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HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MENCT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
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IRM PROGRAM PROFILES
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
This document contains Information Resources Management (IRM) profiles for
16 of the Environmental Protection Agency's most important programs. These
profiles were developed by EPA's Office of Information Resources Management
(OIRM) to act as the basis for a more effective dialogue between OIRM and its clients
in EPA's program offices and regions, and for OIRM's own use in planning and
implementing key IRM initiatives.
Background and Objectives
Over the last several years, OIRM has increasingly emphasized its mission to
help EPA program offices and regions develop and implement effective IRM
strategies to support the achievement of program objectives. OIRM has long
recognized the importance of understanding program goals and processes in
providing this support, and more recently identified the opportunity to improve its
effectiveness by preparing formal profiles to summarize key information about
major EPA programs.
Within OIRM, the IRM profiles are intended to be used primarily by managers
and staff in the Program Systems Division and Information Management and
Services Division. PSD's new "desk officers" are one of the primary audiences for
the profiles. Operationally, OIRM will use the profiles to provide more effective
support to programs and regions, to help implement specific IRM initiatives (such
as the State/EPA Data Management Program), to facilitate Agency-wide IRM and
ADP planning processes, and to reduce the number and burden of various Agency-
wide "data calls" on IRM topics of interest. In the future, OIRM may consider
working with other groups in EPA, such as the budget analysts in the Office of the
Comptroller's Budget Division and the desk officers in the Office of Policy,
Planning, and Evaluation's Information Policy Branch, to make the profiles
available for other purposes.
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The 16 programs for which profiles were developed are:
Superfund
Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
Underground Storage Tanks
Title HI Community Right-to-Know
Surface Water
Ground-Water Protection
Public Water System Supervision
Underground Injection Control
Marine/Estuarine Protection
Wetlands
Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management
Mobile Sources
Radiation/Radon
Toxic Substances
Pesticides
Title ffl Toxic Release Inventory.
To ensure that the profiles will be of maximum benefit in helping address IRM
needs across different EPA offices, profiles were developed for programs rather than
for specific EPA organizations. Profiles for additional EPA programs, as well as for
administrative and research functions, may be prepared in the future.
For a number of reasons, the process of developing the IRM profiles did not lead
to the identification of a broad set of previously unrecognized strategic IRM issues.
Since the profiles were developed mostly from existing information sources (see
below), most of the significant programmatic and IRM trends are already well
understood by senior managers within OERM. By providing an opportunity for
establishing a productive partnership with the program offices and a context within
which a broad spectrum of OIRM personnel can assess EPA IRM activities, however,
the profiles should promote the early identification, careful analysis, informed
decision making, and successful implementation of new IRM initiatives.
Profile Development, Review, and Maintenance
In developing this first version of the IRM profiles, OIRM made an explicit
decision to minimize the burdens imposed on Agency program offices.
Accordingly, these profiles were prepared using only existing, readily available
materials, such as the EPA Source, the Agency's Budget and Operating Guidance, the
Information Resources Directory, Information Collection Request forms, OIRM's
Information Systems Inventory (ISI), a variety of program-specific documents, and
specific knowledge of OIRM managers and staff.
As a result of this approach, these initial profiles have not been reviewed by
program office representatives. (Earlier drafts of these profiles have been reviewed
within OIRM on a limited basis, and appropriate comments and suggestions have
been incorporated.) OIRM's goal is to make most efficient use of program office
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involvement by creating these draft profiles to act as concrete starting points for
discussing programmatic IRM issues. OIRM plans to solicit program office
comments and suggestions about the profiles' contents, making changes as
necessary to document accurately the mission, functions, IRM trends, and other
information for each program.
In addition to coordinating a careful initial review by program offices, OIRM
will institute a process to keep the profiles current over time. While many parts of a
profile may change little or not at all from year to year (for example, the legislation
section), it may be appropriate to revise the profiles regularly to reflect new budget
information, recently published studies and reports, and changes in programmatic
and IRM initiatives. Less frequently, certain profiles may require extensive
reworking to reflect major programmatic shifts, new legislation, and similar
changes.
Within OIRM, the profiles were developed by the Information Management
and Services Division as part of IMSD's responsibility for key Agency-wide
information resources. In the long term, IMSD will play a key role in maintaining
and updating the profiles in conjunction with other, related information
repositories (such as the Information Systems Inventory and the EPA Source).
The Appendix provides a summary of the planned update process.
Organization of this Document
In addition to this introduction, this document is organized into an executive
summary and 16 IRM profiles. The executive summary presents a single page of key
information about each IRM profile, covering the program's mission and functions,
lead EPA office, and key program and IRM trends and initiatives.
Each of the 16 IRM profiles is organized into the following sections:
Program ... an overview of the program as a whole and its major
components.
Legislation ... a brief description of relevant authorizing legislation.
Mission and Purpose ... a summary of key program goals.
Functions and Activities ... a description of each major program function,
such as standard setting, permitting, and enforcement.
Program Budget... current program budget information.
Responsible Organizations ... a listing of the EPA offices and other
organizations that play key roles in program implementation.
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Program Trends and Initiatives ... a summary of important new program
activities.
IRM Trends and Initiatives ... a listing of major information management
projects and issues.
IRM Infrastructure ... an overview of the key individuals and
organizations in the program's IRM function.
IRM Budget... IRM spending data (if available).
Major Information Systems ... a description of the most important
automated information systems used to support the program.
Information Collection ... a listing of the program's significant
information collection activities.
Information Dissemination ... a summary of the techniques used to
distribute outside of EPA information collected through the program.
Recent IRM-Related Studies ... the titles of significant reports and analyses
completed within the past five years.
Program Glossary ... commonly encountered acronyms and their
meanings.
Most of the profiles are approximately 10-15 pages in length. Over time, the
structure and content of the profiles may be refined as OIRM learns more about how
they are used and what information is of greatest value.
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IRM PROGRAM PROFILES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document contains Information Resources Management (IRM) profiles for
16 of EPA's major programs. These profiles are contained in the other sections of
this document. This Executive Summary provides the following summary
information:
A table identifying the lead and supporting organizations within EPA for
each program, and the extent to which each program is delegated to State
agencies for implementation.
A list of the programmatic components of each of the 16 major programs.
A one page IRM Program Profile summary for each major program.
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IRM PROGRAM PROFILES
PROGRAMS AND COMPONENTS
PROGRAM
COMPONENT
Superfund
Superfund Research
Superfund Emergency Response
(Removal)
Superfund Remedial Response
Superfund Interagency Support
Superfund Enforcement
Hazardous and Sobd Waste Management
Hazardous/Solid Waste Management
State Hazardous Waste Management
Program Resource Support
Hazardous Waste Enforcement
Underground Storage Tanks
Guidelines and Implementation
Technical Support
Management and Support
Enforcement
Title III Community Right-To-Know
Emergency Planning and Response
Community Right-To-Know
Surface Water
Water Regulations and Water
Standards
Municipal Pollution Control
Water Enforcement and Permits
Issuance
Ground-Water Protection
Office of Ground-Water Protection
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
Office of Pesticide!
Public Water System Supervision
Criteria, Standards, and Guidelines
Development
Public Water Systems Supervision
Program Assistance
State Program Resource Assistance
Enforcement
Underground Injection Control
Criteria, Standards, and Guidelines
Development
Program Management
State Program Resource Assistance
Enforcement
Marine/Estuarine Protection
National Estuary Program
Ocean Dumping Program
301(h) Program
403(c) Program
Near Coastal Waters Strategy
Great Lakes Program
Chesapeake Bay Program
Wetlands
Dredge and Fill Program
Action Plan
State and Local Program Assistance
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IRM PROGRAM PROFILES
PROGRAMS AND COMPONENTS
PROGRAM
Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management
Mobile Sources
Radiation/Radon
Toxic Substances
Pesticides
Title III -- Toxic Release Inventory
COMPONENT
Pollutant Strategies & Air Standards
Development
Emission Standards & Technology
Assessment
Air Quality Management Implementation
Trends Monitoring and Emissions Data
Management
State Program Policy Guidelines &
Regulations Development
State Programs Resource Assistance
RCRA Air Program
Enforcement
Emission Standards, Technology
Assessment and Characterization
Testing, Technical and Administrative
Support
Emissions and Fuel Economy Compliance
Mobile Source Enforcement
Radiation Standards, Assessment, and
Management
* Radiation Research
* Radon Action Program
Asbestos in Schools
Chemical Review and Testing
Toxic Substances Research
Toxic Substances Enforcement
* Pesticides Research
Pesticides Registration and Reregistration
Pesticides Enforcement
Generic Chemical Review Program
* Chemical Listing and Delisting
Data Collection
Trade Secret Claims Processing
Enforcement
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SUMMARY
Superfund Program
Mission
The Superfund program, with the authority from the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, establishes a comprehensive framework to protect public health and
welfare and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous waste sites. This program seeks to
monitor and control the manufacture, use, transportation, disposal, and management of hazardous waste by
enforcing CERCLA and SARA. Components of the Superfund program are: Superfund Research,
Superfund Emergency Response (Removal), Superfund Remedial Response, Superfund Interagency
Support, and Superfund Enforcement
Functions
The Superfund program is responsible for complying with the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, which requires cleanup of hazardous waste sites and
provides compensation for this task. The Superfund program functions in: research and development
efforts to provide new technologies, techniques, and procedures for managing uncontrolled waste sites;
abatement and control support by determining "responsible parties" for spills and emergency releases of
hazardous substances, and monitoring and/or assisting with site cleanups; enforcement support by
negotiating remedial solutions and actions with responsible parties, and filing litigation when necessary; and,
management and support of all Superfund activities by establishing a policy framework for the program.
ad EPA Office
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Maintain a strong CERCLA enforcement program.
Meet cleanup pipeline statutory mandates with emphasis on remedial action.
Implement appropriate remedial and removal management techniques.
Implement CERCLA cleanups at Federal facilities.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Improve data management
* Promote technology transfer and training,
* Improve information access.
* Consolidate office tracking systems.
Improve regional pre-remedial systems utilization.
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SUMMARY
Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
Mission
The Hazardous and Solid Waste Management program (also called the RCRA program) identifies and
manages wastes which pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment The program has six
major objectives: 1) implement strong State programs, 2) emphasize permitting of hazardous waste
facilities, 3) strengthen compliance monitoring and enforcement, 4) develop new regulations and
significantly improve existing regulations, 5) develop and implement a regulatory program for
underground storage tanks (see Underground Storage Tanks profile), and 6) conduct research and
development to support regulatory programs.
Functions
EPA provides national direction for the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management program through
promulgating and refining regulations for the identification, tracking, management and disposal of hazardous
wastes. Every fiscal year EPA develops a RCRA Implementation Plan (RIP) that establishes program
priorities for all aspects of the program including inspections, compliance monitoring, reporting, and
enforcement
EPA implements and supports the RCRA State authorization program, whereby States conduct activities
such as permitting, inspection, compliance monitoring and enforcement EPA supports Regional
implementation by jointly processing permit applications until the States are authorized for HS WA.
J^ead EPA Office
Office of Solid Waste (OSW)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Permitting is becoming a more complex task as HSWA requirements go into effect as corrective actions
are further defined, and as facilities modify their processes to minimize waste or expand their capacity.
Develop a demonstration program for medical waste tracking.
Revise hazardous waste list based on concentration of toxic constituents by promulgating rules "relisting"
two groups of the highest priority listed wastes.
Promulgate rules requiring corrective action for releases of hazardous constituents from solid waste
management units as mandated by HSWA.
* Complete enforcement strategies for cross-media concerns, such as air emissions from RCRA facilities
and municipal waste combustion.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Coordinate the transition from the present RCRA Hazardous Waste Data Management System (HWDMS)
to the new RCRA Information Management System (RCRIS).
* Continue development of a risk-based decision-making system to serve as basis for future regulation and
policy development.
Development of the Biennial Report National Data Base will be completed by the end of FY 1989.
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SUMMARY
Underground Storage Tanks Program
Mission
The Underground Storage Tanks (UST) program's mission is to prevent and find leaks and spills, correct
the problems created by leaks and spills, ensure that owners and operators of USTs can pay for corrective
actions, and finally, ensure that each state has a regulatory program for USTs that meets the Federal
guidelines. Each state must certify that it will develop and enforce standards for new tanks that are no less
stringent than EPA's, and will implement tank notification plans to monitor and identify where existing tanks
are when new tanks are installed, and ensure that old tanks are properly removed from operation.
Functions
Develop guidelines to set out eligible uses of Trust Fund resources, respective roles and responsibilities of
EPA and the states, basic program and administrative requirements, and guidance on addressing the program
requirements.
Each state is required to compile a list of petroleum release sites and screen each site to ensure it meets
funding eligibility requirements. The state will also develop a set of criteria to evaluate and prioritize eligible
sites, and identify the general types of activities likely to be required at each site (e.g., source identification,
preliminary assessment, cleanup).
The enforcement process begins when the state receives data indicating the permittee is in noncompliance
with an established policy guideline. Each state may use its own established enforcement policy in place of
federal policy if it has been clearly defined and is included in the cooperative agreement worked out between
EPA and the state. Headquarters involvement with decisions under the enforcement policy established by
the states will be limited to those cases where a conflict exists in the cooperative agreement or when an action
of unusual size or complexity occurs.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Increased dependence on regional/state cooperation for implementation of national guidelines and policy.
Strengthening state enforcement.
Roughly 350,000 owners/operators must install leak detection mechanisms on tanks in 1989 in order to
comply with Agency regulations and insurance requirements.
Implement in FY 1989 a program appraisal process designed to assist States in executing their lead
responsibilities under cooperative agreements.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Development of "franchisee" approach to information management in which Headquarters has primary
responsibility to design, develop and maintain systems to facilitate the transfer of technology among HQ,
regions, states and the regulated community.
* Reliance on PC-based information management systems, rather than centralized mainframe facilities for
tracking corrective actions, cost recoveries, resource utilization and compliance activities.
> Greater use of new computer technologies like Geographic Information System (GIS) applications to
provide integrated analytical support to state programs.
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SUMMARY
Title III: Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Program
Mission
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), enacted as Title ffl of the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, industrial facilities are subject to a variety of
reporting requirements regarding the hazardous chemicals that they store, manufacture, process, and release
on a regular and emergency basis. This information is available to the public, as well as to federal, state,
and local government agencies. The most important objectives of this program are to protect human health
from the acute effects of accidental releases of extremely hazardous chemicals (through the preparation of
emergency response plans and enhanced effectiveness of emergency response actions) and to increase the
public's awareness of the presence of toxic chemicals in local communities.
Responsibilities for this program are divided between EPA's Office of Toxic Substances (OTS) and the
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). OSWER supports states and localities in
developing emergency response plans, provides information management support, maintains lists of
hazardous chemicals, and takes enforcement action covering Sections 302, 304, 311, and 312 of EPCRA.
OTS is responsible for developing and operating the automated Toxic Release Inventory System (TRIS)
mandated under Section 313 of EPCRA.
Functions
Under the emergency planning and response provisions of EPCRA (Sections 302 and 304), industrial
facilities must notify local and state authorities if they store an extremely hazardous chemicals in an amount
in excess of the EPA-regulated threshhold planning quantity; these facilities must also notify authorities of
any significant releases of these chemicals. States and localities must develop, test, and maintain emergency
response plans to guide their actions in the event of such releases. EPA has no direct operational role in
EPCRA's emergency response provisions.
Under Sections 311 and 312, industrial facilities must report to state and local authorities additional data
about the hazardous chemicals that they store, manufacture, or process. This information is required to be
made available to the public under a "community right-to-know" program. Again, EPA has no direct
operational role in this program.
EPA's required activities under these sections of EPCRA are largely limited to rule making, technical
support and guidance, enforcement, and similar activities.
Lead EPA Office
Preparedness Staff, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Program Trends and Initiatives
Continuing support to State Emergency Response Commissions (SERC's) and Local Emergency
Planning Committees (LEPC's).
Achieving greater compliance with program requirements and generally higher quality of operations.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Develop additional information management approaches and tools to help state and local authorities
respond effectively to the tremendous information management burden created by EPCRA.
Continued coordination with other federal agencies and EPA offices.
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SUMMARY
Ground-Water Program
Mission
EPA's ground-water program has no single legislative origin. Through a variety of laws, Congress has
directed EPA to protect, monitor, and clean up the nation's ground-water resources, almost always with the
primary goal of protecting human health by ensuring the safety of underground supplies of drinking water.
Congress has approached ground-water protection from at least three different perspectives: (1) preventing
and cleaning up ground-water contamination from specific types of sources (e.g., Superfund sites); (2)
preventing ground-water contamination from specific types of substances (e.g., pesticides); (3) ensuring
that drinking water supplies are safe. In addition to Federal ground-water protection efforts, many states
and localities act aggressively on their own to ensure the safety of underground sources of drinking water.
Functions
Because EPA's ground-water programs have been implemented by different offices in response to different
legislative initiatives, there is no consistent pattern of functions and activities. In general, however, EPA's
ground-water programs address functions such as:
Standard Setting
Permitting and Registration
* Compliance Monitoring
Inspection and Enforcement
Corrective Action/Clean Up
Lead EPA Office
Office of Ground-Water Protection (for overall program leadership and coordination)
Program Trends and Initiatives
An increased emphasis on the consistency of ground-water activities across different offices and
programs.
An increased emphasis on the environmental issues associated with Federal facilities and Indian tribes in
ground-water areas.
* An increased and continuing emphasis on providing effective support to state and local governments with
ground-water responsibilities.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Develop a set of minimum data elements for ground water.
Promote and enhance the use of STORET as the system for storing and analyzing ground-water data.
Ensure that the quality of future data to be entered into STORET will be flagged through the use of data
quality indicators.
Fund demonstration projects for the wellhead protection program to assess the usefulness of GIS
technology.
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SUMMARY
Surface Water Quality Program
Mission
The surface water quality program, established under the Clean Water Act of 1972, provides a
comprehensive framework to restore and maintain the nation's surface waters through the development of
effluent guidelines and water quality standards, a nationwide water quality monitoring program, the
permitting of industrial and municipal waste dischargers, financial, technical, and management assistance to
States and localities, and administrative and legal enforcement to achieve and maintain compliance.
Functions
The Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Water Quality Act of 1987 empowers EPA to undertake efforts across
several program areas. Key functions include:
* Effluent Guidelines and Water Quality Standards Adopt sediment and biological criteria in water
quality standards and integrate standards with nonpoint source controls.
Water Quality Monitoring Strengthen monitoring programs and investigate problem areas and produce
guidance to reduce risks.
Financial, Technical, and Management Assistance ~ Update management plans, coordinate with States
and Indian Lands on the implications for funding eligibility under the new requirements, and maintain
current technical assistance while assessing the federal government's future role
Permits Issuance - Continue aggressive programs to control toxic dischargers and address sludge
control and stormwater problems.
Enforcement Improve compliance of constructed facilities with final effluent limits and initiate or
continue enforcement in pretreatment, combined sewer overflow, and sludge control.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Water Regulations/Standards, Office of Municipal Pollution Control, and Office of Water
Enforcement and Permits
Program Trends and Initiatives
Protect critical aquatic habitats against nonpoint sources of pollution.
Protect the Nation's surface waters from point source discharges, especially hazardous and toxic
pollutants.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Enhancement and integration of water quality data bases for analyses, transfer, and graphic/mapping
applications.
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SUMMARY
Public Water System Supervision Program
Mission
The national goal of the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program, as reaffirmed by the 1986
amendments, is to assure that public water supplies are free of contamination that may pose a human health
risk. EPA's purpose in operating the public water supervision program is to reduce die human health risk
by setting and implementing drinking water standards and build a strong State/public water system capacity
to implement and comply with regulatory requirements.
Functions
EPA's responsibility under the Safe Drinking Water Act is to develop a comprehensive framework of
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) by regulating all contaminants "known or
anticipated to occur" in public water supplies that may have any adverse human health effects.
