Service Area Strategic Plan
11/23/2009   4:39 am
Department of Health (601)
Biennium: 2008-10
Service Area 1 of 1
State Office of Environmental Health Services (601 565 01)
Description

This area provides leadership by directing the operation of the environmental health programs (for example, food and shellfish safety, tourism safety, childhood lead poisoning prevention, safe drinking water from private wells, and safe wastewater treatment and disposal), developing policy, analyzing local, state and federal legislation, evaluating public health programs, providing liaison assistance, and providing scientific and technical expertise.
Background Information
Mission Alignment and Authority
  • Describe how this service supports the agency mission
    This service area directly aligns with VDH’s mission to promote and protect the health of Virginians. Environmental health services are intended to minimize and mitigate risks associated with diseases caused by contamination of food, water and the general environment.
  • Describe the Statutory Authority of this Service
    The authority for the Office of Environmental Health Services is found primarily in Title 32.1 and Title 35.1 of the Code of Virginia. Additional authorizations are cited from other sections as follows:

    General Statutory Authority:

    Section 32.1-2 states that the protection, improvement and preservation of the public health and of the environment are essential to the general welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Furthermore, the stated purpose of the Virginia Department of Health is to provide a comprehensive program of preventive, curative, restorative and environmental health services, educate the citizenry in health and environmental matters, develop and implement health resource plans, collect and preserve vital records and health statistics, assist in research, and abate hazards and nuisances to the health and to the environment, both emergency and otherwise, thereby improving the quality of life in the Commonwealth.

    Section 32.1-11 permits the Board of Health to formulate a program of environmental health services to be provided by the Department on a regional, district or local basis.

    Section 32.1-12 permits the Board of Health to make, adopt, promulgate and enforce such regulations and provide for reasonable variances and exemptions therefrom as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title and other laws of the Commonwealth administered by it, the Commissioner or the Department.

    Section 32.1-13 permits the Board to make separate orders and regulations to meet any emergency, not provided for by general regulations, for the purpose of suppressing nuisances dangerous to the public health and communicable, contagious and infectious diseases and other dangers to the public life and health.

    Section 32.1-24 requires the Department to follow the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) in its procedures for rendering all case decisions, as defined in § 2.2-4001, and issuing all orders and regulations under the provisions of this Code administered by the Board, the Commissioner or the Department unless exempt from the Administrative Process Act.

    Section 32.1-25 authorizes the Commissioner or his designee upon presentation of appropriate credentials and upon consent of the owner or custodian the right of entry at any reasonable time onto any property to inspect, investigate, evaluate, conduct tests or take samples for testing as he reasonably deems necessary in order to determine compliance with the provisions of any law administered by the Board, Commissioner or Department, any regulations of the Board, any order of the Board or Commissioner or any conditions in a permit, license or certificate issued by the Board or Commissioner.

    Section 32.1-27 defines the penalties, injunctions, civil penalties and charges for violations.

    Section 32.1-34 mandates that no county, city or town ordinance or regulation shall be less stringent in the protection of the public health than any applicable state law or any applicable regulations of the Board.

    Statutory Authority for Environmental Investigations of Blood Lead Poisoning:

    Title 32.1-46.1 mandates the Board to establish protocol for identification of children with elevated blood-lead levels. The protocol may also address follow-up testing for children with elevated blood-lead levels, dissemination of the protocol or other information to relevant health care professionals, appropriate information for parents, and other means of preventing lead poisoning among children.

    Statutory Authority for the Onsite Wastewater Program:

    Section 32.1-163.2 mandates the Board of Health to develop and revise as may be necessary a five-year plan for the handling and disposal of onsite sewage. The Board shall also report every five years to the Governor and the General Assembly, beginning in 1992, on the status of onsite sewage handling and disposal in Virginia and the progress in implementing its long range plan.

    Section 32.1-163.4 mandates the Commissioner to contract with authorized onsite soil evaluators for the field evaluation of backlogged application sites.

