Orange County NC Website
Commission for the Environment Movember 7, 2016 DRA,,FT <br />• Worked with Orange County Schools to introduce local environmental indicators/ <br />status and trends into middle and high school science curriculum (2004, 2009, 2014) <br />• Hosted a Solid Waste Forum with the Chapel Hill Sustainability Committee (2013) <br />• Co- sponsored the annual The Nature of Orange photography contest (2012 - 201 „3) <br />• Advocated for' /2 cent sales tax referendum for Triangle Region public transit (2012) <br />• Compiled annotated bibliography of the effects of forestry on water quality (2012) <br />• Developed sustainable landscaping and forest management policies for the <br />administration of County -owned facilities (2010) <br />• Assisted County staff in completing the Natural and Cultural Systems Element of the <br />Orange County Comprehensive Plan (2008) <br />List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually. <br />• Liaisons to Intergovernmental Parks Work Group and Orange Unified Transp. Board <br />• Review and comment on environmental issues (e.g., fracking, biosolids application, <br />water pollution, air quality, forest mgmt.) and other issues assigned by the BOCC <br />• Identify priorities for the Lands Legacy Action Plan (natural areas and wildlife habitat) <br />• Conduct special studies pertaining to Orange County environment (e.g., energy <br />efficiency /sustainability, forestry effects on water quality, herbicides and native flora) <br />.. ............c. r................... .... J a .... ,,..............:'........ :a :................ .� a. .:....6 a : :i .:'. .rrr....... a.... I 's <br />2 Il....�c�lcll a �.Fcuinuinu�iwcw�n,.� cup uuinllllw�ww�n�m�ucw�n c� qucu.su� iw ,.�iu.su,.� c� �Il�c `I00�.�,.� <br />• Conduct environmental education outreach :..F .F (e.g., Last Friday, Earth <br />Evening) <br />Describe this commission's activities /accomplishments in carrying out BOCC <br />goals /priorities, if applicable. <br />BOCC Goal Five: Create, preserve, and protect a natural environment that <br />includes clean water, clean air, wildlife, important natural lands and sustainable <br />energy for present and future generations. <br />Presented findings and recommendations to BOCC on selected environmental <br />issues: effects of forest mgmt. on water quality; effects of herbicides on roadside <br />native plant habitat; potential effects of hydraulic fracturing ( "fracking ") in Orange <br />County; problems caused by hydrilla in the Eno River (BOCC Priorities #1 and #12) <br />Stayed abreast of ongoing and developing env. issues of importance to the County, <br />such as Falls & Jordan Lake nutrient mgmt. rules, reducing commercial food waste in <br />solid waste stream, and permitting of biosolids on farmland (Priorities #12 and #16) <br />Provides comments on proposed master plans for future parks /preserves <br />If your commission played the role of an Element Lead Advisory Board involved in the <br />2030 Comprehensive Plan preparation process, please indicate your activities/ <br />accomplishments as they may relate to the Comprehensive Plan's goals or objectives. <br />(Element Lead Advisory Boards include: Planning Board, Commission for the Environment, <br />Historic Preservation Commission, Agriculture Pres. Board, and Parks & Recreation Council) <br />The CFE provided extensive input into DEAPR staff development of the Natural and <br />Cultural Systems Element of the Comprehensive Plan— specifically the chapters on Air <br />and Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat. <br />Objective AE -1: <br />Assess and implement the current countywide greenhouse gas emissions inventory and <br />action plan target reductions. <br />