Environmental compliance is an essential requirement for enterprises whose activities have a high potential for impact and are subject to rigorous licensing processes.. In this case, CONAMA Resolution no. 306/2002, amended by CONAMA Resolution no. 381/2006, establishes the minimum requirements and term of reference for carrying out environmental audits in specific sectors, with the aim of evaluating environmental management and control systems and verifying compliance with legislation and environmental licensing conditions.
More than meeting a legal requirement, environmental auditing represents a management tool capable of identifying opportunities for improvement, reduce operational risks and strengthen the environmental performance of organizations.
What is the CONAMA Environmental Audit 306?
CONAMA Resolution no. 306 regulates the carrying out of independent environmental audits in organized ports, port facilities, platforms, support facilities and refineries.
Its main objective is to verify whether these enterprises maintain environmental management and control systems capable of ensuring compliance with current environmental legislation and the requirements established in the licensing process..
The resolution itself determines that the audit be carried out independently, systematic and documented, based on the analysis of objective evidence that demonstrates the conformity of the audited activities. Identified non-conformities must be clearly recorded and accompanied by an action plan for their correction.
Who should perform?
At the federal level, CONAMA Resolution no. 306 applies specifically to the following projects:
- Organized ports;
- Port facilities;
- Platforms;
- Platform support facilities;
- Refineries.
The obligation of these audits is related to the provisions of article 9 of Law no. 9.966/2000, which provides for independent environmental audits to be carried out for these activities.
Furthermore, It is important to highlight that some Brazilian states have their own legislation that extends the mandatory nature of environmental audits to other industrial segments. That is why, It is essential that each enterprise knows the requirements applicable to its licensing process.
What is evaluated?
One of the great differences of CONAMA no. 306 is to present a detailed term of reference on the minimum content of environmental audits.
Among the main aspects evaluated are:
- compliance with federal environmental legislation, state and municipal;
- validity of environmental licenses and compliance with their conditions;
- existence and implementation of environmental policy;
- environmental objectives and goals;
- identification and control of significant environmental aspects;
- operation and maintenance procedures related to environmental aspects;
- emissions monitoring, effluents and other environmental controls;
- risk analysis and management;
- emergency plan and carrying out training and simulations;
- environmental accident records;
- team training;
- control of documents and records;
- treatment of non-conformities;
- handling conditions, storage and transport of products that may cause damage to the environment.
The audit is not limited to document verification. She seeks to confirm, through objective evidence, that the established procedures are effectively applied in the organization's operational routine.
How the audit works?
CONAMA Resolution no. 306 establishes a minimum content for the planning and execution of audits.
Initially, the scope of work is defined and the technical documentation of the installation is analyzed.. Audit teams are also formed and the audit plan is drawn up.
At the execution stage, interviews are carried out with those responsible for the activities, inspections and surveys of facilities, document analysis and evaluation of collected evidence.
At the end of the process, a technical report is prepared containing the audit findings, the identified conformities and non-conformities and the audit team’s conclusions. Whenever non-conformities are found, the entrepreneur must prepare an action plan with the necessary corrective and preventive measures.
According to the resolution, the audit report and action plan must be presented to the competent environmental body, as a rule, every two years, to subsidize the environmental licensing process, there may be additional guidelines defined by the licensing body.
What are the benefits?
Although it is a legal requirement for certain projects, environmental auditing also offers important benefits for the management of organizations.
By identifying opportunities for improvement and checking the level of environmental compliance, the audit contributes to:
- reduce environmental and operational risks;
- strengthen compliance with environmental legislation;
- prevent liabilities and fines;
- improve internal management processes;
- increase the reliability of environmental information;
- support the continuous improvement of environmental management and control systems;
- reinforce the company's credibility before environmental agencies, customers and other interested parties.
When used as a management tool, auditing is no longer just a regulatory obligation and starts to contribute to the sustainability and safety of operations.
How biO3 can support your company
Carrying out an environmental audit in accordance with CONAMA Resolution no. 306 requires technical knowledge, independence, structured methodology and compliance with the requirements established by environmental legislation.
biO3 is qualified to carry out environmental audits in accordance with CONAMA no. 306, leading from the planning and execution of the audit to the preparation of the technical report and its forwarding to the competent environmental agency, as provided for in applicable legislation.
In addition to carrying out audits, biO3 also supports its customers in assessing legal compliance, identification of opportunities for improvement, review of environmental management and control systems and development of action plans, contributing to enterprises maintaining high standards of environmental performance and regulatory compliance.
With experience in environment and sustainability, biO3 offers technical solutions that combine regulatory rigor, strategic vision and focus on continuous improvement, providing greater security to enterprises throughout the environmental audit process.
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