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.

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 current 2019-2021 Strategic Plan 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.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, and national origin. Specifically, 42 USC 2000d states that “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 

Specifically, Title VI:

• Prohibits entities from denying a protected individual any service, financial aid or other benefit under the covered programs and activities.
• Prohibits entities from providing services or benefits to some individuals that are different from, or inferior (in either quantity or quality) to, those benefits provided to others.
• Prohibits segregation or separate treatment, in any manner related to receiving program benefits or services.
• Prohibits entities from imposing different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.
• Encourages the participation of minorities as members of planning or advisory bodies for programs receiving federal funds.
• Prohibits discriminatory activity in a facility built in whole or part with federal funds.
• Requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of potential beneficiaries have limited English-speaking ability.
• Requires entities to notify the entire eligible population about programs.
• Prohibits locating facilities in a way that would limit or impede access to a federally funded service or benefit.
• Requires assurance of nondiscrimination in the purchasing of services.

The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 defined the word “program” to make clear that discrimination is prohibited throughout an entire agency if any part of the agency receives federal financial assistance, rather than just the particular programs or activities that receive the funds.

DEQ’s Title VI Program Overview

It is the policy of DEQ to ensure no discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs and activities. 

DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in, or oppose, actions protected/prohibited by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

External Inquiries and Complaints of Discrimination

The Title VI Coordinator is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-Discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws).

If you have any questions about any of DEQ’s external non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

Title VI Coordinator
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218

(804) 698-4000 (phone)
(800) 592-5482 (toll-free)

Filing an External Complaint of Discrimination

Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, has the right to file a complaint of discrimination under Title VI and related statutes and authorities.  If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a DEQ program or activity, you may contact the Title VI Coordinator and use the information below to file a complaint of discrimination.

Complaints must be filed in writing and filed no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination, and should include:

• The complainant‘s name, address, and telephone number
• The name and address of the individual, agency, institution, or department you believe discriminated against you
• How, why and when you believe you were discriminated against. Provide detailed information about the alleged act(s) of discrimination, and any other relevant information.

Complainants shall explain, as fully as possible, the facts and circumstances surrounding the claimed discrimination, and identify the individual(s) and/or organization(s) responsible for the alleged discrimination.

In cases where the complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, the complainant will be assisted in converting a verbal complaint into a written complaint. The complainant, however, must sign the complaint.

Signed allegations of discrimination received by mail or fax will be acknowledged and processed. Complaints received by telephone will be reduced to writing then provided to the complainant for confirmation, revision, and signature before processing.

To submit the complaint, please follow the above instructions and forward your complaint to the Title VI Coordinator either via mail or fax. 

DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights. [Insert name and title of non-discrimination coordinator] is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws). If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: 

Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218

(804) 698-4000 (phone)
(800) 592-5482 (toll-free)

Melanie.Davenport@DEQ.Virginia.gov

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a DEQ program or activity, you may contact the Title VI Coordinator identified above or visit our website at get-involved/about-us to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.

DEQ has implemented an Environmental Management System based on the ISO 14001 standard. This policy forms the basis upon which DEQ sets its goals and targets to maintain and potentially improve its environmental performance.