Durham, NC Environmental Affairs Board

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Durham, NC, US

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Type: Policy

Status: Established in 1991

Source File: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/departments/planning/eab/about.cfm

Description:

About the EAB

The City of Durham and Durham County jointly established the Environmental Affairs Board (EAB) in 1991, in recognition of the importance of local cooperation on environmental issues. The EAB is an advisory board of appointed volunteer citizens to provide the City and County with expert and comprehensive advice on various environmental matters. It is also a mechanism for facilitating communication between the public and local government leaders.

The EAB considers topics such as watershed protection, natural resource protection, air quality, environmental impacts of industrial development, environmental education, green building design, energy conservation, and global climate change. The EAB currently has several committees to focus on ongoing concerns:

Past activities are summarized in our annual reports:

The official duties of the EAB are:

1. To advise the City and County on environmental policy;
2. To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the City and/or County;
3. To educate the public and local officials on environmental issues;
4. To perform special studies and projects requested by the City and/or County on environmental questions;
5. To facilitate citizen participation in local government's consideration of matters involving the environment;
6. To promote intergovernmental and public/private cooperation and coordination; and
7. To adopt Rules of Procedure for the orderly dispatch of its business.

The EAB has seats for 11 appointed members, each with a different area of expertise. Currently, 10 of those seats are filled, and we are seeking to fill one more. In addition, seven City and County staff serve as ex officio non-voting members to provide additional guidance and input.

Details about the EAB's structure are documented in the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City and County. This agreement established the EAB in 1991 and is periodically renewed and updated.

The EAB meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. in City Hall. All meetings are open to the public.