ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA-A CULTURE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM

摘要

To change the existing environmental culture and practices of a local government, though a daunting task, is not impossible. Chesterfield County's Government Center comprises of various departments that are directly exposed to various environmental challenges. After being aware of the unfortunate fate of the neighboring City of Roanoke and Henry County due to the management's ignorance of the environmental issues and responsibilities, Chesterfield County's Administrator and top Managers got proactively involved in changing the culture and practices of the County employees. Key personnel from different departments were brought in to form Environmental Management Committee. This committee was tasked with the responsibilities of developing an Environmental Management Program for the County to ensure one hundred percent compliance with all the applicable environmental regulations and proactively address any future environmental issues through employee commitment and involvement. The committee members had twofold tasks ahead of them - the first was to immediately take corrective actions if any non-compliance issues were identified, and the second to develop an Environmental Management Program to ensure that the proper environmental protocols are followed on an on-going, efficient and responsible ways. In order to emphasize the top Management's Commitment, the County added another Strategic Goal to its existing seven Strategic goals - "To be Responsible Protectors of the Environment". The Objectives of this goal are: 1. Objective # 1 - Assess and improve county processes and technologies to reduce adverse environmental impacts and to meet or exceed compliance with environmental regulations; 2. Objective #2- Educate and train employees in their environmental responsibilities; 3. Objective #3- Promote Partnership that have a positive effect on the environment; 4. Objective #4- Respond to environmental incidents at county properties and facilities quickly and effectively; 5. Objective # 5 - Monitor and improve consistent with legal, fiscal, organizational limitations, and all aspects of county environment. The county has successfully completed various environmental remediation projects, such that it is not only one hundred percent compliant with all the existing regulations, but has achieved exemplary status by completing environmental projects that were voluntary and non-regulatory in nature. Environmental Management Program is also making accelerated progress, such that