3EPA
EPA 100-F-96-002
Community-Based
Environmental Protection
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Introducing CBEP
Over the past twenty-five years EPA has achieved remarkable progress using nation-wide standards to protect
the environment. We recognize, however, that even if there were perfect compliance with all environmental laws
and regulations, we would still see many disturbing environmental trends. One reason is that many problems
result from a multitude of dispersed sources of pollution (for example, automobiles or run-off from cities, suburbs
and agriculture). These problems are more difficult to control with traditional "end of the pipe" regulation than
are large, industrial sources of pollution. Another reason is that we recognize the need to treat all the resources
in a place - air, water, land, and living resources - as inter-connected parts of a system. And finally, not all parts
of the country have the same problems or need the same kind of solutions. To continue our progress, we therefore
must lay the foundation for a new generation of environmental protection.
Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) is an approach that EPA is taking to improve the
effectiveness of our nation-wide regulations and other environmental programs. Our goals are to assess and
manage the quality of air, water, land and living resources in a place as a whole, to better reflect regional and local
conditions, and to work more effectively with our many partners in environmental protection - public and private.
EPA's role in the CBEP approach will vary from place to place and issue to issue - just as it has under past
approaches to environmental protection. In some places (e.g., those which cross state boundaries or which are
nationally important) EPA may lead the effort. In other places, EPA will be an active partner in designing and
implementing effective environmental solutions. In many places, EPA will support and assist the efforts of others
by providing environmental information, monitoring systems, scientific analysis and other types of assistance.
How CBEP Works: The CBEP approach tailors
environmental programs to address the problems of
a particular watershed, ecosystem, or other place.
CBEP is designed to maximize the use of scarce
resources, encourage local support, and consider the
economic well-being of communities.
Description: The following are key components of
Community-Based Environmental Protection:
• A Geographic Focus allows for a more
comprehensive approach to environmental
protection. EPA staff from various program
offices will work together to assist our many
partners with priority environmental problems
whether they be air, water, or land issues — or a
combination of these concerns.
A Focus on Environmental Results is made
easier by geographic boundaries. Our goal is to
measure environmental improvement in the area
of concern, hi many cases this means looking
beyond facility-by-facility progress and identi-
fying overall environmental improvements and
trends.
Partnerships and Stakeholder Involvement.
CBEP partnerships may include representatives
from all levels of government, public interest
groups, industry, academic institutions, private
landowners, concerned citizens, and others. We
envision that these relationships established with
regional and community organizations will bring
about a better understanding of environmental
problems as well as more effective solutions.
CBEP FACT SHEET SERIES
w.o. c-Mvirunmeniai rroieciion
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
MAY 1996
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Progress to date:
• All EPA Regional Offices and Headquarters
Program Offices, submitted Action Plans for
supporting CBEP in December, 1995.
• EPA Headquarters offices are supporting the
Regional CBEP efforts by providing additional
budget flexibility to the Regions.
• An important aspect of CBEP is working more
closely with state and local organizations. Each
Regional CBEP Action Plan described ways to
be more responsive to state and local needs.
• EPA is working to develop Performance
Partnerships Agreements with states to work
together to tailor the programs' requirements to
individual state and local/community needs while
emphasizing a more integrated approach to
environmental protection.
• Efforts to develop effective information and
technical tools for CBEP are under way
throughout the country.
Examples of CBEP Projects: Projects are under
way in major cities and smaller rural areas.
Examples include:
Clear Creek, CO - a partnership of local
organizations, private citizens, industry, and several
agencies to protect the Clear Creek Watershed
which covers roughly 600 square miles. Actions
taken to restore the river include Superfund remedial
actions and voluntary cleanups, wetlands planning,
mapping of endangered species, land use plans,
water quality projects, and an emergency dial-down
system to inform water users when spills have
occurred in the creek.
St Louis, MO and East St Louis, IL - an effort to
enhance communication and coordination among the
many agencies involved in environmental issues in
the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The goal is to
promote creative solutions to environmental
problems such as hazardous and radioactive sites,
poor air quality, wetland and riparian management
issues, and water quality issues. Actions taken
include creating multi-media teams within EPA to
work on issues in the area, as well as hiring an on-
site liaison in response to community requests for
more regular contact.
Brunswick, GA - an initiative to use regulatory and
non-regulatory approaches to assess the
environmental condition of the area and respond to
environmental problems. Issues include mercury
and PCB contamination in creeks, hazardous waste,
and potential air quality problems. Actions taken
include a strategy to reach across media-specific
programs in a coordinated ecosystem protection
manner; expanded site assessments; and sampling
of surface water, sediments, fish tissue, private
wells, and marshes in the area.
Henryetta, OK - a partnership with city and state
agencies and a citizens advisory group to address
concerns about: the redevelopment of an abandoned
mining and smelter site owned by the city; solid
waste collection and recycling issues; and drinking
water and wastewater delivery systems.
For More Information:
Visit EPA's CBEP Internet Home Page at:
http://earthl.epa.gov/ecosystems/
Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Rosemary Monahan (617) 565-3551
Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI)
Rabi Kieber (212) 637-4448
Regions (DC,DE,MD,PA,VA,WV)
Dominique Lueckenhoff (215) 566-2738
Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Cory Berish (404) 347-3555 x6770
Region5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
Marilou Martin (312) 353-9660
Region 6 (AR, LA, MM, OK, TX)
Cindy Wolfe (214) 665-7291
Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE)
Donna Sefton (913) 551-7500
Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
Karen Hamilton (303) 312-6236
Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU)
Denise Zvanovec (415) 744-1612
Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA)
Rick Parkin (206) 533-8574
Headquarters: (202) 260-4002
CBEP FACT SHEET SERIES
U.S.
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Environmental Protection Agency
•n 5-Library (PL-12J)
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MAY 1996
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