United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
EPA-905-K-98-002
January 1998
AGENDA FOR ACTION
•'-**•• •>..->
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National Priorities
Improve Drinking Water
Reduce Wet Weather Pollution
Protect Watersheds
American Indian Environmental Office
Establish Health Baseline
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Superfund Program
Underground Storage Tanks and/
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
RCRA Program
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances
Worker Protection Standards
Groundwater Protection Program
Lead
Pollution Prevention
Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance
Ensure Data Quality and Reporting
Maintain a Strong Active Monitoring and
Promote Widespread Use of Compliance
Incentives
Office of Air and Radiation
Improve Air Quality Relative to
Current NAAQS
Establish PM-fine Monitoring Network
Implement the Air Toxics Program
Regional Priorities
All Priorities are Cross-Program
Reducing Toxics, especially Mecury
Promoting Sustainable Urban
Development and Reuse
of Brownfields
Cleaning Up Sediments
Protecting Ecosystems and Restoring
Critical Habitat
Protecting People at Risk,
Especially Children and
Environmental justice Communities
REGION 5
AGENDA
FOR ACTION
EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS
(States.Tribes)
REGION 5
PRIORITIES
INTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS
(Teams, Programs, Approaches)
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January 30, 1998
To All Region 5 Staff:
As we move into another year of environmental protection, we want to highlight for you some of our hopes and expectations for the
Region We completed a very successful year across the board in all of our programs, and we were especially strong in enforcement
and compliance assurance throughout the Region Although we lost our leader of 27 years, Valdas V Adamkus, to his homeland of
Lithuania, we need to press on in the spirit that he created during his distinguished career at EPA
This year, more than ever before, we need to make sure that our actions lead to tangible environmental results and advance
us toward the 10 goals set out in EPA's strategic plan. By focussing our resources on the five regional environmental priorities and the
priorities set our by our national programs, we have the best chance of solving the most important environmental problems that
stand in the way of achieving our goals. With the additional emphasis we place on certain geographic areas and natural resources
within the Region, and the use of the new problem-solving approaches we have developed, we believe that we can bring about real
environmental improvement - where it counts the most - in the most effective way
The Agenda for Action should help all of us to understand better how all parts of our environmental protection program fit
together. The driving force is the EPA Strategic Plan of September 1997. With that, we take the Environmental Performance
Partnership Agreements with our States and the Tribal Environmental Agreements with our tribes, and blend them into the Region's
Agenda for Action. The focus within the Agenda for Action is on our five Regional environmental priorities and the national program
priorities. Although each of you concentrates your efforts on certain priorities in specific areas using different approaches, it is
important to understand how your work fits into the bigger picture of the work done by the Region With this broader
understanding, we believe we all can be more effective.
Partnerships with the States and tribes continue to be essential for our success We are also working more with local
governments than ever before, and our community- based approaches increasingly bring us in direct contact with the general public
and other, specific-interest groups. We must also continue our reinvention efforts to explore new and better problem-solving
approaches
Internally, implementation of our diversity action plan is our highest priority. We want full and equal opportunity for people
to advance in our organization and play a bigger role in contributing to our success. This year we must also improve our planning
process and our accountability system.
Each year we have new challenges and opportunities to make it the best year ever Let's take full advantage of this as we
advance toward our vision — a sustainable environment and high-quality of life for everyone to enjoy
i
David A. Ullrich Michelle D. Jordan
Acting Regional Administrator Deputy Regional Administrator
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AGENDA FOR ACTION
FY 1998
Overview
EPA's 10 Strategic Goals express the environmental outcome we are all working toward clean air, water, and
land, safe food, homes, and workplaces; sound science, greater compliance with environmental laws, and
access to environmental information for all Americans These national goals set the course for EPA in the
coming years and define the standards against which EPA's progress will be judged. Many of the Strategic
Goals correspond to EPA's legislative authorities The goals are embodied in EPA's Strategic Plan. The plan
encourages the use of nontraditional approaches, as well as traditional programmatic approaches This plan
is intended to be dynamic and flexible, able to accommodate the needs and priorities of the American
public.
EPA Region 5 has looked at the environmental issues facing the Midwest and has identified a
number of issues that challenge our ability to meet those national goals: the ubiquitous presence of toxic
substances, the continued urban expansion into rural and agricultural areas, the resulting abandonment of
urban Brownfields areas, the loss of critical habitat, the disproportionate exposure to environmental risks of
children and some minority populations, and the challenge of cleaning up contaminated sediments. These
regional priorities present vastly more complex environmental problems than single legislative authorities
were designed to address. These issues will require several authorities to respond in coordinated effort.
And, such effort will ultimately enable EPA Region 5 to make significant contributions toward achieving the
Strategic Goals. These regional priorities, more than any others, require comprehensive environmental
responses, in which EPA programs are seamlessly implemented, multiple-agency programs and resources
are closely aligned, and public buy-in and commitment are sustained.
These environmental priorities figure prominently in the Region's priority geographic areas
throughout the six-State region Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin The nine priority
geographic areas are- the Great Lakes (particularly Lakes Erie, Superior and Michigan), Upper Mississippi
River, Northwest Indiana, Greater Chicago, Southeast Michigan, Northeast Ohio, and East St. Louis-Gateway
areas. In these key geographic areas, EPA works in partnership with the community to achieve common
environmental goals. Many traditional and nontraditional approaches will be needed to make and sustain
great strides in environmental protection in the future. Expanding these approaches provides flexibility,
which creates innovation and responsiveness to the needs of a given situation.
