DEH Earns Environmental Award; Chief Named to Presidential Advisory Board
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The Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Division racked up a couple of impressive honors recently, winning a state environmental achievement award and having Chief Mike Vizzier invited to join a presidential advisory council.
Vizzier accepted the invitation to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Good Neighbor Environmental Board, which means that for at least the next two years Vizzier’s expertise will not only help counsel 1600 Pacific Highway, but 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — yup, the White House.
The 30-member board was created in 1992 to advise the president and Congress about environmental and infrastructure issues along the U.S.-Mexico border. Vizzier, who has also worked for years as part of the Border 2012 Program, said he was honored by the invitation and eager to get started.
But Vizzier was more excited by the “Secretary’s Environmental Achievement Award 2012” that was presented to the County’s Hazardous Materials Division by California EPA at a statewide conference in February.
“This one was a real thrill,” Vizzier said, “because they don’t give it out every year and it’s not one that you nominate yourself for.”
San Diego County’s Hazardous Materials Division was designated as the sole agency to manage and regulate hazardous materials and wastes for the county (including its cities) in 1996. They monitor everything from gas stations to industrial businesses, medical and biotechnology firms to businesses like dry cleaners. EPA officials said the County had shown award-winning leadership by, among other things, developing and administering a web-based inspector training course that teaches inspectors around the state how to monitor above-ground petroleum storage tanks. EPA officials also praised the County’s division for working with local elementary, middle and high schools to promote careers in environmental health; for working with the U.S.-Mexico Border Enforcement Task Force; advocating and supporting state efforts on electronic reporting; and for creating an outreach program that tracks the 10 most common hazardous material and waste violations — as a way to educate and prevent future violations.
Vizzier credited the County’s leadership, from the Board down, for the honor, because they encourage departments “to go out and do something special.”
“I feel this is an award for San Diego County, really,” Vizzier said. “This is a direct outcome of our General Management System (GMS) and the leadership of the County.”