a. Federal and State Regulatory Inspections. Regulatory agencies have the legal right and
responsibility to inspect units and facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws and
regulations. These agencies usually coordinate inspections through the installation's environmental
office, or they may conduct inspections without prior notice. Inspections in other programs may occur at
different frequencies. Installations or units with specific major problems can expect frequent follow-up
inspections, which may include checks of training records and documentation, permit reviews, and
storage facilities.
b. Environmental-Compliance Assessment System (ECAS). Many environmental regulations
require self-regulation, which requires the installation to monitor its own programs and notify the
regulatory agency when problems occur. The Army established the ECAS as a means of achieving,
maintaining, and monitoring compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Army also uses
compliance assessments as a vehicle to attain environmental program goals. The Army conducts internal
compliance assessments for its installations. Units participate in these assessments, which review all
aspects of the installation's environmental status.
6-2. Establishing a Unit-Level Program. To establish an effective unit environmental program, the
unit leader should ensure that all unit personnel have had environmental awareness training, designate an
ECO who is properly trained and qualified, and meet with key higher level unit staff counterparts and
installation personnel who deal with environmental issues. When meeting with installation personnel and
higher level unit staff, leaders must find out what their requirements are concerning environmental
training, qualifications, and certification of unit personnel and any common environmental problem areas
or ECAS inspections that may affect the unit. They must also ensure that the unit has a well-written SOP
that addresses environmental issues and procedures that apply to the unit. The following are unit or
installation environmental programs that units develop or adopt.
a. Hazardous-Material Management. The Army's objective is to minimize health hazards and
environmental damage caused by the use and misuse of HM. A HM is one that, because of its quantity;
concentration; and physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may do the following:
Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious,
irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness.
Pose a substantial or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly
treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
b. Dealing with Hazardous Material. Listed below are examples of what leaders should do when
their unit deals with HM. A complete list may be found in FM 4-04.4 (3-100.4), Chapter 6.
Ensure the best management practices for all HM.
Comply with all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
Order and use only what is required; do not stockpile HM.
Conserve resources through recovery, recycling, and reuse.
Establish a training program, and ensure that personnel are properly trained as required.
c. Hazardous Waste (HW). Hazardous substances, which result in some waste generation, are an
unavoidable part of Army activities. The proper handling and disposal of this waste will minimize danger
EN 5702
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