DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Working with communities around Virginia
The Department of Environmental Quality is hosting community meetings throughout Virginia during summer and fall 2005. The meetings provide opportunities for Virginians to become involved in protecting and improving the environment across the Commonwealth.
This is our second round of regional community involvement meetings, and the agency is again looking forward to meeting with business owners, educators, local governments, community leaders and concerned individuals.
As a part of our community involvement initiative, we are working to increase the understanding of how DEQ operates, identify issues that are a priority in each region of the state and enhance opportunities for community involvement in environmental activities in Virginia. DEQ will focus on working in cooperation with community groups and individuals at these meetings to address environmental concerns.
The main topic of discussion for the West Central Regional Office community meeting in Roanoke, held on September 1, 2005, was the Smith Mountain Lake watershed. About 70 community members and a panel of experts representing American Electric Power Co., Smith Mountain Lake Association, Western Virginia Water Authority, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and DEQ participated in the meeting. Discussion ranged from erosion and sediment control to PCB pollution. DEQ’s South Central Regional Office, located in Lynchburg, held its meeting in July 2005. About 50 participants discussed a variety of environmental issues, including water quality and the land application of wastewater treatment plant sludge or biosolids.
A member of the panel at the Roanoke meeting in September 2005 responds to a question from the community.
It has been nearly a year since DEQ held the first regional community involvement meeting in October 2004. We have met with hundreds of people since then to identify issues that are a concern in their communities. Based on the first set of meetings, each DEQ office developed a community involvement plan. These plans include opportunities for people to gain a better understanding of what we do, how we work and how to become more involved in environmental decisions.
We have also made significant changes to communicate more clearly with the public. DEQ has launched a new online program called Permit Expert to help users determine what type of permit may be needed for a specific activity, and the agency is providing online monthly updates on the status of air, water and waste permits. We also have revamped the format and language of the agency’s public notices to provide information that is more useful and easier to understand.
In addition, each DEQ office has been working with members of their community to identify and address regional concerns. Efforts range from offering information and assistance to schools, colleges and civic organizations to participating on community advisory groups to address environmental issues.
Collaborating with communities around Virginia is having a positive effect on the environment to the benefit of everyone in the Commonwealth, and we want to continue this success, which is made possible by the dedication of DEQ staff and community members.
Several regional community meetings remain for 2005, and we encourage anyone interested in environmental protection to attend. Please visit our web site for more information.