The Drinking Water Branch (DWB) reviews and evaluates enforcement work performed by State and
Regional programs. Activities include reviewing and evaluating Administrative Orders (AOs), AO tracking,
penalty tracking, referral tracking, and determining if enforcement actions are timely and appropriate.
Resource allocation and management involves distributing resources to the States and the Regions for
implementation and/or oversight of the State PWSS programs. It involves allocating grant monies to
primacy and Direct Implementation (DI) programs (including Indian lands) through the grant allocation
process using a set of grant allocation models, and allocating FTEs to the Regions.
Compliance monitoring and inspections take place at the State and Regional levels due to the decentralized
nature of the PWSS program. Each program has monitoring activities to ensure that owners and operators
are meeting program requirements. Regions are responsible for overseeing primacy programs' activities;
EPA is responsible for overseeing the DI activities and overall national activity.
Enforcement activities involve EPA, Regional or State actions taken to obtain compliance with environmental
laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Drinking Water (ODW)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Revise existing contaminant standards, new standards for a host of chemical contaminants, and new
regulatory provisions as mandatedby the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. They also require
substantial further development of the PWSS regulatory framework and a reemphasis of EPA's
responsibility for setting drinking water contaminant levels and enforcement measures.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Develop Federal Reporting Data System II (FRDS-n), which is scheduled for completion in FY 1989.
Gain greater knowledge about what information is available from those sources generating drinking water
data in one form or another.
* Gather information about the programs that generate and/or use the data.
Increase marketing and outreach to share drinking water information.
Share data and increase willingness to make the data germane to potential users outside the immediate
source of the data.
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SUMMARY
Underground Injection Control Program
MissioD
The national goal of the UIC program is to establish a Federal-State regulatory system to ensure that
underground sources of drinking water (USDWs), actual and potential, are not endangered by the
underground injection of contaminants. The program encompasses EPA activities required to develop
standards and regulations, to identify the regulated community, to permit and inspect regulated facilities and
to conduct enforcement and compliance activities for five classes of injection wells.
Functions
EPA performs program analysis and planning which involves establishing program goals and priorities.
EPA's oversight activities are a "two-tiered" process in the UIC program. The Office of Drinking Water's
(ODW) Underground Injection Control Branch's (UICB's) oversight function involves monitoring Regional
oversight performance and Regional Direct Implementation (DI) program to ensure that program goals are
being met. The Regions' have oversight over delegated enforcement programs to ensure that program goals
are being met.
Most enforcement actions in the UIC program are taken at the State and Regional levels. UICB tracks and
evaluates AOs issued at the Regional level.
Compliance monitoring activities and inspections take place at the State and Regional levels due to the
decentralized nature of the UIC program. Each program has monitoring activities to ensure that owners and
operators are meeting program requirements for the types of wells they operate. Regions are responsible for
overseeing primacy programs' activities; EPA is responsible for overseeing the DI activities and overall
national activity.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Drinking Water's (ODW) Underground Injection Control Branch (UICB)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Establish criteria for "high risk" contaminant problems, revise regulations for the control of "high risk"
Class V wells, and support actions taken against these wells.
Revise regulations for Class II wells.
Initiate a study to determine whether Class I-H regulations should apply to all Gass I wells and
implement new monitoring requirements for Class I wells.
Increase site inspections, surveillance, and review of monitoring reports to determine adherence to
regulatory requirements.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Progress towards a decentralized information management system (as a result of the UIC Data
Management Assessment project) where detailed information is maintained at the program implementation
level and summary information is collected by Headquarters.
Consider increased assistance for States and DI programs in their data collection and information
management activities.
Define new reporting requirements and develop a minimum data set and standardized program definitions
based on the new requirements.
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SUMMARY
Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
Mission
Hie mission of the Marine and Estuarine Protection Program is to protect human health and the environment,
to reduce risk to human and aquatic life from pollutants, and to restore environmental benefits and uses. The
program is comprised of the following component programs: 1) National Estuary Program, 2) Ocean
Dumping Program, 3) 301(h) Program, 4) 403(c) Program, 5) Near Coastal Waters Strategy, 6) Great
Lakes Program, and 7) Chesapeake Bay Program.
Functions
EPA is responsible for developing regulations for the 301 (h) and Ocean Dumping programs. Under the
National Estuary Program, EPA develops guidance on Governor nominations to the NEP and on organizing
and managing convened programs. For the 403(c) program, the Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection
(OMEP) is responsible for identifying the universe of point source discharges to marine waters and
obtaining information on loadings. This information will be supplied to the NPDES permit program to
develop short and long term strategies to reduce loadings having significant impacts.
EPA has primary responsibility for reviewing permit applications and issuing permits under §403(c) and
waivers to requirements for secondary treatment of municipal waste under §301 (h). EPA Headquarters
oversees and provides assistance to the Regions in evaluating the permit requests. For states with delegated
NPDES programs, the state has primary responsibility for reviewing and approving NPDES-related permits.
EPA oversees compliance monitoring and inspections. For most NPDES-delegated states, the state has
primary responsibility for these activities. Dischargers are required to conduct monitoring and submit
monitoring reports to the permit compliance system, as with EPA's other surface water programs. For the
301(h) program, additional rigorous monitoring requirements exist, to be completed by the discharger. The
ocean dumping program also requires additional monitoring for environmental impact assessment
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection (OMEP)
Program Trends and Initiatives
The National Estuary Program currently has convened 12 management conferences. The target for FY89-
90 is 16 (i.e., four additional programs). Many additional nominations from governors arc expected over
the next couple years.
The Ocean Dumping Ban Act has modified the direction of the Ocean Dumping Program. The Agency is
now developing its plans to implement the Act, which requires that ocean dumping be phased out by
1991.
The Near Coastal Waters Program will focus on developing regional management strategies and action
plans over the next two years.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
* Each NEP management conference is required to develop a data and information management system.
Headquarters is currently working with the regions to develop guidance on developing the systems.
ODES will be made available to the regions and states, but they are not required to use tile system.
* Data management requirements for the ocean dumping and 403(c) programs may be satisfied by ODES.
Ocean dumping data is currently being entered into ODES.
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SUMMARY
WETLANDS PROTECTION
Mission
EPA's wetlands goal is to achieve no overall net loss of the nation's remaining wetland base and to restore
and create wetlands, where feasible, and to increase the quality and quantity of the nation's wetlands
resource base. To achieve this goal, EPA participates in the Clean Water Act (Section 404) Dredge and Fill
permit and enforcement program, assists states in their wetlands planning and protection programs, and
addresses the National Wetlands Policy Forum's recommendations.
Functions
The Clean Water Act requires EPA to participate in the wetlands Dredge and Fill permit and enforcement
program in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). EPA develops site selection
guidelines as well as develops policies, procedures, regulations, and strategies concerning dredging and
filling in wetlands.
EPA provides guidance and assistance to states and local governments concerning enhancement of planning
and protection programs and, possible, assumption of the Dredge and Fill Program. EPA also develops
regulations and guidance for distributing grants for Section 404,401, and other state wetland protection
programs.
EPA conducts research and develops technical assistance guidelines for wetlands issues such as delineation,
mitigation, cumulative effects of wetlands loss, as well as determines attainable standards and critical
pollutant load limits for priority wetland types.
EPA conducts a variety of projects designed to heighten public awareness of wetland functions and values.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Wetlands Protection (OWP)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Increase the use of Advance Identification (ADID) of wetlands, issue ADID guidance, and support ADID
projects.
Support tests of innovative planning approaches and demonstrations of wastewater treatment using
created wetlands.
Conduct investigations concerning impacts of wetlands loss on water quality, comparisons of created and
natural wetlands, and case studies evaluating wetlands planning efforts.
Support EPA Regional wetlands initiatives.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Draft a technical support document for EPA Regional offices on the use of Geographic Information
Systems (CIS) for wetlands protection.
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SUMMARY
Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Mission
The Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management program, established under the Clean Air Act (CAA),
provides a comprehensive framework to protect public health and welfare from the adverse effects of
airborne emissions from stationary and mobile sources of pollution. Pollutant limits are set relative to
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) based on health considerations. These standards are to
be met through the application of pollution control technology to existing stationary emissions sources and
through technology-forcing requirements for new stationary sources.
Functions
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to develop, promulgate, review, and revise National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for air pollutants that endanger public health and welfare. In addition to the NAAQS,
EPA is required to develop, promulgate, review and revise New Source Performance Standards (NSPSs)
and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs).
State Implementation Plans (SIPs) are used to meet air pollution standards. SIPs are designed such that
EPA sets the standards, States choose a strategy to meet those standards, and EPA and Regional offices
review and approve the SIPs. The issuance of permits to regulated facilities is a major function of SIP
implementation.
EPA is responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State, and local ambient monitoring efforts to
determine the quality or condition of ambient air and emissions to identify compliance with standards. State
and local agencies take enforcement actions against stationary sources in violation of standards while the
Regional program bolsters State enforcement activity and assesses overall compliance with SIPs.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Analyses of acid rain policy and implementation issues and the implementation and follow-up on pending
domestic and international actions needed to protect stratospheric ozone.
Fully implement the Health Risk Information Center.
Adoption of regionally consistent regulations for the control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Focus on sources of nonattainment areas.
Promulgate, revise, and review new NESHAPs, NSPSs, and NAAQS.
Assess the need for a fine paniculate secondary standard for PM2.5.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Providing national coordination of Regional Office, State, and local ambient monitoring, air quality
modeling, and emission inventory programs.
Complete the development and operation of a centralized information management system for storing,
retrieving, and analyzing ambient air quality and emission data at the State and national level (AlRs
system).
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SUMMARY
Mobile Sources
Mission
The Mobile Sources Air Pollution Control and Fuel Economy program was established under the
Clean Air Act (CAA) to control the emissions of motor vehicles. These controls are developed to
reduce naturally occurring ozone levels and emissions of air toxics. The program controls these
emissions by setting, implementing, and enforcing mobile source emissions standards.
Functions
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to develop, promulgate, review, and revise National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQSs) for air pollutants that endanger public health and welfare. Under Title n
of the CAA, the EPA is responsible for developing emissions standards for mobile sources.
States have primary responsibility for preparing attainment strategies and implementing them to meet
NAAQSs and emissions standards set by the EPA. Each state submits a State Implementation Plan
(SIP) to the EPA for review of the state's NAAQS attainment strategies, including both mobile and
stationary source emissions. (See Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program Profile
for related information.)
EPA is responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State, and local monitoring efforts. The
EPA develops and directs compliance programs which include inspections, surveillance, and testing of
new and in-use vehicle emissions and related fuels. States implement inspection and maintenance
(I/M) programs to ensure compliance with motor vehicle emissions standards.
Id EPA Office
Office of Mobile Sources (QMS)
Program Trends and Initiatives
* Increased emphasis on controlling ozone precursors and air toxics.
* New rule regarding standards for fuel and fuel additive testing protocol to be proposed in FY 1989.
New standards for methanol vehicles were proposed and promulgated in FY 1988.
Revised light-duty truck hydrocarbon standards will be promulgated in FY 1989.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to be published for controlling diesel fuel composition
consistent with toxics paniculate control.
Significant effort will be spent implementing the on-board refueling emissions control rule.
Emissions impact of alternative fuels, such as oxygenated blends and Compressed Natural Gas will
be investigated in FY 1989.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
None specifically for Mobile Sources program, see Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management
Program Profile for related information.
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SUMMARY
Radiation and Radon Program
Mission
The Radiation and Radon Programs were established to reduce health effects and environmental impacts of
radiation exposure, to assess emerging radiation problems, to maintain a capacity to respond to radiation
emergencies, and to carry out supporting research on radiation. Radiation and Radon consists of three
programs: the Radiation Research Program which conducts research on radiation and radon and their effects
on health; the Radiation Standards, Assessment and Management Program which develops environmental
standards for radiation; and the Radon Action Program which addresses and reduces the health impacts of
radon exposure.
Functions
Under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act as transferred to the EPA by the Reorganization Plan #3 of
1970, the EPA is responsible for formulating and recommending policies, criteria, and standards designed to
protect the environment and the general public from the effects of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
EPA is responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State and local radiation and indoor radon
monitoring efforts. EPA oversees the clean-up efforts and surveys radiation levels at Three Mile Island
(TMI) and operates the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS).
The EPA in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has
responsibility for enforcing the standards and regulations regarding radiation set forth by the EPA.
The Radon Gas and Indoor Air Quality Research Act of 1986 (SARA Title IV) authorizes the EPA to
establish a research program in order to gather information on all aspects of indoor air quality, including
indoor radon.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Radiation Programs (ORP)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Increase interest in the effects and control of indoor radon radiation.
Re-examine all radionuclide NESHAPs and decrees promulgated under the CAA - due to the FY 1987
vinyl chloride court decision.
Develop standards for low-level waste, residual radioactivity, Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control
Act, and groundwater and provide guidelines or standards for radiofrequency radiation.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Create large centralized clearinghouse for Federal, State, local, private sector and international radon
activity information.
Improve the responsiveness of EPA's Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS)
through equipment updates and replacement and through refinement of system design and operation.
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SUMMARY
Toxic Substances Program
Mission
The Toxic Substances program, with authority from the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), establishes
a comprehensive framework to protect public health and welfare and the environment from the adverse
effects of toxic substances. The program seeks to monitor and control the production and use of toxic
substances by enforcing a strict chemical review/testing and enforcement effort.
Functions
The Toxic substances program is responsible for complying with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA),
which requires that EPA develop and enforce standards that control the manufacturing and use of toxic
chemicals that present a risk to human beings and the environment; and, complying with the Asbestos
Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), and the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act (ASHAA)
which require that EPA monitor Abestos levels and enforce corrective actions when required. EPA targets
compliance/enforcement efforts toward the most critical environmental problem areas to achieve the
maximum effects when instances of noncompliance are detected and corrected. EPA is focusing on
improving the permitting and compliance of PCB storage and disposal facilities.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Continue Actions to Reduce Risks From Asbestos and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).
Increase Use of Tools for Chemical Analysis.
Coordinate Activities With Other Groups.
Enforce Compliance/Monitoring Programs.
Estimate Risks From New Chemicals.
Test New Chemicals for Toxicity.
Define "New Uses" for Existing Chemicals.
Continue to Evaluate Biotechnology Developments and Regulations.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Improve Information Collection and Sharing.
Communicate Information on Toxic Releases to the Public (Tide ffl).
» Gather Information Economically.
Fill Existing Data Gaps.
* Provide Information Systems Risk Assessment Techniques and Expertise.
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SUMMARY
Pesticides Program
Mission
ThePesticides program, with the authority from the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA), establishes a comprehensive framework to protect public health and welfare and the environment
from the adverse effects of pesticides. The program seeks to monitor and control the production and use of
pesticides by enforcing a strict registration of new and reregistration of already-registered pesticides.
Functions
The Pesticides Program is responsible for establishing regulations for the control of pesticides and related
chemicals deemed to be hazardous to human beings or the environment; reviewing and updating standards
for test protocols for chemical active ingredients; establishing rules and procedures for industry reporting;
establishing tolerance levels for pesticides which occur in or on food; developing standards and procedures
for risk identification and risk assessment/management; registering pesticides, reviewing already-registered
pesticides, and determining the validity of reregistration; preventing unreasonable risks from new chemicals;
monitoring pesticide residue levels in food, humans, and nontarget fish and wildlife and their environments;
investigating pesticide accidents; monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulations and standards; and,
ensuring that Regions and States develop full field implementation and enforcement of existing programs.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS)
ogram Trends and Initiatives
Review and Reregister Active Ingredients
Revise Certification and Training Program
Expand Pesticide Monitoring Inventory
Prevent Unreasonable Risks from New Chemicals
Implement an Agricultural Chemicals and Ground-Water Strategy
Determine Exposure to Home and Garden Pesticides
Implement Special Strategy on Inerts
Improve Testing and Marketing of Antimicrobials
Consider Pesticide Impact on Endangered Species
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Modify Reregistration Program Systems to Accommodate 1988 FIFRA Amendments
Review Data for Registration/Reregistration Program
Fill Critical Data Gaps
Provide Decision-Making Tools to Field
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SUMMARY
EPCRA: Title III
Toxic Release Inventory
Mission
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) created a new relationship among
government at all levels, business and community leaders, environmental and other public-interest
organizations, and individual citizens. Under EPCRA Sectin 313, industrial facilities must report to EPA
data about total releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment By law, this data is stored in an
automated data base and made available to the public to enhance the awareness of toxic chemicals in cities,
counties, and states throughout the country.
Responsibilities for EPCRA are shared by the Office of Toxic Substances and the Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. OTS is responsible for collecting, storing, analyzing, and making available to the
public the toxic chemical releases reported to EPA by manufacturing facilities under Section 313.
Functions
EPA's Office of Toxic Substances is responsible for the following aspects of the program:
Section 313 chemical listing and delisting activities.
Collection of Section 313 data from covered facilities (approximately 17,000 facilities).
Processing of Section 313 trade secrets claims.
Section 313 enforcement activities (e.g., facility audits, identification of non-reporting facilities, legal
actions).
Prepare annual National Toxic Release Inventory Report
* Make TRI data base available to the public via computer.
Lead EPA Office
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Continue TRI data quality assurance activities.
Help states and EPA regions to develop the capacity to help the public make informed decisions about the
TRI data.
Enhance Toxic Release Inventory System (TRIS) information retrieval software.
Continue to support routine program functions such as trade secret claims processions, chemical listing
and delisting activities, enforcement actions and maintenance of the EPCRA Tide HI hotline.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Make TRI data base available to the public.
* Make TRI "internal" data base available to states, EPA regional offices and headquarters.
* Conduct geographic information system pilot project
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Superfund Program
SUPERFUND PROGRAM
Program
The Superfund program (also referred to as the CERCLA program) is comprised of
the following components:
Superfund Research, which is responsible for research and development
activities for hazardous substances, and consists of the following subprograms:
Hazardous Substances Research
Scientific Assessment
- Monitoring Systems and Quality Assurance
- Health Effects
Environmental Engineering and Technology
Environmental Processes and Effects
Exploratory Research
~ Technical Information and Liaison
Superfund Emergency Response (Removal), which undertakes short-term
emergency responses to hazardous substance problems.
Superfund Remedial Response, which undertakes long-term site cleanups of
hazardous substances.
Superfund Interagency Support, which manages the interagency budget
process.
Superfund Enforcement, which manages enforcement activities between EPA,
Department of Justice (DOJ), and other Agency offices, and consists of the
following subprograms:
Hazardous Substance Technical Support program
Hazardous Substance Technical Enforcement program
Hazardous Substance Legal Enforcement program
Hazardous Substance Criminal Investigation program
Pagel
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Superfund Program
legislation
The Superfund program was established by the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, where a $1.6 billion
Trust Fund was established, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, where the budget was increased to $8.5
billion; specifically:
Name and Section
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA):
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA):
Executive Order 12580:
Subiect Matter
Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup
Budget Amendment to CERCLA
Consolidated Budget Request
Mission and Purpose
The Superfund program, with the authority from the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as
amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of
1986, establishes a comprehensive framework to protect public health and welfare
and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous waste sites. This
program seeks to monitor and control the manufacture, use, transportation,
disposal, and management of hazardous waste by enforcing CERCLA and SARA.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Superfund program are:
Superfund Research
Provides a core of scientific and technical information to support the
implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) - as amended by the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). Research concentrates on
assessing the health and environmental risks posed by Superfund sites and on
evaluating equipment and techniques for discovering, assessing, preventing,
removing, and disposing of hazardous substances released into the
environment.
Superfund Emergency Response (Removal)
Protects public health and the environment from the dangers associated with
releases of hazardous substances into the environment by providing the
necessary findings and support to undertake short-term emergency responses.
