The water, the land, the air, and within them, the countless organisms that live and thrive. These make up what we call the environment—the complex connections and dependencies that bind life to the essential resources found in nature.

 

Virginia has seen remarkable changes in the ever-growing effort to protect the environment. From the aspirations expressed in Article 11 of Virginia’s Constitution to the parts per quadrillion of trace metals detected in water, Virginians’ relationship with the environment often is very personal. It always is as close as the next breath we take or the next drink we sip.

 

The Commonwealth of Virginia has devoted time, money and thousands of people’s efforts during the last several decades to protecting the environment and making it better. Damage to the water, land and air occurred gradually—sometimes through ignorance, sometimes through negligence. Repairing that damage and preventing future damage also will occur gradually—but through knowledge and dedication. Just as Virginia has confronted many offenses against the environment in the past, it will continue to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

 

In 1993, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality picked up where its predecessor agencies left off. This history commemorates the 15th anniversary of that occasion and recognizes the environmental accomplishments that have occurred in Virginia before and since.