oEPA
_^ฃs|ff^^^^^P^^
.. , -yr~!!^^^
'
_^iฃ,"
JfrggiaSgiij^SiiMffiiffiS^^
-------
-------
1
Managing for Better
Environmental Results
NATIONAL
REVIEW ALGORE
Vice President of the United States
A Two-Year Anniversary Report on
Reinventing Environmental Protection
March 1997
-------
Contents
Executive Summary 3
Introduction,
Innovation and Flexibility 6
Community Participation and Partnerships 12
Compliance Assistance 18
Cutting Red Tape and Paperwork 21
-------
Managing for Better
Environmental Results
Executive Summary
Two years ago, in March 1995, President Clinton, Vice-President Gore, and EPA Administrator Carol
Browner put forth an ambitious agenda to reinvent environmental protection as part of the larger goal
of creating a federal government that works better and costs less. The agenda, which has evolved and
broadened over time, cuts across all areas of EPA regulatory responsibility. It focuses on achieving a
safer, cleaner environment for all Americans by correcting the everyday inefficiencies and obstacles that have limit-
ed the effectiveness of environmental programs, and by designing and testing fundamentally new approaches and
systems equal to the environmental and public health challenges of today and the new century.
During the second year, EPA took steps to bolster reinvention, announcing a new Office of Reinvention, led
by a new Associate Administrator, and establishing a network of senior Agency officials to serve as Reinvention
Ombudsmen for their respective programs. These steps were taken while EPA continued pursuing important
environmental and public health protection improvements in a number of areas. The following highlights
describe some of the improvements made over the last year and offer a glimpse of what might be expected as a
result of reinvention in the future.
Promoting Innovation and Flexibility
To help companies and communities achieve better environmental results, EPA promoted use of innovative new
environmental technologies and management approaches and provided the flexibility needed to put newly devel-
oped tools to the test:
Through Project XL, EPA worked with companies on developing alternative management strategies to improve
environmental performance beyond what would be achieved under the traditional regulatory system. Agreements
to begin testing new strategies were reached with three companies Jack M. Berry Corporation, a citrus juice
processor in Florida; Intel Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser Corporation as negotiations proceeded with 20 more.
Under the Common Sense Initiative, EPA worked with multiple environmental stakeholders to create new
industry-by-industry approaches to environmental regulation to replace the traditional pollutant-by-pollutant
approach of the past. Currently, over 40 projects are underway to test elements of industry-based environmen-
tal management approaches for six different sectors.
EPA, in partnership with industry, trade groups, and other outside parties, established four new environmental
technology verification programs to provide objective, reliable information on the cost and performance of
new technologies. This information encourages rapid awareness and acceptance of new technologies and helps
companies and communities make sound technology investment decisions.
By the end of 1996, EPA completed actions to improve environmental quality and economic opportunity
around brownfields abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites where real or perceived conta-
mination discourages redevelopment. Over 29,000 sites were removed from the federal Superfund list; liabili-
ty responsibilities were clarified for local governments, banks, and other interested parties; and over 70 com-
munities received funding to invest in cleanup and redevelopment efforts.
Executive Summary 3
-------
Increasing Community Participation and
Partnerships
To achieve the widest possible participation in the job of protecting our environment, EPA focused on
empowering and building stronger partnerships with state and local governments, tribes, community leaders,
businesses, and private citizens:
EPA redesigned its Internet site which now receives over six million visits a month to make it more use-
ful for specific audiences, such as researchers and scientists, business and industry, and concerned citizens.
Twenty-three states nearly halfjoined EPA in developing Performance Partnership agreements to pro-
vide a more effective, collaborative framework for managing state and federal environmental programs and
resources.
Over 500 companies signed up to participate in voluntary environmental improvement programs, bringing the
total number of participants to over 7,000.
* EPA released for federal agency review national environmental goals for America. These goals, which include
specific targets in areas such as safe drinking water and clean air, mark the first time such an effort has been
undertaken.
Improving Compliance
To help companies and communities prevent pollution and ensure compliance with environmental laws, EPA
worked to make environmental regulatory information easier to understand and obtain:
Compliance assistance centers were opened to provide small businesses in the printing, agriculture, automobile
compliance, and metal finishing industries widi comprehensive, easy-to-understand information on all aspects
of environmental management. Based on the positive response, EPA began planning to open 4 more centers.
* EPA initiated the "Sector Facility Indexing Project," which will allow interested parties to obtain and compa-
sitc-specific environmental performance data among facilities within a given industry.
Cutting Red Tape and Paperwork
To ensure that people and organizations with environmental responsibilities are focused on problems as
opposed to paperwork, EPA looked for ways to cut red tape associated with environmental regulations:
ป EPA eliminated nearly six. million hours of paperwork burden by cutting obsolete, duplicative, or unnecessary envi-
ronmental requirements. To date, nearly 16 million hours of paperwork burden have been cut.
Five states were awarded $500,000 grants to support development of "one stop" reporting systems as part of a
larger effort aimed at improving the use and efficiency of environmental data collected at the federal, state,
and local levels.
Electronic mail was offered as a quicker, easier method for interested parties to comment on EPA regulatory actions.
* Improvements to the pesticides registration process has allowed EPA to cut its review times for some steps by
50 percent or more.
! Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
NATIONAL
"a
pa
sa
vvEPA
REVIEW ALGOW-
Vice PrtiiJtat of die United Sta.ua
Introduction
In March 1995, President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and EPA Administrator Carol Browner put
forth an ambitious agenda to reinvent environmental protection as part of the larger goal of creat-
ing a federal government that works better and costs less. Exactly what does reinventing environ-
mental protection mean? In the most narrow sense, it is addressing the everyday inefficiencies and
limitations associated with environmental programs and regulations. In a broader sense, reinvention
means managing for better environmental results. It includes designing and testing fundamentally new
systems and approaches to address the environmental and public health challenges that still confront
our nation.
As initially proposed 2 years ago, EPA's reinvention agenda focused on improvements at both levels.
