CFE agenda 051115 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CFE Charge: to advise the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on matters affecting the environment, with particular emphasis on environmental protection and enhancement. Other duties include: * Perform special studies /projects on environmental issues as requested by BOCC * Recommend environmental initiatives to BOCC, especially of local importance * Study changes in environmental science and environmental regulations in the pursuit of the CFE's duties * Educate the public and local officials on environmental issues Activities the CFE expects to carry out in 2015: • Continue to update the Orange County State of the Environment 2014 report • Convene an Energy Task Force (or equivalent work group) to improve the County's ability to foster local sustainable energy production and energy efficiency strategies • Recommend ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint" and implement the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal • Help with public outreach and management efforts related to hydrilla in Eno River • Help initiate the development of a comprehensive conservation plan for Orange Co • Collaborate with NC Botanical Garden and others to identify significant roadside habitat for native plants; ask NCDOT and other utilities to protect those roadside habitats [authorized by BOCC June 2012] • Co- sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange) • Help plan for and participate in DEAPR's annual Earth Day event Concerns or emerging issues the CFE has identified for 2015: • The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food waste pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream • The CFE remains interested in developing incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new construction [January 2012 memo to Planning Board] • The CFE will strive to learn more about environmental justice matters and incorporate relevant information and considerations in the State of the Environment 2014 report • The CFE will follow closely the Solid Waste Advisory Group's discussions of how to improve the handling and disposal of Orange County's solid waste, and will advocate for better long- term solutions • The CFE will continue to advocate for increased efforts to gather information related to water resources in Orange County and will continue to increase public awareness and understanding of water supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to maintain or improve the quantity and quality of Orange County water supply resources • The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for Orange County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment report, which include potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non - native, plant and animal species; b) reductions in State -led collection of water resources data; c) potential drilling for natural gas in the Deep River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE support for e) the responsible deployment of clean and appropriately -sited renewable energy and reductions in energy use to help fight climate change