Superfund Remedial Response
Protects public health and the environment from the dangers associated with
releases of hazardous substances into the environment by providing the
necessary findings and support to undertake long-term site cleanups.
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Superfund Program
Superfund Interagency Support
Manages the interagency budget process culminating in a consolidated budget
request for the entire Superfund program.
Superfund Enforcement
Develops legal and technical enforcement information about sites and
potentially responsible parties. Based on this information, and in consultation
with States and program staffs, a Fund-financed or Responsible Party (RP)
financed study is conducted to determine a remedy which is consistent with the
National Contingency Plan (NCP). Activity requires a close relationship between
the Agency legal and technical operations, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and
other Agency offices.
Functions/ Activities
Research and Development
EPA Headquarters (HQ) develops new technologies to manage uncontrolled
waste sites, and they provide techniques and procedures for site and situation
assessment.
HQ provides quality assurance support techniques for Superfund program
requirements through development of analytical measurement methods for
Superfund site samples assists Regional and State compliance programs.
As mandated by SARA, Section 311(b), EPA conducts alternative/innovative
technology research, development, and demonstration; and, as mandated by
SARA, Section 311(c), EPA conducts hazardous substances health effects/risk
assessment and detection research.
Abatement and Control
HQ provides a comprehensive program used by Regional offices and States to
evaluate all known hazardous waste sites, establish priorities for remedial
response, and undertake appropriate remedy at sites where responsible parties do
not respond.
HQ and Regional offices respond to spills and emergency releases of hazardous
substances where responsible parties or State and local governments cannot
adequately respond.
Regions conduct preliminary field work to identify site problems, and manage or
work with States on National Priorities List (NPL) site cleanup and emergency
response actions.
Regions and States provide quality control support for Superfund program
requirements through utilization of analytical measurement methods for
Superfund site samples.
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Superfund Program
Enforcement
EPA Headquarters (HQ) conducts Federal enforcement actions under SARA
through the Hazardous Substance Legal Enforcement program. This includes
judicial enforcement activities during negotiations, settlement referral and
litigation, Federal cost recovery actions, and assistance to States enforcement
activities,
HQ oversees the implementation of criminal enforcement policy for SARA
through the Hazardous Substance Criminal Investigation program (under
direction of National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC)). HQ participates
in the prosecution of criminal cases, develops training programs, and develops
criminal cases for Agency personnel.
As mandated by CERCLA, Section 104/106, EPA negotiates remedial solutions
and actions with responsible parties. If negotiations are unsuccessful, HQ
proceeds with remedial action using Trust Fund resources, and initiates future
cost recovery actions against responsible parties or files litigation.
The Hazardous Substance Technical Enforcement program of EPA identifies
Responsible Parties (RPs) and provides support for all stages of negotiation and
settlement processes and Department of Justice (DOJ) litigation. The Hazardous
Substance Technical Enforcement also oversees Responsible Party (RP) response
actions where the RP is cooperative, or initiates Trust Fund financed cost
recovery actions.
State Superfund Agencies are responsible for negotiating and enforcing
Responsible Party (RP) hazardous waste site emergency and remedial response
programs, or in cases where the RPs do not perform adequately, States must plan
and execute cleanup operations.
HQ provides specialized technical support for civil and criminal litigation
development through the Hazardous Substance Technical Support program
(OECM) and supports Superfund activities of the National Enforcement
Investigation Center (NEIC).
Management and Support
EPA Headquarters supports on-going activities which are generally not incident
specific related to each agency's specific area of expertise; i.e., developing
program policies and guidance, conducting health research, training response
personnel, litigating civil and criminal cases, and providing scientific and
technical advice to EPA on-scene coordinators. HQ establishes a policy
framework, coordinates the setting of priorities, allocates resources, and provides
implementation guidance.
Two initiatives, the purpose of which are to ensure substantial and meaningful
involvement of States in the Superfund program (as required by SARA), are the
Superfund Memorandum of Agreement (SMOA) and the Core Program
Cooperative Agreement (CPCA). SMOA is an agreement between a State or
Indian Tribe and a Region defining each party's roles and responsibilities in the
implementation of CERCLA. CPCA provides funds to conduct CERCLA
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Superfund Program
activities that are not assignable to specific sites, but support a State's response
program.
EPA provides information on personnel health and safety, protective
equipment, and procedures during removal and remedial response operations.
HQ provides technology transfer by disseminating information to program
offices, Regions, States, and local authorities to assist in Superfund site cleanups.
As mandated by SARA, Section 311 (d), EPA manages university hazardous
substances research centers; and funding of research and training related to the
manufacture, use, transportation, disposal, and management of hazardous
substances through university-based centers program.
HQ provides funds and equipment for the Alternative/Innovative Treatment
Technology Test Facility (Edison, N.J.), which is responsible for hazardous
substances monitoring, emissions control, etc.
EPA maintains the EPA/Coast Guard Environmental Response Team (ERT),
which is responsible for providing engineering and scientific advice.
HQ, as mandated by SARA, must meet schedules for remedial
investigation/feasibility studies (RI/FS) and remedial actions, and support
completion cleanup actions started in prior years.
Budget
Hazardous Substance Research
Hazardous Substance Response
Hazardous Substance Response
Support
Hazardous Substance Response -
Interagency
Hazardous Substance Response
Enforcement
Management and Support
TOTAL
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workvears
$58.2
1,135.7
4.0
84.1
121.2
96.2
$1,449.4
86
1,042
42
976
488
2,634
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Superfund Program
^Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR)/ a division of the
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), is subdivided into the
Office of Program Management and Technology, Emergency Response Division,
Hazardous Site Evaluation Division, and Hazardous Site Control Division; and,
is responsible for developing national strategy, programs, technical policies,
regulations, and guidelines for the control of abandoned hazardous waste sites
and response to and prevention of oil and hazardous substance spills under
the authority of the CERCLA, as amended by SARA legislation.
Other EPA Offices
The CERCLA Enforcement Division, a division of the Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement (OWPE), is responsible for CERCLA compliance and enforcement
activities.
Regional OSWER Divisions, though having different functions in each region,
generally assist the States in developing comprehensive hazardous waste control
and enforcement programs.
The Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with Superfund
policy analysis; including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating, and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
* The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) provides the
principal direction and review of civil enforcement activities for all media on
Superfund sites.
The Office of External Affairs (OEA) acts as a clearinghouse for information
required by the public.
The Office of Water (OW) is concerned with ground water protection this
cross-media issue involves incidences where ground water contamination has
occurred from hazardous waste from Superfund sites.
State Organizations
State Superfund Agencies are responsible for negotiating and enforcing
Responsible Party (RP) hazardous waste site emergency and remedial response
programs, or in cases where the RPs do not perform adequately, States must plan
and execute cleanup operations.
External Organizations
The Department of Justice (DOJ) assists EPA with Superfund Enforcement
programs.
United States Coast Guard (USCG) provides engineering and scientific advice to
the Superfund program.
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Superfund Program
The following organizations are concerned with Superfund hazardous waste
cleanup efforts with regards to the safety of human beings and the environment:
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Department of Interior (DOI)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Facilitate cooperation between the CERCLA cleanup program and the RCRA
corrective action program to enhance EPA's ability to achieve its primary goals of
protecting human health and the environment; contribute to more flexible and
effective use of Federal and State resources; discourage "forum shopping" by
owners/operators and other responsible parties; and avoid duplication of effort
for RCRA facilities that become CERCLA sites.
Continue to perform Site Inspections (Sis) on those sites that may not have been
completed by the January 1,1989 SI goal. On other new, high-priority sites
conduct a two step process: 1) Screening Site Inspections (SSIs) conducted on all
further action sites to determine their likelihood of scoring above the Hazard
Ranking System (HRS) threshold score, and 2) Listing Site Inspections (LSIs)
performed only on those sites likely to score above the HRS cutoff score;
currently, approximately 720 substances on EPA hazardous substances list.
* Promulgate a final National Contingency Plan (NCP) that establishes cleanup
standards and procedures for CERCLA National Priorities List (NPL) sites. This
proposal will use a site-specific balancing process in which nine criteria are
analyzed to make a decision concerning final remedy selections.
Enhance community involvement and public education efforts for the
hazardous waste programs, as mandated by SARA. A new element of EPA's
community outreach efforts will be Technical Assistance Grants (TACs) to
citizens' groups to interpret data and implications of Superfund site work and
decisions.
Emphasize cleanups financed by responsible parties, i.e., owners/operators and
generators, through negotiated settlements, rather than through litigation. The
increased use of settlement authorities such as notice letters, mixed funding
settlements, covenants not to sue, de minimis settlements, and nonbinding
allocations of responsibility (NBARs) will encourage potentially responsible
party (PRP) cleanups. However, whenever a settlement is not possible, EPA will
immediately proceed with and enforcement action.
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Superfund Program
Implement strategies for meeting the Remedial Investigations/Feasibility
Studies (RI/FS) and remedial action (RA) goals which includes goals to start 375
RI/FS projects and 175 RA projects by the end of FY1989.
* Protect human health and the environment from release of hazardous
substances by concentrating on the most serious human health and
environmental threats due to budget constraints. Top priority is given to
classic emergencies (such as fires, explosions, and toxic gas releases), complete
cleanups at NPL sites, and time-critical responses (must be dealt with by EPA
within six months).
Implement the Federal facility compliance program developed during FY 1988.
Regional activities will concentrate on tracking progress of cleanups at Federal
facilities and on negotiating under SARA, Section 120 agreements.
Comply with SARA Section 104(k) which requires States to provide satisfactory
assurances to EPA that they have sufficient treatment and disposal capacity for all
hazardous wastes expected to be generated within their borders for the next 20
years. States must provide appropriate assurance by October 1989.
Comply with SARA, Title HI, Section 304, which mandates that releases of
extremely hazardous substances (EHSs) in a reportable quantity (RQ) or greater be
reported to State and local governments. Releases of CERCLA hazardous
substances must be reported to the National Response Center in addition to State
and local governments. Currently, 232 EHSs are non-CERCLA hazardous
substances, but will be designated as CERCLA hazardous substances. The one-
pound RQ for these substances will be adjusted in a final rule in FY 1989,
clarifying reporting requirements under CERCLA and SARA.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Shift the FY 1987 and 1988 focus of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCUS) data
management development activities to system utilization for enhanced program
and project management. Focus on data quality, management reporting, site
management planning capabilities, potential integration of RCRIS and CERCLIS
systems, expansion of State participation in OSWER systems, and enhancement
of the various technical systems supporting the OSCs and RPMs.
Provide more comprehensive assessment of sites and apply treatment
technologies and permanent remedies to site cleanup. In FY 1989 the Office of
Research and Development (ORD) will develop data and procedures to fill
informational and assessment gaps that the program agrees exist in the various
phases of the public health evaluation process, including
bioavailability/pharmacokinetics, interaction of compounds in mixtures, and
non-cancer health effects.
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Supeifund Program
Improve consistency and cost effectiveness of EPA responses at Superfund sites
by giving the Remedial Project Managers (RPMs) and On-Scene Coordinators
(OSCs) direct access to the technical and management information that exists
within the program.
Provide an array of information tools to the RPMs and OSCs through use of
Local Area Network (LAN) technology to provide access to project management
software for use in detailed planning and tracking site activities.
Consolidate existing office tracking systems into one integrated database. Current
systems track correspondence, regulatory activities, contracts, internal workplans,
and personnel data.
Encourage Regions to enter preliminary assessment (PA) and site inspection (SI)
data (i.e., the priority assigned to continued investigation or cleanup efforts, or
recommendations for no further action) into CERCLIS.
Improve the overall field-to-region-to-headquarters communication through
integrated information management, e.g., CERCLIS; Emergency Removal
program effort.
IRM Infrastructure
The IRM program for the Superfund program is highly developed. This program
functions as a component of the IRM program within the Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (OSWER).
OSWER has a highly developed IRM infrastructure. Organizationally, the IRM
program involves a number of organizational entities.
Information Management Staff within the Office of Program Management and
Technology (OPMT) has overall responsibility for the planning and management
of OSWER's IRM program. The Director of this staff, Asa R. Frost, Jr. serves as
OSWER's Senior IRM Official (SIRMO). This staff drafts all OSWER-wide IRM
policy, standards and procedures; leads the IRM planning process and
coordinates and consolidates OSWER program office IRM plans; leads OSWER's
records management program, data administration program, information
management technology research activities, and activities for IRM organization,
communication and training.
The Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR) and the Office of Waste
Programs Enforcement (OWPE) jointly plan and manage the Superfund IRM
program. Each of these offices develops IRM plans and budgets, and provides
day-to-day management of information systems and other IRM activities. Each
of these offices has an Information Management Coordinator (IMC) with each
IMC working within the staff office for Program Management and Support
reporting to each office director.
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Superfund Program
Regional IRM Planning Coordinators exist in each region to coordinate IRM
planning with OSWER headquarters organizations, and to coordinate the
development and support of national information systems for waste
management programs. These coordinators generally function with the Waste
Management Division of the Region.
An IRM Steering Committee provides Headquarters level guidance on IRM
policy, planning, prioritization of major initiatives, and direction of major
information systems projects. The Steering Committee is comprised of an
Executive Board and a Project Review Board. The Executive Board reviews and
approves IRM plans, budgets, policies and selected other IRM initiatives. The
Project Review Board reviews and approves individual information systems
projects throughout their life cycle. Both Boards include representatives of
OSWER program offices, the regional offices, and OIRM.
OSWER has developed its own Systems Life Cycle Management Program. This
program, established by a formal Directive and implemented through a detailed
Guidance, prescribes the process by which offices within OSWER and supporting
waste program organizations determine the needs for, develop, and operate
information systems. The Guidance includes specialized "practice papers" on
project reviews and approvals, project management, selection of project
participants, data management, configuration management, and expert systems. A
practice paper on benefit-cost analysis is being developed. A comprehensive
training initiative supports this program. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary
Lou Melley, manages this program.
OSWER also is developing a Data Resource Directory (DRD) System which will
maintain descriptions of the information maintained in OSWER's systems. The
DRD will contain data definitions, information linking data elements to individual
systems, and other related information for use by system developers as well as by
system users. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary Lou Melley, manages this
effort.
IRM Budget
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
$5.2
13.8
17.2
34
66
71
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Superfund program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OSWER. Funds for the Superfund program from other Offices such
as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
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Superfund Program
ajor Information Systems
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Information System (CERCLIS)
This system currently serves two purposes: It contains an inventory of potential
hazardous waste sites, and it serves as the vehicle for Regions to report to
Headquarters on the status of major stages of cleanup at sites.
Responsible Office
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR)
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Other Information Systems
Case Management System (CMS)
Cost Documentation Management System
Delisting Petition Tracking System
Hazardous Waste Database
Hazardous Waste Data Management System (HWDMS)
National Hazardous Waste Data Management Systems (RDS-HWDMS)
Regional Enforcement and Superfund System (REAS) - Region 7
RCRA Information System (RCRIS)
SF-52 Personnel Management Tracking System (SF-52) - Region 1
Site Investigation Tracking System (SITS) - Region 3
Spill Notification and Response System (SNARS)
State Authorization Tracking
Superfund Enforcement Tracking System (SETS)
Superfund Label System (SLS) - Region 1
Superfund Site Tracking Information System - Region 4
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Superfund Program
information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 6 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
* Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking #0331
Worker Protection Standard - SARA #1426
Technical Assistance Grants to Groups at National Priorities Sites #1440
* Proposed Rule for Continuous Release Reporting Regulation under CERCLA
#1445
Contact: Carl Koch 382-2739
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
program; others support multiple EPA programs.
CERCLA/RCRA Hotline
Hazardous Waste Ombudsman Program
McKin Site Hotline, Maine, Region I
RCRA/CERCLA Hotline
Superfund Hotline
Superfund Hotline, Region II
Superfund/Dioxin Hotline, Missouri, Region VII
Superfund Docket
Center for Environmental Research Information
(800) 424-9346
(202) 382-3000
(FTS) 475-7667
(207) 657-2087
(800) 424-9346
(202) 382-3000
(800) 424-9346
(202) 382-3000
(800) 346-5009 (NJ)
(800) 722-1223 (NY)
(800) 892-5009
(202) 382-3046
(FTS) 684-7376
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Superfund Program
EPA Region in Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
"Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program Progress and
Accomplishments", February 1988, American Management Systems, Inc.
"Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - sts", July 1988, United States
General Accounting Office
"SUPERFUND, Extent of Nation's Potential Hazardous Waste Problem Still
Unknown", December 1987, United States General Accounting Office
"SUPERFUND, Improvements Needed in Work Force Management", October
1987, United States General Accounting Office
"SUPERFUND, Civilian Federal Agencies Slow to Clean Up Hazardous Waste1"
July 1987, United States General Accounting Office
Program Acronyms
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act
CERCLIS Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Information System
CMS Case Management System
CPCA Core Program Cooperative Agreement
DOI Department of Interior
DOJ Department of Justice
EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance
ERT Environmental Response Team
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
HHS Department of Health and Human Services
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Superfund Program
HRS
HWDMS
ISI
LAN
LSI
NBAR
NCP
NEIC
NOAA
NPL
OEA
OECM
OERR
OPPE
ORD
OSC
OSHA
OSWER
OW
OWPE
PA
RA
RCRA
RCRIS
RDS-HWDMS
REAS
RI/FS
RP
RPM
RQ
SARA
SETS
SF-52
SI
SITE
SITS
SLS
SMOA
SNARS
SSI
SUPTRK
TAG
USCG
Hazard Ranking System
Hazardous Waste Data Management System
Information Systems Inventory
Local Area Network
Listing Site Inspection
Nonbinding Allocations of Responsibility
National Contingency Plan
National Enforcement Investigation Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Priorities List
Office of External Affairs
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
Office of Research and Development
On-Scene Coordinator
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Office of Water
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
Preliminary Assessment
Remedial Action
Resource Conservation Recovery Act
RCRA Information System
National Hazardous Waste Data Management Systems
Regional Enforcement and Superfund System
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studies
Responsible Party
Remedial Project Manager
Reportable Quantity
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
Superfund Enforcement Tracking System
SF-52 Personnel Management Tracking System
Site Inspection
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation
Site Investigation Tracking System
Superfund Label System
Superfund Memorandum of Agreement
Spill Notification and Response System
Screening Site Inspection
Superfund Site Tracking Information System
Technical Assistance Grant
United States Coast Guard
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
HAZARDOUS AND SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
Program
The Hazardous and Solid Waste Management program (also called the RCRA
program) is comprised of the following components:
Hazardous/Solid Waste Management is charged with developing a nation-wide
program to safely and effectively manage hazardous and solid wastes from
generation through disposal.
State Hazardous Waste Management Program Resource Support provides
financial assistance to States for the development, implementation, and
enforcement of comprehensive hazardous waste management programs.
Hazardous Waste Research provides the scientific and engineering basis for
characterizing wastes, determining the hazards they pose, and formulating
controls.
Hazardous Waste Enforcement serves to ensure national compliance with
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Legislation
The above programs were established by the Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended
by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 and the Hazardous
and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984. Specifically:
Name and Section #
RCRA:
Subtitle C
Section 3001
Section 3013
Section 3005
Section 8001
Subtitle D
HSWA:
Section 221
Section 701
Clean Water Act:
Section 311
Subject Matter
Hazardous Waste Management
ID and Listing of Hazardous Waste
Monitoring of Hazardous Waste
Permits for Hazardous Waste
Research, Demonstrations, Training and other
Activities
Solid Waste Management
Study of Hazardous Waste Generators
Injection of Hazardous Wastes
Hazardous Materials Release Research
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
passion and Purpose
The Hazardous and Solid Waste Management program, with authority from
RCRA and HSWA, identifies and manages wastes which pose a substantial hazard
to human health or the environment. The program has six major objectives:
1) implement strong State programs, 2) emphasize permitting or hazardous waste
facilities, 3) strengthen compliance monitoring and enforcement, 4) develop new
regulations and significantly improve existing regulations, 5) develop and
implement a regulatory program for underground storage tanks (see Underground
Storage Tanks Program profile), and 6) conduct research and development to
support regulatory programs.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Hazardous/Solid Waste
Management Program are:
Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
The Hazardous Waste program aims to ensure that current and future
hazardous waste management practices are, and continue to be, protective of
human health and the environment through the promulgation of regulations,
issuance of permits, application of highly visible compliance monitoring, and
utilization of timely and appropriate enforcement.
