Title: Virginias Regional Environmental Management System
1Virginias Regional EnvironmentalManagement
System
- ECOS-DOD Compatible Use And Sustainability Task
Group Meeting - March 19, 2006
Michael Murphy, Director Division of
Environmental Enhancement Virginia Department Of
Environmental Quality mpmurphy_at_deq.virginia.gov
2What is the Virginia Regional EnvironmentalManage
ment System (V-REMS)?
- A regional partnership of public, private, and
community organizations in the greater Richmond,
Virginia area - The V-REMS partnership focuses on
- Addressing regional environmental priorities
- Improving communication and trust between
partners - Sharing environmental best practices
- Sponsored by the Defense Supply Center Richmond
(DLA facility) to promote sustainability
3V-REMS Phases I and II
Phase II- Collective Targeting of Regional
Environmental Priorities
Phase I Formation, Communication, and EMS Best
Practices Sharing
Partnership has grown from 4 to over 30
organizations
4Why was V-REMS developed?
- Promote trust and support to solve regional
environmental issues - Create partnering to address regional
environmental issues - Improve information exchange and environmental
best practices sharing - EMS targets environmental issues on-site REMS
provides stakeholders with needed tools to
address regional environmental, social, and
economic issues - Tool designed to anticipate community challenges
and promote proactive programs
5DoD and Federal Facilities
Cities and Counties
Private Companies
Regulatory Agencies
6How does the V-REMS partnership work?
- Regular communication between partners
- Monthly phone calls
- 2-3 meetings annually
- Sub-group calls to focus on specific initiatives
- Intranet site to share data
- Neutral facilitator sponsored by DSCR staffs
partnership needs - Level of effort 4-5 hrs/month
7Examples of Action Items from Recent V-REMS
Meeting
- Apply for grant to study NOx-eating concrete
- Hold sub-group call to discuss innovative energy
efficiency approaches - Partners will explore E85 fueling station options
in Richmond area - Hold sub-group call to discuss EMS challenges and
solutions
8Examples of V-REMS Accomplishments
- Environmental Improvement
- Partnership won EPA Clean School Bus USA grant
- City of Richmond, National Guard, and DSCR
reduced ozone emissions by switching to low-VOC
paint - Enhanced Cooperation Among V-REMS Participants
- Better trust between DSCR and community helped
DSCR address stakeholder concerns - Partnership facilitated trusting between DEQ and
partners - Cost Savings
- Hopewell Wastewater increased revenue by 500,000
and reduced stormwater pollution - Improved community recognition
- DSCR won 2005 White House Closing the Circle
Award, Chesapeake Business for the Bay Award - State program recognition for many partners
9Keys to V-REMS Success
- Voluntary
- No formality or bureaucracy to partnership
- Ongoing involvement and cooperation with state
- Common EMS language
- Regular and frequent communication among partners
- Willingness to try innovative approaches, share
data/information, and enlist new partners - Focuses on local environmental priorities
- Partnership helps each partner achieve individual
environmental and organizational goals - Measurable environmental performance indicators
10V-REMSA Successful Model
- Replicable
- Can be championed by public and private
organizations - Has shown quantifiable performance improvement
- Operationalizes sustainability
- Contact with questions
- Mike Murphy (VA DEQ) mpmurphy_at_deq.virginia.gov
- Jimmy Parrish (DSCR) Jimmy.Parrish_at_dla.mil
11EXTRA/OPTIONAL SLIDES
12V-REMS experience and unique benefits of REMS for
DoD facilities
- Better relationships with community stakeholders
- Targets controversial relationships (i.e. sprawl)
through community outreach strategies - Enhanced mission readiness
- Greater operational control and preparedness
(i.e. policy, permitting) - Improved security
- Enhanced control of environmental security
threats (i.e. water, wastewater) - Prepared for BRAC
- Reduces risk at properties, increasing viability
and use - DSCR's environmental impacts clearly extend
beyond the fenceline of the installation. As
such, our efforts to address those impacts should
do the same. - -RDML Michael J. Lyden, SC, USN
- Former Commander of DSCR
13The Solution V-REMS
- V-REMS take EMS framework one step further
- V-REMS engage EMSs of public and private
organizations with 3-part strategy that addresses
stakeholder concerns