Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

About Us Responsible for administering laws and regulations related to air quality, water quality, water supply, renewable energy and land protection, DEQ is the primary environmental permitting agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Through the work more than 800 employees at six regional offices across the state and the Central Office in Richmond, DEQ issues permits, conducts monitoring and inspections, and enforces the law. Virginia's abundant natural resources provide a rich environment for people, plants and wildlife, and benefit agriculture, industry, commerce and economic development. To ensure the continued vitality of these precious and valuable resources, DEQ carries out its mission to protect and improve the environment for the health, well-being and quality of life of all Virginians. Regulating pollution is complex. Pollution can travel long distances and affect residents in communities far from where the pollution was created. DEQ's programs cover a wide variety of other activities, such as assisting businesses and local government agencies to go "above and beyond" regulations, encouraging volunteer actions and offering technical and financial support for improvements to our air and water. Meeting Virginia's environmental challenges is a collective effort that involves communities, businesses, educators, government agencies and you. Every day, DEQ works to strengthen these relationships to underscore the important role everyone plays in protecting and enhancing our environment. Mission, Vision and Values DEQ's Mission is to protect and enhance the environment of Virginia in order to promote the health and well-being of the Commonwealth's citizens, residents, and visitors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. DEQ's Vision is that all Virginians enjoy cleaner water, better air quality and the productive reuse of land that was once contaminated. DEQ's Values can be summarized by these seven Cs: **Commitment:** We are committed to support our DEQ team members, and the mission and vision of the agency. **Collaboration:** We work together -- and with the community -- to accomplish our tasks. **Consistency:** We apply laws and regulations and provide public services uniformly throughout the Commonwealth. **Customer Service:** We evaluate and solve problems professionally, courteously and responsively with citizens, the regulated community and our colleagues. **Communication:** We provide clear, consistent, effective communications. **Certainty:** We provide clear, accurate, and timely information and evaluation. **Closure:** We follow through to resolve issues effectively and on time. Strategic Plan DEQ's strategic planning efforts establish agency priorities, focuses staff energy and resources, and ensures all outcomes continue to support the agency's mission. The [Strategic Plan](https://reports.dpb.virginia.gov/p510?AgencyCode=440) is focused on the core areas of program capability, communication, resources and employees. Program capability **Goal:** Achieve focused, more efficient programs to meet or exceed environmental standards. **Objective:** Proactive policies, comprehensive planning and effective program development **Strategies:** - Develop strategies to address emerging contaminants. - Develop and implement effective programs to mitigate climate change impacts and continue air quality improvements. - Conduct comprehensive planning for sustainable management of the commonwealth's water resources. - Strengthen stormwater management programs. - Continue progress on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan actions. - Lead the commonwealth's watershed impaired water improvement efforts. - Lead the commonwealth's greening of government efforts. - Ensure a responsive and efficient Pollution Response Program. - Implement the commonwealth's coal ash management strategy. **Objective: **Certain, consistent, appropriate and timely compliance, permits and enforcement **Strategies:** - Ensure and evaluate that formal enforcement actions appropriately address non-compliance and assess civil charges. - Ensure efficient, consistent, compliant, innovative and effective practices and processes. **Objective:** Focused monitoring and assessment **Strategies:** - Implement ambient water quality strategies. - Evaluate efficiency and sufficiency of air and water monitoring program. **Communication** **Goal:** Foster an informed and engaged public **Objective:** Collaborate with stakeholders and the public to solve environmental problems. **Strategies:** - Address problems proactively; continue to implement communications and public involvement best practices throughout agency operations. - Increase cooperation and partnerships with local governments and environmental stakeholders. - Create consistent support networks for program development and implementation. - Enhance public involvement by developing innovative tools that improve access to information. - Lead the commonwealth's coastal and ocean planning efforts. **Objective:** Support the commonwealth's resilience efforts by encouraging climate change adaptation through programmatic outreach and requirements. **Strategies:** Make climate change adaptation an explicit, expected outcome of appropriate agency programs and initiatives. **Resources** **Goal:** Achieve optimal use of current and new resources. **Objective:** Agency resources focused on priorities at full capacity. **Strategies:** - Strengthen a culture of strategic thinking and continuous improvement. - Secure and expand the on-line interactive capability and presence of the agency. - Effectively manage agency financial resources to support operations. **Employees** **Goal:** Sustain an outcome-oriented workforce and culture. **Objective:** Achieve a workforce that is prepared for the future. **Strategies:** - Support a "One DEQ" collaborative culture. - Attract, develop and retain skilled professionals to meet agency priorities. - Build a knowledge-retention and knowledge-sharing culture to support agency continuity. DEQ's Environmental Management System DEQ has implemented an Environmental Management System based on the ISO 14001 standard. This [policy](https://www.deq.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/16123/637985766789170000) forms the basis upon which DEQ sets its goals and targets to maintain and potentially improve its environmental performance.