The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is an advisory group appointed by the Board of Supervisors to provide advice on environmental matters. The Council is comprised of one member from each supervisor district, four at-large members, and one student representative. Each member is appointed to serve a three-year term except the student member who serves for either their junior or senior year of high school.
The EQAC charter details the purpose and principal activities of the council, which include the production of an annual report on the state of the physical environment in Fairfax County.
The council generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:15 PM. Meeting information is available via the dropdown menus below.
Listed below are the current members of the Environmental Quality Advisory Council. If you are interested in serving as a member of EQAC please contact your district supervisor's office to express your interest.
| At-Large | Stella Koch (Chair) |
| At-Large | George W. Lamb |
| At-Large | Renee Grebe |
| At-Large | Michael Zatz |
| Braddock | Bryan Campbell |
| Dranesville | Debra Jacobson |
| Hunter Mill | Kenneth Lanfear |
| Lee | Johna Gagnon |
| Mason | Richard J. Healy |
| Mt. Vernon | Larry Zaragoza (Vice Chair) |
| Providence | Alex Robbins |
| Springfield | Clyde Wilber |
| Sully | Rich Weisman |
| Student Member | Clare Sparling |
The 2020 meeting schedule for EQAC is as follows. As meeting information and materials become available they will be added to each meeting page. Minutes and presentation materials will be made available on individual meeting pages following each meeting. Materials from meetings prior to 2020 are available upon request. Please email EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov to request past meeting materials.
Each year, EQAC holds a public hearing to obtain input on issues of environmental concern. The public is also invited to attend any EQAC meeting and to submit correspondence for consideration by EQAC at any time. Summaries of past public hearings, including speaker and written testimony, is available upon request, only the most recent public hearing is detailed below. Materials may be submitted or requested via email (EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov).
January 8, 2020 - Annual Public Hearing
February 12, 2020
March 11, 2020
July 8, 2020
August 12, 2020
EQAC issues recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors via two mechanisms: the Annual Report on the Environment and resolutions or positions issued during EQAC meetings. Resolutions and positions for the current year and the immediate past year are provided below. Resolutions and positions from years prior are available upon request via email (EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov).
| February 2019 | EQAC Comments on LED Streetlight Conversion |
| March 2019 | EQAC Comments on Airport Noise Contours |
| April 2019 | EQAC Testimony on the FY2020 Fairfax County Budget |
| July 2019 | Green Building Policies for County Facilities |
| July 2019 | County Legislative Program, Environment Section |
| July 2019 | Living Shorelines Loan Program |
Each year, EQAC prepares an Annual Report on the Environment that summarizes environmental conditions, trends, programs, legislation and issues in Fairfax County and presents EQAC's recommendations to the Board on a variety of environmental topics and concerns. The report is prepared entirely by EQAC and reflects the Council's views.
The 2019 Annual Report is available here. Past reports are available upon request. Please email EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov to obtain digital versions of earlier reports.
Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:
- Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements
- Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
- Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others
The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination and the Department of Planning and Development.
The 2020 call for nominations is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. More information on the Environmental Excellence Awards is available here.
Each year, EQAC solicits applications from high school students who are interested in becoming a student member of EQAC. The application is open to all interested high school sophomores and juniors who are in good standing. Eligible public school, parochial, private school, and homeschooled students are encouraged to apply.
The current student representative, Clare Sparling, prepared a video with further information regarding EQAC and the student position. The deadline for the July 2020 - June 2021 term has passed and applications are no longer being accepted.
Past Member Testimonials
Former student members of EQAC have prepared testimonials regarding their service.
