As a core compliance issue, BellSouth policy mandates that the management of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) issues includes:

• The establishment of strong corporate policy,
• Executive oversight/corporate direction,
• Incorporation of compliance programs into everyday operations, and
• Corporate assessment of program effectiveness.

BellSouth developed its management system for these issues by adapting components from various industry standards and regulatory guidelines such as the International Chamber of Commerce Business Charter for Sustainable Development, the Environmental Charter for the North American Telecommunications Industry, and OSHA’s Health and Safety Management Guidelines.

BellSouth’s EHS Management Plan includes the following elements:

View components of the Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety Program.

BellSouth management and employees share in the responsibility to manage the environmental aspects of our operations and to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment.

Incorporation of the compliance program into everyday operations is the responsibility of each BellSouth operating entity.

In addition to being concerned with BellSouth’s own environmental, health and safety compliance, BellSouth is also concerned about the compliance of the suppliers with whom we do business. In 1996, BellSouth formed the Environmental Vendor Evaluation Team (EVET) to evaluate and approve all vendors involved in the handling, transportation and disposal of regulated solid and hazardous wastes generated by BellSouth. The "EVET List" identifies all EVET approved environmental vendors. Environmental vendors include: Transporters, Storage facilities, Recyclers, Incinerators, Landfills, Chemical Laboratories, and is being expanded to include Consultants.