Partner
Rising Steward
Steward
Criteria
To
become an Environmental Steward, the applicant must for each
site 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 aggressive 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.
-
Agree
to be a mentor to Environmental Partner and Rising
Environmental Steward participants.
-
Have
a process for communication with the local community on
program activities and progress toward performance goals.
-
Demonstrate
how the EMS is
integrated into core business functions.
Benefits
Environmental Stewards will be eligible for all benefits
available to Partners and Rising
Stewards in addition to the following:
-
Formal public recognition from the governor and the
Secretary of DENR that may include use of a program logo,
an award ceremony, public announcements and press
releases.
-
Participation in the Environmental Stewardship Forum
chaired by the Secretary and including key department
policy makers.
-
Priority membership on the Advisory
Workgroup.
-
Established time frames for permit decisions. This does
not change existing public comment opportunities.
-
Consideration for regulatory innovations as discussed
below.
-
Other benefits as deemed appropriate by the
Secretary
based on recommendations from the Advisory Workgroup.
Environmental Stewards who have been in the program for at
least one year can seek support from DENR to implement
regulatory innovations that follow principles outlined in the Joint
EPA/State Agreement to Pursue Regulatory Innovation.
Participants requesting approval of regulatory innovations may
be required to have applicable permits in place. The
department will work with stakeholders, the applicant and
appropriate commissions to establish specific regulatory
innovations requested by the applicant appropriate to the
magnitude of environmental performance goals. DENR will
provide assistance in seeking EPA support for regulatory
innovations of delegated state or federally administered
programs.
Members
Apply to the ESI program!
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