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 Virginia Environmental Excellence Program
Newsletter
 March 2014
 




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VEEP Annual Reporting Deadline is April 1!

 

Remember that all VEEP annual reports are due by next Tuesday, April 1. For an overview of the online reporting system, reporting instructions as well as conversion factors, go to DEQ's website. Questions should be directed to Keith Boisvert at 804-698-4225 or Morgan Goodman at 804-698-4122.

  

2014 DEQ Environmental Excellence Conference Recap

 

On March 11-13th, more than 175 people attended the 2014 DEQ Environmental Excellence Conference: Enhancing Environmental Management and Stewardship. Attendees heard about the Commonwealth's environmental priorities for the next four years from Molly Ward, the new Secretary of Natural Resources. The two General Session keyonte speakers were terrific - UVA's Dr. James Galloway spoke on our nitrogen footprint, and Cam Metcalf, recently retired from the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center, gave his perspectives on the movement towards EMS, pollution prevention and sustainability. Session topics included Sustainability in the Community, Zero to Landfill, Stormwater Management, Keeping the Early EMS Momentum Going, Recommissioning and Deconstructing Buildings, Contractor Management, Reducing Food Waste, Fleet Management, Integrating Environmental and Energy Management Systems, DOD and Municipal Strategies for Climate Change, Regulatory Update, How to Apply for and Stay in VEEP; Turnaround Successes, and Water Conservation. 

 

Presentations are available on DEQ's website. If you attended, please don't forget to complete the evaluation so that we can make the next event even better.

 

"The Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward shares her environmental priorities with the VEEP community."

   

"Cam Mecalf, with the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (retired), shares insights from his career in sustainability."
"DEQ Director Dave Paylor encourages conference members in their environmental efforts."
  
 

Check out VEEP's New Storm Water Web Page

 

Proper stormwater management is imperative in Virginia and the responsibility of the business, municipal and residential sectors. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are a method by which the adverse impacts of development and redevelopment are controlled. Raising awareness of current stormwater BMP's can help to:

  • Protect the environment
  • Improve water quality
  • Save money

For these reasons, the Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Office of Pollution Prevention is committed to promoting efficient stormwater management and has recently created a webpage devoted to the topic.

 

By embracing innovations in environmental efforts like stormwater BMPs, VEEP members are uniquely positioned to lead by example. DEQ and the Office of Pollution Prevention request that VEEP members lead the regulated community by voluntarily implementing stormwater BMPs and assess successes or share current efforts with the DEQ Office of Pollution Prevention. This information will be used to refine and expand stormwater outreach efforts in Virginia and support similar efforts in Chesapeake Bay Watershed states.