These regional priorities are emphasized for FY 98. So, too, are several of the national program
priorities. The national programs correspond to EPA's legislative authorities These authorities have historically
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been the foundation for environmental progress, have driven the development of the Strategic Goals, and
continue to be the primary tools EPA will use in the key geographic areas. For FY 98, the national program
offices identified 17 priorities. These national priorities help focus the work of individual environmental
programs within EPA Region 5 They are short-term steps toward the strategic goals
By focusing and aligning EPA programs and authorities, by working closely with communities, by maintaining
some flexibility and using nontraditional approaches, we can advance toward our vision of a sustainable environment
where air, water, and land resources are restored and protected to benefit all life. From year to year, in measured steps, we
work to identify and solve environmental problems in common-sense ways
For FY 98, the regional leadership team places special emphasis on continued reinvention efforts and the
enforcement program in the course of our work With organizational changes completed, reinvention efforts shift into
the continuous improvement mode. The Region actively seeks more effective ways to do business and ways to improve
the quality of the work we do. Not all reinvention efforts are new, however Some, such as the enforcement program, are
renewed The deterrence effect of our enforcement program remains a critical and often unique role for the Region. That
role will continue to be played in conjunction with other approaches.
Finally, the regional leadership team recognizes the need for EPA to better reflect the communities we serve by
increasing diversity in the workforce. Diversity brings in different experiences and perspectives, allowing everyone to
benefit from their experiences with and in the Region Employee development efforts are designed to recruit and retain
a high quality, diverse workforce needed for environmental leadership
This agenda is a road map through the regional and national priorities for FY 98 It is meant to be a living and
dynamic document, responsive to our partnerships and changing conditions. Where possible, the specific activities and
expected outcomes for FY 98 are highlighted. Individual plans supporting the priorities, the places and approaches have
been developed and are available through the contact list in the back of this document. These plans detail activities for FY
98 and move us toward a restored and sustainable environment
1998 REGIONAL PRIORITIES
The FY 98 priorities follow from the FY 97 priorities, which were based upon an assessment the serious
environmental issues facing the Midwest over the coming years. The Region recognized some gaps in
legislative authorities, identified geographic areas with the greatest environmental impacts, and devised
new approaches for solving new or remaining problems that cross program lines. The priorities, geographic
places and approaches highlighted in the Agenda for Action are not exclusive Environmental program work
continues across the Region Work with our partners to identify problems in places is on-going, and is
addressed in the traditional program context However, the Region's overall strategy for achieving strategic
environmental goals is to focus on a shorter list of cross-program priority environmental problems, in specific
places, using identified approaches to ensure clear and measurable outcomes are achieved
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The regional environmental priorities for FY 98 are
4 Reducing Toxics, especially mercury
* Promoting Sustainable Urban Development and Reuse of Brownfields
4 Cleaning Up Sediments
+ Protecting Ecosystems and Restoring Critical Habitat
4 Protecting People at Risk, especially Children and Environmental justice Communities
These regional priorities represent major environmental problems in this Region — problems that
affect a significant population or resource, or are best dealt with using a combination of solutions, frequently
requiring nontraditional approaches because they are not adequately responsive to singular programs. These
are the kinds of issues that require multiprogram efforts and significant public support to progress toward
solutions
Reducing Toxics, especially Mercury
The need to reduce toxics is a recurrent theme in everyplace-based team, every program, and every
regional priority Releases of toxic substances have caused serious adverse effects in humans and
damage to the environment. Region 5 has made reduction of toxics a priority and continues to
support the regionwide Toxics Team to assure that the efforts of the Region, States, tribes, and other
groups to reduce toxics reflect a multimedia perspective, are as effective as possible, and use sound
science and technologies
The Toxics Team continues to focus on the reduction of mercury releases, implementation
of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, investigation of endocrine disrupters and toxaphene,
and the reduction of lead.
At the core of our toxic reduction efforts are the environmental data assessments, which
identify emerging issues, allow assessment of possible sources and loads, and help measure program
effectiveness. In FY 98, numerous data assessments will be on-going, including the possible sources
of toxaphene, assessment of sources and loads in Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Erie watersheds (as
well as other, smaller watersheds), and an air toxics source assessment completed by the States.
Numerous approaches are taken to reduce toxics, in addition to reductions through regulatory
programs. Pollution prevention has, and continues to be, an effective means for achieving toxic reductions.
For example: the Region will continue to focus on sewage treatment plants, to design programs that identify
sources of pollutants — especially mercury— for reduction at the source. This is expected to result in significant
progress toward voluntary meeting of Great Lakes Initiative standards The Region continues to support
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such national programs as the Green Lights - Energy Star, Global Climate Change, Great Waters, Urban Air
Toxics programs, WasteWise, Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, Environmental Leadership Program,
and any 33/50 successor programs to reduce toxic chemicals. There are a number of regional projects that
have evolved from community needs, such as PCB phase down and PCB Used Oil and Pesticide Clean Sweep
programs, Great Printers Project, U S Auto Project, and various waste minimization projects
The movement of toxics through the environment knows no political boundaries. Partnerships beyond
the boarders of this region are essential, particularly with the Canadian governments. Understanding how the
quality of life is affected in other places is a key to making better decisions In FY 98, the Region will work with our
partners to develop implementation plans for the Binational Toxics Reduction Strategy, to collaborate on Great
Lakes planning, and support environmental projects in Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic region
Promoting Sustainable
Urban Development and Reuse of Brownfields
Urban sprawl into rural, agricultural land — Greenfields — is leading to a wide range of environmental,
social, and economic problems In the Midwest, only slight population increases are expected in the
urban cores, while expansion into metropolitan Greenfield areas continues at double-digit rates. These
patterns increase our dependency on the automobile (resulting in more air pollution), degrade or destroy
natural areas and habitats, and increase flooding and nonpoint-source water pollution. An alternative to
this expansion is the redevelopment of abandoned urban sites — Brownfields. Actual and perceived
environmental contamination, and the threat of incurring cleanup liability, leave thousands of these
urban sites ignored in most redevelopment schemes, feeding the perception of social abandonment as
well as furthering industrial decline. Working with State and local governments, other Federal agencies,
and regional authorities, we can help identify strategies that can lead to more sustainable development
and a higher quality of life for communities
Greenfields and brownfields work is at the heart of quality-of-life issues in the Midwest. Through the
work of several regional programs and the Steering Committee on Sustainable Urban Development, the
Region is promoting green development alternatives, such as reuse of older subdivisions or retail spaces,
cluster siting of buildings, pedestrian and bicycle friendly projects, mixed-use zoning, transit-oriented
development, preservation of natural features, and many other alternatives The committee is developing
materials for public outreach, to help share information and success stories at the local-government level
The committee is also working to increase inter-agency coordination to better align programs for the support
of smart urban development options.
