A Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) is an environmentally beneficial project undertaken as part of a settlement of a civil enforcement action, and is not otherwise required by law. In appropriate cases, performance of an approved SEP can mitigate a portion of a civil charge. SEPs are voluntary and should have a reasonable geographic nexus to the location of the violation. 

Categories of Projects That May Qualify as SEPs:

• Public Health - e.g. Epidemiological data collection and analysis; Collection and analysis of blood/fluid/tissue samples. 
• Pollution Prevention - e.g. Installing pollution control equipment that allows businesses, particularly small businesses, to implement voluntary pollution prevention measures; Improved inventory control systems that demonstrably reduce the amounts of waste generated from the disposal of out-of-date materials.
• Pollution Reduction - e.g. Installation of “polishing equipment,” such as an ion-exchange unit, at the end of a facility’s wastewater pretreatment system that removes the final traces of toxic elements from its effluent.
• Environmental Restoration and Protection - e.g. Remediating abandoned waste sites or brownfields areas; Restoring a wetland along the same avian flyway in which the facility is located.
• Environmental Compliance Promotion - e.g. Producing or sponsoring a seminar directly related to correcting widespread or prevalent violations within the facility’s industry sector. 

More information on supplemental environmental projects can be found in Chapter 5 of the Enforcement Manual. Or in the Va. Code § 10.1-1186.2. 

View Enforcement SEP Database here:

Catalogue             Dashboard

 Have a Great Idea for a SEP? Submit a survey here: SEP Survey

SEP Proposal Submission Checklist:

• Point of Contact – Someone to provide additional info about the project or answer follow-up questions, if needed.
• Total Project Cost Estimate - the U.S. EPA computer model PROJECT can be used to calculate the net costs of a project (see EPA’s Financial Models).
• Formal Proposal – Provides project idea proposal with related images, details, analysis, etc. (PDF or .xlsx files accepted). 

Need help? Please direct questions about SEPs or SEP idea submissions to the Enforcement Director.