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Virginia DEQ Strategic Priorities

Improve quality, consistency, and relevance of solid waste permits

Agency Goal Achieve focused, more efficient programs to meet or exceed environmental standards
Objective Timely processing of accurate, effective and defensible permits that environmentally protective
Strategy Improve quality, consistency, and relevance of solid waste permits
Team Lead Farrell,Paul 
Team Member(s) Edward Farrell, Aziz Farahmand 
Opportunity Solid Waste - 4: Improve quality, consistency, and relevance of permits 
Created Date 2/10/2006
Last Update 2/14/2007 
  Complete       Active   check on   Strategic Plan      

# Action Owner Comp Target Date Status Comment
1 Provide timely and understandable technical guidance and training to ensure consistency in permit writers’ interpretation of the regulations. Use real life scenarios to improve relevance and usefulness Farrell,Paul  check on 3/1/2006    Completed 10/6/2005 - Discussed at SW Conf 10/4-6/05. Document the training held on monthly calls. 
2 Improve content of technical guidance to permit writers on conducting administrative and technical completeness reviews. Reinforce the guidance as part of permit writer training. Farrell,Paul  check on 3/1/2006    Completed 10/6/2005 - Discussed at SW Conf 10/4-6/05, to use checklist. WCMs will reinforce checklist use. 
3 Improve the format and structure of VADEQ procedures and guidelines, for both internal use and for the regulated community, to make these more concise, usable, timely, and accurate. Make the format and structure consistent across DEQ. Beckwith,Leslie  check on 9/1/2006    Completed 4/19/2006 - Issued guidance entitled "Regulatory Guidance Development" as Agency Policy 01-2006. This guidance includes a standard format for agency guidance, with an executive summary, a focus on clear wording, and stakeholder input. The goal is to issue regulations and any necessary implementation guidance at the same time. Also, a Waste Project Tracker was established to track draft guidance, with a lead and estimated completion date. 
4 Make permit format more consistent and concise by identifying key requirements for inclusion, common permit conditions, and boilerplate as well as information in the application that can be addressed in the permit by reference. Craft a strawman for review by DEQ and regulated community and other stakeholders. Consider if regulatory changes are needed to accomplish this. Farahmand,Aziz      9/1/2007    on track, team met on June 22, identified and characterized requirements to be included into permits and applications and discussed permit organization and structure. The suggestions will then be coordinated with permit writers for further comments. The team next meeting will be in March 2007. 
5 Ensure that permit writers receive timely training when new regulations are in the works. Farrell,Paul  check on 6/1/2006    Completed 2/1/2006 - Training plan for permit writers is on DEQNET. Training on all proposed reg items was completed in 11/05. On-going item as new regulations are implemented. 
6 Reinforce communications expectations between permit writer and applicant. Farrell,Paul  check on 10/15/2005    Completed 10/6/2005 - Started 10/6/05 and on-going. See Opp 2, task 1 for inclusion in permit manual. 
Resources
3. Coordinate with Policy & other media. 4. Coordinate with Opp 1, task 1 (revised application form). 6. Discussed at SW Conf 10/4-6/05. Include in Permit Manual. DEQ to offer Customer Service training to all staff. Permit app info is on web. Managers to remind staff routinely. 

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