It included 25 high-priority projects, cutting across all areas of environmental regulatory responsibility,
that were designed to promote innovation and flexibility, increase community participation and partner-
ships, improve compliance with environmental laws, and cut red tape and paperwork. In different ways
and to varying degrees, these projects are laying the groundwork for a safer, cleaner future. For example,
while EPA is providing industry with more opportunity for gaining operational flexibility, the offer is
conditioned on achieving greater environmental protection than what would be achieved under current
standards. Similarly, by encouraging innovation, EPA is helping companies and communities find better
ways of addressing some of the complex and challenging environmental issues that may not be
amenable to traditional regulatory approaches.
Not surprisingly, EPA's reinvention agenda has evolved over time, and now includes an even more
diverse range of activity. The scope and magnitude of this activity suggests that a transformation is tak-
ing place. In addition to achieving new efficiencies and better results, reinvention is creating an alto-
gether new mind-set among Agency managers and staff.
To nurture this transformation, EPA has taken steps to bolster reinvention internally. In February
1997, EPA announced a new Office of Reinvention, to be led by a new Associate Administrator. This
new office will provide consistent focus on reinvention throughout the Agency, and help ensure steady
progress in meeting EPA reinvention commitments. It will also assist regulated parties interested in
pursuing innovative strategies for achieving better environmental results. In another move, EPA
appointed senior Agency officials to serve as "Reinvention Ombudsmen" for their respective program
areas, based on the recognition that reinvention is most successful when senior managers take an active
role. The Ombudsmen are charged with ensuring significant legal and policy issues are brought to reso-
lution; stakeholders have easy access to information and the opportunity to provide meaningful input;
and people and organizations outside the Agency receive timely answers to their reinvention proposals,
questions, and requests.
Together, these steps position the Agency to build on the reinvention progress of the past two years
and pursue an even more aggressive agenda for the future.
Introduction 5
-------
A Safer, Cleaner Environment Through...
Innovation and Flexibility
Reinventing environmental protection is about more than just fine-
tuning the current regulatory system. It also means looking to the
future, and exploring and testing fundamentally different apprdlcnes
that can help bring about better performance than what is being
achieved today. To a large degree, these approaches will stem from technology
advancements, from the need for operational flexibility, and from a desire by many
regulated facilities to move "beyond compliance" and achieve truly superior envi-
ronmental performance. During the past year, EPA focused on these opportunities
and continued laying the groundwork for an improved system of environmental
and public health protection for the future.
* -*l
'- _ -_ .. -.'.%-../. _^ 4
- _ __. ; ___ฃ __- _ ป_
Managing lor Seller Environmental Results
s *T
- ซ* _=-
** ^S^^:*i * f
"* & *"^^ปซ ^* I
-------
Moving Beyond Compliance
To encourage interest in not just meeting but exceeding
current environmental standards, EPA aggressively pro-
moted Project XL. Launched by President Clinton in
1995, this national pilot demonstration program which
stands for excellence and Leadership makes the fol-
lowing offer to companies, communities, and other regu-
lated facilities with proven track records of environmental
performance:
If you have an idea that promises superior envi-
ronmental protection to what would be achieved under
the current regulatory system, and if you use a mean-
ingful stakeholder involvement process, then EPA will
work with the relevant state and local agencies to grant
the flexibility needed to put those ideas to the test.
In 1996, EPA worked to develop and implement alter-
native management approaches aimed at achieving better
environmental results.
To meet its ultimate target of fifty XL industry "exper-
iments," EPA worked with a number of companies to
move from proposal to implementation stages. Final
agreements were reached with 3 companies, and nego-
tiations continue with 20 others.
In addition to industries, EPA also worked to extend
the XL opportunity to communities and federal facili-
ties. Later this year, EPA expects these efforts to come
to fruition at two sites in California; final project
agreements are expected to be signed with the the city
of Anaheim and with Vandenberg Air Force Base in
Santa Barbara County.
Profile
|JLln July 1996, the Jack ML Berry Corporation, a citrus juice processor in Florida, consolidated 23 federal,
rr-rstate, and local environmental permits into one comprehensive operating permit for the facility. This
r approach, which is expected to save the company several million dollars on the testing and administrative
_, costs typically incurred over the five-year life of a permit, will improve environmental performance in a num-
_/ ber of areas. For example, the corporation's solid waste generation will drop by more than 25 percent
'In November 1996, Intel Corporation agreed to an environmental management plan that includes a
facilitywide cap on air emissions in place of individual limits for different emission sources at a new plant in
: Arizona. The agreement allows operational changes without EPA permit review as long as certain permit
r:_Jimits are met. This feature gives Intel the advantage of being able to respond more rapidly to changing
market needs. In exchange, this multi-billion dollar facility will reduce air emissions below minor source
: thresholds and will return nearly 100 percent of its process water in safe, clean condition to the community'
-" hi January 1997, Weyerhaeuser Corporation agreed to implement a minimum impact manufacturing pro-
. posal to reduce environmental impacts on the Flint River and its surrounding watershed in Georgia.
----' Weyerhaueser will be given greater flexibility in meeting EPA's proposed standards for hazardous air emis-
.srons and in expanding or modifying production processes. In exchange, the facility has committed to
n-jeeluce discharge of bleach plant effluent by 50 percent, to cut overall water usage by about 1 million gal-
?- Ions a day, and to protect wildlife and reduce runoff on 300,000 acres of Georgia forests.
i
'1
Innovation and Flexibility 7
-------
Creating a" Fundamentally
Different System..."
