Environmental Management and Stewardship Policy
Adopted by the Dairyland Board of Directors March 19, 2010.
I. Policy Statement
As a provider of energy that utilizes natural resources, Dairyland Power Cooperative
recognizes our relationship with the environment. We are committed to a healthy
environment, today and in the future. As we conduct our business we intend to
comply with the intent, the letter and the spirit of all applicable environmental laws,
regulations and commitments, while providing leadership in environmental
stewardship.
II. Environmental Principles
Dairyland Power Cooperative will:
- Employ our human, technological and financial resources to reduce the environmental impacts of our activities.
- Practice responsible environmental stewardship of cooperative-owned
properties and natural resources entrusted to our management, while working
cooperatively with environmental stewardship partners to achieve goals that
benefit the environment, DPC, and our partner organizations and
communities.
- Support research, development and utilization of renewable sources of energy (in agreement with DPC Board Policy #73).
- Research and evaluate potential public health impacts when making planning and operating decisions.
- Promote environmental education and energy conservation (in agreement with DPC Board Policy #3).
III. Implementation
Dairyland Power Cooperative will:
- Establish and maintain an environmental management system to monitor, audit and manage environmental compliance at our facilities with the goal of continued improvement of environmental performance and pollution prevention.
- Participate with legislators, governmental agencies and others in creating responsible laws and regulations to safeguard the environment, community and workplace consistent with our responsibilities as an energy provider.
- Encourage and train our employees to be sensitive to the environment, and empower them to actively participate in our environmental management process. This will include, where appropriate, environmental compliance as a performance goal.
- Develop programs to reuse and recycle materials and dispose of wastes in a safe and responsible manner.
- Exceed minimum compliance where sound science and cost-effective technologies permit.
- Cooperate with stakeholders, the media and regulatory agencies in responding to inquiries in a prompt and accurate manner.
- Encourage reporting of any suspected violation of any environmental law or
regulation and prevent retaliation against any employee reporting such matters
in good faith, as provided in DPC Board Policy #46, Business Ethics.
- Communicate this policy to our employees and others who work on our behalf
and provide updates of our progress in environmental performance and
environmental issues to our employees, members and the public.
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