Environmental Quality Advisory Council

The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is an advisory group appointed by the Board of Supervisors to provide advice on environmental matters. The Council is comprised of one member from each supervisor district, four at-large members, and one student representative. Each member is appointed to serve a three-year term except the student member who serves for either their junior or senior year of high school. The EQAC charter details the purpose and principal activities of the council, which include the production of an annual report on the state of the physical environment in Fairfax County. The council generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:15 PM. Meeting information is available via the dropdown menus below.

If you have questions or comments about EQAC or for the EQAC members, please email eqac@fairfaxcounty.gov

EQAC Members in a group photo
EQAC Members - January 2024

Listed below are the current members of the Environmental Quality Advisory Council. If you are interested in serving as a member of EQAC, please contact your district supervisor's office to express your interest.

  Member Term
Mt. Vernon Larry Zaragoza (Chair) Jan. 2022 - Jan. 2025
Hunter Mill Kenneth Lanfear (Vice Chair) Jan. 2024 - Jan. 2027
At-Large Eric Goplerud May 2023 - Jan. 2025
At-Large Vacant N/A
At-Large Stella Koch Jan. 2022 - Jan. 2025
At-Large George W. Lamb Jan. 2022 - Jan. 2025
Braddock Bryan Campbell Dec. 2022 - Nov. 2025
Dranesville Kenneth Gubin Dec. 2021 - Nov. 2024
Franconia Johna Gagnon Dec. 2022 - Nov. 2025
Mason Richard J. Healy Jan. 2024 - Jan. 2027
Providence Vacant N/A
Springfield Clyde Wilber Dec. 2021 - Nov. 2024
Sully Rich Weisman June 2022 - June 2025
Student Member Joseph Tso June 2024 - June 2025


Visit Fairfax County's CivicWeb to learn more about EQAC members, their terms and other committees they participate in, as well as other Fairfax County Boards, Authorities, and Commissions. 

Below, you will find the EQAC meeting dates for 2024 and the current year. As meeting information and materials become available, they will be added to the meeting pages linked to each meeting date below. Minutes and presentation materials will be made available on individual meeting pages following each meeting. There is also information about other meetings that involve EQAC, where at least 2 members of the council may be attending.

Each January, EQAC holds a public comment meeting to hear public input on issues of environmental concern. In addition to the annual public comment meeting, EQAC has added a public comment period to some in-person meetings. Monthly meetings with a scheduled public comment period are noted on the meeting schedule below. Find out how to participate. The public is also invited to attend any EQAC meeting and to submit correspondence for consideration by EQAC at any time.

Summaries of past public comment meetings, including speaker and written testimony, are available upon request. Materials may be submitted or requested via email to eqac@fairfacounty.gov.

2024 Meeting Information and Materials:
* denotes a virtual meeting
+ denotes a Public Comment meeting. Find out how to participate.
 
Other 2024 Meetings Involving EQAC:
2025 Meeting Information and Materials:
  • January 8, 2025 + — Annual Public Comment
  • February 12, 2025 +
  • March 12, 2025 +
  • April 9, 2025 +
  • May 14, 2025 +
  • June 11, 2025 +
  • July 9, 2025 +
  • August 13, 2025 *
  • September 10, 2025 +
  • October 8, 2025 +
  • November 12, 2025 +
  • December 10, 2025 *

* denotes a virtual meeting 
+ denotes a Public Comment meeting. Find out how to participate.

EQAC issues recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors via two mechanisms: the Annual Report on the Environment and resolutions or positions issued during EQAC meetings. Resolutions and positions for the current year and the immediate past year are provided below. Resolutions and positions from years prior are available below under "Archived Materials" or upon request via email (EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov). 

Date Title Type To
July 12,
2024
Comment on the May 17, 2024 Draft Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Data Centers Memo Board of Supervisors
July 12,
2024
Support for the County Executive’s Update on the Countywide Flood Risk Reduction Policy Memo Board of Supervisors
April 18, 2024 FY2024 County Budget Recommendations Memo Board of Supervisors
March 26, 2024 Animal Services Consolidation Proposal in the Proposed FY 2025 Budget Memo Board of Supervisors
December 13, 2023 Tidal Wetlands Outreach Memo Board of Supervisors
December 6, 2023 Initial Steps for Addressing Regional Drinking Water Supply Vulnerability Memo Board of Supervisors
November 21, 2023 Follow-Up on Data Center Siting Memo Board of Supervisors
October 11, 2023 Support for Proposed Revisions to the Fairfax County's Tree Commission's Charter Memo Fairfax County Planning Commission
October 11, 2023  EQAC Comments on FCPA Budget Proposal Memo Fairfax County Park Authority Board

