What Is MSWG?

The Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Management Systems (MSWG) is a group of thirteen states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry representatives (see MSWG Membership) that is studying environmental management systems (EMSs), particularly those based on ISO 14001.

Since its start two years ago, MSWG has contracted with the University of North Carolina (UNC) to host and develop a database.  Each of the states involved in MSWG is partnering with companies and organizations within their state to create pilot projects.  Companies and organizations will submit the data to the states according to the MSWG Data Protocols developed by UNC.  The states will gather data generated by their pilots' EMSs and place them into UNC's database where researchers studying a variety of environmental and management issues will have access to it.  MSWG is currently working to identify research questions (see MSWG Research Process).

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched its own pilot projects in February 1999.  DEP is not requiring the pilots to become ISO 14001 certified, but it is interested in pilots willing to implement strategic environmental management concepts (see Pilot Project Participation Considerations).

For more information on Pennsylvania's participation in MSWG, please contact Patrick McDonnell at 717-772-5941, or Patrick McDonnell.