4.1 This guide may be used for environmental compliance performance assessment in the United States in a wide variety of applications and is not particularly limited to one type of user. The following groups of users may find the guide particularly helpful:
4.1.1 Small businesses or enterprises;
4.1.2 Service industries;
4.1.3 Federal, state or local facilities and regulators, including departments of health and fire departments;
4.1.4 Financial and insurance institutions;
4.1.5 Waste managers, including liquid and solid waste haulers, treatment, recycling, disposal and transfer;
4.1.6 Consultants, auditors, inspectors and compliance assistance personnel;
4.1.7 Educational facilities;
4.1.8 Property, buildings and grounds management, including landscaping;
4.1.9 Non-regulatory government agencies, such as the military; and
4.1.10 Specific industrial sectors such as dry cleaners, printers, photo processors, laboratories, health care, and vehicle fueling, maintenance and delivery.
4.2 This guide is intended as a first step in crafting simplified management goals for assessing compliance with a wide variety of multimedia environmental performance standards. The framework describes a process by which the user may categorize current waste management, air quality, water, and release prevention practices in order to manage the risks associated with noncompliance. The technique classifies common environmental performance standards into tiers based on relative risks to human health, the environment and business operations. The tier classifications found in this guide reflect the general requirements of State, Federal and local compliance and enforcement programs. These authorities generally classify groups of similar environmental performance standards according to the significance of any noncompliance within each group of standards.
4.3 The guide helps the user to realize the benefits of environmental compliance. These benefits may include but not be limited to:
4.3.1 Ability to set priorities for environmental management activities;
4.3.2 Marketing environmental awareness and sensitivity;
4.3.3 Assessing compliance with permits and other requirements;
4.3.4 Risk management, underwriting; loss control and history; premiums and claims;
4.3.5 Liability assessment and qualifications for loans;
4.3.6 Standardization, consistency and certification of facility specific evaluations;
4.3.7 Educating employees, clients and customers;
4.3.8 Generating multi media and cross medium information;
4.3.9 Evaluating vendors; and
4.3.10x00a......