Launched by EPA Administrator Carol Browner in
1993 as a fundamentally different system of environ-
mental protection, the Common Sense Initiative (CSI)
provides a continuing forum for creating new industry-
by-industry environmental management approaches to
replace the pollutant-by-pollutant approaches of the
past. This forum, which occurs in an open public set-
ting, provides balanced representation among multiple
stakeholders and consensual decision-making. It
includes a variety of innovative projects aimed at pollu-
tion prevention; permitting and reporting streamlining;
enhanced public participation in environmental man-
agement; use of innovative technologies; and setting
industry environmental goals and indicators. Some of
the innovative projects pursued in 1996 include:
Recycling, Reuse, and Recovery of Electronic
Equipment: To help the computers and electronics
sector address the rapidly increasing accumulation of
obsolete or unwanted electronic equipment, CSI co-
sponsored the National Conference on Electronic
Product Recovery and Recycling. The conference,
which focused on the reuse, recovery, and recycling
of electronic products, was the kick-off for establish-
ing an independent roundtable to promote long-term
management of obsolete computer equipment.
Setting National Performance Goals for Metal
Finishers: For the first time ever, multiple interest
groups industry, environmentalists, regulators
have reached an agreement on national performance
goals for metal finishers in a variety of areas, includ-
ing resource utilization, hazardous emission reduc-
tion, cost control, and compliance. These goals,
which will serve as a vision for the whole industry,
should help promote cleaner production at metal fin-
ishing facilities throughout the country.
ป Developing A Comprehensive Flexible
Permitting System: A comprehensive multimedia
permitting system is being developed for the printing
industry. Multi-media permits offer a single enforce-
able agreement covering all aspects of environmental
performance and replace the need for separate per-
mits for each environmental medium (e.g., air, water,
land). A key component of the proposed permitting
system is public participation.
Advancing New Environmental
Technologies
To encourage rapid awareness, acceptance, and
implementation of improved environmental technolo-
gies, EPA's Environmental Technology Verification
Program provides third-party evaluation of the cost and
performance of new commercial technologies. By
selecting and testing the most promising technologies
available, EPA and its partner organizations are able to
provide objective data and help companies and commu-
nities make sounder investment decisions.
In October 1996, EPA established four new verifica-
tion pilot projects in addition to five projects
established in 1995 to test different partnership
and process alternatives for verifying technologies in a
number of areas.
If the projects are successful, EPA expects the results
will help the Agency establish permanent verification
capacity and develop a full-scale environmental technol-
ogy verification program by the year 2000.
KM
Profile
ft TUB,
b
I Environmental
Technologies Are Being
Verified for...
vai
t
pa*
R
F
\
Drinking water treilment.for small systems.
Pollution prevention and waste treatment.
Site characterization and monitoring for haz-
ardous waste sites.
Indoor air products. \
n> -- (i .
[ Less"p611uting coating techniques for the metals
and plastics industries.
< i -, i , m j. (5
i Advanced monitoring systems.
i Air pollution control.
. T ซ, v a
i Wet weather flow control technologies.
8 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
Promoting Effluent Trading in
Watersheds
To achieve further reductions of water pollution in
rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, EPA is promoting efflu-
ent trading in watersheds. Trading creates an economic
incentive for pollution sources, such as industries or
wastewater treatment plants, to exceed requirements for
water pollution reductions, by providing the opportuni-
ty to sell "surplus" reduction credits to other sources
that find purchasing those credits a more cost-effective
way to comply with clean water requirements. This
arrangement can benefit facilities that go beyond com-
pliance while helping other facilities achieve compliant
status. More importantly, trading can help ensure that
water quality goals in a watershed are met.
In May 1996, EPA issued the Draft Framework for
Watershed-Based Trading. This framework, which pro-
vides guidance on implementation under the national
policy issued by EPA in January 1996, outlines five
different types of trades and includes case studies
illustrating how trades occur. Following the frame-
work's release, EPA received comments from over 50
sources, and is now working to better define and
address key issues of concern. In the coming year,
EPA will be releasing periodic updates outlining these
issues and possible options for resolution.
Encouraging Open Market Air
Emissions Trading
To encourage greater use of open market "emissions
trading" for smog-creating pollutants, EPA continued
developing a national policy to guide implementation.
As initially proposed in August 1995, this guidance
offers several features to help achieve safer, cleaner air
quality. It encourages the use of technologies prior to
required phase-in schedules, and provides incentives for
reducing emissions to levels below current require-
ments. As an added environmental benefit, the guidance
also requires that each trading transaction retire an
emissions quantity equal to 10 percent of the total
quantity being traded. In an effort to simplify participa-
tion, the guidance would allow companies to engage in
trading without prior EPA approval, as long as reporting
and public health standards are met.
The principles of open market emissions trading
are being applied in several states.
For example, a northeastern and mid-Atlantic demon-
stration project a collaborative effort between
industry, environmentalists, and state and federal air
quality regulators achieved voluntary reductions of
over 14,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOX\ emissions
and 350 tons of volatile organic chemical (VOCs)
emissions during the summer "ozone season." The
effort demonstrated that the cost of making reduc-
tions, at least in the northeast, can be as little as $750
to $1,000 a ton for NOX, and as little as $2,000 a ton
for VOCs.
EPA expects to issue final guidance on emissions
trading later this year.
Innovation and Flexibility 9
-------
Restoring Environmental Quality and Economic Opportunity
Brownfields Pilot Projects
BtRlnghwn
t-Mun'1'City '-'-="--------
Jorfai^ Sand Cm*
"""" Piovo corridor
m CO
NM
ND
Chippewa CntyJ
-^Kinross Twp.
Concocd i
':l~ 'Portland
......_____..... .:>. SBป,Chictnnati-wv ,:.:. . tCapeCharles/
+ St. Louisa .'.."> Louisville :. -L ^'.-Richmond Northampton County
KS W1O .cast .. .L. .r. - - VM_."-.-.:"-.
^'St. Louis KY ^.~~.-~:~-- '"~ " "
Bonne Terre -^.:;: ' iCnoxvitie A - ' ^^
" ;':riT;==-^^""~--":"""~";-'"-~~r":.~, "~ MS .-.-'" ,-- ^Charlotte
OK AR ." ~ " Birmingham . .
| -. MS ", i '', G^
Dallas 4>shreveport prichard ^"
1 A "' " 'if -------' -"- --:'-'-"'-'
Lซ ;..--r_--j .- ?-.=:...