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The regional programs also support these development options by promoting better transportation
patterns to deal with the long-term growth of vehicle miles traveled, using of natural storm-water retention
methods, and promoting better community planning for watersheds, to prevent degradation due to nonpoint-
source runoff related to urban development. Under the environmental impact statement process, the Region
helps partners and stakeholders to recognize and incorporate secondary land-use impacts in the development
and analysis of project alternatives.
The Region's Brownfields effort have produced a significant amount of concrete results through
site assessment and cleanup, clarification of liability issues, and partnerships with States, local governments,
and community organizations. Expanded activities this year will focus on practical partnerships with other
Federal agencies, problem-solving and technical assistance to communities, administration of Brownfields
pilots, and further clarification of liability issues. Support to our partners within State and local governments
will expand, as will our attempts to spotlight programs and projects which are particularly successful.
This year, a fly dumping prevention program will be put into place in several communities to deal with
the unsightliness and hazards of construction, demolition debris, and used tires on abandoned city property.
Agreements with some States on voluntary cleanup of hazardous waste sites, toxic substances, and under-ground
storage tanks creates incentives for owners and operators to clean up without significant Federal involvement
Cleaning Up Sediments
Polluted sediments are the largest major source of contaminants to the Great Lakes food chain, and over
2,000 miles (97%) of the shoreline are considered impaired. The Region 5 sediment inventory contains 346
contaminated-sediment sites. Fish consumption advisories remain in place throughout the Great Lakes and
many in/and lakes Contaminated sediments also cause restriction and delays in dredging of navigable
waterways, which in turn can negatively affect local and regional economies Contaminated sediments
must be cleaned up — before these sediments move downstream or into open waters, which makes them
inaccessible and cleanup impossible.
The Regional Sediments Team continues to focus on meeting EPA's sediment goals and supports
contaminated-sediment sites where cleanup projects are or will be under wav. There are many projects
around the Great Lakes where actual dredging is under way or about to begin. The Sediments team is well
positioned in FY 98 to provide technical assistance to project managers in a "SWAT" team approach. The
Sediments Team is working closely with the regional data managers to develop a single regional sediment
database. Through the Sediments Team, EPA is also a co-founder and partner on the Great Lakes Dredging
Team, whose member organizations are focusing their efforts on improving the process for managing dredged
materials from our navigable waterways.
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Sediments clean up play a major role in the development of Lakewide Management Plans and
Remedial Action Plans. These plans are mandated by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. These
multiagency planning processes are supported by partnerships with other agencies and the community, to
ensure sediment cleanup in the context of broader watershed planning. Sediment sampling and
characterization is also supported by a number of regional programs, most notably the Great Lakes National
Program Office. It supports this work by using its Mudpuppy boat for sampling and provides technical
assistance and funding for sediment cleanup demonstrations
To minimize soil erosion and continuing sources of sediment pollution from nonpomt agricultural
and urban storm-water runoff, EPA works closely with State agriculture departments and other Federal agencies,
as well as with Farm Bill implementation and other programs that other agencies direct. Such preventative
efforts can be enhanced through improved program alignment within EPA and with other agencies.
Protecting Ecosystems and Restoring Critical Habitat
Habitat degradation and loss is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the Nation, as
recognized by EPA's Science Advisory Board and others. This conclusion is consistent with the international
community's Biodiversity Treaty, which recognizes the loss of biological diversity as a global problem.
Ecosystems in Region 5, beset by great alterations and biodiversity losses (due to population growth,
deforestation, pollution, invasion of alien species, and so on), still sustain unique ecological communities
and species that require protection or restoration.
Many agencies have some authority regarding ecosystem protection In FY98, the newly established
region wide Critical Ecosystems Team will define its role with all other partners in handling ecosystem problems,
collaborate on the Environmental Roundtable and other appropriate partners to define locations and
characteristics of our most critical ecosystems — particularly the coastal marshes and near-shore aquatic
biodiversity areas — and meet internal EPA needs for ecological assessments.
EPA commits to build its capacity for doing assessments and ensuring the quality of ecological-risk
assessments In the coming year, an ecological-risk assessment course to train-the-trainer will be held in all
State environmental agencies. And significant advances will be made on the development of environmental
indicators to measure progress as it really affects the environment Staff across the Region will focus on this
work, as will the State of the (Great) Lakes Ecosystem Conference in '98
The Region continues to improve its program alignment in support of ecological protection and
restoration The advanced identification of wetlands program continues to support delineation of critical
wetland areas and the Lakewide Management Planning and Remedial Action Planning public groups, which
are particularly dedicated to identifying problems and developing solutions to ecological degradation EPA is
supporting a number of projects in
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FY 98, such as the marsh surveillance of species program, which will result in new data regarding the abundance
and diversity These programs not only contribute to our knowledge and databases, but sometimes are
sponsored and directed by communities themselves.
The enforcement program is particularly effective in this area Supplemental Environmental Projects —
which may be credited against a portion of the penalty assessed in an enforcement action - can be used for
habitat and ecosystem improvements. These opportunities are considered, as appropriate, during settlement
negotiations for penalty cases. Enforcement actions as a deterrent are also necessary and are planned for illegal
wetland filling and permit violations.
Protecting People at Risk, especially Children and Environmental Justice
( EJ) Communities
Over the last decade, concern about the Impact of environmental pollution on particular population
groups has been growing. Studies have shown that children, low-income, and minority populations are
most likely to suffer disproportionately from environmental pollution. The Region is committed to
addressing the human health and environmental needs of these population groups. Through increased
education and outreach to communities, targeted health and environmental research, improved public
access to information, and the creation of stakeholder partnerships the Region aims to reduce human
health and environmental impacts to these special groups.
