Richmond Organizes Voluntary Environmental Protection Program

by Richmond (CA) Mayor Rosemary M. Corbin
February 22, 1999

My community, Richmond, California, has one of the nation's more prominent brownfield redevelopment programs, but there is an aspect of this program that most people don't know about. I have been looking at how land within the city came to be contaminated in the first place, and how the City can prevent a repeat of past mistakes.

One way that I have sought to prevent future brownfields is through the Bay Area Green Business Recognition Program, BAGBP, which I chair. In this position I oversee the development and implementation of the program in 5 of the 9 Bay Area Counties. The BAGBP is a unique, voluntary environmental protection program that assists small businesses to attain full environmental compliance and implement cost effective pollution prevention, (P2), strategies. These P2 efforts, such as eliminating the use of cleaners containing chlorinated solvents, or substituting hazardous materials with non-hazardous ones, help stop pollution from occurring. By eliminating pollution-generating practices, many businesses could get out of the regulatory system altogether, and may save money in the process.

Power of the Positive
Much of the environmental information that cities and counties deal with is negative. Such indicators as pollution levels, contaminated wells and leaking landfills make headlines, but positive information is also needed. Finding out which businesses are in full compliance is harder than one would imagine.

The program that I oversee tackles that question directly by using a "Common Sense Compliance" (CSC) model to help the regulatory agencies work cooperatively to identify, assist, and recognize businesses that are "doing it right". The simple act of organizing this available environmental information provides innovation, communication, and cooperation between departments and agencies that are used to working in isolation.

New Perspective
This approach gives participating cities a new perspective with which to view both the targeted industry sectors and city operations. Businesses and government agencies are committed to working together in a new partnership that recognizes the proactive efforts made by everyone to protect and enhance the environmental quality of the entire community. Assistance is offered by the regulatory agencies to help businesses come into compliance.

Businesses that fulfill the standards of the program are recognized in a public ceremony and presented with a certificate and logo to display. Public awareness programs are then employed to make local citizens aware of the logo and the businesses that are "good neighbors" in their communities, so that they may patronize them.

P2 Everyday
I hope that better waste handling will prevent future brownfields. Many brownfields are a result of a lack of regulatory oversight and unwillingness of companies to implement P2 strategies. Poor plant operations, illegal dumping of hazardous waste and inefficient use of materials are all contributing factors to a legacy of contaminated sites.

The model that we are employing helps address these issues in several ways: by providing the inspectors with the P2 information they need; by assisting them to identify businesses and government facilities most receptive to receiving information; by teaching businesses preventative techniques; by providing a public recognition element that identifies those who are implementing P2 measures; and by encouraging the public to patronize "green businesses". Pollution Prevention becomes incorporated into the everyday work of inspectors and businesses.

Getting Together
Richmond is just one of the more than 10 cities in Contra Costa County that are participating in the program. Once a month, inspectors meet to update each other about ongoing program implementation in their communities. It is through these meetings that other positive things are happening: joint inspections are being conducted, cross-trainings are taking place, regulatory information is shared, conflicting regulatory issues are resolved, single brochures are produced jointly, and resources, both intellectual and material, are being leveraged.

Green Government Benefits
Having a forum for inspectors to discuss what is working in environmental protection and to organize their information with a positive perspective also helps elected officials see where they can begin applying the program standards to other government operations. In Richmond, the auto repair facility that services the City's vehicles will be one of the first recognized Green Businesses. This has helped me to consider other ways of "greening" the City government, such as proposing a "green" procurement policy.

Each government facility and business that is brought into full compliance and assisted with pollution prevention will contribute to the health and safety of the entire community. And, with the recognition of these proactive "neighbors" by the general public, the seeds of sustainability will have fertile fields in which to grow, instead of brown ones.

For more information on the CSC models contact Kim Peterson, Co-Director of the Joint Center at (202) 861-6784, or Mayor Rosemary Corbin at (510) 620-6503.