EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator Promotes Value of Partnership, Innovation, and Environmental Stewardship Across Virginia

EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator Promotes Value of Partnership, Innovation, and Environmental Stewardship Across Virginia

August 10, 2026

Richmond, Va. (August 10, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey concluded a multi-day visit across Virginia recently, meeting with federal and state partners, agricultural leaders, elected officials, and private-sector innovators working on solutions that strengthen both the environment and the economy.

"Virginia is home to farmers, engineers, and businesses that are already driving real innovation in how we protect our land, water, and air," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey. "This visit was about listening, learning, and strengthening partnerships with the people who are solving problems every day. From regenerative agriculture to recycling, the common thread is practical, commonsense progress."

Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey's visit to the Commonwealth included meetings with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Port of Virginia, and Customs and Border Protection officials. She also visited Virginia Department of Environmental Quality leaders, Virginia Farm Bureau representatives, farmers, agribusiness leaders, and members of the Virginia State Dairymen's Association during a farmers-and-funders roundtable.

Highlights include:

AMP Recycling Center (Suffolk, Va.) - Van Blarcom-Lackey saw first-hand how trash is sorted using cameras, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The facility reduces the amount of material sent to landfills by roughly 50% while improving worker safety through more efficient handling.

Port of Virginia (Portsmouth, Va.) - Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey visited the Port of Virginia's International Gateway, the deepest channel and first natural deepwater port on the East Coast, to discuss the balance between efficiency, economy, and environmental protection, especially in terms of agricultural exports. The port has benefited from EPA infrastructure investments that have helped keep the air clean while improving operational productivity.

Farm Tours and State Dairymen's Association Roundtable - Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey visited Creamfield Farm, Riverview Farms, and participated in a roundtable at Oakmulgee Dairy Farm with the State Dairymen's Association, Sustainable Chesapeake, Virginia No-Till Alliance, and Maola Local Dairies to hear directly from producers and technical assistance providers about the opportunities and challenges facing Virginia agriculture. She discussed regenerative agriculture practices that can improve soil health, support productivity and profitability, and reduce nutrient loss to local waterways. The roundtable also highlighted an EPA-funded farmer-led conservation project, which provides funding for farmer-led organizations in Virginia to expand capacity for improving conservation on dairy and row crop farms. This planning support for farms in the Commonwealth enables the producers to lead in the conservation space.

Virginia Agriculture Expo (Doswell, Va.) - Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey met with agricultural leaders, conservation partners, elected officials, and stakeholders to discuss farmer-led conservation as a strategy to protect the environment and to hear more about concerns and best practices directly from the field.

"Across Virginia, I saw a common thread: people who are deeply committed to solving problems in practical ways," Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey said. "Whether it was farmers improving soil health, engineers advancing recycling technology, or partners reducing pollution at the port, the message was the same - innovation and progress work best when they're collaborative, locally informed, and focused on real-world results."

EPA remains committed to working with Virginia's agricultural community, federal and state partners, and private-sector leaders to support innovative solutions that strengthen communities, protect natural resources, and keep the Commonwealth moving forward.

###