Our Purpose:
The Environmental Health & Natural Resources Department develops and collaborates on local, regional, state and federal initiatives to protect the community’s environmental resources. The team structures and implements programs to enhance public environmental health in Pitkin County, as well as the quality of its environment.

Services:
Onsite Wastewater Treatment: EH/NR is responsible for the review, permitting, and final inspection of onsite wastewater treatment systems ("OWTSs"). Technical assistance is provided for property owners whose systems have failed and for property owners designing their own systems (where engineering is not required). An annual meeting is held for contractors, engineers, architects, and other interested parties to update them on changing rules, regulations, and technologies.

Consumer Protection Program: The Department inspects retail food service establishments, child care facilities and schools under a contract with the Consumer Protection Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Plan reviews are required for any new or remodeled retail food establishments. Food borne illness complaints are investigated in conjunction with Community Health Services, Inc.

Disease Prevention & Other Environmental Health Concerns: The Environmental Health professionals in the Department work to educate the public about emerging diseases, such as West Nile Virus. Air quality issues and noise complaints are handled by the Department, which also fields questions from the public on issues such as mold, asbestos, and radon.

Land & Water Resources EH/NR administers Floodplain Development Permits and coordinates the County's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System. The Department is authorized to conduct inspections under the State's Stormwater Program and works to educate developers about the State's requirements. As a member of Community Development, the Department works on land and water resource planning and management issues under the Land Use Code.

Working with other entities involved in public lands and natural resources issues, EH/NR monitors proposed Federal and State legislation and regulatory activity affecting the County and presents recommendations for action to the Board of County Commissioners, as appropriate. The Department's Natural Resource professionals are active in the Roaring Fork Watershed planning effort.

Smuggler Superfund Site: Compliance with the Consent Decree and implementation of the County's Institutional Controls on the Smuggler Superfund site are also the responsibility of EH/NR. Staff conducts site visits to monitor construction activity for compliance. The Department prepares and submits the biannual EPA reports, requests EPA "clean letters" for property owners that have performed adequate site mitigation and works with property owners and other City and County Departments on site remediation issues.