    Section 32.1-163.5 mandates the VDH to accept private site evaluations and designs, in compliance with the Board's regulations for septic systems and other on-site sewage systems, designed and certified by a licensed professional engineer, in consultation with an authorized on-site soil evaluator, or by an authorized on-site soil evaluator. If the Department fails to take action to approve or disapprove the designs, evaluations, or subdivision reviews within specified times, the designs, evaluations or subdivision reviews shall be deemed approved and the appropriate letter, permit or approval shall be issued.

    Section 32.1-164 mandates the Board to have supervision and control over the safe and sanitary collection, conveyance, transportation, treatment, and disposal of sewage by onsite sewage systems and alternative discharging sewage systems, and treatment works as they affect the public health and welfare. The Board shall exercise due diligence to protect the quality of both surface water and ground water. The Board is authorized to adopt regulations to fulfill its responsibilities. The Board shall establish an uniform schedule of civil penalties for regulations promulgated under this section. Until July 1, 2009 the Board shall establish a program for qualifying individuals as authorized onsite soil evaluators. Effective July 1, 2009 the Board shall establish a program for the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite systems.

    Section 32.1-164.1:01 creates the Onsite Sewage Indemnification Fund whose purpose is to receive moneys generated by a portion of the fees collected by the Department of Health pursuant to subsections C and E of § 32.1-164 and appropriated by the Commonwealth for the purpose of assisting any Virginia real property owner holding a valid septic tank or other onsite sewage system permit when such system fails within three years of construction and such failure results from the negligence of VDH. The fund may also be used, in the discretion of the Board, to support the program for training and recognition of authorized onsite soil evaluators.

    Section 32.1-165 mandates that the Commissioner shall authorize the issuance of such permit upon his finding that safe, adequate and proper sewage treatment is or will be made available to such building before the issuance of a building permit.

    Section 32.1-166.1 establishes the State Health Department Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeal Review Board, consisting of seven members, appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. § 32.1-166.6 mandates the Review Board to hear all administrative appeals of denials of onsite sewage disposal system permits and appeals of refusals of indemnification requests filed pursuant to § 32.1-164.1:01 and render its decision on any such appeal, which decision shall be the final administrative decision.

    Statutory Authority for the Private Well Construction and Related Activity:

    Section 32.1-176.4 mandates the Board to adopt regulations pertaining to the location and construction of private wells in the Commonwealth.

    Section 32.1-176.5:1 mandates the Department to disseminate the information on confirmed oil releases and discharges, contained in the Department of Environmental Quality's monthly report prepared pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:4.1, to local health departments and Department field offices.

    Statutory Authority for Migrant Labor Camps:

    Section 32.1-211 allows the Board to adopt regulations governing migrant labor camps which supplement the occupational safety and health regulations adopted by the Safety and Health Codes Board and which are necessary to protect the health of migrant workers.

    Statutory Authority for the Sanitary Facilities at Marinas:

    Section 32.1-246 directs the Board to adopt and promulgate all necessary regulations establishing minimum requirements for adequate sewerage facilities at marinas and other places where boats are moored.

    Statutory Authority for Swimming Pool Water Quality:

    Section 32.1-248.1 mandates the Board of Health to promulgate regulations to require the daily posting of water quality test results at swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated for public use or in conjunction with a tourist facility or health spa.

    Statutory Authority for the Reuse of Gray Water and Rainwater:

    Section 32.1-248.2 mandates the Department to develop guidelines regarding the use of gray water and rainwater and to promote the use of rainwater and reuse of gray water as means to reduce fresh water consumption, ease demands on public treatment works and water supply systems, and promote conservation.

    Statutory Authority for Food Safety and Tourist Establishment Sanitation:

    Title 35.1 mandates the Board to make, adopt, promulgate, and enforce regulations governing hotels, restaurants, summer camps, and campgrounds for public health protection and safety.

    Statutory Authority for Milk Safety:

    Section 3.1-530.1 mandates the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt regulations concerning the processing and distributing of Grade A market milk and Grade A market milk products with the advice and guidance of the State Health Commissioner or his authorized representative.

