First Transit announced that the company’s Tempe Division recently received the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP) –Platinum Level Award. This award recognizes organizations with an excellent history of environmental compliance and further strives to exceed the minimum industry standards and legal environmental requirements.
Established by H.B. 2799 in 2012, Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §49-192 et. seq. requires the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to develop, implement and administer the Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP) to provide recognition and incentives for organizations that have a good history of environmental compliance and endeavor to go above and beyond environmental law requirements. The VESP is based on the premise that government should complement existing programs with new tools and strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological innovation
The various VESP incentives made available to organizations include:
- ADEQ’s public recognition of your organization’s stewardship commitment
- Reduced inspection frequency
- Coordination of multiple on-site inspections
- Reduced reporting requirements
- Advance notification of inspections and enforcement rulings
The VESP Program focuses on efforts that collaborate on environmental quality issues that support our values-to protect and enhance public health, welfare, and the environment in Arizona.
The VESP has five levels of recognition – platinum, gold, silver, bronze and copper. We are extremely honored that we have received the highest level of recognition from the ADEQ. Below are some of the requirements of the platinum award:
Platinum Level Award
The platinum level award is a recognition award for facilities/organizations that:
- Have made measureable achievements in the past and in the below areas, listed under “Areas for Continuous Improvement;”
- Have a functioning EMS;
- Have completed one full EMS cycle, including an annual audit;
- Commit to community outreach; and
- Commit to measure continued improvement in the same or another area for the membership term.
Moreover, regulated facilities must maintain a superior compliance record and cannot have any open enforcement actions by any environmental enforcement agency, within the last three years, at the time of application. As part of the application, facilities need to demonstrate past environmental achievement and commit to continued improvement in their environmental performance.
First Transit Tempe General Manager Marc Perla, stated, “We are extremely proud to receive this recognition. Our team has worked actively to achieve a level of excellence as we continue to offer premium, sustainable public transportation. This award motivates and encourages our staff to accomplish even better, greener performance. Our corporate social responsibility in protecting the environment continues to be an integral part of our business.”
