1. An environmental audit evaluates an organization's compliance with environmental regulations and policies through a documented, periodic assessment. It aims to identify gaps and non-compliance issues to help safeguard the environment. 2. Major environmental legislation in India includes the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the Water Pollution Control Act of 1974, and the Air Act of 1981. The Ministry of Environment and Forests was established in 1985 to oversee environmental protection efforts. 3. The objectives of an environmental audit include minimizing resource consumption, promoting green technologies, improving pollution control practices, and achieving sustainable development goals like environmental protection.

1. UNIT - IV
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
PART - II

2. INTRODUCTION
An environmental audit is a type of evaluation
intended to identify environmental compliance and
management system implementation gaps along with related
corrective actions, documented, periodic and objective
evaluation of how well environmental organisation and
equipment are performing with the aim of helping to safeguard
the environment by
1. Facilitating management control of practices and assessing
compliance with company policies.
2. Which would include regulatory requirements and
standards applicable.

3. Environmental Legislation
1. The term environmental legislation refers to the
management of the environment under a strong legal frame work to
help or protect the environment.
2. An international conference held on human environment
was organized in Stockholm from 5th June to 16th June, 1972 to
bring awareness to people to exert efforts for preservation of the
environment for the well-being and prosperity of all.
3. Since the 5th June is celebrated every year as world
environment day across the world.
4. This process initiated by department of environment in
1980.

4. 5. In India the department of environment was setup in
1980 which later became the ministry of environment and
forests in 1985.
The government of india has formulated about 30 acts
and rules related to the environment.
Some of the environmental legislation passed by the
government of india are:
 The wild life protection act, 1972, rules 1973 and
amendment 1991.
 The water(prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974.
 The air act,1981, rules 1982.
 The environmental act, 1986, rules 1986.

5. Objectives of environmental audit
Minimize the resources consumption in order to conserve
the resources as these are the valuable assets of any nation.
To promote the use of green technologies to reduce the
damaging impacts on the environment in an efficient and
cost-effective manner.
 To promote good pollution control practices to help in
pollution control.
To improve the health and safety of individuals during the
production process in industrial unity.
 To achieve sustainable development protection &
preservation of the environment.
Introduction and implementation of time saving
technologies in production.

6. Types of environmental audit
The environmental auditing broadly categorized into two types
are
I. Objective - based type of environmental
auditing.
II. Client - driven type of environmental
auditing.
I. The Objective-based type environmental auditing
Environmental audit involves the assessment of
any proposed activity that can be have an impact on the
environment.
1. Liabilities audit
2. Management audit
3. Activities audit

7. 1. Liabilities Audit: The following are the audits which
includes the liabilities audit are:
a. Compliance audit
b. Operational risk audit
c. Acquisation audit/Translational audit
d. Health and safety audit
2. Management audit: The following are the audits
which includes the management audit are
a. Corporate audit.
b. Systems audit.
c. Policy audit.
d. Issues audit.

8. 3. Activities audit: Which include the activities audit
are
a. Site audit
b. Waste audit
c. Product audit
d. Cross boundary audit
II. Client-driven type of environmental audit:
It can be further classified in the following types
1. Regulatory external audit
2. Independent external audit
3. Internal environmental audit

9. Evaluation of audit data
An evaluation of the audit observations in terms of
administrative, policy reviews and technical review.
Based on the evaluation the following should be
consider
Current practices correctly/ incorrectly followed.
 Post practices of non-compliance
 Potential problem areas.
 Deficiencies in the systems.
 Reliability of the information generated
 Potential liabilities / cost saving areas.

10. Audit Protocol
• Audit protocols assist the regulated community in
developing programs at individual facilities to evaluate their
compliance with environmental requirements under federal
law.
• Audit protocol are designed for use by persons with various
background, including scientists, engineers, lawyers and
business owners or operators.
• Environmental audit reports are useful to a variety of
businesses and industries, local state and federal government
facilities as well as financial lenders and insurance
companies that need to assess environmental performance.

11. Stages of Environmental Audit
The following are the 4 stages of environmental audits
1. Pre – audit / Planning stage
2. Onsite / Field audit
3. Post audit
4. Review stage / Follow up

12. Preparation of audit report
1. Develop action plan
2. Implement action plan
3. Checking of monitoring
4. Review action plan

13. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
10 Marks questions
1. Discuss in detail the assessment and development
activities on vegetation and wild life.
2. Write a short note on evaluation of audit data and
preparation of audit report.
3. Write detailed note on causes and effects of
deforestation.
4. Discuss briefly the objectives of environmental audit.
5. How do you assess the soil micro flora and fauna and soil
microclimate? Explain in detail.
6. What do you mean by carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
List any two examples.

14. 2 MARKES
1. Write few demerits of deforestation
2. What do you mean by environmental audit?
3. Write a note on standards for noise quality.
4. Briefly explain the impact of development on vegetation
and wild life.