Extending environmental management systems principles to environmental assessment: the use of environmental audits

Natural Resources Canada is expanding the application of environmental auditing to fulfill a key requirement of its environmental management system (EMS) as applied to environmental impact assessment (EIA). Such an evaluation progamme requires endorsement and commitment from senior management. It helps to define legal and policy requirements, significantly influences the implementation of the EMS, provides the foundation for examining the management of EIA in an organization, and makes a key contribution to the review and improvement of the EMS. Through its reporting of results to senior management and requirement for action plans, it is anticipated that the Evaluation Programme will contribute to improved EIA practice in the long term.