Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Program Drives Performance
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Jefferson Lab was recently notified by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that it is recognized as an Exemplary Environmental Enterprise (E3) facility. This designation recognizes facilities with “with a fully implemented environmental management system and pollution prevention program as well as demonstrated performance.”
There are three levels to the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program, Environmental Enterprise, E2, Exemplary Environmental Enterprise, E3, and the Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise, E4. The E3 level of participation is for facilities with fully-implemented Environmental Management Systems, pollution prevention programs and demonstrated environmental performance. However, the E3 designation is more than an award, there are benefits to the designation. Depending on a facility’s level of participation (E2, E3 or E4), certain regulatory incentives may be available, including lowered fees for solid waste management, hazardous waste management and water.
Jefferson Lab has been participating in the VEEP program for over 10 years. “Jefferson Lab's Environmental Management System is strongly aligned with VEEP goals, seeking to fully understand our activities' potential impact on the environment, to minimize the negative ones and maximize the positive,” says Bill Rainey, Jefferson Lab EH&S Department Manager, who worked on the application with Patty Hunt, Environmental Engineer from the DOE Site Office. In addition to the recognition and incentives that come with E3 status, the designation comes with a plaque for the Lab from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Contact: Deborah Dowd, dowd@jlab.org, 757-269-7180