    Section 3.1-530.4 mandates the State Health Commissioner or his agents, pursuant to the regulations promulgated pursuant to § 3.1-530.1, to issue permits to all plants which process and distribute Grade A market milk and Grade A market milk products. The State Health Commissioner or his agents shall also enforce the regulations adopted under § 3.1-530.1 in all such plants from the point of delivery at the plant to the consumer.

    Section 3.1-530.6 allows the importing of milk and milk products which is produced outside of the Commonwealth under laws or regulations of the exporting state or political subdivision thereof which are substantially equivalent to regulations promulgated under this article and which are enforced with equal effectiveness.
Customers
Agency Customer Group Customer Customers served annually Potential annual customers
Annual # of visits to inspection website 583,348 618,349
Appellants to the Sewage Appeal Review Board 20 22
Applicants for Permits, Certification Letters, (Developers, Realtors, Home Builders, Local Governments) 50,000 51,500
Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators 130 169
Campgrounds 280 280
Case Decision Appellants 500 505
Children under age 72 months screened for lead poisoning 77,844 557,454
Citizen Complaints 40 48
Claimants under the Indemnification Fund 24 29
Contractors (Installers) 500 510
Educational Pumpout Program – Contacts 2,539 2,539
Food Establishments 26,500 27,295
Generators (Approved Sources) 25 26
Hotels/motels 1,980 2,050
Local Governments with Decentralized Wastewater Systems 4 24
Marinas & other places boats are moored 800 808
Migrant Labor Camps 484 484
Milk Plants 12 12
Onsite Sewage and Private Well Using Customers 1,000,000 1,020,000
Owners with Failing Systems 5,000 5,500
Professional Engineers 100 101
Public Meetings 10 15
Summer Camps 130 130
Swimming Pools 3,505 3,575
System Manufacturers & System Components Manufacturers 100 115
Temporary Food Establishments 9,000 9,900
Trainees in Onsite Wastewater Design & Regulation 90 180
Water Well Contractors 200 202

Anticipated Changes To Agency Customer Base
Onsite Wastewater Program:

Beginning in June 1995 and continuing in various forms through the present, VDH began using alternative systems incorporating secondary and advanced secondary treatment. These alternative wastewater systems allowed residential development to occur on sites that heretofore could not be used with any onsite system. This relatively simple and natural expansion has changed VDH’s role in the permitting process and created several new roles The customer base will continue to see an increase in Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Professional Engineers, as well as system and component manufacturers seeking regulatory approval of their products. Given the fast paced technological changes and high market demand, regulatory standards will be have to be adopted or amended to keep up with these changes.

Most treatment systems are either proprietary or require the services of a professional engineer to design. While VDH traditionally designed non-proprietary septic systems, VDH determined from the initial alternative system approval that VDH should not design proprietary systems. The Department’s role shifted from designer to reviewer. Applicants will increasing rely on the professional private consultants for designing a system to meet their needs. VDH will have to develop more general consumer information to assist the public on the various approved systems.

This shift immediately expanded the need for private sector designers to consult with property owners on system selection and design. VDH maintained the primary role for training the private sector designers (Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators) as established by the Code of Virginia. Demand for VDH training has continued to increase in recent years, in part due to need for Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators. As new Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Professional Engineers enter the market to meet the increasing demand and as new regulatory approvals and changes affect their business, VDH will have to expand its training opportunities and modify its training modules to incorporate regulatory and technological changes.

The role change from designer to reviewer also changed VDH’s customer base from citizens (those VDH used to design for) to Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Professional Engineers (whose work VDH now reviews). Historically, VDH has alone evaluated, designed, & permitted onsite sewage systems; increasingly Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Professional Engineers are providing evaluations and designs services in lieu of the VDH providing this service to meet the private demand and the VDH role has shifted to regulating the work of the private sector. The customer base will continue to see an increase in Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Professional Engineers.