The Solid Waste program, an important emerging area, aims to develop
methods for the disposal of solid waste which are environmentally sound and
which maximize the utilization of valuable resources, including energy and
materials which are recoverable from solid waste, and to encourage resource
conservation.
State Hazardous Waste Management Program Resource Support
This program provides financial assistance to States for the development,
implementation, and enforcement of comprehensive hazardous waste
management programs that meet the requirements of Subtitle C of RCRA and
HSWA. States are required to provide a 25 percent match to these funds.
Objectives of the grant program are to provide incentives to the States to develop
and administer State hazardous waste management programs controlling the
generation, transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes;
develop environmentally sound permits for as many priority hazardous waste
management fadlities as possible; and enforce hazardous waste management
program regulations to protect human health and the environment.
HSWA greatly expanded the Hazardous Waste management program in the
States. It increased the number and complexity of requirement that States must
meet to achieve equivalence with the Federal Hazardous Waste management
program. Key provisions in HSWA strengthened requirements for corrective
action, broadened restrictions on the land disposal of hazardous waste, and set
deadlines for the issuance of RCRA permits.
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
Hazardous Waste Research
Hazardous waste research involves a number of areas: 1) Scientific Assessment,
2) Monitoring Systems and Quality Assurance, 3) Health Effects,
4) Environmental Engineering and Technology, 5) Environmental Processes and
Effects, and 6) Integrated Hazardous Waste Research.
The research is undertaken in support of the following objectives:
Develop data to support the use of alternative technologies
Develop and evaluate tests and procedures for conducting risk assessments
Conduct the assessment and control research necessary to address dioxin
Develop procedures to identify and measure chemicals in wastes
Develop data to support implementation of the land disposal regulations
Develop data to support implementation of the incineration regulations
Provide quality assurance support to the hazardous waste program
~ Develop procedure to prevent and contain hazardous releases
Hazardous Waste Enforcement
This program serves to ensure national compliance with RCRA and HSWA.
The goal of the enforcement program is to promote management practices that
ensure the handling and disposal of hazardous waste in an environmentally
sound manner.
Functions and Activities
Research
EPA conducts research to provide the scientific and engineering basis for
characterizing wastes, determining the hazards they pose, and formulating
controls. Section 311 of the Clean Water Act also mandates some of the research
conducted under this program, specifically the hazardous materials release
efforts. This program provides for research in conjunction with private industry
to develop the scientific data necessary for preventing, controlling, cleaning up
and disposing of hazardous material releases.
Regulations, Guidance, and Implementation
EPA provides national direction for the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Management program through promulgating and refining regulations for the
identification, tracking, management and disposal of hazardous wastes. Every
fiscal year EPA develops an annual RCRA Implementation Plan (RIP) that
establishes program priorities for all aspects of the program including
inspections, compliance monitoring, reporting, and enforcement. In addition,
EPA conducts technical studies, regulatory impact analyses, economic analyses,
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
and assesses control options and technologies necessary for regulatory decision-
making.
Regions support the development and upgrading of State legislation and
regulations to achieve equivalence with the Federal Hazardous Waste
management program by providing guidance and technical assistance. Regions
also assist in developing program capabilities and authorization applications. In
addition, the Regions oversee State programs to ensure that implementation of
RCRA is carried out in a nationally consistent manner and that minimum
RCRA standards are followed.
EPA implements and supports the RCRA State authorization program, whereby
States conduct activities such as permitting, inspection, compliance monitoring
and enforcement. 41 States have assumed authority over pre-1984 aspects of the
program: Georgia has taken full responsibility for all aspects of its hazardous
waste management program. This program also supports Regional activities to
implement the Hazardous Waste management program directly in States that
are not authorized.
Permitting/Registration
EPA provides national oversight and guidance for implementing consistent
State and regional hazardous waste permitting programs. EPA supports
Regional implementation by jointly processing permit applications until the
States are authorized for HSWA.
Permitting activities are significantly affected by HSWA permits must
incorporate applicable HSWA provisions resulting in a more extensive and
complex permitting program at both the State and Federal levels.
Compliance Monitoring, Inspections, and Enforcement
EPA inspects land disposal and treatment and storage facilities to review their
compliance with existing requirements, as well as new permit, closure, and
corrective action requirements. EPA Headquarters and Regions are to inspect
and evaluate hazardous waste generator, transporter, and facility compliance
with regards to the statutory, regulatory and permit requirements imposed under
RCRA. EPA address releases at RCRA facilities by defining and monitoring
appropriate corrective actions. Timely and appropriate follow-up enforcement
actions, whether administrative, civil, or criminal, are to be taken when
corrective actions are not pursued. Penalties for violating Subtitle C go up to
$50,000 per day for each violation and/or 5 years in prison. Knowingly
endangering human life as a result of waste management practices carries a
$250,000 penalty and up to 15 years in prison.
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
Budget
Hazardous/Solid Waste Mgmt
Reg, Guidelines, & Policies
- Waste Mgmt Strategies Imp
State Haz Waste Mgmt Res Assist
Hazardous Waste Research
Hazardous Waste Enforcement
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workvears
$55.8
19.6
64.8
44.7
39.8
TOTAL $224.7
* These figures are taken from the FY1989 EPA Budget estimate
239
375
0
231
482
1327
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Office of Solid Waste
(OSW) is responsible for the hazardous and solid waste activities of the Agency.
The Office provides program policy direction to, and evaluation of, program
related activities throughout the Agency, and establishes hazardous and solid
waste research requirements for the Agency. These divisions of OSW have the
lead role:
Permits and State Programs Division (PSPD)
The Permits and State Programs Division is responsible for: 1) developing
RCRA Policy and Implementation Plans, 2) establishing regulations and
guidance for permits program, 3) regulating Federal facilities, 5) providing
State program oversight, and 6) developing regional liaison.
Municipal Solid Waste Management Program (MSWMP)
The Municipal Solid Waste Management Program is responsible for:
1) developing a "Decision Maker's Guide" for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
and establishing a clearinghouse for information publications related to MSW
management, 2) developing and implementing "criteria" for land disposal of
MSW, and 3) developing and implementing regulations for the safe
management of ash from municipal solid combustors.
Other EPA Offices
* Office of Waste Programs Enforcement (OWPE), RCRA Enforcement Division
(RED), provides guidance and support for the implementation of RCRA
Compliance and enforcement programs.
Regional Waste Management Divisions are responsible for setting goals,
priorities, and objectives within each region for the hazardous waste
management program. The Divisions also select strategies and techniques for
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
achieving compliance and develop and recommend appropriate enforcement
actions for the RCRA program.
In the Office of Water (OW), Office of Ground-Water Protection (OGWP) works
in coordination with OSWER to meet the requirements of RCRA dealing with
ground-water contamination (see Ground-Water profile).
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) works in conjunction
with OSWER to meet RCRA air emission standards for hazardous waste sites.
Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with Hazardous/Solid
Waste analysis, including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance; and
provides the principal direction and review of civil enforcement activities for
RCRA (also for water, air, pesticides, toxics, and radiation). OECM reviews the
efforts of each Region to assure that EPA develops and conducts a strong and
consistent enforcement and compliance program.
The Office of External Affairs (OEA) acts as a clearinghouse for Hazardous and
Solid Waste Management information required by the public.
State Organizations
State Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Agencies are responsible for
developing legislation and regulations that achieve equivalence with the Federal
Hazardous Waste Management program. States that are authorized write
permits, conduct inspections, manage compliance monitoring, and determine
necessary enforcement actions.
External Organizations
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
(ASTSWMO)
Association of Solid Waste Pollution Control Agencies (ASWPCA)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Permitting is becoming a more complex task as HSWA requirements go into
effect, as corrective actions are further defined, and as facilities modify their
processes to minimize waste or expand their capacity.
Issue permits for incineration facilities by the November 1989 deadline.
Develop enforcement strategies for new regulations, such as corrective action
and new waste listings.
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
Complete enforcement strategies for cross-media concerns,, such as air emissions
from RCRA facilities and municipal waste combustion.
Inspect significant generators to ensure compliance with the new land ban
regulations.
Promulgate rules requiring corrective action for releases of hazardous
constituents from solid waste management units as mandated by HSWA.
Promulgate location standards for new and existing hazardous waste facilities as
mandated by HSWA.
Promulgate revised criteria and develop guidance for municipal solid waste
landfills.
Issue guidance on combustion ash management.
Revise hazardous waste list based on concentration of toxic constituents by
promulgating rules "relisting" two groups of the highest priority listed wastes.
Promulgate mining waste management standards.
Develop a demonstration program for medical waste tracking.
RM Trends and Initiatives
Coordinate the transition from the present RCRA Hazardous Waste Data
Management System (HWDMS) to the new RCRA Information Management
System (RCRIS).
Continue development of a risk-based decision-making system to serve as the
basis for future regulation and policy development.
Improve support for hazardous waste activities conducted outside of OSW.
Integrate data and reporting requirements with other offices (e.g. State Capacity
Certifications required by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
(SARA) are supported by capacity data developed by OSW).
Enter reporting data into HWDMS with deadlines for when and how data is to be
entered. States and Regions are required to comply by the FY 1989 RIP and the
purpose is to provide timely data which are essential to the compliance
monitoring and enforcement aspects of the program.
Complete the development of the Biennial Report National Data Base by the end
of FY 1989.
Complete the reporting module of the Biennial Report Data System (BIRDS) in
FY 1989 and incorporate analytical capability for States to use Biennial Report
data to perform capacity analysis.
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
[RM Infrastructure
The IRM program for the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management program is
highly developed. This program functions as a component of the IRM program
within the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER).
OSWER has a highly developed IRM infrastructure. Organizationally, the IRM
program involves a number of organizational entities.
Information Management Staff within the Office of Program Management and
Technology (OPMT) has overall responsibility for the planning and management
of OSWER's IRM program. The Director of this staff, Asa R. Frost, Jr. serves as
OSWER's Senior IRM Official (SIRMO). This staff drafts all OSWER-wide IRM
policy, standards and procedures; leads the IRM planning process and
coordinates and consolidates OSWER program office IRM plans; leads OSWER's
records management program, data administration program, information
management technology research activities, and activities for IRM organization,
communication and training.
The Office of Solid Waste (OSW) and Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
(OWPE) jointly plan and manage the RCRA IRM program. Each of these offices
develops IRM plans and budgets, and provides day-to-day management of
information systems and other IRM activities. Each of these offices has an
Information Management Coordinator (IMC) with each IMC working within the
staff office for Program Management and Support reporting to each office
director.
Regional IRM Planning Coordinators exist in each region to coordinate IRM
planning with OSWER headquarters organizations, and to coordinate the
development and support of national information systems for waste
management programs. These coordinators generally function with the Waste
Management Division of the Region.
An IRM Steering Committee provides Headquarters level guidance on IRM
policy, planning, prioritization of major initiatives, and direction of major
information systems projects. The Steering Committee is comprised of an
Executive Board and a Project Review Board. The Executive Board reviews and
approves IRM plans, budgets, policies and selected other IRM initiatives. The
Project Review Board reviews and approves individual information systems
projects throughout their life cycle. Both Boards include representatives of
OSWER program offices, the regional offices, and OIRM.
OSWER has developed its own Systems Life Cycle Management Program. This
program, established by a formal Directive and implemented through a detailed
Guidance, prescribes the process by which offices within OSWER and supporting
waste program organizations determine the needs for, develop, and operate
information systems. The Guidance includes specialized "practice papers" on
project reviews and approvals, project management, selection of project
participants, data management, configuration management, and expert systems. A
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
practice paper on benefit-cost analysis is being developed. A comprehensive
training initiative supports this program. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary
Lou Melley, manages this program.
OSWER also is developing a Data Resource Directory (DRD) System which will
maintain descriptions of the information maintained in OSWER's systems. The
DRD will contain data definitions, information linking data elements to individual
systems, and other related information for use by system developers as well as by
system users. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary Lou Melley, manages this
effort.
IRM Budget
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
$5.2
13.8
17.2
34
66
71
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
program, as well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OSWER. Funds for the Hazardous
and Solid Waste Management program from other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration
and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
Major Information Systems
Hazardous Waste Data Management System (HWDMS)
The purpose of HWDMS is to maintain information in response to EPA
regulations by the 5,000 facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste
and 165,000 handlers who generate or transport hazardous waste. The inventory
includes for each participant estimated annual quantities of waste handled and
tracks all handlers of hazardous wastes, including generation and authorized
treatment, storage, or disposal.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active (supported through FY 1991 when RCRIS is expected to be
fully implemented)
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
RCRA Information management System (RCRIS)
RCRIS is to replace HWDMS as the Hazardous and Solid Waste Information
System. It is to emphasize automated data transfer, wide accessibility, and
standardized formats among the Regions, States, and Headquarters.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
In development (piloted in Region IV during March - June 1989; national
implementation to begin September 1989)
RCRA Administrative Action Tracking System (RAATS)
RAATS maintains all federal complaints, initial orders, and final orders
information as supplied by the regions. The system determines items such as the
difference between penalties assessed in complaints versus final orders and the
time between complaints and final orders. This information is often subject to
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
RCRA Biennial Reports
Biennial reports submitted by the RCRA regulated community on hazardous
waste generated, transported, treated, etc.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Interim/Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management Programs
States may voluntarily submit an application to EPA for final authorization on
Phase n interim authorization to administer and enforce their own hazardous
waste management programs in lieu of the Federal program. The information
submitted must demonstrate that the state program is at least equivalent to the
Federal program.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
RCRA Hazardous Waste Permit Application Part A
RCRA Section 3005 requires each respondent to obtain a permit to operate. The
permit application requires information regarding the facility's location and
design capacity plus estimates on the hazardous waste composition, and quantity
and concentration. EPA uses this data to determine compliance with the
regulations.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for RCRA Permittees
RCRA permit regulations require hazardous waste facilities to report to EPA or
to keep records to: (1) substantiate information submitted in permit applications,
(2) ensure that facilities are operating in compliance with their permits, and (3)
identify instances where permits need revision
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
DelistLng Petition Tracking System
This system is used to compile information relating to solid and other hazardous
waste. Statistical reports, graphs and charts are generated to help determine
standards and guidelines to be used by industry and other related fields. These
findings are published in the Federal Register.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational / Active
RCRA State Reporting
EPA requires States to submit monthly information on permit status
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
Open Dump Inventory
A list of open dumps that failed to meet criteria for landfills or disposal sites.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational / Active
Grant Allocation Formula
Model to allocate grant funds on basis of the number of TSD's, PDF, Waste
Quantity and Authorization Status.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational/Active
State Authorization Tracking
Manual system to track state authorization from initiation to final authorization.
Responsible Office
Office of Solid Waste
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Other Information Systems
HWDMS - SAS (PSEUDO-HWD)
Industry Studies Data Base (ISDB)
Land Disposal Restrictions Rule Development (LDRRDDB)
National Hazardous Waste Data Management Systems (RDS-HWDMS)
OSW Sludge Program-Health Impacts (SPHI)
Regulatory Impact Analysis Facility Profile (RIA)
Small Quantity Generator Survey
Waste Management Data Base System (CDB)
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
information Collection
Infonnation collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 26 infonnation collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Land Disposal Permitting standards #995
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest for Generators and Transporters #801
Information Requirements for Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment
Facilities #814
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Ground-water Monitoring #959
Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity #261
RCRA Financial Requirements #947
Contact: Rick Westlund 382-2745
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, infonnation centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
program; others support multiple EPA programs.
CERCLA/RCRA Hotline
* Hazardous Waste Ombudsman Program
Northeast Industrial Waste Exchange
Public Information Reference Unit (PIRU)
RCRA Hotline for Region II Only
RCRA Hotline for Region IX Only
* RCRA Hotline, Iowa, Region VII
RCRA Information Center
(800) 424-9346
(202) 382-3000
(FTS) 475-7667
(800) 237-2481
(315) 422-6572
(202) 382-5926
(800) 732-1223
(800) 231-3075
(800) 223-0424
(FTS) 382-3112
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
RCRA On-Scene Coordinators Hotline, Region VI
RCRA/CERCLA Hotline
Waste Minimization Hotline, Region III
RCRA Docket
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region in Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
* Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(214) 767-2666
(800) 424-9346
(202) 382-3000
(800) 826-5320
(800) 334-2467 (PA)
(202) 475-9327
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
"Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) Information
Resources Management (IRM) Program Overview", December 1988, Office of
Program Management and Technology Information Management Staff
Program Acronyms
BIRDS Biennial Report Data System
CDB Waste Management Data Base System
HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
HWDMS Hazardous Waste Data Management System
ISDB Industry Studies Data Base
LDRRDDB Land Disposal Restrictions. Rule Development
MSW Municipal Solid Waste
MSWMP Municipal Solid Waste Management Program
OEA Office of External Affairs
OECM Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
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Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Program
OFFE
OSW
OSWER
OWPE
PSEUDOHWD
PSPD
RAATS
RCRA
RCRIS
RDS-HWDMS
RED
RIA
RIP
SARA
SPHI
Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation
Office of Solid Waste
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
HWDMS - SAS
Permits and State Programs Division
RCRA Administrative Action Tracking System
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RCRA Information management System
National Hazardous Waste Data Management Systems
RCRA Enforcement Division
Regulatory Impact Analysis Facility Profile
RCRA Implementation Plan
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
OSW Sludge Program-Health Impacts
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
PROGRAM
Program
The Underground Storage Tanks (UST) program is comprised of the following
areas:
Regulations, Guidelines, and Policies develops and implements a
comprehensive regulatory program to control and prevent leakage from
underground storage tanks.
Financial Assistance - UST Grants supports the development and
implementation of State Underground Storage Tanks programs.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) Trust program is responsible for
the timely and appropriate cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks.
Guidelines and Implementation is primarily responsible for standards
and criteria development and ensuring the rapid and effective response
to releases from underground petroleum tanks.
Technical Support provides assistance for preventive actions at
underground tanks and for corrective actions at leaking facilities.
Management and Support is responsible for policy, financial, and legal
support to the program.
~ Enforcement ensures that corrective action requirements are met by
owners/operators of underground storage tanks.
Legislation
The Underground Storage Tanks Program was established by the Hazardous
and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984. The Leaking Underground
Storage Tanks Trust Program was authorized by the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization (SARA) Act of 1986. Specifically:
Name and Section #
HSWA:
Subtitle I
SARA:
Title V
Subject Matter
Underground Storage Tanks Program
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Trust Fund
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
Mission and Purpose
EPA has developed the UST program to prevent and find leaks and spills, correct
the problems created by leaks and spills, ensure that owners and operators of USTs
can pay for corrective actions, and finally, ensure that each state has a regulatory
program for USTs that meets the Federal guidelines. Each state must certify that it
will develop and enforce standards for new tanks that are no less stringent than
EPA's, and will implement tank notification plans to monitor and identify where
existing tanks are, when new tanks are installed, and ensure that old tanks are
properly removed from operation.
The Agency's primary objective is to develop and implement the UST response
program through cooperative agreements with states. Using Trust Fund resources,
states may either enforce responsible party cleanup or directly undertake corrective
actions. The specific responsibilities of the components are:
Regulations, Guidelines, and Policies
Responsible for promulgating regulations and corrective action standards
to control and prevent leakage from underground storage tanks. This
includes developing compliance and enforcement strategies as well as
issuing policy and technical guidance. Training, technical and
administrative support is provided to States in the development of State
UST programs.
