Responsibility and Audit

Question 1

2 types of organisational structure

Answer 1

Matrix = jobs and skills that go into those jobs
Hierarchy = pyramid, no ambiguity

Question 2

The Responsible Officer Doctrine

Answer 2

Criminal liability
Responsibility attached at specific point in the hierarchy
Assumes:
- hierarchy - well defined functions
- managerial capacity - capabilities (skills and expertise), resources and authority

Question 3

Environmental audit

Answer 3

Systems of tracking enviro inputs and outputs
TO:
- assess performance
- evaluate compliance with leg.
- measure against EMS
Typically internal

Question 4

US V. Hayes International Corporation (?)

Answer 4

1986
Airplane refurbishing plant, Alabama
Drain fuel and repaint with solvents
Beasley - contract with Performance Advantage Inc. - dispose of fuels and paint solvent - hazardous waste - illegal disposal
–> Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Defence = didn’t understand reg., didn’t know PA had no permit, thought PA was recycling
Court opinion = no excuse, reject, reject - he could/should have known
= huge imperative on information
= failed hierarchy?

Question 5

US V. Hansen et al (?)

Answer 5

2001
Georgia
Systematic toxic waste discharges to adjacent tidal marshes
Number of responsible officers - COO, plant managers
Court opinion = not known wasn’t adequate defence (and evidence shows they did)
Bankruptcy - but pressures don’t matter if you knowingly commit a crime

Question 6

ISO4001 (?;?)

Answer 6

Boiral 2007
International certification standard - internal management and show you are legit; integrate environmental concerns in daily activities, preventive approach
Case study - 9 ISO14001 cert. Canadian orgs
- daily activities decoupled from it
- employees vague understanding of it
- rational myth = rupture between image of rationality and formalism projected vs. real practices
- superficial conformity when conducting audits - undermined credibility with employees

Question 7

Business and environment - mutual dependence (?;?)

Answer 7

Singh 2000
Lose money by treating environmental controls and plant operations as separate
- they are mutually dependent
- make savings on both by coordinating
= systems approach
- look at all operations as one unit