Environmental management at the El Cabril disposal facility

In 1996, ENRESA decided to implement and certify an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard. This article includes a description of the reasons that led the company to take decision to implement the system and of the different phases of the project. These phases include the main activities carried out to implement a management system at a facility already equipped with a mature and contrasted quality system, where the main environment issue is controlled both internally by the system and externally by the regulatory authority. Finally, the paper describes the most innovative characteristics of the system implemented, such as the environmental impact assessment method or the integration of procedures containing quality and environmental requirements. Finally, the most outstanding improvement actions performed since implementation of the system are described. It should be pointed out that this has been the first waste disposal facility to certify its environmental management system. (Author)