Financial Assistance UST Grants
Provides financial support for the development and implementation of
State Underground Storage Tanks programs.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Trust
The Trust is used to enforce or perform necessary cleanups and to recover
any costs incurred from the Fund. It provides supplemental cleanup
capabilities for abandoned sites or for sites where the owner/operator is
unwilling or unable to undertake cleanup.
Guidelines and Implementation
Responsible for the clear definition and communication of national
priorities to guide the States in their implementation of the program.
Guidelines are provided on financial responsibility, corrective action,
enforcement, cost recovery, and Trust Fund management systems.
Technical Support
Provides research and technical support for field response actions
including guidance on cleanup technologies and improved rapid site
assessment techniques which can be easily used by State and local
personnel.
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
and Support
Provides support in personnel, budgeting, financial management/
contracts and grants, legal advice and program planning and evaluation
to ensure effective and efficient program operations.
Enforcement
Provides enforcement actions to support the implementation of the
program. Provides oversight and technical assistance to
owner/operators performing corrective actions at their sites and use of
enforcement to compel cleanup by recalcitrant owner/operators. Use of
the Fund to perform actual cleanups is a last resort and will seek to
recover appropriate costs from responsible parties.
Functions and Activities
Regulations, Standards and Guidance Development
The Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) has developed a series of
guidelines to provide information necessary for states to apply to regional offices
for cooperative agreements under the UST Trust Fund. OUST developed these
guidelines to set out eligible uses of Trust fund resources, respective roles and
responsibilities of EPA and the states, basic program and administrative
requirements, and guidance on addressing the program requirements. These
guidelines may be revised in the future as EPA and the states gain experience in
utilizing the UST Trust Fund.
Permitting/Registration
Each state is required to compile a list of petroleum release sites and screen each
site to ensure it meets funding eligibility requirements. Thousands of sites have
already been identified as eligible for cleanup. The state will also develop a set of
criteria to evaluate and prioritize eligible sites, and identify the general types of
activities likely to be required at each site (e.g., source identification, preliminary
assessment, cleanup). Typical criteria for identifying eligible sites include the size
or quantity of the leak, the number of drinking water wells contaminated,
distance to closest population or residences, total population exposed and
estimated health risks.
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
Each state is responsible for contractor selection and oversight for all inspection
and compliance monitoring activities. Contractors must be adequately qualified
to effectively execute site assessments and cleanup activities and provide
technical and field support. Each state will develop a plan for sampling protocol
procedures and analysis at corrective action sites, and identify laboratories to
provide quality assurance control of inspection and monitoring data.
Enforcement
Each state is responsible for tracking inspection information related to incident
reporting, site investigation, cleanup activities and cost recovery measures.
Automated systems have been developed at Headquarters which are now being
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
transferred to the regions and states to track the number of complaints received,
investigations, enforcement actions and cost recovery activities. The
enforcement process begins when the state receives data indicating the permittee
has exceeded an established policy guideline. Each state may use its own
established enforcement policy in place of federal policy if it has been clearly
defined and is included in the cooperative agreement worked out between EPA
and the state. Headquarters involvement with decisions under the enforcement
policy established by the states will be limited to those cases where a conflict
exists in the cooperative agreement or when an action of unusual size or
complexity occurs.
Program Budget
Regulations, Guidelines, and Policies
Financial Assistance - UST Grants
Lust Trust Fund:
Guidelines and Implementation
Technical Support
Management and Support
Enforcement
TOTAL
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workvears
$8.2
6.6
35.9
0.8
2.5
0.3
68
0
56
2
21
6
$54.3
153
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) has direct responsibility for
this program.
Other EPA Offices
Regional Solid Waste offices generally assist the states in developing
comprehensive Underground Storage Tanks programs, including
state/regional/national cooperative agreements, implementation plans and
enforcement policy. In coordination with Headquarters, the regions provide
technical assistance to the states in developing inspection procedures,
administrative data systems, monitoring systems, and data collection and
analysis systems.
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) provides regional
legal enforcement staff to states with signed cooperative agreements for review
of state program achievements and to provide technical assistance for state legal
enforcement activities.
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation (OPPE) provides the OUST program
with guidance on strategic issues, including establishing priority cleanup sites/
creating mechanisms to encourage state participation, establishing criteria for
dean up levels and technologies/ and program evaluation.
State Organizations
State Underground Storage Tanks Offices have direct responsible for
implementing the UST program and providing guidance, inspection/ evaluation
and enforcement to local agencies.
Program Trends and Initiatives
Implementation of public "right-to-know" guidelines to assist the states in
providing easy access to OUST documents, procedures and regulations and
encourage greater public participation.
Increased dependence on regional/state cooperation for implementation of
national guidelines and policy.
Strengthening state enforcement.
Installation of leak detection mechanisms on tanks in 1989 by roughly 350,000
owners /operators in order to comply with Agency regulations and insurance
requirements. The number of leaks reported is expected to increase substantially
from 1988 due to this requirement.
Implement in FY 1989 a program appraisal process designed to assist States in
executing their lead responsibilities under cooperative agreements. Will focus
on key areas such as conducting and overseeing cleanups/ identifying and
pursuing responsible parties, and cost recovery, and will emphasize assisting
States to improve identified areas.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Development of "franchisee" approach to information management in which
Headquarters has primary responsibility to design, develop and maintain
systems to facilitate the transfer of technology among Headquarters/ Regions,
States and the regulated community.
Reliance on PC-based information management systems, rather than centralized
mainframe facilities for tracking corrective actions, cost recoveries, resource
utilization and compliance activities.
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
Maintenance and storage of detailed data in a decentralized manner by state
agencies with implementation of automated telecommunication procedures to
encourage data sharing and electronic reporting.
Greater use of new computer technologies like Geographic Information System
(GIS) applications to provide integrated analytical support to state programs.
IRM Infrastructure
The IRM program for Underground Storage Tanks functions as a component
of the IRM program within the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER).
OSWER has a highly developed IRM infrastructure. Organizationally, the
IRM program involves a number of organizational entities.
Information Management Staff within the Office of Program Management and
Technology (OPMT) has overall responsibility for the planning and management
of OSWER's IRM program. The Director of this staff, Asa R. Frost, Jr. serves as
OSWER's Senior IRM Official (SIRMO). This staff drafts all OSWER-wide IRM
policy, standards and procedures; leads the IRM planning process and
coordinates and consolidates OSWER program office IRM plans; leads OSWER's
records management program, data administration program, information
management technology research activities, and activities for IRM organization,
communication and training.
The Office of Underground Storage Tanks manages the UST IRM program. This
office develops IRM plans and budgets, and provides day-to-day management of
information systems and other IRM activities. There is an Information
Management Coordinator (IMC) with each IMC working within the staff office
for Program Management and Support reporting to the office director.
The IRM program for the Underground Storage Tanks program is primarily
conducted within the Implementation Branch, and is directed by the OUST PC-
coordinator. Individual OUST staff are designated as regional coordinators and
assume responsibility for ensuring all automated data needs are being met
within a region's state programs.
Regional IRM Planning Coordinators exist in each region to coordinate IRM
planning with OSWER headquarters organizations, and to coordinate the
development and support of national information systems for waste
management programs.
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
An DRM Steering Committee provides Headquarters level guidance on IRM
policy, planning, prioritization of major initiatives, and direction of major
information systems projects. The Steering Committee is comprised of an
Executive Board and a Project Review Board. The Executive Board reviews and
approves IRM plans, budgets, policies and selected other IRM initiatives. The
Project Review Board reviews and approves individual information systems
projects throughout their life cycle. Both Boards include representatives of
OSWER program offices, the regional offices, and OIRM.
OSWER has developed its own Systems Life Cycle Management Program.
This program, established by a formal Directive and implemented through a
detailed Guidance, prescribes the process by which offices within OSWER and
supporting waste program organizations determine the needs for, develop,
and operate information systems. The Guidance includes specialized
"practice papers" on project reviews and approvals, project management,
selection of project participants, data management, configuration
management, and expert systems. A practice paper on benefit-cost analysis is
being developed. A comprehensive training initiative supports this program.
The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary Lou Melley, manages this program.
OSWER also is developing a Data Resource Directory (DRD) System which will
maintain descriptions of the information maintained in OSWER's systems. The
DRD will contain data definitions, information linking data elements to individual
systems, and other related information for use by system developers as well as by
system users. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary Lou Melley, manages this
effort.
IRM Budget
Budget
S(millions) Workvears
FY 1986*
FY 1987*
FY 1988*
$5.2
13.8
17.2
34
66
71
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Underground Storage Tanks program,
as well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OSWER. Funds for the UST program
from other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management
(OARM) are not included.
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
File Transfer System (FTS)
FTS is a PC-based system that provides electronic data transfer capabilities among
Headquarters, regional and state UST programs. FTS is being used to transfer
financial worksheets, memos and letters among UST staff, and will be eventually
linked to EPA's new Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).
Responsible Office
Office of Underground Storage Tanks
System Status
Operational/Active
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are the 3 information
collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this program (more detailed
information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Recordkeeping Requirements for UST Containing Regulated Substances #1360
Underground Storage Tanks - State Program Application #1355
RCRA Financial Responsibility Requirements for UST #1359
Contact: Rick Westlund 382-2745
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and
other information dissemination services that provide information to other
federal and non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Underground Storage Tanks
program; others support multiple EPA programs.
Underground Storage Tanks Docket
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region in Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
(202) 475-9720
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
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Underground Storage Tanks Program
EPA Region VH Hotline
* Public Information Center (PIC)
* Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
There are no IRM-related studies at this time
Program Acronyms
DOORS Document Ordering or Reference System
DRD Data Resource Directory
FTS File Transfer System
GIS Geographic Information System
HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
IMC Information Management Coordinator
INFIMIS Integrated Financial Management Information System
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
OECM Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
OIS Operations Information System
OUST Office of Underground Storage Tanks
OPMT Office of Program Management and Technology
OPPE Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
ROIS Regional Operation Information System
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
SIRMO Senior IRM Official
UST Underground Storage Tanks
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TITLE III:
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROGRAM
Program
Responsibilities for the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
(EPCRA) are divided between the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER) and die Office of Toxic Substances (OTS). Even though EPCRA is a single
program, the diverse nature of program responsibilities make it necessary to divide
implementation activities between these two offices. Each office has the budget
authority for its share of EPCRA program implementation. This profile details the
OSWER Preparedness Staffs program implementation responsibilities.
The EPCRA program for OSWER is comprised of the following components:
Emergency planning and response (EPCRA Sections 302 and 304):
~ Maintain the list of extremely hazardous substances (EHS)
Coordinate and support state and local authorities' receipt of notification from
facilities with EHS's
- Coordinate and support state and local authorities in developing,
maintaining, and testing emergency response plans
Coordinate and support reporting of releases of extremely hazardous
substances by industrial facilities
Take enforcement action where needed
Community right-to-know (EPCRA Sections 311 and 312)
Coordinate and support state and local authorities' receipt of Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS's) and chemical lists from industrial facilities under
Section 311
Coordinate and support state and local authorities' receipt of chemical data
from industrial facilities under Section 312
Promote the easy availability and effective use of data submitted under
Sections 311 and 312
Take enforcement action where necessary
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Other activities
Review and process of trade secret claims concerning reporting requirements
under Sections 302, 304, 311, and 312 in accordance with the provisions of
Section 322
Manage congressionally-mandated study of release detection, monitoring,
notification, and prevention systems
Support general training and assistance for states and localities in areas such as
risk communication, information management, etc.
Legislation
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 1986 is Title IE of the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 (P.L. 99-499, 42
USC 11001). The program is popularly called "Title III". Major sections include:
Namejmd Section # Subject Matter
SARA Title III:
Section 301 Establishment of SERC's and LEPC's
Section 302 EHS List and Facility Notification for EHS's
Section 303 Emergency Response Plans
Section 304 EHS Release Notification
Section 305 Emergency Training
Section 311 Material Safety Data Sheets
Section 312 Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory
Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory
Section 322 Trade Secrets
Section 324 Public Availability of Data
Section 325 Enforcement
Mission and Purpose
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act created a new
relationship among government agencies at all levels, business and community
leaders, environmental and other public-interest organizations, and individual
citizens. For the first time, the law makes citizens full partners in preparing for
chemical emergencies and managing chemical risks. The fundamental focus of the
program is on protecting human health, achieved through provisions that:
Require communities to develop, maintain, and test chemical emergency
response plans.
Require facilities to provide state and local authorities and the public with
information about toxic and hazardous chemicals stored, processed, and
manufactured in the community.
Make all chemical inventory and release information readily available to the
public.
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To assist communities with their responsibilities under EPCRA, the Preparedness
Staff provides guidance in the development of emergency plans, supports training,
provides guidance for the collection of chemical inventory forms and Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and has responsibility for Section 302 chemical listing
and delisting activities, enforcement of Sections 302,304, 311, and 312, and
processing trade secret claims.
The mission and purpose of the various EPCRA program components are as
follows:
Emergency planning and response (EPCRA Sections 302 and 304)
OSWER monitors and supports the creation of SERC's and LEPC's under
Sections 301, 302, and 303; maintains the list of extremely hazardous substances
(EHS's); supports state and local authorities' receipt of notifications from
facilities with EHS's under Section 302 (about 1.5 million facilities); coordinates
with state and local authorities in developing, maintaining, and testing
emergency response plans (about 4,100 in all); supports the reporting of releases
of extremely hazardous substances by industrial facilities under Section 304; and
takes enforcement action where needed.
Community right-to-know (EPCRA Sections 311 and 312)
OSWER supports state and local authorities' receipt of Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS's) and chemical lists from industrial facilities under Section 311
(Tier I data) and receipt of additional follow-up information (Tier II data) from
industrial facilities under Section 312; promotes the easy availability and
effective use of data submitted under Sections 311 and 312; and takes
enforcement action where necessary.
Other activities
OSWER reviews and processes trade secret claims concerning reporting
requirements under Sections 302, 304, 311, and 312 in accordance with the
provisions of Section 322; ensures the provision of information to public health
officials; manages the congressionally-mandated study of release detection,
monitoring, notification, and prevention systems; and supports general training
and assistance for states and localities in areas such as risk communication,
information management, etc.
Functions and Activities
In contrast to some EPA programs, many EPCRA implementation tasks are
assigned by legislation directly to the states and localities, without any EPA
delegation. With the exception of OTS's responsibility for the development of the
Toxic Release Inventory System (TRIS) and EPA's general trade secret and
enforcement activity, EPA's role is to support state and local implementation of the
program.
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Regulations, Standards, and Guidance Development
OSWER issues regulations and other guidance in areas such as: preparing and
reviewing emergency response plans; EHS chemicals and threshold planning
quantities; reporting requirements under Sections 304, 311, and 312; trade secret
processing; and risk communication.
Permitting/Registration
There are no permitting requirements under EPCRA. Certain facilities are
required to report under Sections 302 if they have extremely hazardous
substances in excess of threshold planning quantities and under Sections 311 and
312. The specific chemicals and facilities that trigger reporting requirements
differ from section to section.
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
EPCRA does not explicitly grant inspection authority to EPA; the Agency is
assessing the feasibility of including relevant inspection activities in inspections
conducted for other programs. Compliance monitoring is concentrated on two
topics: (1) identifying facilities that failed to report emergency releases under
Section 304; and (2) identifying facilities that failed to satisfy the reporting
requirements under Sections 302, 311, and 312. Compliance has not been
formally evaluated, but is generally thought to be far from complete.
Enforcement
EPA, states, localities, and (in some cases) the public have enforcement
authorities under EPCRA. Enforcement actions focus on the same topics as
compliance monitoring.
Program Budget
1988 Budget*
SCmillions) Workyears
Emergency Planning/
Community Right-To-Know $3.8 22
Emergency Trainingi 5.0
TOTAL $8.8 22
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate and include OSWER Headquarters
Title III Activities Only.
1. Allocating these funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Section 305(a)
training grants to States.
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esponsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Preparedness Staff. The
Preparedness Staff is organized into three major areas: (1) chemical emergency
preparedness; (2) prevention (e.g., ARIP); and (3) information management and
administrative support (e.g., tools and systems support, right-to-know, risk
communication). To support activities in these areas there are a total of 23
Preparedness Staff personnel. In addition, EPA Regional Offices frequently
distribute Title m responsibilities on a part-time basis among several
individuals. There is an OSWER Regional Preparedness Coordinator and an
OTS Section 313 Coordinator in each Regional Office, as well as individuals with
enforcement, outreach, and other Tide in responsibilities.
Other EPA Offices
Office of Toxic Substances is responsible for EPCRA Section 313
implementation activities which include development and management of the
TRI data base, Form R data collection, Section 313 guidance, enforcement,
listing /delisting, and trade secret processing activity.
Regional Waste Management Divisions provide technical assistance and
training to the State and local communities in the areas of emergency planning
and community right-to-know. The Regions work with state and local
authorities to ensure that the basic program infrastructure is established and the
planning efforts are underway. The Regions ensure that each state has a signed
or updated State Implementation memorandum and assists States in conducting
simulation exercises. They also provide assistance to the State Emergency
Planning Commissions (SERCs) and Local Emergency Planning Committee
(LEPCs), as they organize and use community right-to-know information.
The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring and OSWER's Office of
Waste Programs Enforcement are the lead offices in enforcement issues.
State Organizations
State Emergency Planning Commissions (SERCs) are responsible for State
implementation of EPCRA.
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPCs) are responsible for local
implementation of EPCRA, including emergency planning, facility data
collection, and public information dissemination.
External Organizations
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers Title in training
grants and coordinates Title El training exercises.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) develops the Hazard
Communication Standard, which is the basis of facility reporting under Sections
311-312 of EPCRA.
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* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) enhances an
emergency response data system (CAMEO).
National Governors Association.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Program Trends and Initiatives
The Preparedness Staff will continue its approach of providing support to SERCs
and LEPCs, those directly responsible for EPCRA Title m implementation. It will
continue to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies and identify
information management approaches and tools to help program participants with
the tremendous information management burden established by EPCRA.
Major Preparedness Staff program activities include:
Finalize guidance on Section 311-312 reporting incorporating the Indian policy
for Title m,
* Establish permanent reporting thresholds for Section 311-312 chemicals,
* Finalize enforcement strategy,
Evaluate trade secret claim processing,
Develop risk communication and outreach strategy,
Develop MS-DOS based information management tool for LEPCs,
Continue support for CAMEO, a Macintosh based information management tool
for LEPCs and emergency responders.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
OSWER is not responsible for the administration of a major data base or system in
support of EPCRA Title HI. The role of the Preparedness Staff is to help
communities prepare for emergencies involving hazardous substances. EPCRA
Title in places a tremendous information management burden on program
participants. Over 50 State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) have been
formed under each state and territorial governor, and over 4,000 local Emergency
Planning Committees (LEPCs) have been established across the country, along with
at least 3,000 fire departments - all charged with accepting, filing, updating, and
using facility information and chemical data reported to them by an estimated 1.5
million industrial plants.
OSWER initiatives focus on providing support to LEPCs, SERCs, and fire
departments for the collection, analysis, interpretation and use of information used
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to prepare emergency plans, share chemical information among Title HI
organizations and to take actions to mitigate or prevent chemical incidents from
occurring.
Support for EPCRA information management needs requires an innovative
information resources management strategy. Key elements of the strategy include
sound data management policies and procedures, well focused guidance and
training programs, creative uses of current technologies, and an effective means to
communicate and share information among program participants. To support its
responsibilities under EPCRA Title in and promote effective information resources
management approaches among Title III participants, the Preparedness Staff has
developed and continues to support an IRM strategy addressing needs in four
major areas:
State Assistance, including: 1) additional technical workshops, 2) CAMEO
maintenance and support (e.g., local data integration pilot project, revising
ALOHA the CAMEO air dispersion model, guidance for multi-site CAMEO
implementations, improved management of spatial data, development of
discrete data formats for spill notification, expansion of RIDS coverage to include
health data and other information, development of a CAMEO/CHEMTREC
interface), 3) maintenance and update of the Title in support software list,
4) National Response Team Computer Applications Committee support,
5) MSDS processing and community right-to-know analysis, and 6) identify and
make available IBM-based LEPC data management system.
