Virginia EMS ConferenceOctober 7, 2008

Supporting Virginia's Regional Priorities: A Facilitated Discussion on Looking Beyond Your Fence Line

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Agenda

Introductions and Welcome

What are the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Environmental Goals?

What are the Virginia DEQ’s Regional Priorities?

How can Regional Priorities be Integrated into an EMS?

Wrap-Up

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Virginia Commonwealth Goals

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard.

Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Water supply:

– Reduce water use through increased water reuse.

– All localities should have a water plan that includes addresses demand management and drought management component in place by 11/2011

Water quality: improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

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What Are VA DEQ’s Regional Priorities?

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Tidewater Regional Priorities Watershed Issues

– Improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard (esp. in Hampton Roads).

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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Piedmont Regional Priorities Watershed Issues

– Improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard (esp. in Richmond).

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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Northern Regional Priorities Watershed Issues

– Improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard.

– Meet air quality standards for particulates

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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Valley Regional Priorities Watershed Issues

– Improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard (esp. in Winchester).

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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South Central Regional Priorities

Watershed Issues

– Improve and protect water quality, especially in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, by reducing phosphorus and nitrogen discharges.

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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West Central Regional Priorities

Watershed Issues

– Address water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Improve air quality by reducing the number of days when ozone levels exceed the 8-hour ozone standard (esp. in Roanoke).

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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Southwest Regional Priorities

Watershed Issues

– Address other water quality issues to fully achieve water quality standards in impaired waterways (TMDLs).

Airshed Issues

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2025

– Reduce the rate of growth in energy use by 40% by 2017

Land Preservation and Protection

– Increase Brownfields development

– Preserve 400,000 acres of land by the end of the decade

Regional Initiatives

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Where can Regional Priorities be integrated into an EMS?

Environmental Policy

– Include a specific commitment to the regional goal

Environmental Aspects

Significance Criteria

– Set significance criteria that reflect importance of regional priority

Legal and other requirements

– Include any requirements pertinent to the regional issue

Objectives and Target

– Set an objective to respond to the regional goal

Competence, Training, and Awareness

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Benefits to Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) Members

DEQ is looking for commitments in applications that align with regional priorities

These commitments will then be what you report on in your annual report

An added benefit to the member is that their objectives will be Integrated with the DEQ’s regional programs

Local regulators will certainly look favorably on this as well

Requests for flexibility better received if what they are doing is seen as significant.

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What are possible EMS Objectives that align with the Regional Priorities?

(Discussion)

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Wrap Up