IA New Orleans* ' . , " --
\\o\K\vn+ r- -- " ~"
^ Laredo ^
:a SC .''"
-.
FL
^Clearwater
-.
More Flexible Air Permits
EPA also searched for ways to increase operational
flexibility under Clean Air Act Title V permitting
requirements. Currently, facilities obtain air quality per-
mits for each individual emission unit (i.e., piece of
equipment), and any change in operations can trigger a
need for a permit modification or review. These actions
can hamper a facility's ability to respond rapidly to
changing market conditions. In its search for a better
approach, EPA initiated a series of pilot projects
known as the "pollution prevention permitting project"
to creatively provide operational flexibility and pro-
mote pollution prevention. EPA is working with states
and industry to develop innovative permits that include
facility emissions "caps," allow pre-approvals of certain
emission control technologies, and increase pollution
prevention opportunities.
Removing Barriers to Cleanups
and Development
To help restore environmental quality and economic
opportunity, EPA continued to focus attention on
brownfields abandoned or underused industrial or
commercial properties where real or perceived contami-
nation inhibits redevelopment. By the end of 1996, EPA
had completed a number of actions to help assess, clean
up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.
Over 29,000 sites were removed from the federal
Superfund list either because they had been
cleaned up or because they no longer required federal
attention thereby removing a stigma that has fre-
quently deterred investment in cleanup and redevel-
opment activities.
EPA released guidance which Congress has since
adopted into law clarifying liability responsibilities
associated with cleanup. It clarified that lenders
acquiring contaminated property through loan
defaults or similar circumstances will not be held
liable for cleanup costs as long as they are not partici-
pating in that property's daily management. The
guidance also clarified that a city or county is not
responsible for cleanup of involuntarily acquired
properties.
To help assess and leverage cleanup and redevelop-
ment funds for contaminated areas, EPA provided up
to $200,000 in funding to more than 70 communities.
10 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
These projects are leveraging millions of dollars from
other sources. For example, in Lawrence,
Massachusetts, Brownfields funding has helped
encourage $167 million in additional investment and
cleanup activity.
In 1996, President Clinton called for an additional
$200 million investment for EPA to support community
brownfields efforts over the next four years.
Promoting Green Chemistry
In October 1995, EPA and the American Chemical
Society issued a "Green Chemistry Challenge" grant
and awards program for the chemical industry. These
grants and awards are designed to encourage innovative
pollution prevention particularly through safer man-
ufacturing processes and development of safer chem-
icals. Now elevated to a Presidential award program, the
Green Chemistry Challenge Award provides national
recognition for technologies that incorporate environ-
mentally-beneficial principles into chemical design,
manufacture, and use.
In July 1996, EPA named five award recipients from
more than 70 nominations.
In August 1996, EPA, in partnership with the
National Science Foundation, provided grants to uni-
versities around the country to support green chem-
istry research.
Profile
996
Presidential
Green Chemistry
Challenge Award
inners
fc
Monsanto Company, for developing a new
to manufacture its herbicide,. Roynd-Upฎ, that
jpslyjunates hazardous substances, such as
Igj-pxrnaldehyde and cyanide (Alternative Synthetic _
~~~Pathways Award)
i,IheJ3ow Chemical Company, for developing a
^ jiew way to manufacture foam products that elimi-
*!jTates greenhouse gas emissions.and has the
^Jotential to eliminate the use of 3.5, million .1.
.-^pounds of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCsj each year. "
^{Alternative Reaction Conditions Award)
ffiZ ^^ :' .:T "-.-,. "
SLtJRohm and Haas Corporation, for designing its
.JlSea-Nine marine vessel antifoulant to ,be .'.
Kbiodegradable and less toxic in the aquatic environ-
fฃ menf. (Designing Safer Chemicals Award)
8&T>
._
|*_Donlar Corporation, for developing safer and
^ biodegradeable polymers for a variety of applica-
tions, and for developing a manufacturing process
TJhat is essentially waste-free (Small Business
fProfe'ssor Mark T. Holtzapple, Texas A&M
5|s.l|rriversity, for. his research on recycling waste bio-
|5f mass:for conversion into animal, feed, industrial
Jischemicals, and fuels, thereby reducing dependence
.si:on nonrenewable resources;: such as petroleum.
fc(Acade/77/cAward) : ^
Innovation and Flexibility 11
-------
A Safer, Cleaner Environment Through...
Community Participation and
Partnerships
In an effort to achieve the widest possible participation in the job of protect-
ing our environment, EPA is working to build stronger partnerships with
state and local agencies, tribes, community leaders, businesses, and private
citizens. These efforts are based on a strong commitment to involve those
affected by or responsible for environmental regulation in finding the most
effective, workable solutions possible. Last year, EPA demonstrated this commit-
ment in a number of ways, including making more environmental information
publicly available, building stronger working relationships with state and local gov-
ernments, and encouraging voluntary initiatives for improving environmental per-
formance beyond what is currently required.
\ Itmugii ig for Bet ler Environmental Results
-------
Increasing Public Access to
Information
In order to meet its commitment to ensure that
communities and individuals are kept well-informed
about all environmental issues that could affect their
health and well-being, EPA focused on improving pub-
lic access to information. In particular, EPA is expanding
and improving dissemination of information over the
Internet. At present, over 6 million visits are recorded
on EPA's Web site every month. During 1996, EPA
worked to make its Web site even more valuable for a
growing number of users.
The Web site was redesigned to better meet the infor-
mation needs of specific user groups: concerned citi-
zens, business and industry, researchers and scientists,
and state, local, and tribal governments. As one satis-
fied customer stated, "This EPA Web site is one beau-
tiful Web page...well constructed, easy to download,
and filled with helpful information. As I was asked to
research regulatory info., I was thrilled to find how
well this is done."
A number of new Web pages were added to address
issues of special interest. For example, EPA developed
a new user-friendly application called "Surf Your
Watershed" that allows people to locate, use, and share
environmental information specific to their communi-
ty or watershed. This site can be found at
"http://www.epa.gov/surf."