Finally, the change resulted in thousands of secondary and advanced secondary systems being installed for homeowners. All of these systems require routine operation and maintenance to assure continued system performance. Systems that fail to work as designed may create environmental and public health risks and will create nuisance situations. After nearly ten years of operation, these systems will require operation and maintenance to meet user expectations. Without operation and maintenance these systems will pond creating odors, breeding habitats for flies, and potentially allow partially treated wastewater to surface. There will be a need for a regulated community of individuals to provide routine system maintenance and VDH will likely be the regulatory group used to create the program.

Food Establishments:

The number of permitted food establishments continues to increase and in some areas of the state the growth is significant. Some rural areas are experiencing an increase in restaurants where in the past the number was fairly level. The population of the U.S. is increasingly eating more meals outside the home and it is expected that the growth in restaurants will continue. Also, as tourism rebounds somewhat from 9-11 there is an increase in the demand for restaurants.

The increase in the ethnic diversification of food establishments is expected to continue. Particularly in urban areas there has been an increase in the number of food establishments serving ethnic foods. The unfamiliarity of some of these cuisines will increase the burden on the food program as we educate our staff on these various cuisines.

The number of chain restaurants is also increasing. More chains are coming to Virginia and the number of franchises of established chains is also increasing. The potential for a wide spread outbreak increases as many of these chains use the same suppliers.

Temporary Food Establishments:

Every year more festivals or special events are held across the state. These events attract an increasing number of vendors selling food. These present a special challenge to the food program as vendors are attempting to prepare and serve more diverse and complex foods in less than ideal conditions. These diverse and more complex foods increase the burden on the food program to keep pace with requirements for temporary events.

Hotels:

In some areas the new hotels are being built as tourism increases. This will increase the demand for local health department inspections. There is also an increase in bed and breakfast facilities, which are classified as both a hotel and a food establishment.

Campgrounds:

The campground industry is likely to remain fairly constant across the state. Few new campgrounds are being constructed but some campgrounds are expanding to increase the number of camping sites available to the traveling public. More campgrounds are converting to Recreational Vehicle campsites only and are limiting or eliminating tent camping altogether.

Summer Camps:

Summer camps are expected to increase somewhat in numbers as more parents utilize them as a source of daycare for their children during the summer school vacations.

Migrant Labor Camps:

Over the past couple of years there has been a slight decline in the numbers of migrant labor camps across the state. Some larger farms are closing or are now being developed for housing. However, the demand for migrant laborers in Virginia is increasing as farms and other related agricultural industries find it difficult to acquire a dependable local work force. On the Eastern Shore the migrant labor season has expanded to almost a year round industry. Further decline in the number of migrant labor camps is not anticipated. The political significance of this program will increase as more advocacy groups will appear in addition to those groups already quite active in Virginia.

Swimming Pools:

Along with the increase in hotels and the anticipated level number of campgrounds, it is expected that the number of public swimming pools under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health (i.e., those pools at hotels, campgrounds and summer camps) being constructed will increase slightly. From a local health department perspective, a larger rate of increase in the number of public pools for recreation centers, country clubs and planned communities will significantly impact those localities with local pool ordinances.

Dairy Plants:

The number of dairy plants is expected to remain fairly constant. It is not anticipated that a large dairy will be proposed. However, recently there has been a slight increase in the number of small niche dairy, including both bovine and goat milk production. If there is any increase in dairy plants, it is anticipated that it will be in these small facilities. Typically, these small plants attempt to operate on a limited budget and tend to create a greater percentage of problems when compared to larger dairy plants.

Childhood Lead Prevention:

The number and location of children at risk for lead poisoning is being more clearly defined with technologies such as Geographic Information System mapping.
Partners
Partner Description
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Products and Services
  • Factors Impacting the Products and/or Services:
    Proficiency in providing environmental health services requires significant training and experience. It is essential that staff maintain a high level of expertise. Competition from other government agencies and from the private sector impact VDH’s ability to attract and retain highly trained environmental health professionals. In the onsite sewage program, most of the new Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators entering the private sector were first hired as Environmental Health Specialists by the local health departments, where they were trained and gained experience. This has created continuous turnover problems in some high growth districts. It has also strained the Department’s ability to continuously provide basic training for its new employees and reduces the resources available for continuing education.

