Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov
Nov. 21, 2007
Environmental Quality Advisory Council Presents Annual Report
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors received the Environmental Quality Advisory Council’s (EQAC) annual report at the board’s Nov. 19 meeting. The “Annual Report on the Environment 2007” provides an overview of environmental conditions and programs in the county and provides recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in a variety of environmental areas.
In presenting the report, EQAC Chairman Stella Koch noted that a new chapter had been added this year to address the county’s efforts related to global climate change, and she commended the county for taking a leadership role in this effort. Koch encouraged the board to maintain its support and funding for the county’s environmental efforts, which she said continue to improve and advance each year.
“Protecting and enhancing our precious natural resources is among the highest of our priorities,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. “Fairfax County is proud to be one of the leaders of the national Cool Counties initiative, which was launched in July in partnership with the Sierra Club to reduce local government emissions by 80 percent by 2050. In the past year, the board has committed to launching a 30-year tree planting campaign, purchasing more wind power and expanding our use of green building practices.”
Since 2003, the board has implemented more than $6 million worth of
projects and programs to address air quality and global climate
change.
In 2004, the board adopted a comprehensive 20-year environmental agenda,
“Environmental Excellence for Fairfax County.” In 2005, the board
dedicated one penny on the real estate tax rate for stormwater management
projects. In the past two years, this dedicated penny has amounted to
more than $40 million for improving the county’s stormwater programs. In
September, the board accepted an agreement to rehabilitate Pohick Creek
Dam Number 4, which will be partially funded from this one penny
fund.
Fairfax County also won a 2006 National Association of Counties
Achievement Award for both the environmental agenda and the related
“Environmental Improvement Program.” These efforts are designed to
integrate and link environmental goals and objectives into all levels of
county decision-making and to provide a strategic approach to
prioritizing environmental actions for implementation.
EQAC’s annual report serves a threefold purpose:
- Assisting the Board of Supervisors in evaluating ongoing environmental programs and providing the basis for proposing new programs.
- Aiding public agencies in coordinating programs to jointly address environmental issues.
- Informing residents and others who are concerned with environmental issues in Fairfax County.
In addition to the new chapter addressing the county’s efforts related to global climate change, the report covers land use and transportation; air quality; water resources; solid waste; hazardous materials; ecological resources; wildlife management; and noise, light and visual pollution.
EQAC’s 2007 report is available at the Maps and Publications Sales Office in Suite 156 of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The report will soon be available for review at all county public libraries and also will be posted on EQAC’s Web page, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eqac. For more information about EQAC, visit the EQAC Web page, call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-324-1380, TTY 711, or send an e-mail to eqac@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- The documents “Environmental Excellence for Fairfax County” and “Environmental Improvement Program” can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/eip.
- Information on the Cool Counties initiative is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/coolcounties.
- Information on the 30-Year Tree Canopy Goal is at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/trees.htm.
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