The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) has added a public comment period to some in-person meetings. See below for instructions on how to participate and share your thoughts with EQAC during public comment periods.

How to Participate: 

First, check the meeting section of the EQAC webpage for the date on which you’d be interested in speaking to EQAC to see if a public comment period is being held.

You are encouraged to register to speak by:

• using the public comment sign up form
• emailing EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov or
• calling 703-324-7136, TTY 711.

Sign up to speak will open one week prior to the meeting date.

Alternatively, the public can sign up in-person at the beginning of the meeting. 

When signing up to speak, you must provide the topic on which you’d like to speak. You may only speak on matters relevant to EQAC’s mission (to advise or advocate on matters affecting the quality of the environment of Fairfax County). 

Each meeting only allows a maximum of five (5) speakers for public comment. Speaker lists are first come, first served. It is the EQAC Chair’s prerogative to let members of the public speak if more than five members of the public show up to speak. If you register to speak ahead of time and the date on which you’d like to speak is already full, staff will notify you.

Speaking Requirements:

• You may testify in-person, virtually or via pre-recorded video. The URL of the pre-recorded video must be sent to staff at EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Videos may be uploaded to Youtube, Vimeo, or Ustream. 
• If you would like to testify virtually, email EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov to receive the meeting link.
• You will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes to speak. 
• You may not yield your time to other speakers.
• Comments on matters such as items under litigation, personnel matters, and/or on comments regarding individuals will not be allowed.

Sharing Materials:

• Any materials (ex: written, images, videos, slides, etc.) that you would like to share with EQAC in advance of the meeting must be sent by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov, delivered to EQAC’s support staff, or received via mail.
• Staff reserves the right to screen materials. Any submissions containing profanity or other objectionable material will not be presented.

Engaging with EQAC Outside of Public Comment:

• Written comments are always accepted. Written comments can be mailed to EQAC at 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Suite 533, Fairfax, VA 22035 or emailed to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov.  
• Additionally, anyone urging EQAC to consider a matter is welcome to work through an EQAC member. Typically, residents work with their district EQAC representative or an at-large member. They can request to speak to an EQAC member by emailing EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov or calling 703-324-7136. Staff will forward any such request to applicable EQAC members. It is the EQAC’s member's decision whether to bring any matter to the council for consideration.