Regional Assistance: CAMEO Training Sessions for EPA Regional Staff;
development of Regional information management strategies.
EPA Headquarters Assistance to: 1) develop CEPP System (potential), 2) develop
Title HI FACTS system (potential initiative), 3) review, revise, and integrate
OSWER and OTS trade secret claim processing storage operations, and
4) continue to review and process new trade secret claims.
Continue coordination with the National Governors Association and support
EPCRA information management activities in other federal organizations.
IIRM Infrastructure
The IRM program for the Title HI: Emergency Planning/Community Right-to-
Know program is highly developed functions as a component of the IRM program
within the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER).
OSWER has a highly developed IRM infrastructure. Organizationally, the IRM
program involves a number of organizational entities.
Information Management Staff within the Office of Program Management and
Technology (OPMT) has overall responsibility for the planning and management
of OSWER's IRM program. The Director of this staff, Asa R. Frost, Jr. serves as
OSWER's Senior IRM Official (SIRMO). This staff drafts all OSWER-wide IRM
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/, standards and procedures; leads the IKM planning process and
coordinates and consolidates OSWER program office IRM plans; leads OSWER's
records management program, data administration program, information
management technology research activities, and activities for IRM organization,
communication and training.
In a recent reorganization, the Preparedness Staff has centralized responsibilities
for information management in a branch level organization named Information
Management and Administrative Support. They plan and manage the Title HI:
Emergency Planning/Community Right-to-Know IRM program. This office
develops IRM plans and budgets, and provides day-to-day management of
information systems and other IRM activities.
Regional IRM Planning Coordinators exist in each region to coordinate IRM
planning with OSWER headquarters organizations, and to coordinate the
development and support of national information systems for waste
management programs. These coordinators generally function with the Waste
Management Division of the Region.
An IRM Steering Committee provides Headquarters level guidance on IRM
policy, planning, prioritization of major initiatives, and direction of major
information systems projects. The Steering Committee is comprised of an
Executive Board and a Project Review Board. The Executive Board reviews and
approves IRM plans, budgets, policies and selected other IRM initiatives. The
Project Review Board reviews and approves individual information systems
projects throughout their life cycle. Both Boards include representatives of
OSWER program offices, the regional offices, and OIRM.
OSWER has developed its own Systems Life Cycle Management Program. This
program, established by a formal Directive and implemented through a detailed
Guidance, prescribes the process by which offices within OSWER and supporting
waste program organizations determine the needs for, develop, and operate
information systems. The Guidance includes specialized "practice papers" on
project reviews and approvals, project management, selection of project
participants, data management, configuration management, and expert systems. A
practice paper on benefit-cost analysis is being developed. A comprehensive
training initiative supports this program. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary
Lou Melley, manages this program.
OSWER also is developing a Data Resource Directory (DRD) System which will
maintain descriptions of the information maintained in OSWER's systems. The
DRD will contain data definitions, information linking data elements to individual
systems, and other related information for use by system developers as well as by
system users. The OSWER Data Administrator, Mary Lou Melley, manages this
effort.
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ARM Budget
Budget
$(mlllions) Workyears
FY1986* $5.2 34
FY1987* 13.8 66
FY 1988* 17.2 71
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Title HI: Emergency Planning/Community
Right-to-Know program, as well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OSWER. Funds for
the Title III: Emergency Planning/Community Right-to-Know program from other Offices such as
OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
Major Information Systems
The Preparedness Staff is not directly responsible for any major Title HI related data
systems. The following information is provided on EPCRA Title IH related
systems:
The Preparedness Staff will continue to provide National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) support for the enhancement of the
Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) system.
Indirectly related to EPCRA Title m, the Preparedness Staff has developed a
micro-computer based system, ARIP (Accidental Release Information Program),
to provide EPA with accurate information on the causes of releases and the
activities currently underway in the private sector to prevent them from
occurring.
The Emergency Release Notification System (ERNS) may be used to collect
information about Section 304 releases. This is actually a Superfund system in
EPA Regional Offices that MAY BE used to store information about Section 304
releases.
The Preparedness Staff has efforts underway to identify or develop an effective
MS-DOS based information management tool similar to that currently available
in CAMEO for LEPCs.
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nformation Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 7 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support both
Title m programs (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Community Right-to-Know, Title m (311, 312) of SARA 1986 #1352
Emergency Planning and Emergency Release Notification #1395
Trade Secret Claims for Community Right-to-Know and Emergency Planning
Information #1428
Title m Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Form #1363
Contact: Carl Koch 382-2739
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Title ffl: Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know program; others support multiple EPA programs.
Chemical Emergency Preparedness (800) 535-0202
(202) 479-2449
Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know (800) 535-0202
(202) 479-2449
Title HI - Emergency Planning and
Community Right-To-Know (800) 535-0202
(202) 479-2449
Center for Environmental Research Information (FTS) 684-7376
EPA Region in Hotline (800) 438-2474
EPA Region IV Hotline (800) 241-1754
EPA Region V Hotline (800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
EPA Region VII Hotline (FTS) 757-2827
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Public Information Center (PIC) (202) 475-7751
* Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
No significant recent (within the past 5 years) program-wide IRM studies are
available.
Program Acronyms
ARIP Accidental Release Information Program
CAMEO Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations
CERCLA Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980
EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 is
Title II of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
(SARA)
EHS Extremely Hazardous Substances
ERNS Emergency Release Notification System
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S.
Department of Labor
RQ Reportable Quantity: An amount of a Superfund hazardous
substance that, if release, must be reported under the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986
SERC State Emergency Response Committee
Title in The third part of SARA, also known as the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act
TPQ Threshold Planning Quantity: The amount of an extremely
hazardous substance present at a facility above which the facility's
owner/operator must give emergency planning notification to the
SERC and LEPC
TRIS Toxic Release Inventory System: A national inventory and data
base of annual toxic chemical releases from manufacturing
facilities
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Surface Water Quality Program
SURFACE WATER QUALITY
PROGRAM
Program
The Surface Water Quality Program is comprised of the following components:
* Water Regulations and Water Standards: To establish effluent limitations for
industries and municipalities discharging to waterways and water quality based
standards for surface waters (geared to water quality criteria appropriate to the
water quality environment in question). To evaluate water quality status and
trends, identify pollution problems and their causes, and determine cost-effective
levels of control required to meet local water quality objectives.
Municipal Pollution Control: To provide States and localities financial and
technical assistance in planning, managing, and constructing treatment facilities
as well as support for operating water programs to implement the requirements
of the Clean Water and Water Quality Acts.
Water Enforcement and Permits Issuance: To prohibit the discharge of
effluents into waterways unless discharges have complied with the limitations
set out by permits issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES). To enforce compliance with the NPDES permitting program
either through the encouragement of voluntary compliance, or with measures of
increasing severity designed to return violators of permit conditions back into
compliance.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Legislation
The several components of the Agency's water quality program have been
established by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (commonly known
as the Clean Water Act) and its Amendments (most notably those in 1977,1981, and
1987). The Water Quality Act of 1987 amends the Clean Water Act and
supplements it with new requirements for the Agency to implement. Specifically:
Name and Section #
Clean Water Act:
Sections 301, 304,306,307,501
Sections 303, 304(a), 307(a)
Sections 104,106, 303, 304, 305,
307,319,402
Section 106, Tide II
Sections 301(b)(c)(g)(h)(k), 304(1),
307(b)(c)(d), 402(b), 405(c)
Sections 308, 309, 402
Water Quality Act:
Section 304(a)
Title VI
Sections 313,314
Subject Matter
Effluent Guidelines
Water Quality Standards
Monitoring
Financial and Technical Assistance
Permits
Enforcement
Effluent Guidelines
Financial and Technical Assistance
Enforcement
Mission and Purpose
The national goal of the Agency's water quality programs has been defined
traditionally in terms of the language offered in the 1972 Clean Water Act: zero
pollutant discharge into waterways such that the waters would become fishable and
swimmable. The 1972 Act placed time constraints on the Agency, calling for it to
carry out these goals by the mid-1980's through technology-based industry
standards, construction grants to municipalities and a permitting program to
control industrial and municipal point discharge. Since the 1972 law was passed,
decision makers have learned more about the complexities of the water pollution
problems the country faces. Although strides have been made to control point
discharges, total compliance with limitations have not taken place for a
combination of economic, technical, and political considerations. Likewise, the
nature and extent of the impacts of nonpoint pollution on surface waters has
become better understood, but only recently has Congress, through the Water
Quality Act, identified measures that should be taken to confront the problem.
The mission and purpose of the three components of the Agency's surface water
programs are:
Water Regulations and Standards
To eliminate the discharge of toxic pollutants into the Nation's waters by direct
and indirect industrial dischargers through the establishment of technology
based guidelines that serve as the basis for industrial discharge permits.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Previously regulated industries must be reviewed and, if necessary, effluent
standards for dischargers must be revised. New industries that discharge toxic or
nonconventional pollutants must be identified and addressed. A key purpose of
the program is to develop analytical methods to detect toxic and hazardous
pollutants and to determine the need to promulgate technology-based effluent
limitations and standards or issue technical guidance to regulate industry.
The program also seeks to ensure that exposure to toxic and non-toxic substances
is reduced by establishing maximum permissible pollutant concentrations for the
various media. EPA also seeks to identify toxic pollutants in sewage sludge and
publish regulations that specify numerical criteria and acceptable management
practices for each toxic pollutant identified. EPA must also provide States
financial assistance, prepare a report to Congress on the lake water quality status,
and prepare a lake restoration guidance manual.
Finally, the purpose of the program is to implement a national surface water
quality monitoring program that identifies: 1) hazards to human health and
aquatic life from toxic pollutants in surface waters, 2) assesses human health and
aquatic life risk from point and nonpoint sources of toxic pollutants, and 3)
assists the enforcement and permits programs, the national nonpoint source
program, and other regulatory programs to mitigate the impacts of toxic
pollutants through effective risk management and risk communication.
Municipal Pollution Control
To encourage, first, through the construction grants program: 1) the
development of State and Local management capability in the provision and
operation of municipal sewage treatment facilities, 2) the direction of funding,
either through constructions grants, or the state revolving fund, to the highest
priority water quality and public health needs, and 3) the implementation of
supporting programs to ensure optimum performance and effective
maintenance of the national wastewater treatment infrastructure built over the
last two decades. Second, through general management support and oversight
and the funds available by virtue of Section 106 of the Clean Water Act, the
program supports State efforts to: 1) establish water quality standards, 2) monitor
the status and trends of surface waters, 3) identify and solve problems through
effective planning, 4) issue NPDES permits, 5) monitor the compliance of
dischargers with their permits, 6) initiate enforcement actions where necessary,
and 7) implement pretreatment requirements.
Water Enforcement and Permit Issuance
To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the
Nation's surface waters through control of pollutants, especially toxics, from
indirect and direct discharges. The program's specific purposes entail:
1) ensuring that water quality based toxic controls requirements are achieved by
the statutory deadline, 2) protecting public health and the environment from the
adverse effects of sludge, develop and revise National Pollutant, Discharge
Eliminations System (NPDES) regulations, 3) approve State permit programs and
modifications, 4) establish permitting priorities and ensure permit quality and
national consistency through guidance and periodic review of programs, develop
and revise pretreatment regulations, and ensure proper program
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Surface Water Qualify Program
implementation, and 5) carry out permitting activities, where necessary, and
approve or deny variance and waiver requests.
This program also seeks to enforce the Clean Water Act and Water Quality Act.
This includes reviewing and evaluating permittee self-monitoring reports;
providing support to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) program; providing technical support for judicial enforcement,
administrative penalties actions and non-NPDES enforcement; maintaining and
improving the Permits Compliance System's (PCS) compliance oversight
capabilities; and revising policies and regulations.
Functions and Activities
The Nation's water pollution control program, along with its efforts to provide safe
drinking water, is its oldest environmental program. The first major federal water
pollution control act dates from 1948. Subsequent amendments and acts have
broadened the federal role, while at the same time, established a framework for
substantial State operations. As a mature program, most States have assumed
direct responsibility or oversight for water quality standards development, water
quality monitoring, industrial and municipal permitting, waste treatment works
operations, and compliance and enforcement. EPA's role has become a support
and oversight one: providing technical assistance, information systems support,
and oversight across all functional areas.
Effluent Guidelines and Water Quality Standards
States are responsible for developing water quality standards for their surface
waters. EPA has responsibility for:
Coordinating the effective implementation of water quality standards in States
and Indian Lands.
Establishing water quality standards for wetlands, marine waters, and
estuarine systems.
Adopting sediment criteria for toxic pollutants.
* Adopting biological criteria in water quality standards.
Integrating water quality standards and nonpoint source controls.
Water Quality Monitoring
States are responsible for operating, in conjunction with their contractor support,
a state-wide ambient monitoring program. EPA is responsible for:
Implementing the pollutant identification and control provisions of the CWA
Amendments.
* Strengthening monitoring programs based on the new State Action Plans.
Improving quality and timeliness of 1990 305(b) reports.
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Surface Water Quality Program
* Conducting a second phase to the bioaccumulation study to investigate
problem areas through monitoring of water columns and sediments.
Producing guidance on reducing health risks from fish consumption.
Working with States to collect data on threatened waters and to implement
relevant portions of State Action Plans for monitoring programs.
Continue working with States to implement the recommendations of the
Surface Water Monitoring Study and the National Symposium on Water
Quality Assessment.
Financial, Technical, and Management Assistance
States are responsible for water quality planning and management, and for
working with municipalities to oversee and support the operation of publicly
owned waste treatment works. EPA is responsible for:
Updating Water Quality Management Plans to reflect new water quality
information and management actions.
Working with States and Indian Lands to review revised funding eligibility
requirements under the Water Quality Act.
Monitoring the performance of States and Indian Lands that receive a Federal
grant.
Coordinating with States to begin the first annual review cycle for the State
Revolving Fund audits.
Conducting a program review to assess how effectively construction grants
programs are being managed in light of the funding reductions.
Following through on administrative completion, audit, and audit
resolutions in construction grants to ensure final reconciliations in the grant
program.
Establishing a compliance maintenance initiative that will support and
promote effective management of wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Continue emphasizing operations and maintenance focus for States and
Indian Lands, including expanded financial assistance and operator training
for small communities.
Maintaining technology transfer of wastewater treatment and sludge
management information.
Determining future role of the Federal Government in providing municipal
wastewater treatment technology assistance.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Permits Issuance
States
and municipal dischargers. EPA implements the permitting program in those
few States that have not accepted the permitting program. EPA is also
responsible for:
149 *WCT **.»*.*-*.
es are largely responsible for writing, reviewing, and repermitting industrial
municipal dischargers. EPA implements the permittii
* Continuing aggressive programs to control toxic discharges to surface waters
through the NPDES program.
Emphasizing permit reissuance in near coastal waters to protect critical aquatic
habitats.
Beginning control of sludge disposal through permits.
Reissuing NPDES permits to reflect new effluent guidelines.
Addressing water quality problems from storm water by implementing the
storm water application regulations and the combined sewer overflow
national strategy.
Enforcement
Most States are responsible for enforcing the NPDES program through a number
of compliance activities. EPA is responsible for carrying out enforcement in
those States that have not accepted the program. EPA is also responsible for:
Improving compliance of constructed facilities with final effluent limits.
Increasing attention to the enforcement of pretreatment implementation
requirements for POTWs.
Improving monitoring and inspections to evaluate compliance with toxic
requirements in NPDES permits.
Increasing the use of diagnostic inspections and tracking to identify and correct
chronic noncompliance.
Identifying and enforcing toxic permits requirements.
Initiating enforcement of permits for combined sewer overflows and
enforcement of sludge requirements in permits.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Program Budget
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workvears
Effluent Guidelines
Water Quality Standards
Water Quality Monitoring
Financial, Technical, and Management Assistance
Water Quality Management
Section 106 Grants
Municipal Facilities Construction
Operations and Maintenance
Permit Issuance (NPDES)
Enforcement
$6.7
7.0
10.7
ice
4.6
60.9
56.9
1.5
18.5
19.4
50
90
166
103
448
32
343
408
1,640
TOTAL $186.2
Construction Grantsi $2,304.0 -
* These figures are taken from the FY1989 EPA Budget estimate
1. Construction Grants funds are separate from Surface Water Funds in the EPA Budget
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Water (OW) is primarily responsible for managing and overseeing
the implementation of the Clean Water Act and Water Quality Act. Within the
Office of Water are seven offices/ three of which have direct responsibilities for
protecting and maintaining the Nation's surface water quality. These three
offices are:
- The Office of Water Regulations and Standards (OWRS), comprised of the
Analysis and Evaluation Division, Criteria and Standards Division,
Industrial Technology Division, and Monitoring and Data Support Division
(responsibilities for effluent guidelines, water quality standards, and water
quality monitoring).
The Office of Municipal Pollution Control (OMPC), comprised of the
Planning and Analysis Division, Municipal Construction Division, and
Municipal Facilities Division (responsibilities for financial and technical
assistance).
- The Office of Water Enforcement and Permits (OWEP), comprised of the
Enforcement Division and Permits Division (responsibilities for water quality
permitting and enforcement).
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Surface Water Quality Program
Other EPA Offices
Regional Water Management Divisions, though having other functions in each
Region as well, generally oversee and assist the States with their surface water
programs. In coordination with Headquarters, they provide or arrange for
technical assistance to State and local agencies in developing programs,
monitoring systems, and data collection and analysis systems. The Regions are
also responsible for implementing permitting and construction grants
management programs in States that have not assumed delegation.
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance; and
provides direction and review of civil enforcement activities for water (also for
air, waste, pesticides, toxics, and radiation). OECM reviews the efforts of each
Region to assure the EPA develops and conducts a strong enforcement and
compliance program.
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with water policy
analyses, including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE) within OPPE manages the
Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS), to which the Office of
Water submits Regional data quarterly to track actual performance against
agreed-upon commitments.
State Organizations
Depending on the organizational structure of each particular State, one or more
of the following agencies are responsible for developing and operating State
surface water programs, which include: developing water quality standards,
writing permits; conducting ambient water quality monitoring, carrying out
inspections and facility monitoring; determining necessary enforcement actions;
and conducting data collection and reporting activities:
State Water Agencies
State Environmental Agencies
- State Health Agencies
External Organizations
Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators
U.S. Geologic Survey
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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Surface Water Quality Program
Program Trends and Initiatives
The Water Quality Act of 1987 established three areas for major initiatives as the
Agency water quality program moves into the next decade: 1) Nonpoint Sources of
Pollution, 2) Enhanced Toxics Controls, and 3) a State Revolving Fund for
Municipal Waste treatment Facility Construction. In conjunction with these
Congressionally mandated initiatives, the Office of Water has identified two major
program priorities for its surface water program to meet:
Protect critical aquatic habitats against nonpoint sources of pollution.
Protect the Nation's surface waters from point source discharges, especially
hazardous and toxic pollutants.
The 1990 operating guidance and budget establish specific priorities (the most
important of which have been identified in the Functions and Activities section) to
carry out these major priorities.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
In response to the Surface Water Monitoring Study recommendations, the Steering
Committee on Water Quality Data Systems was formed in FY 1988. In FY 1990, the
Steering Committee will oversee implementation of improvements in water
quality data management to:
* Enable integration of the Agency data bases for water quality analyses and
technology transfer applications.
Modernize data systems.
In particular, the following projects are either underway or planned:
Improve location data for POTW discharges and STORET water quality stations.
Develop and enhance the Water Quality Standards, Waterbody, and Needs
Survey data bases.