In FY 98, the Region will continue to work with the States, tribes, communities, academia, and
others to build capacity for the identification and reduction of disproportionately high and adverse human
health and environmental impacts in low-income and minority communities. The Regional EJ Team will
continue to develop and provide the various EPA programs with tools to understand and confront EJ issues
and improve the identification of EJ areas near industrial facilities. This will allow EPA to focus its actions
(such as community education and outreach efforts, enforcement, and compliance assurance) and ensure
that EJ issues are dealt with and that its ability to select priority projects in these areas is enhanced.
Many EPA and regional programs specifically target children and other sensitive populations. The
programs include: Asthma Outreach, Chicago Cumulative Risk Initiative, lead strategy and lead-based paint
initiatives, asbestos abatement programs (aimed at schools), pesticide safety in food and for agricultural
workers and their families, and a growing number of educational software programs in these areas and in
pollution prevention. Defining the scope of children's health issues will be a regional goal for FY 98. A
children's health conference will be held this year for health-related agencies, to highlight the special
considerations needed to protect children.
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DELIVERING ON THE REGIONAL PRIORITIES
Consistent with the need to deal with multimedia environmental problems, the Region incorporates the
multimedia team concept - not just for responding to the regional priorities, but also for doing comprehensive
ecosystems planning and focusing on critical environmental themes, such as toxics reduction, ecosystem
protection, children, and environmental justice issues In addition, the traditional, single-media regulatory
programs continue to be the primary means for implementing our environmental programs. They provide
support to the teams and approaches described here Finally, the unique role the partnerships with States
and tribes have in reaching environmental goals needs to be recognized as an important means of delivering
on the priorities and affecting long-term environmental change.
Regional Places and Approaches
Within the regional team structure, the Region has designated nine key geographic areas for focusing on
Regional 5 environmental priorities presented previously, as well as priorities of critical importance to the
communities The nine key geographic areas are: the Great Lakes (especially Superior, Michigan, and Erie),
Upper Mississippi, Gateway-East St Louis, Greater Chicago, Southeast Michigan, Northwest Indiana, and
Northeast Ohio. The regional strategy also includes critical approaches to solving priority problems in the
Region Our critical approaches are
+ Enforcement and Compliance Assurance + Community-Based Environmental Protection
+ Pollution Prevention * Trust Responsibility for Indian Tribes
+ Risk and Science-Based Environmental Protection * Regulatory Innovation
^ Measuring and Managing for Environmental Results + Human Resource Investment for Change
• Partnerships with States, Local Governments, other • Customer Focus
Federal Agencies, and other Nations
Organizationally, many of our priorities, key areas, and critical approaches operate as multimedia teams,
meaning that they take into account all air, water, and land pollution in a given area The geographic teams work
with many agencies at all levels of government and with communities, to establish goals and priorities based on
local needs. EPA brings its programs to the table in an effort to coordinate with those of other agencies and private
parties, to reach environmental goals in a more comprehensive and cost-effective manner
Each geographic area is unique in reflecting the needs of the community, the partners at the table,
the history that resulted in the current circumstances, and the lessons learned along the way. Trust, long-
term commitment, consistency, and big-picture perspective are basic values that need to be developed and
nurtured for success in these partnerships. In general, EPA seeks to forge new alliances among local
stakeholders, to enable communities to identify and solve environmental problems. Through joint
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environmental assessments and pilot projects, we hope to build local capacity for sustained environmental
stewardship A limited number of specific activities for the regional teams are highlighted here. Please use
the contact list in the back of the document for further information.
Lake Superior: Largest fresh-water lake in the world (by surface area). Sparsely populated and
relatively pristine. Through the Zero Discharge Demonstration Program, the partnership is trying to
demonstrate that Clean Water Act goals can actually be met. FY 98 Activities: Complete load reduction target
document, develop draft load-reduction strategies, support P2 and sustainable development projects
Lake Michigan: World's largest concentration of pulp and paper mills and 40% of the Nation's
steel production. A chemical mass-balance study for the entire lake is ongoing. The scientific knowledge of
contaminant cycling gained here will be transferable everywhere. FY 98 Activities: Continue chemical mass
balance, support P2 and sustainable development projects with private sector, continue work on lakewide
management plan.
Lake Erie: The smallest, warmest, shallowest, and most biologically productive Great Lake supports
major industrial, and recreational and fishing uses. Stresses from urbanization, agricultural use, and exotic
species impact habitat and threaten food sources. FY 98 Activities Complete a problem-statement document,
support P2 and enforcement-compliance assistance activities, support RAP development and other State,
agency or community-based projects
Upper Mississippi River: Sedimentation problems is the most significant threat. Navigation issues,
tributary alterations, farming practices, and flooding contribute. Possible contributor to Hypoxia problems in
G u If of Mexico. FY 98 Activities: Support demonstration projects, reach out to communities to modify existing
practices, assess data and map flood plains.
Northwest Indiana: Enforcement focus for old steel and petroleum refining areas. Sediment,
ozone, and minority population issues Area has rare and valuable ecosystems FY 98 Activities. Support
partnership development, map critical habitat and wetlands, reach out to schools and pubic.
Greater Chicago: Sustainable development focus for Southeast and West Side neighborhoods.
Area suffers urban malaise, but is rich in potential human resources. Area also has rare and valuable
ecosystems. FY 98 Activities: Do technical studies on PAH's, lead, and slag reclamation; outreach on asthma,-
facilitate Calumet Ecosystem Partnership,- do feasibility study for ecopark; and map blood-lead levels.
