Multi-media inspections of past years were replaced with a new, proactive effort to work with business and industry to reduce pollution and increase environmental protection. The program offers opportunities for the regulated community to reduce waste generation and energy usage, thus saving money and helping the environment. Site visits are not used by DEP to determine the compliance status of facilities, that is done during regular inspections. The appeal to business focuses on improving profits, a very strong motivator in today s competitive market place. The community and customer perception that a company is an environmentally good neighbor is also a very high priority for many businesses.
Environmental protection becomes a by-product since more efficient operations generate less waste.
Older, reactive thinking solved the problem of waste generation by using costly pollution control equipment, a direct loss of profits. Newer, proactive thinking recognizes waste as a loss of energy, raw material, or product. The site visit process begins by DEP staff developing a list of sites that includes a mix of industrial processes and geographic locations. DEP program managers then review the list for potential additions and deletions. An internal meeting held before the scheduled site visit allows a final check on the facility s compliance status and serves to orient team members who are assigned by program management.