    Improvement and procurement of new and better technology can assist staff with the increased demand for service by making routine tasks more efficient and less time consuming. In May 2003, the Department placed on its website its restaurants inspections conducted. This reduced the Freedom of Information Act requests for information and has enabled the public to see what we observe when we conduct inspections. This has motivated both restaurants and environmental health specialists to do a better job. In the future, providing an automated online request for services and applications can help reduce staff time required to conduct these activities.

    Emerging pathogens and increased awareness of possible intentional acts against the U.S. food supply necessitates a critical demand for continuing education for environmental health staff.

    Available funding for central office environmental health staff to attend training sessions limits the ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism. Some advanced training in the food and dairy programs is available from the United States Food and Drug Administration but we are lucky to get them to conduct more than one or two training courses a year.

    The federal funding partners working with lead-safe environments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, and Housing and Urban Development) are increasing emphasis on primary prevention, i.e., lead-free environments, and are encouraging data sharing among locally funded partners for purposes of identifying hazardous housing, especially repeat-offenders. These grantors are also targeting refugee child populations who may be entering the country with a degree of lead poisoning, rather than acquiring it here, to prevent erroneous identification of lead hazard housing. At the same time, federal budgets for this program area are shrinking.
  • Anticipated Changes to the Products and/or Services
    Incorporation of the Virginia Environmental Information System (VENIS) into all environmental health service areas for a centralized database. Part of this incorporation will include creation of a central temporary food vendor database that will be streamlined so that data can be easily shared among districts. This will also include possible automation of an application process for temporary vendors.

    Continued turnover of environmental health specialists in the local health departments will continue to strain central office staff’s ability to train field staff. Also impacted will be the local health departments’ ability to maintain at least one food standardization officer in each district. This will require additional time from central office food staff to standardize new officers. The Department has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Southside Virginia Community College to address the need for continuing education in the onsite sewage program.

    Due to increased customer base, customer assistance requests will continue to increase.

    High levels of frustration are expected to continue in both the private sector and local health departments as the fast changing technology outpaces the Department’s ability to modify its processes and amend its regulations to incorporate the technological changes.

