ESI Rising Steward Level

Partner Rising Steward Steward

Criteria

To become a Rising Environmental Steward, an organization must meet the following criteria:

Not be under any environmental criminal indictment or conviction. DENR's Internal Workgroup reviews and retains the right to reject an applicant following a compliance review. Applicants will submit information on any environmental violations or reportable non-compliance for review on a case-by-case basis by the Advisory Workgroup and DENR's Internal Workgroup. The Advisory Workgroup will use the program's significant violations definition as a guideline.
Demonstrate commitment to meet and go beyond compliance.
Set site-specific measurable environmental performance goals that must be adopted into the framework of the environmental management system, include pollution prevention or process efficiency improvement activities and demonstrate a commitment to go beyond compliance. Goals should demonstrate annual improvements to performance, be appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impact of the organization and result in reductions of an organization’s environmental impact.
Demonstrate a mature EMS based on ISO 14001 or a functionally equivalent model. The EMS for the site must be ISO 14001 third-party certified or be reviewed on site by DENR staff.
Agree to report annually on progress toward the organization’s environmental performance goals, reductions in environmental emissions or discharges of releases, solid and hazardous waste disposal, use of energy and water and any reportable non-compliance events.

DENR's Division of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance will assist small businesses and local government agencies with program application development.

Rising Environmental Stewards will be eligible for the following:

Technical assistance on maintaining and improving an EMS, pollution prevention approaches, environmental management and treatment technologies, and maintaining compliance with local, state and federal regulations;
Assistance on reaching Steward level criteria and developing Steward application;
Specialized training;
Networking opportunities;
Access to Environmental Steward mentors;
Recognition of program participation and presentation of award by DENR Secretary;
Coverage by U.S. EPA and DENR self-reporting policies;
Single point of contact within DENR; and
Other benefits as deemed appropriate by the Secretary based on recommendations from the Advisory Workgroup.