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Summary Application Process Members Time Line DENR's Environmental Stewardship Initiative is designed to promote and encourage superior environmental performance by North Carolinas regulated community. This voluntary program provides benefits and technical assistance to stimulate the development and implementation of programs that use pollution prevention and innovative approaches to meet and go beyond regulatory requirements. This program seeks to reduce the impact on the environment beyond measures required by any permit or rule, producing a better environment, conserving natural resources and resulting in long-term economic benefits. DENR uses a transparent process, which includes a wide range of stakeholders in the development and administration of this program. The ESI program has three levels of membership: Environmental Partner, Rising Environmental Steward and Environmental Steward. Each level has specific criteria and benefits which are described under What Level is Right for You?. Membership applications for the program are accepted year round for Partners and from March 1 to April 30 for Rising Stewards and Stewards. Members are accepted into ESI for a five-year period at which time they reapply for membership. Once accepted into the program, Partners are reviewed annually and Rising Stewards and Stewards are reviewed after three years to assess if facilities continue to meet overall program goals. All members are required to make a commitment to compliance; set environmental performance goals; develop, implement and maintain a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system based on ISO 14001 or an ESI Stewardship Plan; and report annually on progress toward the organization’s environmental performance goals. If a member facility does not comply with program requirements, the ESI has a termination policy, revoking all benefits granted under the program. Applications are reviewed and recommended for acceptance in ESI to DENR's Secretary. Figure 1 shows how applications are reviewed depending on the participation level.
Figure 1 ESI Application Process The DENR Internal Workgroup coordinates compliance reviews of all applications. The Internal Workgroup recommends Partner applicants for membership directly to DENR's Secretary. Rising Steward and Steward applications are reviewed annually in the fall by the Advisory Board . All Steward applicants receive an onsite verification visit by an ESI team to verify application information. Following review, the Advisory Workgroup then makes recommendations for membership to DENR's Secretary.
2007 ESI Participants Map ASMO North Carolina Inc., Statesville City
of Gastonia Long Creek Resource Recovery Facility
Rising Environmental Stewards Progress Energy - Roxboro Steam Electric Plant
Alliance One International Inc. -
PSNC Energy
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| January March | Steward ceremonies on site; Partner applications accepted year round |
| February | EMS development training module |
| March | Annual participants meeting; EMS development training module |
| March April | Steward and Rising Steward application period |
| April | EMS development training module |
| April May | Annual report cycle |
| May | Compliance reviews; EMS development training module |
| June - August | Site visits for Steward applications and functionally equivalency checks; Steward forum |
| June | EMS development training module |
| September | Steward report(s) due to Advisory Board |
| November | Annual Advisory Board meeting |
| December | Acceptance letters sent to new Rising Steward/Steward members; DENR Internal Workgroup meeting |
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