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1.2.1 Awareness of Benefits Associated with Audits—Various benefits have been attributed to audits. These benefits may include a better understanding of the compliance status of a facility or organization, identification of opportunities for environmental management systems improvements, reduction or elimination of potential legal and financial liabilities when implemented as part of a comprehensive compliance management program, better communications and improved relationships with governmental agencies, communities, and other stakeholders, providing information for development of both short-term and long-term environmental expenditures, and education of employees.

1.2.2 Awareness of Risks Associated with Audits—It is also important to recognize that certain risks have been associated with audits. These risks may be managed and controlled by giving thoughtful consideration to the audit process before beginning an audit. These risks may include increased potential legal and financial liabilities for the audited entity if audit findings are not corrected in a timely manner, disclosure of confidential business information or trade secrets, inadvertent admissions against interest because of the wording of audit findings, disclosure of audit findings intended to be kept confidential under audit privilege laws or attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine, and inaccurate audit findings.

1.2.3 Awareness of Legal Issues—A number of important legal issues are associated with audits. Example legal issues include the qualification for one or more evidentiary privileges, the qualification for limited immunity, the protection of trade secrets and confidential information, the application of a number of government policies associated with environmental audits (including federal and state programs that provide incentives for detecting, disclosing, and correcting potential violations through auditing), the form and language of audit reports, the necessity of reporting certain information to the government (either federal, state, or local agencies), the potential liability of auditors, and the importance of promptly addressing issues identified during audits. Prior to initiating and during an audit, interested parties should consider potential legal issues and consult legal counsel or other experts as appropriate.

4.3.1 Not Interchangeable—Although distantly related to Practices E1527 and E1528, this practice is designed to achieve different results. Therefore, these practices shall not be used interchangeably with, or in place of, this practice.

4.4.1 Not Interchangeable—Although related to ISO guidelines, this practice is designed for a different purpose. Therefore, these ISO guidelines shall not be used interchangeably with, or in place of, this practice.

4.6.1 Not Exhaustive—A audit shall not constitute an exhaustive review of audited entity compliance with all potentially applicable audit criteria unless explicitly intended and stated as an audit objective in the audit plan.

4.6.2 Level of Review is Variable—The audit scope may vary to meet different audit objectives. For example, the audit scope may include only selected audit criteria, selected period under review, or selected portions of a facility or organization.

4.6.3 Continued Viability of Environmental Audit—An audit completed in accordance with this practice shall be valid for only the period under review. Because audit criteria and audited entity conditions may change over time, it shall not be assumed that an audit report is reliable, or has continued viability, for other than the period under review.

4.6.4 Usage of Prior Audits—Information contained within reports from prior audits should be used only if it has continued viability and if use of that information is appropriate.