to continually work towards environmental excellence.
The Westchester County Airport is the third airport in the United States to achieve the ISO 14001 benchmark. The airport is unique in that it has uncompromisingly integrated into the management system all tenants, permittees, contractors, vendors and county departments (public works, planning, transportation, environmental facilities, public safety, health, law and information technology) that have any airport responsibilities.
Spano thanked all these participants for their involvement, as well as Tod Delaney and First Environment, the county's consultant, who helped develop the AEMS.
The scope of the ISO certified AEMS includes “all activities at the Westchester County Airport, a 703-acre facility owned by the County of Westchester, providing corporate aviation, light general aviation and commercial airline services with related aviation support facilities.”
This certification of the AEMS to the ISO 14001 standard is valid until August 31, 2007. It will be the subject of annual surveillance audits by TUV America. “The fact that Westchester Airport is one of a handful of airports certified to ISO 14001 demonstrates the county’s concern for the environment,” stated James Melloni, lead auditor for TÜV America. “Not only did they involve airport employees, they also involved airport tenants, federal TSA employees, the police and county government in the process.”
The AEMS includes the county’s commitment to an overall environmental policy for the airport. It involves (in addition to the adoption of an Environmental Policy Statement):
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Definition of roles and responsibilities
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Identification and prioritization of environmental impacts
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Establishment of measurable objectives and targets and programs to achieve them
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Establishment and verification of operational controls
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Emergency preparedness and response
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Monitoring and measuring activities and progress
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Continual improvement in environmental performance
Said Spano, “Through the AEMS, the airport is implementing many programs to protect the environment. But my administration will continue to do more.”
Programs at the airport include:
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Protecting Rye Lake and Blind Brook by preventing spills and monitoring stormwater and groundwater quality
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Installing spill and runoff protection filters on storm drains
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Implementing an airport-wide spill prevention plan
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Protecting the airport’s wetlands
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Remediating historic spill sites
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Implementing better ways to capture deicing fluid
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Improving the airport recycling program
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Monitoring compliance with the airport voluntary restraint from flying program
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Improving noise monitoring and noise reduction programs
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Implementing a material management program
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Ensuring the proper disposal of wastes
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