Traffic Continues to
Increase on EPA's Web Site
in
O
US-EiizimauHCHMl Prelection
SUKB YOUR WATERSHED
locate yotor
* gel mformatioti Apeak ontl * fittf; yam mfo
6,155,258,,
Performance Partnerships with
State Environmental Agencies
In an effort to build stronger working relation-
ships with its most critical partners, EPA is pur-
suing the development of Performance
; Partnerships Agreements with state environmen-
tal agencies. Through these agreements, EPA
and the states decide each year how environ-
mental and public health protection will be
accomplished. Fully developed agreements
include a comprehensive assessment of a state's
environmental problems, criteria for measuring
environmental and program management
results, explicit identification of management
and implementation roles for the states and EPA,
and areas where EPA oversight can be reduced
based on a history of strong state performance.
These agreements can be examined by the pub-
lic via the Internet.
11/94 2/95 5/95 8/95 11/95 2/96 5/96 8/96 11/96 2/97
Community Participation and Partnerships 13
-------
Performance Partnerships
1997 State Participation
Agreement
Only
Grant Only
Agreement
and Grant
As of February 1997,23 states had signed
Performance Partnership agreements for fiscal year
1997. This high level of participation and interest
reflects the positive experience gained through six
pilot agreements with six states in 1996.
An additional element of Performance Partnerships is
grants flexibility. In contrast to the past, states are given
the option of combining two or more single-media grants
into one Performance Partnership Grant. This option can
result in greater efficiency by reducing the administrative
requirements associated with managing multiple funding
sources. Furthermore, for states that have a sound envi-
ronmental assessment and well-defined priorities, these
grants can be used to reorient funding towards those
problems posing the greatest risks.
As of February 1997,29 statesmore than halfhad
committed to using this more flexible grants manage-
ment approach during fiscal year 1997.
Promoting Sustainable
Development In Communities
Recognizing that sustainable environmental quality
and economic prosperity are inextricably linked, in
1996, EPA established a new competitive grant program
that challenges communities to invest in a sustainable
future. These grants leverage private and public sector
resources, and help build long-term partnerships for
improving conditions at community or regional levels.
During the first year pilot phase, EPA received more
than 600 proposals requesting $20 million in total
funding a response that suggests substantial inter-
est in pursuing sustainable development at the local
level.
With $500,000 in pilot funding available, EPA selected
ten projects, featuring a variety of urban'and rural
sustainability approaches across the country. Later in
the year, EPA began gearing up to expand the pilot
program into a full-scale program capable of manag-
ing and allocating $5 million annually for sustainable
development activity.
14 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
Profile
Sustainable
Development Challenge
Grants Will:
" Help officials and residents in South Carolina's
c~ "low country" protect and capitalize on the
S-^area's greatest asset world-class ecological
-"7 conditions.
Kl"_Support development of a new ecological park fea-
f: luring environmentally-friendly design principles,
P^ such as recyded construction materials and native
i~ plant landscaping techniques, in an mner
-------
While the partnership is still in its formative stage,
186 water systems with 245 treatment plants have
signed up and more systems are continuing to join.
" In 1996, over 79 million people nationwide received
their water from a participating supplier, nearly a
threefold increase over the previous year.
Voluntary Efforts to Improve
Environmental Performance
EPA now offers a multitude of voluntary programs to
help companies improve their environmental perfor-
mance in a number of areas, such as energy efficiency,
water use, pollution prevention, and recycling.
Collectively known as EPA's Partners for the
Environment, these programs are helping companies
achieve environmental benefits. Based on the latest esti-
mates, in one year voluntary efforts cut toxic pollution by
750 million pounds, eliminated nearly two million tons of
solid waste, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by
preventing over 13 million metric tons of CC>2 emissions.
" In 1996, EPA signed up more than 500 new compa-
nies in voluntary programs.
EPA also issued a new catalogue, called Partnerships in
Preventing Pollution, to provide interested companies
with more information on the full range of voluntary
opportunities available.
Partners for the
Environment
Participation Continues
to Increase
20.000
15,000
10,000
5,000
18.566*
400
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 2000*
* Projected
Setting National
Environmental Goals
One way EPA is working to become a more effective
partner in protecting public health and the environment is
through more strategic use of its resources. As a result of
the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993,
EPA and all federal agencies are required to take a number
of steps to ensure that federal tax dollars are being used as
efficiently and effectively as possible. Specifically, GPRA
requires federal agencies to set strategic goals, measure
performance, and report on progress being made.
"" En^irojirjiejital Goals for _,;J
Amejica^Will:
Shift the public debate increasingly toward
"11=^^^ . :
^-""en%5rfrnental results.
HStimulate joint planning .by the public and "'
*v" "private sectors _!!-' ' . ~ "
i Provide a basis for the^ nation to measure its
* e^gojTpigjjJal progress and gauge the effec-
I- tiveness of its policies and programs,
t_ ~ ___ .]:._..:;.:;...;!: ----<- -ซ-- -->
To meet these requirements, EPA is wqrking to inte-
grate its planning and budgeting activities as never
before. As a first step the Agency is developing a strate-
gic plan that includes a full set of goals, objectives, and
performance measures. These actions are expected to
redefine the decision-making process so that environ-
mental resources are better targeted towards the highest
priority environmental and human health challenges.
To a significant degree, EPAs progress towards setting
goals and and implementing a more strategic manage-
ment approach can be linked to an ambitious project
undertaken earlier the development of environmental
goals for the nation. These national goals, which cover
priorities such as clean air and safe drinking water, repre-
sent what could be accomplished by environmental pro-
tection efforts at all levels public and priyate, regulatory
and voluntary by the year 2005. EPA took the lead in
developing national goals, and in January 1997, released a
draft set for review by state, tribal, and other federal gov-
ernment agencies. This unprecedented effort has given
EPA a headstart on meeting GPRA requirements as many
of the goals being considered for the Agency's own strate-
gic plan evolved from the national goals project.