    The Lead-Safe Virginia program continues to adjust its goals, objectives, and strategies to the changing needs of grantors. This represents a substantial shift in focus away from providing outreach for screening children to primary environmental prevention.
  • Listing of Products and/or Services
    • Inspection and enforcement: Thorough and consistent inspection and enforcement of laws and regulations addressing structural design and operational practices for food establishments, hotels, campgrounds, marinas, migrant labor camps, summer camps, swimming pools, and dairy plants. Inspection has long been a staple of public health. The goal of inspection and enforcement is to protect the public from injury and disease by educating the operators of these facilities in their safe and sanitary operation. If the education aspect of inspections fail, then enforcement is necessary to abate the risk to the public’s health and safety.
    • Permitting: The Department’s plan review and permitting services ensure the facility meets all construction requirements and that problems are not built into the facility. The issuing of permits is based on well-established health, safety, and environmental considerations intended to protect the public from health and safety hazards and also to assist the operator in maintaining his establishment.
    • Respond to Citizen Complaints: Citizens frequently file complaints concerning environmental and public health conditions they observe in any of the permitted facilities. When staff respond to these complaints it provides an opportunity to learn of problems that may have developed since their last inspection. Also, such complaints may help prevent an outbreak before it occurs. Follow-up with the complainant is important to provide feedback on how the response, what was found, what actions were taken and why.
    • Provide Customer Service: The citizens of the Commonwealth expect a high degree of professionalism from this service area. Responding to public concerns, providing helpful information, speaking at functions, and responding to Freedom of Information Act requests in a professional, courteous, and timely manner is essential. Through such customer service we can increase our “eyes and ears” in the community we serve.
    • Promulgation of Regulations: Promulgate regulations on behalf of the Board of Health. Regulation development is a labor intensive process, involving various stakeholders with differing agendas. The process attempts to achieve some degree of consensus and it often takes years to amend or adopt regulations.
    • Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator Regulation: Regulate private sector work by authorizing those qualified individuals who have demonstrated their ability to produce work that is equivalent to the work of the Department’s Environmental Health Specialists. The role of VDH has shifted from conducting a field evaluation of each onsite sewage system application to assuring the quality of the Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator’s work while still processing those applications that are not certified by an Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator.
    • Indemnification Fund Claims: Process claims resulting from the failure of onsite sewage systems that were constructed within the past three years and the Department’s negligence contributed to the failure.
    • Appeals Board: Represent the Department before the Appeals Review Board where the appellant has been denied a permit or certification letter by the local health department or where the appellant’s Indemnification Fund claim has been denied.
    • Enforcement: Represent the Department in cases where the local health department has been unable to obtain compliance through its own efforts.
    • Grants in Marina Program: The Marina Program administers two federal grants, the Clean Vessel Act and the Boating Infrastructure grants. Each grant is directed to improving marina facilities. The Clean Vessel Act ($3 million to date) is a grant program that gives money to Virginia for the installation of sewage holding tank pump-out stations and dump stations for use by recreational boaters and funds education campaigns that encourage recreational boaters to dispose of vessel sewage properly. The Boating Infrastructure Grant ($4.6 million to date) funds projects to construct, renovate, or maintain facilities for transient non-trailerable recreational vessels. Eligible projects, designed to accommodate boats 26 feet or greater in length, include buoys, day docks, restrooms, dockside utilities and similar structures.
    • Childhood Lead Prevention: Monitor trends in child health status indicators and identify emerging issues of statewide significance. Develop or participate in the development of statewide strategic plans regarding child lead exposure. Represent VDH on statewide interagency councils, task forces, and committees related to child lead exposure. Propose and/or respond to state legislative and budgetary initiatives; track pertinent legislation. Monitor federal legislation for potential impact at the state level. Respond to requests for data and information from constituents, policy makers, media, and stakeholders. Coordinate follow-up services for children under 6 years of age with lead exposure. Obtain and administer grants. Review literature and identify and share best practices with partners and contractors. Coordinate training and technical assistance to partners and stakeholders. Develop and implement social marketing campaigns and materials related to childhood lead poisoning prevention. Develop and/or purchase educational materials and distribute in support of programs. Assure sound fiscal management through budgeting and expense monitoring. Conduct surveillance on childhood lead poisoning. Conduct analysis of childhood data and produce and disseminate reports. Evaluate programs for effectiveness.
Finance
  • Financial Overview
    This service area is funded primarily by general funds, which support nearly 79 percent of the total budget. The remaining budget is funded by various federal and state grants and special funds.
  • Financial Breakdown
    FY 2009    FY 2010
      General Fund     Nongeneral Fund        General Fund     Nongeneral Fund  
    Base Budget $2,851,820 $1,206,470    $2,851,820 $1,206,470
    Change To Base $-302,668 $0    $-221,900 $0
               
    Service Area Total   $2,549,152  $1,206,470     $2,629,920  $1,206,470 
Human Resources
  • Human Resources Overview
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  • Human Resource Levels
    Effective Date      
    Total Authorized Position level Ø    
    Vacant Positions Ø    
    Current Employment Level 0.0    
    Non-Classified (Filled)    
    Full-Time Classified (Filled)    breakout of Current Employment Level
    Part-Time Classified (Filled)    
    Faculty (Filled)    
    Wage    
    Contract Employees    
    Total Human Resource Level 0.0   = Current Employment Level + Wage and Contract Employees
  • Factors Impacting HR
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  • Anticipated HR Changes
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Service Area Objectives
 