Southeast Michigan: Area of high minority-low income population and depressed economy. There
are five major rivers with impaired uses and contaminated sediment problems Major releases of toxic
substances, polluted air sheds, and land-use problems created by urban sprawl. FY 98 Activities- Support
Remedial Action Planning; enhance public-forum involvement, Brownfields redevelopment, and community
focus on environmental planning
Northeast Ohio: This is our community-based environmental protection pilot office. Multimedia
inspections focus on enforcement. Old industrial areas trying to go toward high-tech industries FY 98
Activities: Support "first stop" land-use project, develop economic-incentive approaches to air compliance,
support small business workshops on P2-waste minimization
East St. Louis-Gateway: Major ozone, lead, and cadmium air-quality problems. Open burning,
illegal dumping exacerbate odor and health problems. Area is American Bottoms Floodplain of Mississippi
River. FY 98 Activities- Support blood-level mapping, indoor air-quality assessment, and Regional Environmental
Network
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The regional approaches reinforce how work gets done. They make the regional Values Statement an active
part of regional operations. Many of these approaches are not new, but may have new emphasis or meaning.
By designating these specific approaches, an expectation for consistency and full regional assimilation is
created. As these approaches become assimilated, new ones may take their place This is a pathway for
continuous improvement.
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance: Providing a strong enforcement presence and ensuring
compliance through an array of traditional and innovative approaches is critical to deter future violations and to
protect human health and the environment. FY 98 Activities: Enhance the use of supplemental environmental
projects, improve compliance for priority sectors and in principal places, develop procedures for getting communities
more involved in enforcement and expand our multimedia efforts.
Community-based Environmental Protection Analysis: Improve Region's ability to maximize
environmental results by collaborating with others to solve environmental problems in specific places FY 98
Activities. Develop training curriculum and coordinate training sessions, develop clearinghouse of references,
provide an in-house seminar series
Risk and Science-Based Decision Making: Support the generation and consideration of technically
sound, publicly accessible scientific information. FY 98 Activities-. Do risk and peer review, provide risk
assessment and scientific analysis, support scientific forums, and communicate priority scientific needs to
national programs.
Customer Focus: Providing the best service possible to our customers through enhanced public
communications and improvements, based on what we hear from our customers. FY 98 Activities: Hold
meetings with stakeholders, provide training and resources to improve employee outreach skills, facilitate
community involvement in decision making, inform the public of environmental issues through the media,
and provide the public with easy access to environmental information through the Internet, software programs,
hotline, library, and publications.
Measuring and Managing for Environmental Results: Evaluate conditions, identify problems,
set environmental priorities, and measure performance as needed to solve the top environmental priorities
FY 98 Activities: provide assistance on development of goals, objectives, and performance measures and
support improvement of data management systems
Regulatory Innovation: Develop and provide new approaches to the existing regulatory framework
— approaches that are more efficient and flexible, reward creativity and outstanding performance, and more
effectively protect health and the environment. FY 98 Activities: Develop a framework for managing innovation,
work with partners to achieve acceptance, develop a system to monitor effectiveness.
Human Resources for Change: EPA will invest in employees - through training, education and
other means — to ensure the necessary leadership in environmental programs. Region 5 is committed to
providing an environment that fosters the recruitment, development, and retention of a high-quality, diverse
workforce. FY 98 Activities: Prepare career development curricula for every classification and grade and
develop multiple career paths for employee advancement.
Partnerships with States, Local Governments, Other Federal Agencies, and other Nations: Use
the partnership concept for collaboration and sharing in environmental areas of common interest. FY 98
Activities.- Partnerships, used fairly ubiquitously throughout the Region and for some international work, will
continue
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Trust Responsibility for Indian Tribes: EPA will act as trustee in implementing environmental
programs on Indian lands where the tribes themselves do not have authority or infrastructure to carry out the
work on their own. FY 98 Activities. Provide guidance to programs on fulfilling trust responsibilities, carry out
tribal agreements, provide training on grants and contract management, and continue work with the Regional
Tribal Operations Committee.
The Regulatory Programs and Regional Structure
Our Division and Office programs in the form of the Air and Radiation Division (ARD), the Water Division
(WD), the Superfund Division (SFD), and the Waste, Pesticides, and Toxics Division (WPTD) continue to
administer the principal environmental laws These laws remain our primary means for environmental
management, and our Division and Office organizational structure generally reflects the most significant
program elements. The Great Lakes National Program Office, housed in Region 5, leads the in the
development and use of a broad range of programs for restoring and maintaining the integrity of the Great
Lakes Basin.
Region 5 includes several support organizations that are critical to the success of the program
Divisions and Offices, Teams, Approach Managers, and Regional Senior Leadership Team The Resources
Management Division, for example, provides internal resource services to our staff. This includes computer
support, laboratory analysis support, financial tracking of grants to external partners, and payroll
Our Office of Public Affairs provides public education, information and involvement services The
Office of Regional Counsel provides legal counsel to the Region Our Office of Inspector General does
audits, which assures that our partnerships and approaches remain logical and defensible. The Office of
Strategic Environmental Analysis frames emerging issues, pilots new multimedia programs, and develops
environmental management approaches, such as Community-Based Environmental Protection, Measuring
and Managing for Environmental Results, and Regulatory Innovation.
The Partnerships With States and Tribes
The Region believes that as public funds continue to dwindle, now more than ever, greater cooperation and
coordination are needed to avoid duplication and capitalize on the strengths and resources of each agency
The States and tribes have shown leadership in a number of areas critical to meeting our mutual goals. The
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heavy investment in the Environmental Performance Partnership Agreements in FY 97 and again in FY 98 - to
outline joint priorities and specific measures for all programs in one comprehensive document —is the most
effective approach for achieving measurable environmental results. For FY 98, all six regional States have
agreed to joint priorities in reducing toxic air pollutants and mercury releases and in proceeding with
Brownfields urban redevelopment
Region 5 continues to ensure that Indian tribes, which request environmental programs, have the
authorizations and infrastructure to carry out these programs on tribal lands. Where tribes do not run the
programs, EPA does so directly. There are 34 tribes within Region 5. Tribal environmental agreements present
ajoint multi-year plan to clarify agreements made, set environmental priorities, consider resource needs (as
may be made available from year to year), and provide a forum for raising emerging issues TEA'S are in
place for tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and for those participating in Michigan. We update these agreements
annually. Each Division in the Region is developing a blueprint for implementing programs based upon
commitments in the TEA'S.
