This web site is more than a convenience for citizens and businesses. It is a vital tool for our environmental and public health protection mission. During the information revolution that has exploded during the past 20 years, environmental management information has proven to be a critical part of more efficient and effective environmental protection. For example, emissions inventories for the Toxic Release Inventory and Emergency Planning and Community “Right to Know” programs have resulted indirectly in more significant reductions in pollution than many “command and control” regulatory systems. The amount of toxic air emissions and hazardous waste generated during the past two decades has declined substantially. Perhaps most significantly, individual companies have accomplished these emissions reductions more efficiently through their own creativity, often through their own initiative.
Nonetheless, there is more to do. Too many people continue to breathe unhealthful air. Too many communities continue to be contaminated from decades of toxic chemical and metal discharges. Sharing information with citizens and businesses will continue to be a useful tool for Delawareans’ continued progress. For example, we will seek to ensure that old waste sites can be cleaned up and reused safely and cost-effectively. Property transactions and construction work can proceed with confidence without any “surprise” areas of contamination that could harm workers or residents and delay needed development projects. Effective data management about areas of residual contamination can help provide confidence that citizens will be reliably protected from hazardous substances exposure. Citizens have a fundamental right to information about issues that could affect them.
Moreover, this web site can be a useful tool to help improve accountability – of regulated industry and of the regulating government agency.
We hope you find the information you want on the web site. Please call 302-739-9400 or e-mail me, at James.Werner@state.de.us, if you don’t find it easily or can suggest better ways to provide the information. We want this web site to be as useful as possible by providing information that allows Delaware to be more efficient and open – two values that are at the core of our mission.
Sincerely,
James D. Werner, Director
Air and Waste Management Division