Update and expand the Reach File.
Ensure the integrity of the linkages between data bases.
Enhance the methods for existing queries and analytical software to provide
access to more data bases.
Develop additional analytical procedures for comparing discharges, water quality,
standards, and other data with a major emphasis on graphics and mapping
capabilities.
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Surface Water Quality Program
IRM Infrastructure
The Office of Water's Information Resources Management infrastructure consists
of a network of key IRM contacts in the three offices coordinating with the Senior
Information Resources Management Officer in the Resources Management and
Administration Office reporting directly to the Assistant Administrator for Water.
The network is as follows:
Senior Information Resources Management Officer (SIRMO): Mary Blakeslee,
Director, Resources Management and Administration Office
Steering Committee on Water Quality Data Systems; Chairman: Rod Frederick,
OWRS
Information Management Contacts: Linda Wilbur, OWRS; Jannie Latta, OMPC;
Ed Kramer, OWEP
Information Collection Request/Budget Contacts: Linda Wilbur, OWRS; June
Lobit, OMPC; Ed Kramer, OWEP
National Reports Contacts: Linda Wilbur, OWRS; Jim Werntz, OMPC; Rita
Smith, OWEP
PC Contacts: Matthew Hantov, OWRS; Joan Warren, OMPC; Ron Coleman,
OWEP
IRM Budget
Budget
S(millions) Workvears
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Surface Water Quality program, as well as
the IRM budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Surface Water Quality program from
other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not
included.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Major Information Systems
Reach File
The Reach File is a digital data base of streams, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries
divided into segments called reaches. Reaches may be divided into subreaches.
Each of the 68,000 reaches included in the file is uniquely identified by an eleven
digit reach number. The data available from the file includes stream names,
open-water names, stream and shoreline traces, and mileage information.
Reaches are referenced to each other in a special manner which makes it possible
to traverse stream and downstream through the nation's rivers and open waters
while scanning other data bases for any reach indexed data along the traversal
path. This is the foundation of EPA's ability to integrate data from other data
bases in hydrological order and in common by river mile relationships.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Criteria and Standards Division, Nonpoint Sources Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Reach Characteristics File
The Reach Characteristics File contains low and mean low, and hydraulic and
kinetic modeling data for the 50,000 routable reaches in the Reach File. Data
elements include upstream and downstream elevation, mean slope, mean
temperature, mean ph and estimated ranges for mean width, depth, velocity,
CBOD decay rates and reaeration rates. There are approximately 50,000 records in
the Reach Characteristics File containing 26 data elements per record. Data in the
Reach Characteristics File are organized by reach number.
Responsible Office
OMPC, Municipal Facilities Division, Needs and Priorities Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Needs Survey File
The Needs Survey is an inventory of all existing or proposed publicly owned
treatment works that need construction to meet the requirements of the Clean
Water Act. These data form the basis for the biennial Needs Survey Report to
Congress which is due to be published again in 1989. The data base includes
construction cost estimates and how they were documented, facility
characteristics and location, populations served by collection and treatment, flow
capacity, effluent characteristics, treatment processes, and more.
Responsible Office
OMPC, Municipal Facilities Division, Needs and Priorities Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
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Surface Water Quality Program
GICS
The Grants Information and Control System (GICS) data base is the primary
source of grants program and project information, including wastewater
treatment works construction grants. GlCS-generated data plays an essential role
in the planning, operation, management, and oversight of the multi-billion
dollar construction grants program and makes possible the effective tracking of
all construction grants projects. The system contains administrative, financial,
technical and project status information on each EPA grant. This information
can be manipulated and displayed in a variety of ways for informational,
analytical, and management purposes.
Responsible Office
OMPC, Municipal Construction Division, Program Management Branch
System Status
Operational /Active
Permits Compliance System (PCS)
The Permits Compliance System is a computerized management information
system for tracking permit, compliance, and enforcement status data for the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the Clean
Water Act. The PCS data base is the national inventory for NPDES permit
issuance and compliance/enforcement data. The data base consists of more than
5 million data records on over 75,000 active water discharge permits issued
nationally. The data are organized by permit number, and each permit record
contains many items of information which: 1) identify and describe the facility
to which the permit has been granted, 2) specify the pollutant discharge limits for
that facility, 3) record the actual amounts of pollutants measured in its
wastewater discharge, and 4) track the facility's history of compliance with
construction, pollutant limits and reporting requirements.
Responsible Office
OWEP, Enforcement Division, Compliance Information and Evaluation
Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
Industrial Facilities Discharge File
The Industrial Facilities Discharge File (IFD), containing 119,000 NPDES facilities,
was designed and implemented for the specific purpose of providing the
Monitoring and Data Support Division of OWRS with a comprehensive data
base of industrial and municipal point source dischargers to surface waters in the
United States. The data base includes general information about each facility
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Surface Water Quality Program
including discharge and location information for direct and indirect point source
dischargers, standard industrial classification (SIC) codes, and categorization of
process and discharge type.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Water Quality Analysis
Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
Water Quality Standards File
The Standards data base is designed to allow States to store lists of criteria, lists of
designated uses, and reach assignments for each use. Criteria are defined using a
series of data elements, including a STORET parameter code number, an upper
and/or a lower limit, and several others. Each designated use may be assigned to
the appropriate waterbodies in the State. Where necessary, general criteria may
be replaced by site-specific criteria to accommodate local variation. The data are
organized by State and by reach within States. Each standard may be defined by
up to 40 data elements.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Water Quality Analysis
Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
305(b) Waterbody System
The 305(b) Waterbody System (WBS) is an inventory of all waterbodies that have
been assessed for water quality. WBS will serve as the basis for the biennial
305(b) report to Congress. It also serves as the mechanism for managing the
following Water Quality Act of 1987 requirements: lists of waters requiring
control strategies, identification and information for publicly owned lakes, and
identification and information for waters affected by nonpoint sources of
pollution.
WBS is organized by waterbody, and once a waterbody is established, it remains
fixed in the system. Data related to a particular assessment (at one point in time)
repeat for each new assessment. There are approximately 25 data elements
which contain information on the identity and description of the waterbody, the
designated uses, the water quality status, how the status was determined, causes
for poor quality, source of pollution, and planned activities. The Checklist file
which contains information on monitoring and wasteload allocation planned
activities from State grant applications will be merged into the system.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Monitoring Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
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Surface Water Quality Program
STORET Water Quality File
STORET is a computerized data base utility maintained by EPA for the STOrage
and RETrieval of parametric data pertaining to the quality of the waterways
within and contiguous to the United States. Since its inception in the early
1960's, the original data base has evolved into a comprehensive system capable of
performing a broad range of reporting, statistical analysis and graphics functions,
while continuing to serve its original role as the repository of parametric water
quality data. The data contained in STORET are collected, stored, and used by a
variety of Federal, State, and local government agencies and their contractors.
The system is comprised of several individual but related files which contain
various types of information, including: 1) geographic and other descriptive data
about the sites where water quality data have been collected, referred to in
STORET as "station" data, 2) data related to the physical characteristics and
chemical constituents of the water, fish tissue, or sediment sampled, referred to
in STORET as "parametric" data, 3) information on municipal waste sources and
disposal systems, 4) data on pollution-caused fish kills, and 5) daily stream flows.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Water Quality Analysis
Branch
System Status
Operational/Active
Gage File
The Gage File contains information on approximately 36,000 stream gaging
locations throughout the United States, information stored includes location of
gaging stations, types of data collected, identification of the collecting agency, and
mean and annual flow and 7Q10 low flow where available. The Gage file
provides a common place for gage information to assist those involved in
activities such as water quality studies, waste load allocations, dilution studies,
and advanced waste treatment assessments. Special data currently available in
this file are estimated mean and low stream flows, and velocities for mean and
low flow conditions for each hydrologically connected stream segment.
Responsible Office
gspi
O\
WRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Water Quality Analysis
Branch
System Status
Operational / Active
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Surface Water Qualify Program
STORET Non-Point Source Stream Station File
The STORET Non-Point Source Stream Station File (SSF) provides a means for
extracting information from STORET water quality data for stream stations
known to be affected by non-point source (NFS) pollution. The SSF was created
in 1986 and contains STORET station codes, state and county FITS codes, river
reach numbers, latitude/longitude, and estimated relative contributions of NFS
to the wet weather and low flow loadings of nine general pollutant types. There
are approximately 700 stations from 25 States in the SSF, and 37 data elements
per station. Data are organized by stream station, but can be accessed by any
variable in the SSF.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Criteria and Standards Division, Nonpoint Sources Branch
System Status
Operational /Active
Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS)
The Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS) consists of a set of
qualitative and quantitative measures that provide DWB with the basis for
evaluating Regional Office performance against National program objectives.
The measures in the system include all the measures in SPMS as well as any
additional measures needed to evaluate performance against the Office of
Water's (OW) national program objectives. The OWAS measures are intended
to supplement the SPMS measures to provide a comprehensive picture of the
program. OWAS provides the framework for the Regional self-evaluations that
are used in the Regional mid-year evaluations. These evaluations detail
progress over the past year. Reports for each Region are maintained in a paper
file.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Drinking Water Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the 22
information collection activities (or ICRs) used to specifically support this program
(more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Pretreatment Program Information Requirements #0002
NPDES Requirements for Approved State Programs #0168
Application for Permit to Discharge Wastewater and Associated Regulations
#0226
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Surface Water Quality Program
* NPDES Discharge Monitoring Report #0229
Water Quality Standards Regulation #0375
State Water Quality Standards Regulation #0988
Information Request for State Revolving Fund Programs #1391
Contact: David M. Ogden 475-9498
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Surface Water Quality program; others
support multiple EPA programs.
National Small Flows Clearinghouse
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region in Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(FTS) 382-7285
(202) 382-5533
(800) 426-4791
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
"Surface Water Monitoring Study", FY 1987. The implementation of the Study's
recommendations is underway with coordination by OWRS's Monitoring and
Data Support Division.
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Surface Water Quality Program
Program Acronyms
AWT Advanced Waste Treatment
BAT Best Available Technology
BATEA Best Available Technology Economically Achievable
BCT Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology
BIOS Bioassay Data Base
BOD Biological Oxygen Demand
BPJ Best Professional Judgement
BPWTT Best Practicable Waste Treatment Technology
BPT Best Practicable Technology
CETIS Complex Effluent Toxicity File
COE Army Corps of Engineers
CWA Clean Water Act
DMR Discharge Monitoring Report
DO Dissolved Oxygen
DSS Domestic Sewage Study
PDF Fundamentally Different Factors
FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act
GICS Grants Information Control System
IFD Industrial Facilities Discharge File
IU Industrial Users
NMP National Municipal Policy
NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
NSPS New Source Performance Standards
O&M Operations and Maintenance
OMPC Office of Municipal Pollution Control
OW Office of Water
OWEP Office of Water Enforcement and Permits
OWRS Office of Water Regulations and Standards
PCS Permits Compliance System
PSNS Pretreatment Standards for New Sources
SCWS State Clean Water Strategy
SRF State Revolving Fund
STORET Storage and Retrieval Data Base (for Water Quality Data)
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TSS Total Suspended Solids
WBS Waterbody System
WLA Waste Load Allocation
WQA Water Quality Act
WQAS Water Quality Analysis System
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Profile Update Summary
Profile Section
Program
'^egislation
Mission and Purpose
Functions and
Activities
Program Budget
Responsible
Organizations
Program Trends and
Initiatives
IRM Trends and
Initiatives
IRM Infrastructure
IRM Budget
Major Information
Systems
Information Collection
Information
Dissemination
Recent IRM-Related
Studies
Program Acronyms
Potential Information
Source
EPA Budget
EPA Source
General Interviews
EPA Source
Genera] Interviews
Office of Legislative
Analysis
EPA Budget
EPA Source
Agency Operating
Guidance
Misc. program specific
documents
General Interviews
EPA Budget
EPA Source
Agency Operating
Guidance
« Miscellaneous program
specific documents
General Interviews
EPA Budget (OMB &
Congressional)
* EPA Source
* Agency Operating
Guidance
Misc. program specific
documents
General Interviews
EPA Budget
Agency Operating
Guidance
Misc. program specific
documents
General Interviews
Agency Operating
Guidance
Misc. program specific
documents
General Interviews
General Interviews
A-ll exhibit 43 A
General Interviews
ISI
General Interviews
User Manuals
Information Collection
Requests (ICRs)
General Interviews
IRD
Genera] Interviews
Public Affairs
Genera] Interviews
Official EPA publications
- Budget. Operating
Guidance, etc.
Frequency of Update
Whenever the components of
a program change;
otherwise annually
Whenever there is new
legislation and/or
amendments; otherwise
annually
Whenever the mission of a
program and/or its
components are redefined
by legislation/amendment
or formal policy
statement; otherwise
annually
Whenever any of the above
sections change; otherwise
annually
Yearly, in conjunction with
budgeting process
Whenever there is a
reorganization of a
participating organization,
or new delegations of
program authority;
otherwise annually
Annually in conjunction
with budgeting process
Annually
Annually
Annually in conjunction
with budgeting process
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Annually
Office/Contact
Program Office SIRMO
OPPE
OPPE
Program Office SIRMO
Program Office SIRMO
OARM- Budget
OARM -MOD
OARM -Budget
OPPE
Program office SIRMO
Program office SIRMO
Regional IRM Branches
OIRM - MPES
OIRM - IMSD
Program office SIRMO
OPPE
OIRM -IMSD
OEA
Program office SIRMO
OIRM - PSD & IMSD
Regional IRM Branches
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Ground-Water Program
GROUND-WATER
PROGRAM
Program
Overall leadership and coordination of EPA's ground-water program lies with the
Office of Ground-Water Protection in the Office of Water. Implementation of
EPA's ground-water program, however, occurs through the actions of a large
number of Agency offices:
In the Office of Water, Office of Ground-Water Protection manages the
wellhead protection program and sole source aquifer demonstration program.
OW's Office of Drinking Water addresses ground-water issues in two programs:
public water supply and underground injection control.
In the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, ground-water issues are
vital to almost every program. The Office of Solid Waste, Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response, Office of Waste Programs Enforcement, and Office of
Underground Storage Tanks are concerned with the preventing, detecting, and
cleaning up ground-water contamination from various sources (e.g.,
underground storage tanks, abandoned hazardous waste sites, municipal
landfills) under the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA).
In the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, the Office of Pesticide
Programs is increasingly concerned with the impact of pesticides on ground
water in its registration and labelling activities.
This profile covers each of these programs in general terms; more detailed
information can be found in the profiles for programs such as Superfund,
Hazardous Waste, Pesticides, Underground Injection Control, and Underground
Storage Tanks.
Pagel
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Ground-Water Program
Legislation
The above programs were established by: 1) Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA), 2) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA), 3) Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA),
4) Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 5) Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments,
and 6) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Specifically:
Name and Section #
RCRA:
Subtitle C
Subtitle D
CERCLA:
HSWA:
Subtitle I
Safe Drinking Water Act:
PartC
PartD
Amendments of 1986
FIFRA:
Section 3
Subject Matter
Permitting, assessment, monitoring, and
enforcement at hazardous waste treatment,
storage, and disposal facilities
Enforcement against solid waste landfills
causing ground-water contamination
Identifying, investigating, ranking, analyzing,
and cleaning up abandoned hazardous
waste dump sites causing ground-water
contamination, as well as actions required to
protect ground water from the threats posed
by spills and emergency releases
Registration, monitoring, and enforcement for
underground storage tanks
Permitting and enforcement of underground
injection wells
Approval, monitoring, and enforcement of
public water purveyor operations
Promulgation of maximum contaminant
limits for drinking water
Well head protection and sole source aquifer
demonstration projects
Pesticide registration and labelling
Mission and Purpose
Unlike some Agency activities, EPA's ground-water program has no single
legislative origin. Through a wide variety of laws, Congress has directed EPA to
protect, monitor, and dean up the nation's ground-water resources, almost always
with the primary goal of protecting human health by ensuring the safety of
drinking water supplies. The Office of Ground-Water Protection has sought to
coordinate EPA's efforts under various pieces of legislation through a number of
critical initiatives (e.g., the Ground-Water Protection Strategy, the Ground-Water
Monitoring Strategy, data management coordination). These efforts have been
complicated, however, by the fact that Congress has approached ground-water
protection from at least three different perspectives:
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Ground-Water Program
1. Preventing and cleaning up ground-water contamination from specific types of
sources. On many occasions, Congress has acted to protect human health and
the environment from specific sources of hazardous contaminants. Examples
of such legislative initiatives are Superfund (abandoned hazardous waste sites),
RCRA (hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities and
municipal landfills), underground injection well control, and underground
storage tanks. In these cases, the threat to human health through the
contamination of underground drinking water supplies is of vital concern, and
serves to guide EPA's regulatory actions and program implementation in areas
such as standard setting, permitting, monitoring, and enforcement.
2. Preventing ground-water contamination from specific types of substances. In
other instances, Congress has adopted a substance-based approach to protecting
human health and the environment. For ground water, this approach is most
evident in the Agency's pesticides program, which provides for the registration
and labelling of various pesticides; because many pesticides have the potential
to leach into ground water, they are often reviewed from a ground-water
perspective. Similarly, ground-water concerns are sometimes raised in EPA's
toxic substances program.
3. Ensuring that drinking water supplies are safe. Through the public water
supply program, EPA and the states provide a final, direct check on the quality
of public drinking water supplies. The public water supply program focuses on
drinking water "at the tap", after the completion of any treatment processes and
blending of various supply sources (e.g., different wells, surface water and
ground water). Water quality problems "at the tap", however, can be traced back
to their sources and appropriate action taken under relevant legislative
authorities. The sole source aquifer and wellhead protection initiatives are
designed to support states and localities in directly protecting underground
supplies of drinking water.
In addition to Federal ground-water protection efforts, many states and localities act
aggressively on their own to ensure the safety of underground sources of drinking
water. To achieve this goal, these agencies implement additional programs in areas
such as zoning/land use planning, highway siting, landfill permitting, chemigation
control, general purpose ground-water discharge permitting, mine permitting, and
water allocation planning.
Functions and Activities
Because EPA's ground-water programs have been implemented by different offices
in response to different legislative initiatives, there is no consistent pattern of
functions and activities.
Standard Setting
Several programs impose standards for monitoring ground water quality.
Although there are some differences in the application of such standards from
program to program, most programs accept the maximum contaminant limits
(MCL's) set under the public water supply program as a baseline.
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Ground-Water Program
Permitting and Registration
EPA and/or states issue permits under the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Management program (also referred to as the RCRA program) and the
Underground Injection Control (UIC) program. In addition, public water
purveyors are required to receive approval to operate. In other programs, such
as Superfund and underground storage tanks, facilities and sites are identified,
registered, and/or tracked, but not formally permitted. The pesticides program
registers specific products as authorized for use under certain conditions.
Monitoring
Each program imposes different monitoring requirements on its permitted and
registered facilities. Such requirements vary widely in areas such as frequency
(e.g., monthly), contaminants tested, detection and action levels, and coverage
(e.g., number and location of monitoring wells). Requirements vary from
simple (e.g., regular tightness testing for certain classes of underground storage
tanks) to complex (e.g., monitoring for dozens of contaminants at dozens of wells
every month at large RCRA sites). There is no ambient monitoring program for
ground water.
Inspection and Enforcement
Inspection and enforcement authorities also vary by program. In most cases,
however, EPA can compel regulated entities to comply with monitoring
requirements and permit conditions to act to eliminate and (in some cases) dean
up the discharge of contaminants into the ground water.
Corrective Action/Clean Up
Under the RCRA, Superfund, and Underground Storage Tank (UST) programs,
EPA can require the responsible party to dean up contaminated ground water.
Ground water dean up activities are generally extremely complex, expensive,
and time consuming. A key focus of EPA's research programs is the
development of more effective and economical ground-water dean up
technologies.