The components of this system provide the flexibility, organizationally and environmentally, to
respond to the environmental challenges before us Integration of this system into the Regional culture will
continue in FY98.
1998 NATIONAL PRIORITES
Strategic Framework
In 1995, EPA embarked on far-reaching reinventions to change basic approaches on planning, budgeting,
performance measures, and accountability EPA developed a Strategic Plan as a result of these reinventions
and requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act. The act supports many of EPA's efforts
to identify and use alternative approaches, to achieve greater environmental improvements in more logical,
lower-cost ways, as well as to develop additional approaches to traditional regulatory measures. EPA's Strategic
Plan identifies 10 specific, strategic national goals that will define EPA's direction in the coming years. The
regional and national priorities in this FY 98 agenda advance EPA toward these national goals.
The national framework also recognizes the role States and tribes play in meeting the strategic
goals Over the past several years, there has been a move to measure the results of environmental work and
increase accountability to the American public National workgroups and organizations exist to establish
agreements and formalize processes to achieve these ends. The National Environmental Performance
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Partnership System (NEPPS) is one such agreement aimed at, among other things, setting priorities and
setting goals and measuring progress within the context of a partnership between EPA and individual States.
The Tribal Environmental Agreements (TEA's) seek similar improvements in partnership. The Environmental
Council of States (ECOS) with EPA continue to refine and evaluate core program measures for national use
Region 5 will continue to provide leadership in these efforts by seeking to continuously improve approaches
to environmental challenges ahead.
Priorities
For FY 98, EPA national program managers identified 17 environmental priorities. These priorities are the
steps that we need to take in the short term, to make progress toward the strategic goals in the future.
Office of Water FY 98 Priorities
Improve Drinking Water Safety: Implement Safe Drinking Water Act, Source-Water Protection and
Small-System Capacity Programs.
Reduce Wet Weather Pollution: Control Storm Water, Sewer Overflows and Nonpoint-
Source Runoff.
Protect Watersheds: Implement Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program in Watersheds.
The Region will continue to integrate these Water programs within the State and tribal programs to the extent
provided by their respective authorities. The Region will help to build additional program capacity by providing
technical assistance for: watershed monitoring, implementation of the Great Lakes Initiative (GLI) Standards, and
convening public groups to solicit support the Total Maximum Daily Load program strategies The Region retains
leadership in a number of areas critical to support of States, tribes, and the regulated community, such as:
maintenance of the State Revolving Fund program, database and grant tracking; cross-program integration with
the public water supplies, ground water, nonpoint sources, and underground injection programs; Phase II storm-
water regulation and guidance development, the Great Lakes Initiative clearinghouse, program implementation
where capacity and authority do not yet exist, and enforcement of many cases
The Water Division has many projects that by their collaborative work with stakeholders, help fulfill
commitments to the community- based approach, protection of sensitive populations and protection of critical
habitat The Water Division will support an Environmental Justice study on possible pesticide contamination of
water supplies for transient migrant farm workers and their families in Wisconsin. It will also support a ground-
water nitrate and pesticide sources elimination program in parts of Wisconsin. Urban storm-water runoff projects
are planned in most of the key regional geographic areas. And, program authorities will be used to enhance
critical habitat in key areas — using tools such as the advanced identification of wetlands and enforcement for
illegal filling of wetlands. These are a few examples of how National goals and regional priorities in key places will
result in measurable environmental improvements.
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Office of Air and Radiation FY 98 Priorities
Improve Air Quality Relative to Current National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Continue
Redesignation efforts.
Establish Particulate Monitoring (PM)-flne Monitoring Network: Develop Infrastructure to Support
Analysis of PM- Fine Particulates.
Implement the Air Toxics Program: Improve Implementation of Standards for Air Toxics
The Region 5 Air and Radiation Division focus in FY 98 will be on the these primary program areas, ground-
level ozone, fine-particulate monitoring, air toxics, and indoor air quality, with special emphasis on reducing
children's exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. First, efforts to reduce the precursors of ground-level
ozone will intensify with the near-term goal of reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides from large power
plants. Second, a new fine-particulate monitoring network will be established. Third, efforts to reduce emissions
of air toxics that threaten human health directly and through deposition in the Great Lakes will continue
through the aggressive enforcement of Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards and the
development of State plans to control municipal and medical waste incinerators. Finally, outreach activities
will be part of the Region's indoor environment activities, to reduce children's exposure to environmental
tobacco smoke through voluntary actions in the home.
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response FY 98 Priorities
Underground Storage Tanks and Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (UST-LUST): Accelerate
Cleanups, Increase State Program Approval, and Implement the Program on Indian Lands.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Program: Take Corrective Action (CA) at High-Priority
Hazardous Waste Facilities and Implement the National Combustion Strategy.
Superfund Program: Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Sites and Reduce Barriers to the Reuse of Brownfields.
The regional focus for the UST-LUST program continues to be direct technical assistance to tank owners and
program assistance and oversight of State and tribal programs. Significant capacity building in this program
will continue in FY 98 as the States continue toward program approval. By the end of FY98, cleanup is expected
to be started at 95.5% of facilities (71,500 tanks) and completed at 55% of facilities (41,000 tanks).
All Region 5 States are authorized for CA, which has been carried out at 134 (58%) of the high- priority
facilities Stabilization measures, control of human exposure, or ground-water releases continues in FY 98, with
emphasis on high-priority facilities. There are 23 permitted combustion facilities within the Region and 17 more still
seeking permits. The regional focus is on oversight of facility risk assessment and trial burn plans for major commercial
boilers and industrial furnaces with interim status
The Superfund Division continues to lead all EPA Regions nationwide in completing cleanups at
Superfund sites. In FY 98, 20 additional completions will be added to the national target of 65 by Region 5.