  • Improve the performance of decentralized wastewater treatment systems by promoting the concept of continuous management and facilitating upgraded professional standards of practice.
    Objective Description
    Properly managed decentralized wastewater treatment systems perform effectively, protect human health and the environment, and are a key component of Virginia’s wastewater infrastructure. Decentralized wastewater systems, often called “septic” or “onsite” systems, derive their name from their location—they treat wastewater close to the source, typically providing treatment on the property of individual homes or businesses. Decentralized systems also include systems serving clusters of individual homes, large capacity septic systems, and small collection and treatment systems (including “package plants”). These systems similarly treat wastewater close to the source, typically using small pipes for collecting small volumes of domestic wastewater, unlike centralized urban wastewater treatment systems that pipe large amounts of wastewater many miles through sewers prior to reaching the sewerage treatment plant.
    Objective Strategies
    • Promote the concept of continuous management by collaborating with local governments and local health departments in solving septic system failures with a locally management solution.
    • Consider regulatory amendments that would require additional system management after installation.
    • Require local health departments to develop and implement a plan to catalog in the Virginia Environmental Information System legacy onsite systems and wells.
    • Review the Virginia Environmental Information System to assure efficient data entry of legacy onsite sewage systems.
    • Conduct staff training on the Virginia Environmental Information System.
    • Report information to local governments for use in their land use decisions as well as Geographic Information System applications.
    • VDH will improve the competency and performance of Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators and Environmental Health Specialists by:
    • Issuing regulatory interpretations to clarify differing views of regulatory requirements.
    • Offering continuing education on onsite sewage technology with hands on application at Blackstone Training Center.
    • Revising regulations to incorporate new technology and processing requirements.
    • Standardizing permit designs by updating manuals as recommended by Advisory Committees.
    • Processing Indemnification Fund claims and reporting corrective measures for liable parties.
    • Requiring local health departments to implement a quality assurance plan of their Environmental Health Specialist performance and the performance of Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators working in their area.
    • Training newly employed Environmental Health Specialists and persons qualified to be trained as an Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator.
    • Processing complaints against Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators work and taking appropriate enforcement actions.
    • Representing VDH before the Appeal Review Board and incorporate lessons learned into quality assurance plan.
    Objective Measures
    • Completeness of statewide inventory of onsite wastewater systems installed prior to October 2003.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Output
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      0
      Date:
      10/31/2003

      Measure Baseline Description: There was no electronic inventory of onsite sewage systems for local health departments as of October 2003.

      Measure Target Value:
      10
      Date:
      6/30/2010

      Measure Target Description: Increase the electronic inventory of existing systems (installed prior to October 2003) by adding 10% (~80,000) of these “legacy systems” to the inventory by 6/30/2010.

      Data Source and Calculation: Data on systems installed prior to that date are stored in paper files. Estimated number of systems is available by county from 1990 census.

    • Completeness of statewide inventory of onsite wastewater systems installed since October 2003.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      0
      Date:
      10/31/2003

      Measure Baseline Description: 0 systems inventoried. (The onsite sewage module in the Virginia Environmental Information System was placed into service in October 2003).

      Measure Target Value:
      95
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: Percent

      Data Source and Calculation: Since October 2003, local health departments have been directed to enter their onsite sewage system data for applications received.

    • Authorized Onsite Sewage Evaluator (AOSE) and Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) competency and performance in the siting, design, and permitting of onsite sewage systems.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      50
      Date:
      6/30/2005

      Measure Baseline Description: Percent

      Measure Target Value:
      60
      Date:
      6/30/2010

      Measure Target Description: Percent

      Data Source and Calculation: VDH policy requires at least 10% of the permit applications submitted and certified by Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators to be reviewed by VDH for quality assurance.

