Original Date: 02/23/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Northrop Grumman’s Environmental Control Room is the center of all activities related to regulatory tracking and planning for environmental initiatives. The company’s commitment to be proactive in environmental issues starts with top-level environmental goals that are linked to the Division’s Annual Operating Plan. This approach helps Northrop Grumman prepare for new requirements and be proactive in shaping new rules.

Northrop Grumman’s Environmental Control Room is the center of all activities related to regulatory tracking and planning for environmental initiatives. The company’s commitment to be proactive in environmental issues starts with top-level environmental goals that are linked to the Division’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP). Departmental supplemental goals define the pollution prevention objectives for each department, and are written into each manager’s performance objectives. As a result, the responsibility for implementing these goals flows down the management chain.

Regulatory tracking and planning for new regulations are important functions which help Northrop Grumman prepare for new requirements and be proactive in shaping new rules. Many times regulatory agencies may not have the in-depth knowledge of production process requirements to allow them to analyze the effect that new rules will have on companies. In many cases, Northrop Grumman worked in conjunction with other industries in the area to influence new regulations in a manner that caused the least impact on production operations. Rather than wait for the new rules to be implemented and then discover that production would be impacted, Northrop Grumman’s proactive approach accomplishes the regulatory agency’s goals and ensures that its own operations will not be adversely impacted.

Each division goal related to the AOP’s environmental issues is tracked for progress through tactic plans with milestone charts and periodic reviews for progress toward meeting those goals. Activities related to accomplishing the goal are identified along with the person responsible, and a priority is then assigned to each task. Risk levels are also assigned to each activity as well as a risk status.

Metrics are collected for performance measurement toward achieving goals, and the information is displayed in the Environmental Control Room. In addition, deficiencies identified during internal inspections and external audits are monitored; recurring hazardous waste and non-recurring hazardous waste are tracked (Figure 2-3); disposal and non- hazardous waste costs are watched; and reductions in toxic materials, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) are monitored. Since 1992, Northrop Grumman’s environmental group has receive 15 major awards for its efforts.

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