To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Matt Benak, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Lauren Tyner, Water Resources Program Analyst
Title
Update: Gold Leader Application for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Environmental Leadership Program
Body
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Executive Summary
The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a voluntary program through the State of Colorado that recognizes entities that exceed the both the state and the federal requirements for environmental regulations and make steps towards the goal of sustainability. Castle Rock Water’s ultimate goal is to continue making positive strides towards sustainability and environmental stewardship in order to attain the top tier of Gold Leader status within the program.
In August of 2014, Castle Rock Water received the Bronze Environmental Achievement Award, the entry-level tier to the program. Continued improvements in water quality, water conservation, energy-use reductions, and environmental education allowed Castle Rock Water to receive the Silver Award for the Environmental Leadership Program in 2015, 2016 and 2017. As a Silver Partner, the requirements are to commit to develop and implement an environmental management system (EMS) within a three-year timeframe of achieving silver status and to subsequently apply for the Gold level.
After two years as a Silver Partner and with goals to achieve the Gold Leader status within the program, Castle Rock Water developed an Environmental Policy Statement in 2016. This statement documents the Department’s commitment to environmental excellence, continual improvement, pollution prevention, compliance with applicable environmental regulations, as well as acknowledging the importance of communication with employees and the public. With the Environmental Policy Statement in place, Castle Rock Water then embarked on the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System, which we have recently completed.
Castle Rock Water’s EMS is a tool for managing operations and the environmental aspects associated with them. The current EMS identifies five goals for Castle Rock Water:
• Reduce the Town’s dependence on non-renewable water sources;
• Reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) per year;
• Reduce overall water demand;
• Optimize the existing recycling program;
• Reduce overall electrical energy consumption.
For each goal identified, there are targets to track and record progress. The EMS utilizes a plan-do-check-act approach to achieve goals and assist in continual improvement for operations, safety, efficiency, and environmental protection. As both internal and external audits of the EMS have taken place this month, Castle Rock Water has completed the requirements necessary to apply for Gold Leader.
The EMS is included as Attachment A.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
Staff announced that Castle Rock Water had achieved the Environmental Leadership Program Silver Award to the Castle Rock Water Commission on August 26, 2015.
Staff presented the Environmental Policy Statement to the Castle Rock Water Commission on April 13, 2016. Castle Rock Water Commission unanimously recommended that Council approve the agreement.
On April 19, 2016, Town Council approved Resolution 2016-038: Execution of the Environmental Policy Statement for Castle Rock Water.
Staff announced that Castle Rock Water has achieved the Environmental Leadership Program Silver Award for the third year in a row to the Castle Rock Water Commission on October 25, 2017. The award ceremony took place at the 19th Annual ELP Awards breakfast on October 4, 2017.
On May 23, 2018 the Castle Rock Water Commission unanimously endorsed staff to proceed with the ELP Gold application.
Budget Impact
Becoming an ELP Gold Leader will not have an impact to Castle Rock Water’s budget; however, positive economic benefits may be realized through the implementation of the EMS.
Staff Recommendation
Staff and Castle Rock Water Commission recommend that the application for ELP Gold Leader be submitted to CDPHE by the June 30, 2018 deadline.
Attachments
Attachment A: Plan