That will bring the accumulated total of completion in Region 5 to about 60% of all National Priorities List sites
in the Region.
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Brownfields work is a high priority at both the national and regional levels and remains an excellent
example of Federal-State-local collaboration, which can make a difference in the quality of life and economic
conditions for many Americans The Region 5 Brownfields program expects to double the number of cooperative
agreements with municipalities for Brownfields assessment in FY98, bring the total to nearly 40 In addition, there
will be at least a dozen cooperative agreements with municipalities put into place in FY 98 to capitalize on the
revolving load fund
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances FY 98 Priorities
Worker Protection Standards: Reduce Exposure to Pesticides
Ground-Water Protection Program: Reduce Exposure to Pesticides in Ground Water
Lead: Reduce Children's Blood-Lead Levels
Pollution Prevention: Integrate Pollution Prevention into Core Regional Programs.
The region works in close partnership with various State agencies and universities to reach the large population
of farm employees and migrant workers in the midwestern States. Education and outreach on health effects
and preventing pesticide exposure are aimed at workers, handlers and their families At the same time,
there is a regional focus on reducing ground-water exposure to the general public to five commonly found
pesticides. Multi-program, multiagency coordination on ground-water protection plans is ongoing in the
development and implementation of plans to deal with these pesticides
The Region will move aggressively on reducing lead exposure in FY 98, with emphasis on protecting
people at risk and building State and tribal programs to more effectively manage and reduce lead hazards
During FY 98, these efforts will focus on-. 1) projects in each of the Region's five key areas, along with
outreach and education for especially high-risk neighborhoods; 2) helping States and tribes to secure enabling
legislation and to qualify for Federal authorization of their lead-based paint tramingand certification programs;
and 3) supporting EPA Headquarters in its further development of the national lead hazard reduction program.
The region will lead efforts to improve cross-media communication and coordination on lead issues and
commence lead-related enforcement under the real estate notification and disclosure rule.
Region 5 made great strides in recent years in building upon and expanding our partnerships with
trade associations, States, and the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable In FY 98, the
Region will integrate P2 activities into all regional program plans, our environmental partnership plans, and
all program agreements or memoranda of agreements. This action puts P2 considerations at the forefront of
partnership commitments and reinforces the commitment to P2 as a means of identifying cost-effective
solutions to environmental problems in all media
American Indian Environmental Office FY 98 Priority
Tribal Priority- Assess Environmental Health Risks on Indian Lands.
In FY 98, the Region will participate in a national workgroup to design a baseline assessment survey and begin the
preliminary assessments of all available regional data on tribal environmental conditions. This project will take a
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few years to complete. However, where data indicate the need for carrying out our trust responsibilities, those
needs will be met through program activities as appropriate
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance FY 98 Priorities
Maintain a Strong and Active Monitoring and Enforcement Presence.
Promote Widespread Use of Compliance Incentives: Encourage Regulated Entities to Voluntarily
Disclose Problems, and Support Development of Self-Audit and Compliance Management Programs.
Ensure Data Quality and Reporting: Assure High-Quality Data.
Region 5 will implement the national goals through a vigorous, core civil and criminal Federal enforcement
program, as well as by supporting enforcement efforts of the States. Region 5 will emphasize the importance
of consistency in the enforcement program, attempting to balance case initiations with conclusions on a
year-to-year basis In particular, during FY 98, Region 5 will strive to initiate timely and appropriate responses
to identified violations, emphasizing national and regional priorities, where feasible.
To encourage the regulated community to make broader use of EPA's self-disclosure policy in FY
98, we will aggressively market the policy and implement the regional procedure for tracking and resolving
self-disclosures Consistent use of the regional policy should stimulate increased use of audit and compliance
management systems Data quality is critical to the success of regional enforcement efforts We will continue
to obtain and maintain the most accurate data possible, both within the Region and from our States. To
effectively assess the value of its enforcement program, Region 5 will strive for 100% responsiveness in the
completion of case-conclusion data sheets, as well as in collection of core measurement data from State
enforcement activities Region 5 will continue its quarterly docket-program enforcement reconciliation activities
to help accurate tracking and reporting.
Conclusion
Each year we move our Region closer to fully integrated implementation of environmental programs in key
places and throughout the Region to achieve environmental results We focus on the regional and national
priorities in these key geographic areas, using many traditional and innovative approaches. We strive to
establish partnerships that better align our programs and lead to building capacity at the most local level for
sustained environmental stewardship We are improving the environmental landscape each day, with each
person and with each action. This is the course leading us into the 21 st century It is an aggressive one, filled
with challenges. Together with our partners and the public, we can restore and protect the environment for
ourselves and future generations to come.
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EPA STRATEGIC GOALS'
1. Clean Air
The air in every American community will be safe and
healthy to breathe. In particular, children, the elderly,
and people with respiratory ailments will be protected
from health risks of breathing polluted air. Reducing air
pollution will also protect the environment, resulting in
many benefits, such as restoring like in damaged
ecosystems and reducing health risks to those whose
subsistence depends directly on those ecosystems.
2. Clean and Safe Water
All Americans will have drinking water that is clean
and safe to drink. Effective protection of America's
rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, and coastal and ocean
water will sustain fish, plants, and wildlife, as well as
recreational, subsistence, and economic activities.
Watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems will be
restored and protected to improve public health,
enhance water quality, reduce flooding and provide
habitat for wildlife.
3. Safe Food
The foods Americans eat will be free from unsafe pesticide
residues. Children especially will be protected from the
health threats posed by tainted food, because they are
among the most vulnerable groups in our society.
4. Preventing Pollution and Reducing
Risk in Communities, Homes, Workplaces
and Ecosystems
Pollution Prevention and risk management strategies
aimed at cost-effectively eliminating, reducing, or
minimizing emissions and contamination will result in
cleaner and safer environments in which all Americans
can reside, work and enjoy life. EPA will safeguard
ecosystems and promote the health of natural
communities that are integral to the quality of life in this
nation.