16 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
Involving Stakeholders in
Regulatory Developments
In an effort to provide meaningful stakeholder
involvement in the regulatory process, EPA looked for
opportunities to negotiate and consult with stakeholders
in developing new rules and policies:
Federal advisory committees were established to assist
in developing regulations, guidance, and policies in a
number of areas, including endocrine disrupters;
micro-organisms, disinfectants, and disinfection by-
products in drinking water; and industrial nonhaz-
ardous wastes.
A federal advisory committee is also being considered
for development of seven separate but related
air quality standards for internal combustion sources.
In addition, EPA maintained an Agencywide contract
to make consensus-based services and expertise available
to staff working on various policy and regulatory
actions. More than 145 individual projects, totaling over
$2 million in services, were supported.
Improving Customer Service
In March 1993, President Clinton issued Executive
Order 12862 directing federal agencies to develop and
implement customer service standards. In response,
EPA developed and began to implement standards for
its major areas of responsibility: environmental permits;
pesticide registration; research grants; state, tribal and
local environmental management grants; environmenal
regulations; environmental information; enforcement
and compliance assistance; and voluntary partnerships.
EPA developed "Six Golden Rules" as a goal for all
aspects of customer service. In addition, EPA:
Incorporated the "Six Golden Rules" into support
contracts for hotlines and information centers to
ensure consistently courteous and quick responses.
Completed surveys to obtain customer feedback on the
quality of services, and initiated follow-up actions based
on customer responses.
Worked continuously to make customer access to
information and assistance easier to obtain.
ERA'S Six Golden
Rules of Customer
Service
r In carrying out our mission to protect public
tjiealth. and the environment,
jffl We will be courteous, professional, flexible,
&?~ honest, and helpful in all dealings with our cus-
&, _ torners We will actively listen so we can better
^-l"qnderstand what motivates our customers and
1HL
8&~~ JTOW we can best provide the environmental
?_- products, services and information they value,
[|nd will be fully responsive to customer con-
g^tTcgrns'and needs regatding our services
r~ฃl \Ne will answer all telephone calls promptly,
^J*Z3fid wilj respond to them by close of the next
C?l ^business day If the person receiving the call
I&E-" cannot fully respond to the mqjjiry, the cus-
^_=^tomer will be accurately referred to someone
|^t-ฃwh7o can
We will respond to all external correspondence
10 working days of receipt If we cannot
a complete reply within 10 working
days, we will contact the customer as soon as
g^rpossible within the 10-day period to acknowl-
S&E_gdge and clarify their request, discuss what is
lsc:Lrequired to provide a full response, and deter-
|"~~^mine when they will receive a full response
#~%. We will provide our customers_with clear, easy
j^ -tounderstand, timely, and accurate information
p-_ about products, services, policies and proce-
dures We will ensure that customers have easy
access to information, available through conve
j jjient channels, and in various formats
15 Relationships with our co implementors of envi-
-==ronmental programs state, tribal, and local
IT governments, and other federal agencies will
- be characterized by partnership, flexibility, and
assistance _ _ _,
I* 6 _We will seek customer input to inform our deci-
tuปซjypjls on policies, programs, and rules
Community Participation and Partnerships 17
-------
A Safer, Cleaner Environment Through...
Compliance Assistance
ne of EPA's most important responsibilities is ensuring that com-
panies and communities comply with national laws for protecting
public health and the environment. However, an equally impor-
tant responsibility is looking for ways to make compliance more
i ;* j'i!>i.'.;';ป''(^!,ii ,;;,. -,,.'. ,,.;,-,;,; M'.;, .', ; :,':'.', ..;. j. . ;>,..ซ: ,i-;. :-.'?:>'.;:,:..;;: ,, :. _j;;-
achievable. During the past year, EPA focused on providing environmental informa-
tion in. simpler, easier-tb-understand terms and making that information more
accessible. It also .worked to create incentives that reward compliance in the open
market place. These efforts are helping to create a more productive, less litigious
relationship between EPA and the regulated community. More importantly, they are
I, , ,*,' ": .4ilPlhHปllปl, ! ,ih I1 ,|1",, ', , ' *i'h''- J n,j- - .', - , ., .. ',., MI,,, p.. , - , , , >,,'n, , -
helping to prevent pollution from ever occurring in the first place.
18 Mciiwging for Bettor Environmental Results
-------
Compliance Centers To Help
Small Businesses
While EPA is committed to improving understanding
of environmental regulations for all parties, it is especial-
ly committed to helping the nation's one million small
businesses. Compared to larger institutions, many small
businesses simply lack the resources or expertise to gain
a full understanding of what environmental regulations
actually require. To help them overcome this challenge
and improve environmental performance, EPA is estab-
lishing compliance assistance centers for certain key sec-
tors with large numbers of small businesses. Through
partnerships with industry, academic institutions, envi-
ronmental groups, and other federal and state agencies,
these centers serve as a single source of comprehensive,
easy to understand information on regulatory require-
ments, pollution prevention and technical assistance
opportunities:
! By October 1996, four centers were officially open.
They have responded to thousands of requests for
information; the automotive assistance center has
recorded nearly 100,000 hits
to its Internet "Web site alone.
I After only four months of
operation, 1,600 companies
signed up to use the
metal finishers assis-
tance center. This enor-
mous popularity will
enable the center to charge a modest fee and become
self-sustaining in just 18 months.
I Based on the positive response from customers of
existing centers, EPA began planning to establish four
more centers in 1997. Centers will be opened for the
printed wiring board, chemical manufacturing, and
transportation industries, as well as local governments.
SI!
