DNA Healths

THE PAST: LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY

THE PAST: LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY STATEMENT
FOR THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
I. Purpose and Policy.
Purpose: This policy establishes general goals and guiding principles for a commitment to
environmental responsibility. Through implementation of this policy, the NIEHS will strive to
be a leader in the advancement of environmental stewardship within our programs, facilities,
and the community.
Policy: The NIEHS mission is to reduce the burden of environmentally associated disease
and dysfunction by defining how environmental exposures affect our health, how individuals
differ in their susceptibility to these exposures, and how these susceptibilities change over
time. In keeping with this mission and to preserve the rights of future generations, the
Institute affirms its commitment to environmental excellence and actively promotes the
public’s right to a healthy, quality environment. The NIEHS is committed to continual
improvement in environmental compliance and pollution prevention through the
implementation of an Environmental Management System that strives to integrate
environmental responsibility at all levels and in the conduct of all Institute programs.
II. General Goals and Guiding Principles
A. Compliance with Environmental Requirements. The NIEHS is committed to complying
with all applicable Federal, state and local environmental laws, statutes, regulations, and
other environmental requirements. Where existing laws and regulations are not
adequate to ensure protection of public health or the environment, we will establish and
meet our own environmental quality standards.
B. Environmentally Responsible Planning and Design Principles. The NIEHS, in
conjunction with appropriate NIH offices, will assess the environmental implications in
the development, construction, and operation of campus infrastructure, grounds, and
buildings. To the extent practical, planning and designs for the maintenance and
development of campus facilities will promote environmental sustainability through the
efficient use and conservation of resources, landscaping and grounds maintenance
practices that are compatible with the local environment, and modes of transportation
that minimize environmental impact.
C. Built Environment. The NIEHS will seek to integrate the development and operation of
campus infrastructure, grounds and buildings with the natural environment in ways that
promote and encourage public health, employee wellness, and quality of worklife.
The NIEHS advances our understanding of the fundamental interrelationship
between human health and the environment. It is, therefore, a core value of the
Institute to preserve and protect the environment. This will be proactively
demonstrated by our commitment to continually improve the Institute’s
environmental stewardship through pollution prevention, resource conservation,
and sustainable development of facilities and programs.
D. Pollution Prevention. The NIEHS will minimize solid waste generation and the potential
release of pollutants into the environment first through source reduction, secondarily
through reuse and recycling, and finally through treatment and disposal.
E. Hazardous Waste and Toxic Materials. The NIEHS will actively strive to minimize the
generation of hazardous wastes. The Institute will maintain policies and processes for
the safe and efficient use, tracking, storage, and disposal of hazardous and toxic
materials.
F. Commitment to Environmental Education and Awareness. The NIEHS recognizes the
value of ongoing
education and awareness of all employees and onsite
contractors
concerning the importance of environmental responsibility in all phases of Institute
operations. Further, the Institute is committed to provide relevant and accurate
information on the Institute’s environmental performance to the public.
G. Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Decisions. The NIEHS recognizes that
environmental responsibility can be exercised through its purchasing choices.
Accordingly, the Institute will strive to obtain the “best value” by balancing short and
longterm
costs, including consideration of the environmental, life cycle, and
maintenance costs in purchasing products and services.
H. Efficient Use and Conservation of Energy, Water, and Other Resources. The NIEHS will
strive to reduce resource consumption by eliminating wasteful practices and promoting
efficient use, and by evaluating and implementing feasible and practical conservation
measures in existing buildings, renovations, and new construction.
III. Implementation and Review
The Office of Management, Health and Safety Branch, in coordination with the NIH Office of
Research Facilities shall be responsible for administering and monitoring this policy through
implementation of an Environmental Management System that strives for continual
improvement of NIEHS environmental management programs. All NIEHS employees and
staff are expected to support the Institute’s effort to meet the goals of this policy and are
encouraged to offer comments and suggestions for improvement. The Health and Safety
Branch will coordinate an annual review of this policy statement and develop
recommendations for improvements and updates as needed. Changes to this policy will be
communicated and made available to all employees and to those working on behalf of the
Institute.
August, 2007
Samuel H. Wilson, MD Marc S. Hollander
Acting Director, NIEHS Associate Director for Management, NIEHS