Arizona Laws 49-192.01. Voluntary environmental stewardship program; minimum qualifications
A. The director shall develop, implement and administer a voluntary environmental stewardship program. The voluntary environmental stewardship program shall provide recognition for those organizations with a history of preventing environmental law violations and incentives for organizations going above and beyond environmental law requirements. The program shall include tiers commensurate and appropriate to the environmental impacts of an organization‘s facilities, activities, products or services, and be based on an organization’s level of commitment to the program.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 49-192.01
- Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Director: means the director of environmental quality who is also the director of the department. See Arizona Laws 49-101
- Environmental laws: means this title and any rules, permits and orders that are adopted or issued pursuant to this title. See Arizona Laws 49-192
- Environmental management system: means a set of documented processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency by continuously improving its environmental performance. See Arizona Laws 49-192
- Environmental performance: means the effect of a facility or activity on air, water, land, natural resources or human health and the generation of waste by a facility or activity. See Arizona Laws 49-192
- Organization: means a company, corporation, political subdivision, firm, enterprise or institution, or any part or combination, whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration. See Arizona Laws 49-192
B. The director may adopt rules to implement this article.
C. Participation in the voluntary environmental stewardship program by any organization is voluntary. The department shall approve an organization’s membership in the program and shall review the organization’s membership at least once every three years. Membership shall be based on the organization’s commitment to:
1. Sustained compliance with environmental laws and history of compliance with environmental laws.
2. Develop, implement and maintain an environmental management system.
3. Going above and beyond the requirements of environmental laws.
4. Pollution prevention and improving its environmental performance.
5. Reporting to the department on its environmental performance annually.
D. Notwithstanding any other law, membership in the voluntary environmental stewardship program does not constitute a license under Title 41, Chapter 6, and the denial or approval of membership does not constitute an appealable action or an action against the party under Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10.