Profile
At Your Service...
ift-
Ifi-P
The Printers' National Compliance Assistance Center electronically links
trade, governmental agencies, and universities to provide the most current and
^complete compliance assistance and pollution prevention information on the
printing industry. The center sponsored a satellite video conference, "Green
;and Profitable Printing," in May 1996, with an estimated 1,800 participants at
'Over 175 sites, (http://www.hazard.vivc.edu/pneac/pneac.html)
The National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center works
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal and state
agencies to provide information on various agriculture issues, includ-
ing: pesticides, nonpoint source pollution, ground water, animal
: waste management, agricultural worker protection, and wetlands pro-
tection. (http://es.inel.gov/oeca/ag/aghmpg.html)
i Greenlink The Automotive Compliance Information
: Assistance Center provides information designed for automotive shop
; _owners and technicians on topics such as used oil management, flood
^drains, underground storage tanks, solvents, air conditioning repair, and pollution prevention alternatives.
: (http://www.ccar-greenlink.org)
! The National Metal Finishing Resource Center provides both electronically-linked information and an in-
; house staff to answer questions. The center offers regulatory information, interpretive guidance, perfor-
^mance and cost comparisons among technology options, pollution prevention case studies, and vendor
: information, (http://www.nmfrc.org)
Compliance Assistance 19
-------
Small Business Compliance
Policy
In June 1996, EPA issued a final policy aimed at
helping small businesses improve compliance. The poli-
cy encourages small businesses to participate in compli-
ance assistance programs, to conduct environmental
audits, and to promptly disclose and correct any viola-
dons. As an incentive to take these steps, the policy
allows EPA to waive or reduce penalties for newly dis-
covered, first-time violations as long as the violation
docs not involve criminal conduct or a significant threat
to health, safety, or the environment.
Encouraging Environmental
Leadership
In an effort to help move industries towards better
environmental performance, EPA piloted the
Environmental Leadership Program in 1996. This pro-
gram provided incentives, such as public recognition,
streamlined administrative procedures, and a self-correc-
tion period with reduced or eliminated penalties
for regulatory violations. In order to participate and take
advantage of these benefits, facilities were expected to
have a mature, comprehensive environmental manage-
ment program in place and show a strong commitment
to stakeholder and employee involvement. Also, partici-
pants were expected to mentor other facilities as a way of
improving environmental performance within sectors.
ป In 1996, EPA completed the pilot phase of the pro-
gram, which involved ten companies and two
federal facilities. Based on the results, EPA is
now exploring development of a full-scale
program for implementation.
Improving Performance
Through Comparison
Recognizing that making environmental information
publicly available can help raise performance levels, EPA
initiated an important new compliance initiative known
as the "Sector Facility Indexing Project." Essentially, this
project will allow the public to more easily evaluate the
environmental records of facilities and compare their
environmental performance.
In 1996, EPA identified data collected under the
Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, and Toxic Release
Inventory for five industry sectors: petroleum refin-
ing; iron and steel; pulp mills; primary nonferrous
metals; and automobile assembly. Data related to past
compliance history, facility size, pollutant releases and
toxicity, and surrounding population has been aggre-
gated, and is being prepared for public release later
this year.
This initiative represents the first time that data
across EPA programs has been compiled in one place in
a manner that will allow examination of facility-level
environmental records across multiple statutory pro-
grams. In the past, this information was made available
through separate data systems with little or no opportu-
nity for integration.
20 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
A Safer, Cleaner Environment Through...
> $, * .I*
Cutting Red Tape and
Paper Work
, p. -t~f ^ ฃ-"=.-! -v ,
'f tf~ ~" ซ
EPA understands that real gains in protecting public health and the envi-
ronment come about through hands-on work at a very local level in
manufacturing facilities, around community recycling centers and
water treatment plants, and across the rural countryside not in a dis-
tant bureaucracy As such, the Agency has focused intently on finding ways to cut
the red tape and paperwork associated with environmental regulations, so that those ,
with environmental responsibilities can focus on solving the problems at hand.
Si"--,,
* *--- ^ ttm - 'j_ปr_-t_i- "
w^-Hf
_i ซ*--ji" * ****" *" Hi- * * -^~ -,* ,
f# - Cutting Red Tape ancfPapcrwork 2
^- ^s^ ปiT'* Sป ""^^^ *"_ ~7^,^ .^ ซ ^wv**3afes^*as%s
-------
Reducing Regulatory Burden
So how much of the paperwork burden required by
environmental regulation has EPA eliminated? To date,
nearly 16 million hours up from 10 million hours
just one year ago.
These reductions cut across all environmental areas,
and included requirements that were duplicative, obso-
lete, or unnecessary. For example, about one million
hours were cut as a result of a new two-page certifica-
tion form and similar improvements to the Toxic
Release inventory requirements. Currently, EPA is
working to eliminate over 8 million more hours while it
continues searching for other burden reduction oppor-
tunities. Following are some additional actions that EPA
has taken this past year to help reduce regulatory bur-
den and achieve higher levels of public health and envi-
ronmental protection.
"One-Stop" Environmental
Reporting"
To further reduce unnecessary burden and help
improve die use of environmental data, EPA worked on
developing a "one-stop" approach to environmental
reporting. Under the current system, a single facility
might report data to EPA, as well as state and local agen-
cies under a variety of different authorities. These sepa-
rate data collection systems are potentially duplicative
and burdensome, and make the use of data by govern-
ment and the public difficult. One-stop reporting is
being designed to address these inefficiencies, while also
fostering multimedia and geographic environmental
management approaches, and providing the public with
access to meaningful, real-time data. Current efforts are
focused on forming partnerships with selected states to
demonstrate full-scale implementation of reporting and
data management reforms, and assessing results in
terms of lower industry and government costs and bet-
ter public access.
In 1996, $500,000 demonstration grants were awarded
to five states Washington, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, Missouri, and Utah to test one-stop report-
ing systems. An additional five to ten grants will be
awarded in 1997.
EPA also worked to re-engineer its own internal data
systems to achieve better integration with states, to
enhance public access, and to promote electronic report-
ing of environmental monitoring and permitting data.
10
in
ง
I
Burden Reduction
Hours by Statute*
(as of December 31, 1996)
H Planned
Completed
Planned Total: 8.3 million hours
Completed Total: 15.7 million hours
CWA CAA TSCA FIFRA EPCRA OPA RCRA SDWA CERCLA Misc.
