Environmental Policy Commission

What's New?

• Environmental Policy Commission to Hold Eco-City Alexandria Progress Meeting on June 5

  The City’s Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, June 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Virginia Tech Metropolitan Institute, located at 1021 Prince Street (3rd Floor Main Conference Room). The objective of this meeting is to reflect on the progress made during the last five years of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria initiative and outline a path forward to further environmental sustainability throughout the City.

  Speakers include Sir Robert Harvey, Chairman of the Auckland waterfront authority and former Mayor of the Eco-City Waitakere, New Zealand, and Professor Joe Schilling, Director of the Virginia Tech Metropolitan Institute in Alexandria. Sir Robert Harvey delivered the keynote speech for the Alexandria Eco-City Summit held at the T. C. Williams High School in May 2008. Professor Joe Schilling, a resident of Alexandria and faculty member of Virginia Tech, led a team of Virginia Tech professors and graduate students, in partnership with the EPC and the City, in the development of the Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan, which was adopted by the Alexandria City Council in 2008 and 2009.

  For more information about the EPC’s June 5 meeting, contact Khoa Tran, Transportation & Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Quality, at Khoadinh.tran@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.4076.

  The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Khoa Tran at 703.746.4076 or e-mail khoadinh.tran@alexandriava.gov 

• Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises Seek Nominees for the Fifth Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

  Award Honors Legacy of Distinguished Alexandria Environmental Steward 

  For Immediate Release: February 12, 2013

  The City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority) are seeking nominees for the fifth annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. The award honors and recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the natural environment and keeping the City “green.”

  The award will be presented during the Alexandria Earth Day 2013 celebration at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Dr.) on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A tree will also be planted in honor of the recipient of this year’s Award. The event will include numerous educational exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on activities for children, a tree sale and more to emphasize this year’s theme: Water: Every Drop Counts! 

  The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of Frances Ellen Pickering, a former Board member of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, who was dedicated to preservation and conservation in the City throughout her life. She helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington. Mrs. Pickering was committed to preserving and enhancing the City’s waterfront and urged the adoption of the City’s Open Space Plan, lobbying to preserve Founder’s Park and protect it from high-rise development. She also implemented the planting of 1,000 citizen-donated cherry trees during her tenure as Chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

  Mrs. Pickering served on a number of City boards and commissions, and was elected to City Council as an independent for one term between 1976 and 1979.

  Qualifications: Residents, groups, clubs, organizations or corporations may be nominated. To be eligible, nominees must live with the City of Alexandria, and corporations, organizations and other groups must operate within the City of Alexandria. The actions of the nominees must have a direct impact on protecting the natural environment and natural resources within the City of Alexandria.

  Selection: Selection will be made by a special committee composed of representatives from Alexandria Renew Enterprises, the Environmental Policy Commission, and members of Mrs. Pickering’s family.

  Applicable Topics: Subject matter applicable to the award criteria include natural resource preservation, energy conservation, education outreach regarding environmental sustainability, water preservation, water conservation, waste reduction and/or materials reuse/recycling, and promotion of clean air.

  Those making nominations may also refer to the Alexandria’s Eco-City Charter, adopted in 2008, and the Environmental Action Plan 2030, adopted in in 2009. Both documents define the guiding principles of environmental sustainability. Visit the Eco-City Alexandria page for more information.

  
  Nomination Requirements 

  Submissions must include the following:

  • The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if the nominee is not an individual.
  • The name, address, and telephone number of the person nominating the candidate must be included.
  • A brief description (not to exceed one page) of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.

  Nominations may be submitted in several ways:

  • Online Nominations: http://alexearthday.org/award.html 
  • Mailed or delivered to:

  The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
  Alexandria City Hall
  T&ES, Office of Environmental Quality
  301 King Street, Room 3000
  Alexandria, VA 22314

  Nominations must be received by March 22 (extended by one week). 

• City's Top Ten Environmental Achievements of 2012

  Accomplishments include the permanent closure of the GenOn power plant, highest-ever solid waste recycling rate of 48.4%,new hybrid trolleys and buses operated by DASH, launch of Capital Bikeshare’s eight bikeshare stations in Old Town, installation of solar photovoltaic panels at Beatley Library, Witter Fields and ARenew, continuing success of the Green Building Policy, sustainable construction practices at ARenew, development of 20 environmental indicators to measure Eco-City progress, construction of several bicycle and pedestrian trails and City’s receipt of the highest level of recognition (Platinum Level) by the Virginia Municipal League (VML) as part of its Green Government Challenge.