  • Prevent or mitigate food safety hazards through continued surveillance of restaurants and providing guidance and enforcement of regulations
    Objective Description
    Numerous diseases are capable of being transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food. Adherence to established safeguards concerning the storage, preparation and serving of food products is essential to protecting the public from disease.
    Objective Strategies
    • VDH will promote the restaurant inspection web site to the public to increase awareness of its existence by: Referencing the website in news releases and educational brochures. Encouraging the media to utilize the website for their information and promotions. Increasing food safety information available on the website.
    • VDH will regularly montior ontime inspection frequency and report results to districts. Reporting monthly on each local health district's performance. Evaluating staffing needs in local health departments to assess manpower needs.
    • VDH will collaborate with local health districts to establish or maintain standardization officer.
    • Increasing Division of Food and Environmental Services contacts with local health departments to address this issue.
    • Scheduling standardizations of district standardization officers.
    • VDH will develop and provide training on Environmental Health Law to increase the enforcement activities appropriate for continuing or uncorrected critical violations by evaluating training needs and scheduling training sessions in enforcement and environmental health law.
    • Reemphasizing and revising enforcement policies to focus on enforcement activities when critical violations are left uncorrected. Enhancing the Virginia Environmental Information System reporting to track enforcement actions. Working to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's voluntary food program standards. Updating inspection procedures to increase focus on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified top five risk factors associated with most foodborne outbreaks.
    Objective Measures
    • Number of appropriate regulatory enforcement activities
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Output
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      1310
      Date:
      6/30/2006

      Measure Baseline Description: Number of regulatory enforcement activities

      Measure Target Value:
      1444
      Date:
      6/30/2010

      Measure Target Description: Number of regulatory enforcement activities

      Data Source and Calculation: Virginia Environmental Information System Reports will be used to track and identify the number of enforcement actions taken against food service facilities regulated by VDH.

    • Monthly visits to restaurant inspection website
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Output
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Maintain
      Measure Baseline Value:
      59000
      Date:
      6/30/2004

      Measure Baseline Description: Number of monthly visits

      Measure Target Value:
      59000
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: Number of monthly visits

      Data Source and Calculation: Monthly website statistics received from HealthSpace Integrated Solutions.

  • Identify children at risk for lead poisoning which may result in significant morbidity and mortality.
    Objective Description
    Identification of lead poisoning in children before development disability or death occurs is of critical importance, resulting in requirements for screening young children for exposure to lead. These screenings permit early intervention that can significantly improve the quality of life.
    Objective Strategies
    • The service area will administer the Lead-Safe Virginia program.
    • Maintaining the LeadTrax database for blood lead data on all children under 72 months of age.
    • Maintaining and managing the grant funding for program activities related to childhood lead poisoning and exposure in children under 6 years (72 months) of age.
    • Collaborating with the jurisdictions having the highest risk for environmental lead exposure for local program implementation.
    • Monitoring and working to improve, where needed, laboratory compliance with requirements for electronic reporting of lead screening in children under 6 years of age.
    Objective Measures
    • Percent of Medicaid-enrolled children under the age of 36 months that are tested for lead exposure.
      Measure Class:
      Other
      Measure Type:
      Outcome
      Measure Frequency:
      Annual
      Preferred Trend:
      Up
      Measure Baseline Value:
      10
      Date:
      6/30/2005

      Measure Baseline Description: Percent

      Measure Target Value:
      11
      Date:
      6/30/2009

      Measure Target Description: Percent

      Data Source and Calculation: Numerator: Number of Virginia children <36 months of age reported by laboratories to VDH as having a lead test performed. Denominator: Twelve-month average of the number of Virginia children that are Medicaid (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security - FAMIS Plus) enrolled as reported by the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Data are from two databases: The Department of Medical Assistance Services Medicaid enrolled database and LeadTrax (the VDH childhood lead screening database). A data match is performed by providing a list of children tested for lead exposure to the Department of Medical Assistance Services to match for children in their database using child's last name, first name, date of birth; the LeadTrax ID number is then used to upload data received by the data match. The numerator is the number of children 0-36 months of age identified as tested during the fiscal year. The denominator is 12-month average of children 0-36 months enrolled for Medicaid as provided by the Department of Medical Assistance Services.


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