Fairfax, Virginia. Earnest Padgette, President of the Arlington-Fairfax Chapter, Inc. of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) announced an important initiative that the Chapter has undertaken to enhance environmental stewardship of their property in Centreville, Virginia.Last year, the Chapter conducted a series of voluntary assessments to assist in designing Environmental Stewardship Programs and developing an Environmental Management System (EMS).
Mr. Padgette said: “We have developed management programs to address environmental aspects of site activities, which we are implementing as part of a property wide Environmental Management System (EMS) focused on continuous improvement in the stewardship of the land and natural resources on the site. Our plans include Best Management Practices (BMP) for shooting ranges and implementing source reduction, reuse, and recycling opportunities.
As part of this process, we have switched to biodegradable targets on our skeet and trap ranges, and have implemented lead management best practices, including treatment of soils and regular testing, as well as recycling plans for our ranges. We will share our experiences, methods and results with other facilities engaged in similar activities, to encourage them to undertake their own Environmental Management programs.”
In January, 2008, the Arlington-Fairfax Chapter is moving forward with additional best practices to enhance the stewardship of the environment, and do so as part of an EMS which may be recognized by the Commonwealth as part of the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP). The Chapter is pleased that the Department of Environmental Quality and the Commonwealth of Virginia have chosen to encourage organizations to use EMS by recognizing such organizations as leaders and stewards of the environment.
The Chapter has worked with Environmental Security International and its President Mike Penders, to facilitate these processes. Questions may be directed to Mr. Padgette at (540) 439-6085, or Mr. Penders at (571) 435 7962.
