Business Title: Manager Environmental Affairs

Contact Information:
BOC Gases
100 Mountain Ave.
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
Phone: 908-771-1270
Fax: 908-771-1203
E-Mail: jim.merriam@us.gases.boc.com

Affiliation: Direct BOC Gases Americas environmental program with approximately 400 facilities in North, Central and South America. BOC is the second largest industrial gas company in the world with approximately $6 billion dollars in sales annually.

Biography: Mr. Merriam has over 20 years of experience managing diverse environmental programs covering manufacturing and electric companies as well as providing environmental consulting services for numerous private and government clients. Over the last 11 years, he directed the corporate environmental and emergency response programs/ staffs for a major chemical company. Additionally, Mr. Merriam has principal responsibilities for developing/ enhancing the BOC Group Worldwide Environmental Management System (EMS) and remediation program and corporate responsibility for managing the Chemical Manufacturers Association’s Responsible Care® initiative. Over the past several years he served as Chairman of the Compressed Gas Association Environmental Committee leading efforts to improve the industry’s approach to environmental protection and remediation. 

Author(s): Jim Merriam

Abstract: One of the most difficult and misunderstood elements in the ISO 14001 EMS standards is 4.3.1 Environmental Aspects. Environmental Aspect review is critical for an organization to concentrate on significant environmental issues when setting environmental objectives and targets. This session will present an example of a relatively easy and proven procedure to identify and evaluate the significance of environmental aspects/impacts to meet ISO 14001 EMS requirements or improve an EMS. A software tool will also be demonstrated, which applies an Excel spreadsheet to simplify and provide consistency for the technique.