Overview of executive order 13148: requirements for environmental management systems at federal facilities.

In April 2000, the White House issued Executive Order 13148, Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management. This Order applies to all appropriate federal facilities that have operations which interact with the environment and includes a number of environmentally-related requirements. The most significant requirement is that all appropriate federal facilities must implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) by December 31, 2005. This Order affects federal laboratories, testing facilities, maintenance facilities, hospitals, and so forth across all federal departments and agencies.