• Alexandria's Top Ten Environmental Achievements of 2012 

• Eco-City Alexandria's Major Accomplishments of 2012 

• City Recognizes Closure of GenOn Potomac River Generating Station
  For decades, the GenOn Potomac River Generating Station was one of the largest sources of air pollutants in Northern Virginia. The closure of this facility today was a culmination of outreach and civic engagement from residents and local officials for more than 10 years. Closing down this coal-fired power plant is consistent with the City’s Eco-City Alexandria’s Environmental Action Plan, which focuses on environmental sustainability and long-range environmental planning efforts. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/GenOn. 
• GenOn PRGS Retirement Date Confirmed
  On July 3, 2012, GenOn confirmed that the retirement date for the Potomac River Generating Station facility will be October 1, 2012. This date was agreed upon by the City and GenOn as part of the Amendment to Project Schedule and Agreement signed by both parties on August 29, 2011. For more details, click on the following link:
  
  http://www.genon.com/company/stations/potomac/potomac-river-closing-confirm.aspx
   

• The EPC Forum is now up and running. It is open to all residents of Alexandria and everyone is encouraged to start a discussion or report a fact on any environmental subject relevant to the city or of interest to the residents of the city. The EPC does reserve the right to moderate the forum but only if the debates get beyond the Commission's guidelines. The aim is for the forum to add to the richness of community life in Eco-City Alexandria. Click here to enter the forum and start a discussion.
   

• T&ES Office of Environmental Quality's Report on "2011 Eco-City Progress Report and Key Environmental Indicators" is Now Available
  
  Under the direction of and with strong commitment from the Mayor and Members of City Council, the City of Alexandria, in partnership with its Environmental Policy Commission (EPC), Virginia Tech and the community, embarked on a new initiative – Eco-City Alexandria – early in 2007 which culminated in the Council’s adoption of the Eco-City Charter, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth, in 2008, as well as the Environmental Action Plan 2030 (EAP) in 2009. Since then, the City and its residents have collectively completed numerous actions aimed at fostering the goals of the Eco-City. This report is the first attempt to quantitatively measure the progress that the residents and the City government have accomplished in leading Alexandria further towards environmental sustainability. These quantitative measures are in the form of 20 environmental indicators developed by the EPC in consultation with City staff.

Introduction

Established in 1970 by the Alexandria City Council under Chapter 4, Article M, of the City Code, the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) advises and makes recommendations to the City Council and, where appropriate, to the Planning Commission and City Manager, on matters relating to the following:

• Clean air
• Land use
• Noise pollution and abatement
• Pesticides, herbicides and contaminants
• Solid waste
• Water quality and supply
• Other matters referred to the EPC by the City and citizens
• Other topics relating to the conservation and protection of Alexandria’s environment

The EPC consists of 13 members, including five members from the field of environmental sciences, five citizen-at-large members, one member from the field of urban planning, one member representing the business community and one member with experience in Federal or state environmental statues, regulations, and procedures.  The Commission is supported by the City of Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), Office of Environmental Quality.

List of Members  

Scott Barstow (Vice-Chair, Citizen-at-Large)
Chinling Chen (Earth Day Committee Vice-Chair, Citizen)
Samuel Gaugush (Federal/ State Environmental Statutes)
Geoffrey Goode (Citizen-at-Large)
Patrick Holman (Citizen)
Rebecca Jablon (Secretary, Field of Environmental Sciences)
James Kapsis (Citizen Member)
Kurt Moser (Field of Environmental Sciences)
Josh Sawislak (Chair, Urban Planner)
Ryan Sloan (Citizen)
Monica Starnes (Citizen-at-Large)
Stephen Walz (Field of Environmental Sciences)
Ryan Wojtanowski (Business Representative)  

EPC Calendar for the Fiscal Year 2013 (July 2012 - June 2013)

The calendar lists all the official meetings and work sessions of the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) for the period July 2012 - June 2013 (i.e., FY2013). These meetings and work sessions are normally held at the City Hall located at 301 King Street, Alexandria at 7:30 p.m. unless noticed otherwise.

Upcoming Events

Previous & Next Events

Annual Reports

• Annual Report 2012 
• Annual Report 2011 
• Annual Report 2010 
• Annual Report 2009 
• Annual Report 2008 
• Annual Report 2007 
• Annual Report 2006 
• Annual Report 2003-2005 

Eco-City Alexandria 

Beginning in spring 2007, the City of Alexandria partnered with Virginia Tech’s Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) to design and facilitate a new, strategic collaborative planning process, called Eco-City Alexandria, to create an Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan to guide Alexandria toward sustainability.

For more information regarding Eco-City Alexandria please visit: alexandriava.gov/Eco-City or ecocity.ncr.vt.edu or email Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov 

EPC Forum

The EPC Forum is open to all residents of Alexandria and everyone is encouraged to start a discussion or report a fact on any environmental subject relevant to the city or of interest to the residents of the city. The EPC does reserve the right to moderate the forum but only if the debates get beyond the Commission's guidelines. The aim is for the forum to add to the richness of community life in Eco-City Alexandria. Click here to enter the forum and start a discussion. 

Additional Information 

• Eco-City Alexandria Background information & List of Relevant Websites on City's Plans, Programs and Policies
   
• Eco-City Charter - Alexandria's Vision to Progressing towards Sustainability 
• Environmental Action Plan 2030 - Specific Actions to Fulfill the Vision of the Eco-City Charter
• Virginia Tech Eco-City Web Site 
• Alexandria’s Climate Change Initiatives 

Stay informed with eNews! - Receive information about programs, special events, community meetings, current Eco-City Alexandria events, and more.  Subscribe to eNews category T&ES Environmental News. 

Contact Us 

For more information, please contact:

William Skrabak
Transportation & Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Quality
703.746.4065