DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Community Involvement Task Force submits final report
The Community Involvement Task Force of the Department of Environmental Quality submitted its final report to me in November. I commend this group of dedicated Virginians for successfully addressing one of the most important issues affecting our environment – how to involve the public more fully in the environmental decisions that affect everyone.
Working with the task force, which included representatives of major environmental organizations in Virginia and DEQ staff members, has been tremendously gratifying. I believe we have learned a lot from each other during the last seven months. Perhaps the most important result of this effort is a better understanding of how DEQ, the conservation community and the citizens of Virginia can work together to protect our environment.
The task force focused on identifying where the public could benefit from greater understanding of DEQ’s role in protecting the environment, and on proposing steps the agency can take to involve the public more effectively in environmental decision making. To accomplish this, the group proposed a community involvement policy for DEQ and submitted a detailed list of actions the agency already has begun or will begin soon.
The policy will guide DEQ efforts to improve public understanding of environmental protection by:
- Involving the public early in significant environmental actions, such as major permits.
- Establishing a strong relationship with environmental and community organizations.
- Developing active participation in consensus building on significant environmental issues.
- Communicating clearly with the public.
One action now under way is a series of community open house meetings in the seven DEQ regions of Virginia. Several dozen people have attended each meeting and have identified numerous environmental issues on which they would like to continue working with DEQ.
I would like to thank all the task force members for their many hours of dedication and for helping DEQ establish an innovative approach for involving the community. I encourage Virginians to read the report and learn how DEQ and the public can work together to protect and enhance the environment in communities around the Commonwealth.