Larimer County, CO Environmental Responsibility Policy
Type: Policy
Status: Last revised on 7/16/02
Source File: http://www.co.larimer.co.us/policies/envirnresp.pdf
Text:
BCC P#8B
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
PURPOSE: To ensure that environmental quality is considered and examined as a basic component in County decision making and that Larimer County activities and decisions have as little negative impact on the environment as possible.
POLICY:
I. The quality of our natural environment is an integral part of our quality of life. The elected officials and professional staff of Larimer County take their environmental stewardship responsibility seriously, and will make every effort practicable to minimize the environmental impact of our activities. Larimer County will make every effort to protect the environmental integrity of the County's natural resources by developing policy to address these 12 environmental issues:
- Property Rights
- Wildlife Habitats and Migration Corridors
- Threatened and endangered species.
- Unique vegetation and critical plant communities
- Wetlands/riparian/waterways
- Aquatic/water quality
- Hydrology/Groundwater
- Unique Geological features
- Agriculture
- Viewsheds
- Air Quality
- Cultural and Traditional use features
II. OBJECTIVES: As part of this stewardship goal, Larimer County holds the following objectives for our actions, programs and services:
A. PROTECTION OF THE BIOSPHERE: Strive to eliminate the release of any pollutant at levels that may cause environmental damage to the air, water or earth or its inhabitants.
B. SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES: Make sustainable use of renewable natural resources, and optimize the application of conservation techniques to lessen the impact of utilizing non-renewable natural resources.
C. REDUCTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE: Minimize the creation of waste, including hazardous waste, and wherever feasible, reuse or recycle materials.
D. WISE USE OF ENERGY: Use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources whenever feasible. Reduce energy use through conservation, increases in efficiency, and implementation of alternative work options, such as telecommuting and transportation demand management programs.
E. RISK REDUCTION: Minimize environmental, health and safety risks to employees and communities by using safe technologies and operating procedures and by being constantly and thoroughly prepared for emergencies.
F. PROVIDING SAFE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: Provide products or services that minimize adverse environmental impacts and that ensure the safety of citizens.
G. ASSESSMENT: Assess and audit progress in implementing these principles and complying with applicable laws and regulations.
H. BALANCE: Consider environmental quality as equally important as economic growth to the health of the community, and property rights and strive for a balance of the three. Economic considerations alone will not dictate feasibility of achieving County objectives.
I. ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION: In the event of an incident or accident, which causes or has potential to cause significant adverse impacts to the environment, on our own initiative, we will consider that full compliance with the law to be the minimally acceptable standard. We will exercise whatever control is reasonable and necessary to address harm to public health and the environment and on our own initiative, we will take further steps based on our proper sense of responsibility.
(Adapted from the Valdez Principles, Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics.)