State Innovation Grant Program: Virginia
Infrastructure and Capacity Building for Improved Incentive Development and
Delivery for Performance-Based Programs (2006 Competition)
led by state environmental agencies to test innovative approaches for
achieving better environmental results and improved efficiency in permitting
programs. Between 2002 and 2007, the State Innovation Grant program
competition awarded over six million dollars to support 35 state projects that
test permitting innovation for a variety of regulated entities including several
small business sectors. Asummary of the awards by year appears in the table
below.
State Innovation Grant Program Statistics, 2002-2007
Competition Proposals Proposals Total Program
Year Submitted Selected Funding ($)
2002/2003
$618,000
$1.425 Million
$1.479 Million
Cumulative
$1.243 Million
$1.611 Million
$6.376 Million
"Innovation in Permitting" has been the theme of the State Innovation Grant
competition since its inception. In the last three competition cycles states
received awards for projects in the following three categories:
• The Environmental Results Program (ERP) is an innovative
approach to improving environmental performance based on a system
of the interlocking tools of compliance assistance, self-certification
(sometimes, where permissible, in lieu of permitting), and
statistically-based measurement to gauge the performance of an entire
business sector. The program utilizes a multimedia approach to
encourage small sources to achieve environmental compliance and
pollution prevention. (See: http://www.epa.gov/permits/erp/)
• Environmental Management System (EMS) is a system involving a
continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the
processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its
business and environmental goals. EMSs provide organizations of all
types with a structured system and approach for managing environmental
and regulatory responsibilities to improve overall environmental
performance and stewardship. (See: www.epa.gov/ems/info/index.htm)
• Performance Track is a partnership that recognizes top
environmental performance among participating US facilities of all types,
sizes, and complexity, both public and private.
(See: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/)
NCEI has provided awards also for projects testing watershed-based permitting,
and for permit process streamlining in past competitions. For more information
on the history of the programs, including information on solicitations, state
proposals, and project awards, please see the EPA State Innovation Grants
te at httD://www.eDa.aov/innovation/statearar
Project Background:
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
(VADEQ) seeks to better integrate the Virginia
Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP), a voluntary
recognition and incentive program for facilities of all types,
with EPA's National Environmental Performance Track
Program (Performance Track). VADEQ launched VEEP
in 2000 with three primary requirements for participation
by a facility: 1) the development and adoption of an
Environmental Management System (EMS); 2) a record
of sustained compliance with environmental requirements;
and, 3) a commitment to implement "beyond compliance"
pollution prevention activities.
Beyond these requirements there are three levels of
participation in VEEP: Environmental Enterprise (E2), for
partners in the early stages of developing an EMS;
Exemplary Environmental Enterprise (E3), for partners
with successful development of an EMS; and,
Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise (E4), for facilities
with an EMS that has been audited by an independent
third-party and been in place for a full cycle. Facilities
accepted into Performance Track are automatically
considered VEEP E4 facilities.
Project Description
VADEQ is building capacity among die core regulatory
programs within VADEQ to better integrate VEEP and
EPA's Performance Track in terms of policies, procedures
and the delivery of incentives. These incentives have also
been distributed through EPA's Performance Track
program. VADEQ believes the ultimate result of this
integration will be an overall improvement in environmental
quality within the State and a significant step towards a
long-term goal of sustainability. The project will provide
opportunities forpublic involvement and stakeholder input,
including non-governmental organizations. The systems
approach and lessons learned from this project are expected
to be readily transferable to other states and to EPA with
only minor alterations to address organization-specific
needs. The anticipated result represents a comprehensive
and strategic approach to integrating the concepts and day-
to-day operations of a voluntary performance-based
program within a state environmental agency.
NCEI
NATIONAL CENTER FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION
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VADEQ received die project in 2006. The project is expected
take three years to complete.
Connection to EPA's Goals
Because of its multimedia focus on recognizing and rewarding
beyond compliance environmental results at all types of
facilities, this project will directly align with EPA's Strategic
Goal (Goal 5). It will also indirectly support EPA's Goals
(Goals 1-4) through the environmental improvements
resulting from increased participation in VEEP and PT and
the increased implementation of incentives.
Project Contacts:
For more information on the Virginia State Innovation
Grant, please contact one of the individuals below:
Sharon K. Baxter
Pollution Prevention Director
Office of Pollution Prevention
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
629 E. Main Street
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Office: (804) 698-4344; FAX: (804) 698-4533
skbaxter@deq. virginia.gov
Marie Holman
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency — Region 3
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Office: (215) 814-5463 FAX:
Holmaii.Marie@epa.gov
Scott Fontenot
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460; MC (1807T)
(202) 566-2236; FAX (202) 566-2212
Foiitenot.Scott@epa.gov
Program Contact:
Sherri Walker
State Innovation Grant Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460 (MC1807T)
(202)-566-2186; FAX (202) 566-2220
watker.shem@epa.gov
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Policy,
Economics and Innovation
(1807T)
November 2007
EPA-100-F-07-046
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