CTRD
Environmental Statute
*Environmental Statutes
CWA= Clean Water Act; CAA= Clean Air Act; TSCA=
Toxic Substances Control Act; FIFRA= Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; EPCRA=
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act; TRI= Toxics Release Inventory; OPA= Oil Pollution
Act; RCRA= Resource Conservation ,and Recovery Act;
SDWA= Safe Drinking Water Act; CERCLA=
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
22 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
Commenting on Regulatory
Actions
EPA tested new methods of public commenting on
regulatory actions to make the process simpler and easier:
In a follow-up to its commitment to make all Federal
Register items available electronically, EPA conducted a
pilot project to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness
of electronic mail as a way for interested parties to
comment on regulatory actions. The results showed
that most groups who comment on Agency actions
actually prefer the traditional approach whereby com-
ments are submitted in writing. Nevertheless, recog-
nizing that the demand for electronic transactions is
likely to grow in the future, EPA is now making elec-
tronic commenting a standard option for obtaining
public feedback on all regulatory actions.
In another effort, EPA tested telephone communica-
tion. For the proposed ozone and particulate matter
regulation, EPA set up 888 TELL EPA, a toll-free
number through which comments could be sent ver-
bally. In this case, users pre-
ferred the telephone over
electronic submissions;
more than 14,000 comments
were sent by telephone and
more than 4,000 were sent
by electronic mail. EPA also
learned that this option
might be especially helpful
for individuals and small
businesses.
Permitting New Air Emissions
To help streamline air emissions permitting, EPA
proposed changes to its new source review regulations
that would help industries planning either to build new
or to expand existing production capacity:
As proposed in July 1996, the changes reduce time
delays associated with permitting, expediting con-
struction start-up; provide greater operational flexibil-
ity; and encourage the use of new innovative air
emission control technologies. The proposal reduces
the number of new or expanded sources subject to
permitting by one-half without compromising
protection against harmful air pollutants.
Streamlining Pesticide
Registration
Every year, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA receives thousands
of applications to register or modify pesticide products.
These applications involve multiple steps designed to
ensure that products in the commercial marketplace do
not pose unreasonable risks to people or the environ-
ment. In 1996, EPA took a number of steps to make the
process faster and simpler:
EPA offered self-certification procedures that allow
pesticide companies to proceed with certain actions as
long as they first notify EPA. To ensure compliance,
these procedures are backed up with penalties and an
auditing system.
In May, EPA proposed a rule that would allow self-
certification of some acute toxicity testing results
for pesticide products. Subsequently, EPA deter-
mined that a final rule would no longer be needed,
because the desired result faster, simpler
reviews was being achieved already as a result of
improvements in EPAs own management process.
Today, EPA's review time has been cut by two-
thirds from 12 to 4 months.
In June, a final rule was issued that allows minor,
low-risk product formulation changes, such as
additions of previously approved dyes or perfumes,
to be made without prior EPA approval. As a
result, the amount of time involved in EPA
reviews has been cut in half from 90 to 45 days.
EPA began performing an analysis to determine the
reasons that certain registration applications are
rejected by the Agency. The results are expected to
reveal additional opportunities for improving the reg-
istration process in the future.
EPA also helped develop computer software to stan-
dardize "precautionary" labeling. These labels, which
are based on results from acute toxicity tests, are dis-
played on all commercial pesticide products to protect
consumers from potential risk. The new automated
Cutting Red Tape and Paperwork 23
-------
Improving Pesticide
Product Registration
A Faster, Simpler Process
Acute toxicity
testing results
Minor, low risk
formulation changes
system, which is now being explored for widespread
industry use, would decrease EPA review time and help
companies avoid EPA rejections due to labeling errors.
Cleaning Up Hazardous
Waste Sites
EPA is working on ways to help companies and
communities address challenges associated with manag-
ing their Imardous wastes under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
In April 1996, EPA proposed its contaminated media
rule to establish a new regulatory framework for man-
aging "contaminated" remediation wastes generated
during cleanup of hazardous waste sites. The proposal
provides options to exempt some remediation wastes
from RCRA requirements, and allows treatment
methods to be determined based on site-specific con-
ditions. The final rule, projected for completion in
1998, will allow equally protective, but more cost-
effective, treatment options for the large volumes of
material now subject to RCRA requirements.
Meeting Water Pollution
Control Requirements
So that limited resources can be directed to better pro-
tection for rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, EPA worked to
improve water quality permitting under the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES):
In April 1996, EPA issued guidance allowing busi-
nesses and communities to significantly cut back on
water quality monitoring and reporting requirements,
as long as certain high levels of performance are met.
If fully implemented, EPA estimates this incentives-
based approach could reduce the total NPDES moni-
toring and reporting burden by 25 to 30 percent for
most facilities. It could also help bring poorer per-
forming facilities up to a higher standard, improving
water quality.
In December 1996, a second round of reforms was
proposed that would streamline the permit appeals
process, allow for more risk-based monitoring, and
expand the use of general permits to cover some
industries. Because they provide more generic
requirements applicable to multiple facilities, general
permits are simpler to develop and manage than indi-
vidual or site-specific facility permits. Collectively,
these reforms would reduce the NPDES regulations
by 14 percent.
In another action, EPA made it easier for large cities
to meet their responsibilities for controlling one of
their most challenging water quality problems: storm
water runoff. The 1987 Clean Water Act requires a
storm water permit for all cities with populations
greater than 100,000. Recognizing that most of those
permits were about to expire, EPA issued a policy in
May 1996, to streamline the reapplication process.
24 Managing for Better Environmental Results
-------
For more information...
...on EPA's reinvention efforts, contact the Reinvention Team at
(202) 260-4261. Or look for information on the Internet at
"http://www.epa.gov/reinvent." You'll find special reports,
remarks from senior Administration officials, factsheets on
specific reinvention projects, and much more.
' Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
------- |