July 12,
2023

Landscaping and Screening Zoning Ordinance Amendment Memo Board of Supervisors
June 14, 2023 Recommendations for the Siting of Data Centers Memo Board of Supervisors
June 14, 2023 EQAC Response to Information Recently Provided by County Staff on Parking Reimagined Memo Board of Supervisors
April 27, 2023 Agritourism - Zoning Changes Must Not Degrade Fairfax County’s Water Supply Protection Memo Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission
April 13, 2023 Budget Recommendations from EQAC Memo Board of Supervisors
March 13, 2023 Data Centers: VA DEQ Request for Comment and Future Planning Memo Board of Supervisors
March 10, 2023 Streams and Lakes/Ponds Memo Board of Supervisors
February 9, 2023 EQAC Recommends Upholding Existing Environmental Policies During the Planning Commission’s SSPA Workshop Reviews of Nominations Memo Planning Commission
January 13, 2023 EQAC Concerns with the Parking Reimagined Review of the Ordinance Regulating Off-Street Parking and Loading Memo Board of Supervisors

 

Each year, EQAC prepares an Annual Report on the Environment that summarizes environmental conditions, trends, programs, legislation and issues in Fairfax County and presents EQAC's recommendations to the Board on a variety of environmental topics and concerns. The report is prepared entirely by EQAC and reflects the Council's views. 

Past reports are available upon request. Please email EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov to obtain digital versions of earlier reports.

annual report cover

Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:

  •  Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements
  •  Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
  •  Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others

The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination.

Awardees for the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards have been announced. Click below to find out more!

Each year, EQAC solicits applications from Fairfax County high school students who are interested in becoming a student member of EQAC. The application is open to all interested high school sophomores and juniors who are in good standing. Eligible public school, parochial, private school, and homeschooled students are encouraged to apply.

The application period for the July 2024 through June 2025 term is now closed. If you have questions about the student membership application process, please email eqac@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-7136 TTY 711.

Past Member Testimonials

Former student members of EQAC have prepared testimonials regarding their service.

Oaklen Kalinichenko

Jacob Hammond

Clare Sparling

Hana Burkly

Anna Nguyen

Talia Schmitt

Kevin Sun

Meeting materials originating prior to January 2022 are available upon request. Please email EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov to request past materials.

2021 and 2022 Resolutions and Positions

December 19, 2022 Tree Conservation Code’s Exemption of Linear Projects Memo Board of Supervisors
November 1, 2022 Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) Priorities Memo Board of Supervisors
October 24, 2022 Proposed Changes for Street Trees in the Urban Design Guidelines – Joint Letter with the Tree Commission Memo DPD-UFMD Workgroup
May 11, 2022 Data Centers in Fairfax County Memo Board of Supervisors
May 11, 2022 EQAC FY 2023 Budget Comments Memo Board of Supervisors
February 16, 2022 FY 2023 Budget Requests for Natural Resources Memo Board of Supervisors
January 20, 2022 Fairfax County Litter Task Force - Final Report Dated December 14, 2021 Memo Board of Supervisors

March 15, 2021

zMOD: Question about Water Supply Protection Overlay District Memo Planning Commission
March 18, 2021 zMOD: Questions about Water Supply Protection Overlay District Memo Board of Supervisors
April 15, 2021 EQAC Final Review of Proposed Amendments to Chapter 118 
of County Code and Chapter 12 of the PFM 
Memo Board of Supervisors
April 15, 2021 EQAC support of proposed CBPA draft regulations Memo Board of Supervisors
May 17, 2021 Zoning Changes Must Not Degrade Fairfax County’s Water Supply Protection Memo Planning Commission
May 25, 2021 Proposed Amendments to Resource Protection Area (RPA) Planting Requirements
Chapter 118 (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance) of The Code of the County of Fairfax, VA
(County Code) and Chapter 12 (Tree Preservation) of the Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
Letter Board of Supervisors
June 14, 2021 Zoning Changes Must Not Degrade Fairfax County’s Water Supply Protection Letter Board of Supervisors
June 14, 2021 Zoning Changes Must Not Degrade Fairfax County’s Water Supply Protection Memo Board of Supervisors
August 31, 2021 EQAC Supports Additional Tools for Management of Invasive Species Memo Board of Supervisors
 
2023 Meeting Information and Materials: 
Other 2023 Meetings Involving EQAC:
2022 Meeting Information and Materials:

 

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