Environmental Audit (EA)
Technical Explanation
An Environmental Audit is a systematic, documented evaluation of an organization’s or facility’s compliance with environmental regulations and best practices. It reviews operational processes, checks permits and records, and inspects on-the-ground conditions. The audit identifies any gaps in compliance or performance and recommends corrective actions. (Unlike EIA, which is pre-project, an audit assesses existing operations.)
Main requirements
Often required for ongoing operations or prior to acquisitions to ensure all environmental obligations are met. Needs access to records (permits, waste logs, etc.) and site inspections. Typically, audits are performed periodically (e.g. annually) or before key project milestones, helping companies avoid violations by proactively addressing issues.