The Most Common Environmental Audit Findings (and Their Solutions!)

What Your Auditor is Likely to Find - and Next Steps to Move Forward

Environmental audits serve as critical tools for businesses to assess their environmental practices and ensure compliance with regulations.

If you're preparing for your first audit and are worried about what issues may arise and how they'll be remedied - don't sweat it!

Here, we'll explore common audit findings and highlight proactive solutions, emphasizing the role of environmental audits and consultants in achieving environmentally compliant and successful operations. Let's jump in!

What is an Environmental Audit?

First, let's define what an environmental audit is. We cover the topic in depth in our post What is an Environmental Audit? - but for now, here's the short version: an environmental audit is a thorough examination of a company's operations and practices to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Think of it as a detailed environmental inspection of your facility. 

This process involves evaluating current procedures, identifying potential risks, and implementing corrective actions. By regularly conducting environmental audits, businesses can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, improve their environmental performance, and demonstrate their environmental commitment.

How to Get an Environmental Audit

Typically, environmental audits are conducted by an environmental consultant. These experts will visit your site, review your environmental program and operations, and then present you with a summary of their findings. Often, consultants will also be able to assist in corrective actions to remedy any problems found.

Shameless plug incoming – at RMA, our experienced team is dedicated to providing top-notch environmental auditing services to ensure your business stays compliant and sustainable. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your environmental goals!

The 8 Most Common Audit Findings - and Their Solutions!

Environmental audits often reveal overlooked issues crucial for regulatory compliance and environmental performance. In this section, we’ll highlight common audit findings and provide practical solutions for each, helping businesses address these problems efficiently.

By understanding and addressing these typical pitfalls, businesses can avoid regulatory penalties and enhance their environmental impact. Let's explore these frequent audit findings and learn how to tackle them effectively.

1. Missing Plans, Permits, Approvals

Finding: Many audits uncover gaps in essential plans, permits, and approvals like NPDES stormwater permits, air quality permits, SPCC plans, and recycling approvals. Without these documents, businesses risk non-compliance and environmental harm.

Relevance: These missing documents can result in hefty fines, operational delays, and potential environmental damage. It's like driving a car without a driver's license!

Solution: Environmental consultants can assist in ensuring all necessary plans, permits, and approvals are obtained, maintained, and readily accessible. They provide expertise in navigating regulatory requirements that put you on the fast-track to compliance.

3. Improper Materials Management, Handling, Reporting

Finding: Issues related to improper waste handling practices, hazardous materials management, and lack of Tier II Reporting & TRI Reporting (or reporting inaccuracies), are common audit findings that can pose significant environmental and regulatory risks.

Relevance: Improper management and reporting of materials can lead to environmental contamination, violations, and severe regulatory penalties. It's like failing to get your car's emissions tested during inspection – you might be unknowingly polluting too much and breaking the law!

Solution: Consultants assist in enhancing materials management protocols, and ensuring safe handling, storage, and disposal of materials. They help to accurately track - and when required - quantify and report material usage, releases to the environment, and waste management.

4. Poor Recordkeeping & Documentation

Finding: Audit reports often reveal issues with disorganized, incomplete, or missing records related to permits, plans, approvals, and training documentation. Do you or your staff really know what's inside that cluttered "environmental binder" stuffed in an office drawer?

Relevance: Poor documentation complicates a facility's environmental picture, leading to missed deadlines, violations during inspections, and non-compliance with regulatory standards. It's like driving without keeping your registration and insurance papers in the car – you're bound to get in trouble if you get pulled over!

Solution: Consultants specialize in implementing standardized recordkeeping forms, procedures, and digital systems to maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation. 

5. Lack of Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Finding: Failure to implement BMPs tailored to specific operational activities can result in unnecessary environmental impacts such as water pollution, air emissions, and improper waste management. These are little activities that you can regularly engage in as part of day-to-day operations that make a big difference when it comes to your environmental program.

Relevance: Without BMPs, businesses may contribute to significant environmental degradation and fail to optimize their operations. It's like driving without ever getting your car serviced, leading to breakdowns and inefficiencies!

Solution: Environmental consultants collaborate with businesses to develop and implement tailored BMPs, optimizing practices and reducing environmental impacts. They provide expertise in BMP selection, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and enhancing environmental performance.

6. Outdated Environmental Program

Finding: Outdated environmental programs that do not reflect current site conditions or regulatory standards are common audit findings. For instance, you might have an SPCC plan, but it hasn't been touched since you got it 15 years ago. Since then, your site has changed significantly and is no longer correctly reflected in the plan!

Relevance: An outdated program can hinder operational efficiency and fail to meet current environmental standards, leading to non-compliance and violations. It's like using an old driver’s license with the wrong address – it doesn't match your current situation and could cause confusion and legal issues!

Solution: Environmental consultants conduct comprehensive reviews and updates of environmental programs, ensuring alignment with your current operations and current regulations.

7. Staff Uneducated on Environmental Program

Finding: Lack of awareness among staff regarding environmental regulations and their implications for daily operations is a significant audit finding. Non-existent or inadequate environmental training can lead to unintentional non-compliance and environmental risks.

Relevance: Untrained staff can inadvertently violate regulations, causing environmental damage and legal issues. It's like letting someone drive without ever teaching them the rules of the road – increasing the risk of accidents and violations!

Solution: Consultants offer specialized training programs to educate staff on environmental laws, compliance requirements, and best management practices (BMPs). They facilitate environmental education and provide resources to foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility within the organization.

8. No Vision for Future Environmental Program

Finding: Lack of a structured approach or goals for continuous regulatory improvement, environmental management systems, and sustainability initiatives can hinder long-term environmental performance and compliance.

Relevance: Without a future-focused vision, businesses may struggle to adapt to evolving regulations and sustainability standards. It's like driving without a clear destination in mind, leading to aimless wandering and inefficiency!

Solution: Environmental consultants collaborate with businesses to develop strategic environmental management plans, outlining goals for sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost savings. They facilitate the adoption of environmental management systems and provide guidance on achieving continuous improvement through regular assessments, goal setting, and stakeholder engagement.

Wrapping Up: Key Audit Insights