5. Better Waste Management and Restoration
of Contaminated Waste Sites
America's wastes will be stored, treated, and disposed of
* September1997
in ways that prevent harm to people and to the natural
environment. EPA will work to clean up previously
polluted sites and restore them to uses appropriate for
surrounding communities.
6. Reduction of Global and Cross-Border
Environmental Risks
The United States will lead other nations in
successful, multilateral efforts to reduce significant
risks to human health and ecosystems from climate
change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and other
hazards of international concern.
7. Expansion of American's Right to Know
About Their Environment
Easy access to a wealth of information about the
state of their local environment will expand citizen
involvement and give people tools to protect their
families and their communities as they see fit
Increased information exchange between scientists,
public health officials, businesses, citizens, and all levels
of government will foster greater knowledge about the
environment and what can be done to protect it
8. Sound Science, Improved Understanding
of Environmental Risk, and Greater Innovation
to Address Environmental Problems
EPA will develop and apply the best available science for
addressing current and future environmental hazards, as
well as new approaches toward improving
environmental protection
9. A Credible Deterrent to Pollution and
Greater Compliance with the Law
EPA will ensure full compliance with laws to protect
human health and the environment.
10. Effective Management
EPA will establish a management infrastructure that will
set and implement the highest quality standards for
effective internal management and fiscal responsibility.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
ORGANIZATION CHART
Together, we can solve environmental problems with communities in common-sense ways.
Office of Regional
Counsel
Gail C Ginsberg
Office of the
Regional Administrator
David A Ullrich
Michelle D Jordan
Great Lakes National
Program Office
Gary V Gulezian
Office of Public
Affairs
Elissa Speizman
Air and Radiation
Division
David Kee
Senior
Leadership
Team
Office of Strategic
Environmental Analysis
Jerri-Anne Garl
Resources
Management Division
Robert Springer
Waste, Pesticides, and
Toxics Division
Norman Niedergang
Water Division
Jo Lynn Traub
Superfund
Division
William E Muno
Office of Inspector
General
Anthony C Carrollo
Ailverdes Cornelious
Regional Teams
Criminal Investigation
Division
Chicago Area Office
Louis M Halkias
Late Superior Team •>
Margar«J M, Guerriero
Lake Michigan Team •:•
Judy Beck
.;. Sediments Team
Bonnie L Eleder
.{• Critical Ecosystems Team
John Perrecone
.;. Toxics Reduction Team
Dan Hopkins
•> Environmental Justice Team
Karla Johnson
. _ , , „ .. . T Greater Chicago Team •>
<• Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Team Mardi R Ktevs
Tmka G Hyde
Upper Mississippi Team •!•
William D Franz
Sou^ieast Michigan Team
Laura L Lodisio
«J»Lake Erie Team
FfSflcine P Norling
OavW Linnear (acting
*
Northeast Ohio Office
RtehWWdhofer
<• Gateway Team
Jerome King
February 1998
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For Further Information
(All number are in the 312 area code unless otherwise noted)
Regional Program Managers
Acting Regional Administrator. David A. Ullrich 886-3000
Deputy Regional Administrator- Michelle Jordan 886-3000
Regional Counsel- Gail Ginsberg 886-6675
Resources Management Division: Robert Springer 353-2024
Air and Radiation Division: David Kee 353-2212
Superfund Division William Muno 353-9773
Waste, Pesticides, and Toxics Division Norman Niedergang 886-7435
Water Division JoLynnTraub 353-2147
Office of Public Affairs: Elissa Speizman 353-2072
Office of Strategic Environmental Analysis- Jerri-Anne Garl 886-9857
Office of Inspector General: Anthony Carrollo 353-2503
Great Lakes National Program Office. Gary Gulezian 886-4040
Office of International Affairs: Dan Thompson (Acting) 353-8414
Team and Approach Managers:
Lake Michigan: Judy Beck 353-3894
Lake Superior. Margaret Guerriero 886-0399
Lake Erie. Francme Norling 886-0271
Northeast Ohio Initiative (NEOI) Rich Wmklhofer 216-522-7260
Gateway-East St Louis: Jerome King 886-0981
Northwest Indiana Initiative (NWI)-. Sally Swanson 353-5069
Southeast Michigan Initiative (SEMI): Laura Lodisio 886-7090
Upper Mississippi William Franz 886-7500
Greater Chicago: Mardi Klevs 353-5490
Critical Ecosystems: John Perrecone 353-1149
Sediments Bonnie Eleder 886-4885
Environmental Justice: Karla Johnson 886-5993
Toxics: Dan Hopkins ' 353-2291
Enforcement. TmkaHyde 886-9296
Community-based Environmental Protection: Donald Kathan 886-0448
Sustainable Urban Development: John Haugland 886-9853
Brownfields Redevelopment: Jim Van der Kloot 353-3161
Regulatory Innovation: Linda Martin (Acting) 353-9486
Risk and Science. Howard Zar and Carole Braverman 886-1491 & 886-2910
Measuring and Managing for Environmental Results: Linda Hoist 886-6758
National Environmental Partnership Plans: Anna Miller 886-7060
Look for us on-line
on EPA's reinvention efforts, look for information on the National Reinvention Efforts on the Internet at "http://
www.epa gov/reinvent" and for the EPA Strategic Plan at "http://www.epa.gov/ocfo"
on the Regional organization, programs, and links to the initiative work on the Internet at "http://www.epa.gov/region5/"
on environmental work pertaining to the Great Lakes at "http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/"
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VISION
A sustainable environment where air, wate, and land resources are restored
and protected to benefit all life.
MISSION
Our mission is to:
+ Protect human health and preserve natural resources
4 Prevent and abate pollution to improve the environment
+ Serve the public with education, innovation, action, and results
+ Lead the way in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes
and all Midwestern ecosystems.
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