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DEQ Mission. By the end of the decade, Virginians will enjoy cleaner water available for all uses, improved air quality that supports communities and ecosystems, and the productive re-use of contaminated land. Non-regulatory programs Technical assistance Public recognition
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DEQ Mission By the end of the decade, Virginians will enjoy cleaner water available for all uses, improved air quality that supports communities and ecosystems, and the productive re-use of contaminated land.
Non-regulatory programs Technical assistance Public recognition Web-based information resources Training & workshops Performance based programs Office of Pollution Prevention
What is the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program? • Promotes the use of Environmental • Management Systems (EMS) • Voluntary • “ALL” Virginia facilities • Beyond Compliance • Public Recognition, Regulatory Flexibility, • Fee Reductions • Started July, 2000; codified July, 2005
How does a facility becomepart of VEEP? • Must apply at either E2, E3 or E4 level • Three year acceptance period • Must report annually on progress • Must be in compliance • Environmental Management System (EMS)
What is an EMS? An EMS is a tool for an organization to: • Determine the interactions of its activities and products with the environment • To manage them so as to achieve continually improving environmental performance
Elements of an EMS • Environmental Policy Statement • Evaluation of Environmental Impacts • Objectives & Targets • Regulatory Requirements Identification/Tracking • Roles/Responsibilities • Training and Communication • Environmental Control and Monitoring • Compliance Change Management • Corrective and Preventative Actions • Records and Recordkeeping • Audits and Inspections • Management Review
Requirements of VEEP Members • Compliance with environmental regulations • Performance-based EMSs • Pollution prevention • Measurement of environmental performance • Willingness to have a collaborative relationship with DEQ, other facilities and their communities
VEEP Levels of Participation • Levels E2, E3 & E4 • Compliance requirement for all levels: • No criminal violations within previous 5 years • No more than two significant violations within previous 3 years • No unresolved notices of violations or potential violations • Willing to work cooperatively with DEQ to resolve problems • Operate in a manner consistent with environmental stewardship and leadership • Annual reporting on environmental metrics
E2 (Environmental Enterprise) • For all types of facilities (especially for small businesses, nonprofits, schools, municipal agencies, etc.) • Requires that basic EMS components are in place: • Environmental policy statement • Identification of environmental impacts • Establishment of targets • Pollution prevention program • Reporting on at least one environmental metric
E3 (Exemplary Environmental Enterprise) • Fully implemented EMS • Documented results • EMS self-assessment • Procedures for communicating environmental information to the public • Reporting on at least two environmental metrics
E4 (Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise) • One full EMS cycle completed • Third-party EMS audit completed • Continuous and sustainable progress • Community involvement • Reporting on at least three environmental metrics
VEEP Participation More than 550 facilities currently in program.
Why would a facility want to participate in VEEP? • All members receive: • Positive public recognition • Single point-of-contact • Reduced annual permit fees • Solid waste: E2: 10%; E3 & E4: 20% • Hazardous waste: E2: 5%; E3 & E4: 10% • Water: E2: 2%; E3 & E4: 5% • Alternative compliance methods (E3 & E4 only) • Regulatory flexibility • Permit and permit amendment review timeframe • Reduced or streamlined monitoring requirements
What is the Commonwealth’s interest? • Engaging facilities with a new relationship • Movement toward environmental sustainability: • Reduced total water use by more than 38.5 million gallons • Recycled over 2.7 million tons of non-hazardous waste • Increased use of reclaimed/recycled water by more than 240,000,000 gallons • Increased recycled materials use by 7 tons • Over $300,000 in cost savings
Compliance Climate Protection & Energy Efficiency Water & Natural Resources Protection Environmental Sustainability Education & Outreach InternalP2/Sustainability Efforts EnvironmentalManagement System (EMS)
VEEP Future Schematic Organization-Wide/ Sustainability Track (proposed) “Virginia Sustainability Leaders” Facility Fenceline Track(existing) “Virginia Green Partner” [E1] (proposed)
PWC Landfill Achievements • Joined VEEP (E3) 8/10/07 • Moved to E4 2/18/11 • Fully implemented and third party certified EMS • Years of excellent compliance • Excellent working relationship with DEQ • Pollution Prevention efforts: • Recycling and material reuse on site • Landfill gas to energy project • Wetlands preservation • Researching feasibility of installing windmills
PWC Landfill Achievements continued • Various outreach and mentoring efforts to improve environmental awareness • Numerous awards for environmental achievement • Consistent reporting: • In 2009 11,276 tons of material reuse on site • Since 2007 Particulate Matter air emissions reduced by over 28 tons.
Keith BoisvertVirginia Department of Environmental QualityKeith.Boisvert@deq.virginia.gov 804-698-4225