Virginias Regional Environmental Management System

1
Virginias Regional EnvironmentalManagement
System

• V-REMS Briefing for the Environmental Protection
  Agency
• June 13, 2006

2
What 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

3

V-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
4
Why was V-REMS developed?

• Promote trust and support to solve individual and
  regional environmental issues
• Create partnering to address regional
  environmental issues
• Improve information exchange and environmental
  best practices sharing
• Provides stakeholders with needed tools to
  address individual and regional environmental,
  social, and economic issues
• Tool designed to anticipate community challenges
  and promote proactive programs

5
REPRESENTATIVE V-REMS PARTICIPANTS
DoD and Federal Facilities
Cities and Counties
Private Companies
Regulatory Agencies
6
Support for V-REMS from VA DEQ

• V-REMS supports state priorities
• Active participation in V-REMS by DEQs air and
  environmental enhancement offices
• V-REMS opens avenues for cooperation between DoD
  and DEQ
• ECOS-DOD Compatible Use and Sustainability Task
  Group recognizes V-REMS as successful and
  replicable model

7
How 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

8
Examples 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 pursuing E85 fueling station options in
  Richmond area
• Hold sub-group call to discuss EMS challenges and
  solutions

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Examples 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
• National participants in EPAs Performance Track
• 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
• National and State program recognition for many
  partners

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Keys 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

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V-REMSA Successful Model

• Replicable
• Can be championed by public and private
  organizations
• Has shown quantifiable performance improvement
• Operationalizes sustainability
• Contact with questions
• Jimmy Parrish (DSCR) Jimmy.Parrish_at_dla.mil
• Steve Wassersug (GETF) swassersug_at_getf.org