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7 <br /> Attachment E <br /> COUNTY OF ORANGE <br /> DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, <br /> PARKS AND RECREATION <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> To: Board of County Commissioners <br /> Michael Talbert, Interim County Manager <br /> From: David Stancil, DEAPR Director <br /> Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager <br /> Date: April 8, 2014 <br /> Subject: State of the Environment 2014 and Environmental Summit <br /> The Orange County Commission for the Environment is working on its State of the <br /> Environment report—a report that that began in 2000 and has been updated every <br /> two or four years since then (2002, 2004, and 2009). <br /> The report is prepared by the Commission for the Environment and DEAPR staff, but this <br /> time we also received help from a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill—Malcolm <br /> Munkittrick—who worked with DEAPR in the summer of 2013 as a Research Associate. <br /> The State of the Environment report uses a template of around 22 measurable <br /> "indicators"of the current status of air quality, water quality, and other environmental <br /> conditions within Orange County. The indicators help reveal trends that can alert us to <br /> potential impacts on human health and suggest areas where additional information, <br /> research, and monitoring are needed. Finally, the report identifies critical issues and <br /> makes recommendations for future County actions to help address certain issues. <br /> The following are some changes to the 2014 report from the 2009 document: <br /> • Includes new indicators of surface water quality <br /> • Highlights innovative measures employed by Orange County to conserve energy <br /> resources and promote the conservation of energy <br /> • Includes a section on"fracking"as an "emerging issue" <br /> • Links recommendations to 2030 Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives <br /> • Provides a greater emphasis on citizen education and participation <br /> The SOE report will be completed in time for its presentation at an Environmental <br /> Summit planned for May 31 at the Maple View Agricultural Environmental <br /> Center. The CFE has invited Dr. Norman Christensen (Duke University) to be keynote <br /> speaker, along with a panel of speakers on topics that will be highlighted in the report. <br /> Attachments <br /> Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br /> PO Box 8981/306-A Revere Road <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> (919) 245-2510 <br />