Environmental Auditing in the Forest Products Industry, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

C. S. Cooley

Georgia-Pacific Corp.

In 1986 EPA issued a policy on environmental auditing and what constituted an effective audit program. Since that time many companies have developed effective programs, including companies in the forest products industry. Recently, several issues have brought environmental auditing to the forefront. These issues include: EPA re-evaluating their environmental audit policy, individual states adopting audit privilege legislation, and the federal sentencing commission considering an established environmental audit program as a mitigating factor in determining criminal sentencing. All of these issues make auditing an important topic and an important part of an environmental program. This panel discussion includes four forest product companies who have established environmental audit programs. Each of the panelists is responsible for the environmental audit program in their company. Each company’s current program utilizes an internal auditing approach, but all function differently. The panelists for this session will each discuss their program, planning activities, the scope of the environmental audits, audit staffing, audit duration, confidentiality, follow-up and unique features of their program. The panel will then discuss the differences in the programs and issues confronting environmental auditing today. This discussion will include:

- management support

- quality assurance

- variability of audits

- auditor training and qualifications

- benefits to the companies

- emerging state legislation for audit privilege

- EPA’s re-evaluation of audit privilege

- future approaches and direction of environmental auditing

The panel discussion will focus on how four different approaches can meet the established EPA’s policy and the needs of individual companies.