Denver Environmental Performance Program

The Denver Environmental Performance Program (DEPP) is based on the city’s Environmental Policy(PDF, 366KB). It provides a framework to document processes and practices across city departments to reduce potential environmental impacts. The EMS also aims to increase operating efficiency, improve environmental performance, and promote sustainable development throughout the city’s operations and services. Leadership across City and County of Denver departments and offices work together to ensure these EMS targets are being met. 

To ensure regulatory compliance requirements are met and to instill a culture of sustainability in municipal operations, a citywide environmental training program was established.  Trainings are customized to each city department’s operations and potential environmental impacts.  Online and in-person training topics include Stormwater Management, Hazardous Waste Management, Asbestos in Soils and in the Built Environment, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), and the Environmental Management System (EMS).

The Internal Facility Compliance (IFC) program ensures that all facilities remain in compliance with environmental regulations by providing:

• Technical expertise and consultation
• Inspection and oversight
• Sampling, assessment and monitoring
• Recordkeeping and reporting
• Interface with regulatory authorities
• Management of hazardous and regulated wastes

The IFC Program provides these services to internal city agencies including but not limited to Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Parks & Recreation, General Services, Fire Department, and the Police Department but also extends these same services to Denver’s cultural facilities that are funded in part by the City, including the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Zoo.

IFC also promotes best management practices for pollution prevention and waste minimization throughout the city, and provides field resources dedicated to the clean-up of illegal dumping and hazardous materials and chemical spills.

The City operates six governmental fleet fueling sites, each equipped with large-volume underground storage tanks and many smaller tanks that support parks and landscape equipment, collect oil from car and truck maintenance, and power the standby electrical generators that support all of the City’s critical buildings and infrastructure.

Certain tanks are subject to state and federal regulation. The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment’s Oil and Public Safety Division oversees the Colorado Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations.

EM&O’s Active Tanks Program (ATP) works with city agencies to ensure all of the City’s regulated tanks meet state and federal requirements. The ATP also ensures that all tanks too small to be regulated by state and federal law comply with local fire code requirements.

Some of the specific services provided by the ATP include:

• Comprehensive annual tank inspections and testing
• Continuous monitoring for leaks and other operational conditions
• Recordkeeping and compliance reporting to the Oil and Public Safety Division
• Tank installation and removal consultation
• Tank site renovation and equipment upgrades
• Tank maintenance and repair by certified environmental professionals
• Strategic, long-term planning for infrastructure replacement or upgrade