Program Budget
Ground-Water Protection
1988 Budget*
^(millions) Workvears
$6.9
81
* These figures are taken from the FY1989 EPA Budget estimate
Note: in addition to the Office of Ground-Water Protection budget (show above), EPA devotes
resources to ground-water activities in a wide variety of other programs. Ground-water program
resources, however, are not commonly broken out as separate items in these programs' budgets, and
therefore a complete picture of EPA's spending on ground-water is not available.
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Ground-Water Program
Responsible Organizations
Lead EFA Office
In the Office of Water (OW), Office of Ground-Water Protection (OGWP)
manages the wellhead protection program and sole source aquifer
demonstration program. OW's Office of Drinking Water addresses ground-
water issues in two programs: public water supply and underground injection
control.
In the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), ground-
water issues are vital to almost every program. The Office of Solid Waste, Office
of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of Waste Programs Enforcement,
and Office of Underground Storage Tanks are concerned with the preventing,
detecting, and cleaning up ground-water contamination from various sources
(e.g., underground storage tanks, abandoned hazardous waste sites, municipal
landfills) under various provisions of RCRA and CERCLA.
In the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, the Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP) is increasingly concerned with the impact of pesticides on
ground water in its registration and labelling activities.
Other EPA Offices
Regional Water Management Divisions are responsible for implementing the
UIC, wellhead protection, and public water supply programs in the field. Most
Regional Water Management Divisions also have an Office of Ground Water to
act as a focal point for ground-water activities and expertise.
Regional Waste Management Divisions are responsible for implementing the
Superfund, hazardous waste, solid waste, and underground storage tank
programs in the field.
The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance and
provides direction and review of civil enforcement activities. OECM also
reviews the efforts of each Region to assure that EPA develops and conducts a
strong enforcement and compliance program.
The Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with policy
analysis, including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating, and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
The Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE) within OPPE manages
the Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS) to which Agency offices
submit data on a quarterly basis to track actual performance against agreed-upon
commitments.
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Ground-Water Program
State Organizations
Depending on the organizational structure of environmental programs in each
State, the following agencies may be responsible for developing and operating
State ground water programs:
State Water Agencies
State Waste Management Agencies
State Health Agencies
State Agricultural Agencies.
External Organizations
Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
U.S. Geological Survey
Program Trends and Initiatives
Because EPA's ground-water program combines many legislative components and
is implemented by several different offices, there are relatively few consistent,
cross-cutting program trends and initiatives. Several themes can be identified,
however:
* An increased emphasis on the consistency of ground-water activities across
different offices and programs.
* An increased emphasis on the environmental issues associated with Federal
facilities and Indian tribes in ground-water areas.
An increased and continuing emphasis on providing effective support to state
and local governments with ground-water responsibilities.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Among the major trends and initiatives are:
Ground Water Minimum Data Elements - The Minimum Data Elements Set,
developed by OGWP, is currently under Agency Green Border Review. Work
has begun on the definition and format of data elements in the minimum data
element set. EPA has begun approaching States to coordinate the identification
and standardization of such data at State and local levels.
Data Base Development and Data Analysis Capability - OGWP is continuing to
encourage the use of the Storage and Retrieval Data Base for Water Quality
Information (STORET) as the data base for storage and analysis of the data. To
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Ground-Water Program
enhance the usability of STORE! as a ground water data base, user friendly
menus and retrievals have been under development by the administrators of
STORET. PC-Based software through which data can be converted upward into
STORE! is under study. A Ground Water Data Management with STORET
manual will be updated.
Quality Control Improvement of the quality of existing data will not be
addressed. The quality of future data to be entered into STORET will be flagged
through the use of data quality indicators. The development of data standards
for electronic reporting is now required and will have an impact of the
identification and confidence surrounding ground water data quality.
Geographical Information System (GIS) and Mapping Capability No GIS data
capability is available within OGWP, but its value as a mapping and analytical
tool is potentially great. OGWP is funding three demonstrations for the
wellhead protection program to help localities develop their programs. GIS
plays an important part in these demonstrations.
IRM Infrastructure
The Office of Ground Water Protection (one of seven offices within the Office of
Water) consists of three staffs, one of which, the Source Assessment and
Information Management Staff (SAIMS), is responsible for information
management initiatives and activities for OGWP. The information management
section of SAIMS consists of three staff, as of mid FY 1989.
IRM Budget
Budget
$(miHions) Workvears
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FYI988*
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Ground-Water program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Ground-Water program from other Offices
such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
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Ground*Water Program
Major Information Systems
OGWP maintains no in-house ground water data base. The three primary data
bases that collect, store, and analyze ground water data are:
STORET
Storage and Retrieval Data Base for Water Quality Data (STORET), maintained by
the Office of Water Regulations and Standards (OWRS) Monitoring and Data
Support Division, is a computerized utility used to store and retrieve data
pertaining to water quality within and contiguous to the United States. The
Office of Ground Water Protection has encouraged the use of STORET for the
storage and analysis of ground water data.
Since its inception during the 1960's, STORET has evolved into a comprehensive
system capable of performing a wide range of analyses. It also continues to serve
its original role a repository storing both surface and ground water data from a
variety of sources (e.g., EPA, other federal agencies, state and local governments,
universities) in a common format that allows users to retrieve and manipulate
that data to meet their own needs; and providers of data to initiate the data entry
process by entering water quality data from sampling stations in their states and
localities.
STORET provides access to station, parametric, and other types of data, and
enables users to integrate the data from other EPA systems (e.g., PCS, GICS) with
data from the Office of Water data bases.
Responsible Office
OWRS, Monitoring and Data Support Division, Monitoring Branch.
System Status
Operational /Active
WATSTORE
WATSTORE, the Water Data Storage Retrieval System was established in 1971 to
modernize the U.S. Geological Survey's existing water data processing
procedures and techniques and to provide for more effective and efficient
management of its data releasing activities. The system is operated and
maintained at the USGS facilities in Reston, Virginia.
WATSTORE collects data at approximately 16,000 stream gaging stations, 1,000
lakes and reservoirs, 5,200 surface water quality stations, 1,000 sediment stations,
30,000 water level observation wells, and 12,500 ground water quality wells. Over
the years, sites are added or discontinued, thus providing large amounts of
diversified data, both current and historical. WATSTORE consists of several files
in which data are grouped and stored by common characteristics and data
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Ground-Water Program
collection frequencies. Files useful to OGWP include: ground water data
measured on a daily or continuous basis, chemical analyses for ground water
sites, water data parameters measured more frequently than daily, geologic and
inventory data for ground water sites, and summary data on water use.
Responsible Office
U.S. Geologic Survey, Chief Hydrologist
System Status
Operational/Active
STATE DATA BASES
Most States have cause to collect, store, and analyze ground water data. They
may collect it through programs like Superfund or RCRA or the state equivalent.
They may operate a monitoring program through their public health or water
quality programs. The extent of the public and private well network through
which inventory, hydrogeological, and parametric data are collected varies. But
in many cases, the data provides a useful basis for state and federal programs to
conduct site-specific or more national surveys.
Responsible Office
State Environmental, Interior, or Health Department
System Status
Varies among states
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). There are no specific ICRs for the Ground-
Water program. Harold Woodley, desk officer in charge of ICRs for OW, can be
contacted at (202) 382-2738.
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Ground-Water program; others support
multiple EPA programs.
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region m Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
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(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
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EPA Region V Hotline (800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
EPA Region VH Hotline (FTS) 757-2827
Public Information Center (PIC) (202) 475-7751
Risk Communication Hotline (FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
Small Business Hotline (800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
In the last five years, several major studies have addressed ground water
information management issues. They include:
"Ground Water Protection Strategy", August 1984
"Ground Water Monitoring Strategy", September 1985
"Ground Water Data Management Requirements Analysis", May 1987
Additionally, OGWP is currently working on the Ground Water Data Management
Strategy, to be disseminated in order to offer guidance and support on the
management of ground water data.
Program Acronyms
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
GIS Geographic Information System
ICRs Information Collection Requests
HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
MCL Maximum Contaminant Limits
OARM Office of Administration and Resource Management
OECM Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
OGWP Office of Ground Water Protection
OMSE Office of Management Systems Evaluation
OPP Office of Pesticide Programs
OPPE Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
OW Office of Water
OWRS Office of Water Regulations and Standards
PIC Public Information Center
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
SOW A Safe Drinking Water Act
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SPMS Strategic Planning and Management System
SSA Sole Source Aquifer
STORET Storage and Retrieval Data Base for Water Quality Data,
operated by the Environmental Protection Agency
UIC Underground Injection Control
USGS United States Geological Survey
UST Underground Storage Tank
WATSTORE Water Storage and Retrieval System, operated by the
U.S. Geologic Survey
WHP Well Head Protection Program
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Public Water System Supervision Program
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM SUPERVISION
PROGRAM
Program
The Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program, which is managed by the
Drinking Water Branch (DWB) in the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is
comprised of the following components:
* Criteria, Standards and Guidelines Development sets forth standards and
regulations pursuant to section(s) 1412 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Program Assistance oversees State primacy programs and implementing direct
implementation (DI) programs mandated by the SDWA.
State Program Resource Assistance provides for allocation of resources to
primacy States to assist with funding of their PWSS programs.
Enforcement ensures that all Public Water Supplies (PWSs) are in compliance
with regulations and standards.
Legislation
The PWSS program was established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of
1974 as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986.
Specifically:
Name and Section #
Safe Drinking Water Act:
Section 1412
Section 1413
Section 1414
Section 1415
Section 1416
Section 1417
Section 1443
Section 1451
Subject Matter
National Drinking Water Regulations
State Primary Enforcement Responsibility
Enforcement of Drinking Water Regulations
Variances
Exemptions
Prohibitions on Use of Lead Pipes, Solder, Flux
Grants for State Programs
Indian Tribes
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Public Water System Supervision Program
ission and Purpose
The national goal of the PWSS program, as reaffirmed by the 1986 amendments, is
to assure that public water supplies are free of contamination that may pose a
human health risk. EPA's purpose in operating the public water supervision
program is to reduce the human health risk by setting and implementing drinking
water standards and build a strong State/public water system capacity to implement
and comply with regulatory requirements.
The mission and purpose of the components of the PWSS program are:
Criteria, Standards and Guidelines Development
Determines and oversees the requirements under the SDWA for public water
systems. This encompasses 1) identifying contaminants "known or anticipated
to occur" in public water supplies that may have any adverse human health
effects and assessing the potential magnitude of risk; 2) determining whether,
how and to what degree, to regulate human exposure from such contaminants
within the constraints of analytical and treatment technology to avert such
health risk; 3) developing enforceable regulations and other requirements that
constitute the PWSS program; and 4) providing oversight to the implementation
of the PWSS program.
Public Water Systems Supervision Program Assistance
Consists of Regional activities for national implementation of drinking water
regulations to ensure that PWSs are free of contamination which may pose
adverse health effects. The Regional offices provide oversight and support to
States with primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for administering
PWSS programs and implement corresponding programs in non-primacy, direct
implementation (DI) jurisdictions, including States and Indian lands. The
Regions evaluate State programs, award the PWS grants and continue to respond
to contamination incidents including those involving unregulated
contaminants which may adversely affect the safety of water supplies.
State Program Resource Assistance
Allocates grant monies to State primacy programs for development and
maintenance of their programs. The PWSS program provides grants to primacy
States for PWS regulatory programs aimed at ensuring that the Nation's water '
supplies are free from contamination which may pose adverse health effects.
The SDWA Amendments of 1986 authorize EPA to provide PWS grants to
eligible Indian tribes and mandate specific changes in PWSS programs aimed at
broadening the health protection afforded by Federal regulations as well as
improve compliance with regulations, particularly among small systems.
Enforcement
Ensures that the nation's public water systems comply with the provisions of the
SDWA in primacy as well as non-primacy States and on Indian lands. The 1986
Amendments call for EPA to develop more stringent standards and a number of
revised regulations in order to protect public health and keep drinking water
sources free from contamination. Subsequently, the incidence of non-
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Public Water System Supervision Program
compliance is expected to increase, especially among small systems that have
limited capabilities and resources to meet the requirements. Therefore, the
program has made substantial revisions to its compliance and implementation
strategy to reduce non-compliance and eventually eliminate a significant
number of PWS violations. The program will also implement a mobilization
program that includes support from other Federal agencies, discussions with the
private sector, public interest groups, and professional organizations.
Functions and Activities
Program Analysis and Planning
Program Analysis and Planning involves establishing program goals and
priorities, and performing the following activities to support these goals and
priorities:
Regulatory Development
EPA's responsibility under the SDWA is to develop a comprehensive
framework of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) by
regulating all contaminants "known or anticipated to occur" in public water
supplies that may have any adverse human health effects. To meet this goal,
the SDWA Act requires EPA to establish standards for a number of specified
contaminants, as well as mandates for specific treatment technology
requirements. The development of NPDWRs involves 1) determining the
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG), which represents a "level at
which no known or anticipated adverse effects in the health of persons occur
and which allows an adequate margin of safety" and 2) for those contaminants
measurable by analytic practical and affordable methods available to systems,
an enforcement Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is set as close to the
MCLG as is feasible, taking into account the performance and cost of "best
available" treatment/control technology. Otherwise, a treatment technology
NPDWR is prescribed, specifying treatment requirements for systems to
prevent the risk to health to the extent feasible. The PWSS program also
issues unenforceable health advisories, which are summaries of toxicological
data that convey the levels of significant health risk.
Budget Projections
DWB projects what the program's resource needs will be in the future and
subsequently prepares and submits the program's annual budget request.
Response to Inquiries
DWB often receives inquiries from members of Congress, public interest and
environmental groups, and members of the public. In accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), DWB must provide available
information in response to these inquiries in a timely manner.
Oversight
Oversight is a "two-tiered" process in the PWSS program. ODWs oversight
function involves monitoring Regional oversight performance and Regional DI
program to ensure that program goals are being met. The Regions have
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Public Water System Supervision Program
oversight over primacy programs to ensure that program goals are being met.
The following activities are part of the PWSS program's oversight function:
Oversight of State and Regional Enforcement
DWB reviews and evaluates enforcement work performed by State and
Regional programs and makes suggestions designed to improve performance.
Activities include reviewing and evaluating Administrative Orders (AOs), AO
tracking, penalty tracking, referral tracking, and determining if enforcement
actions are timely and appropriate.
Information Collection and Management
DWB collects a substantial amount of information from the States and the
Regions. Much of this information is collected as part of program evaluation
activities, such as quarterly reports and mid-year self-evaluations. Quarterly
reports are processed and entered into the FRDS system; this data is also used
to fulfill reporting requirements for the Agency's Strategic Planning and
Management System (SPMS). The information contained in these reports
includes State/DI inventory information, violations, and compliance and
enforcement actions.
Program Evaluation
DWB performs a number of reviews of primacy and DI program
accomplishments using the information it collects from States and Regions.
These include mid-year evaluations, special oversight reviews, quarterly
reporting requirements, and reconciling (and negotiating) SPMS
requirements.
Compliance and Enforcement
Enforcement activities involve EPA, Regional or State actions taken to obtain
compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or
obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations. DWB's enforcement
activities include coordinating with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Monitoring (OECM), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Regions regarding
enforcement activities, and developing and reviewing enforcement policy. Most
enforcement actions in the PWSS program are taken at the State and Regional
levels. ODW tracks and evaluates AOs issued at the Regional level.
Compliance monitoring and inspections take place at the State and Regional
levels due to the decentralized nature of the PWSS program. Each program has
monitoring activities to ensure that owners and operators are meeting program
requirements. Regions are responsible for overseeing primacy programs'
activities; EPA is responsible for overseeing the DI activities and overall national
activity.
Resources Allocation and Management
Resource allocation and management involves distributing resources to the
States and the Regions for implementation and/or oversight of the State PWSS
programs. It involves allocating grant monies to primacy and DI programs
(including Indian lands) through the grant allocation process using a set of grant
allocation models, and allocating FTEs to the Regions.
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Public Water System Supervision Program
rogram Budget
Criteria, Standards and Guidelines!
State Program Resource Assistance
Management of the PWS Program
Enforcement!
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workvears
$16.0
33.5
5.1
3.6
114
125
91
TOTAL2 $58.2
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
330
1. Dollar amounts and workyears apply to the entire Drinking Water program (both PWS and the
Underground Injection Control (UIC) program combined)
2. Includes PWS and UIC dollars and workyears for Enforcement and Criteria, Standards and
Guidelines
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is primarily responsible for managing and
overseeing the implementation and operation of the PWSS program in the
States, Territories and Indian lands.
Other EPA Offices
Regional Water Management Divisions, though having different functions in
each Region, generally assist the States in developing PWSS programs. In
coordination with Headquarters, provides or arranges for technical assistance to
State and local agencies in developing programs, monitoring systems, and data
collection and analysis systems. The Regions are also responsible for
implementing DI programs in non-primacy or partial primacy States.
* Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance; and
provides the principal direction and review of civil enforcement activities for
water (also for air, waste, pesticides, toxics, and radiation). OECM reviews the
efforts of each Region to assure the EPA develops and conducts a strong
enforcement and compliance program.
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with water policy
analysis, including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
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Public Water System Supervision Program
Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE) manages the Strategic
Planning and Management System (SPMS), to which the PWSS program
submits Regional data quarterly to track actual performance against agreed-upon
commitments.
State Organizations
Depending on the organizational structure of each particular state, one or more
of the following agencies are responsible for developing and operating State
PWSS programs, which include: 1) writing permits, 2) conducting inspections,
3) monitoring, 4) determination of necessary enforcement actions, and 5) data
collection and reporting activities:
State Health Agencies
State Environmental Agencies
State Water Agencies
External Organizations
American Water Works Association
* U.S. Geologic Survey
Public Health Service
Trends and Initiatives
The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 mandate revisions of
existing contaminant standards, new standards for a host of chemical
contaminants, and new regulatory provisions. They also require substantial
further development of the PWSS regulatory framework and a reemphasis of
EPA's responsibility for setting drinking water contaminant levels and
enforcement measures.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
In fiscal year 1985, ODW issued guidance requiring primacy agencies to report
their PWSS data on a quarterly basis (rather than annually). Therefore, EPA had
to combine the most recent submission with the data submitted for the past three
quarters in order to generate a FRDS data base containing four quarters of data.
Although this method solved the immediate problems caused by the change in
reporting requirements, it is not feasible to continue to use this method in the
long term. This solution, known as FRDS 1.5, has inherent problems with
respect to data management, and imposes serious technical constraints on
conducting effective oversight for periods longer than one year. Therefore,
ODW began development of FRDS-II, which is scheduled for completion in
FY 1989.
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Public Water System Supervision Program
FRDS-n was designed to increase the flexibility of FRDS to meet the present and
future information demands envisioned by the PWSS program. The new
system will accommodate five major modifications in addition to the
incorporation of many new features. The major modifications include: 1)
Database Integration across fiscal years, 2) Non-compliance tracking, 3)
Significant Non-Compliance (SNC)/Administrative Order/Exception Tracking,
4) Historical Data Retention, and 5) Storage of State Discretionary Data.
Other IRM-related trends and initiatives include identifying key management
challenges and issues. Among the challenges are to:
Increase knowledge base about what information is available from those sources
generating drinking water data in one form or another.
Gather information about the programs that generate and/or use the data.
Increase marketing and outreach to share drinking water information.
Share data and increase willingness to make the data germane to potential users
outside the immediate source of the data.
IRM Infrastructure
* ODW's Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch is responsible
for most of the ADP systems for the PWSS program (e.g., FRDS, AOTS).
IRM Budget
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
FY 1986*
FY 1987*
FY 1988*
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-l 1 exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Public Water System Supervision program,
as well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Public Water System
Supervision program from other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource
Management (OARM) are not included.
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Public Water System Supervision Program
ajor Information Systems
Federal Data Reporting System (FRDS)
FRDS is the national enforcement data system for the PWS program. It is a
centralized data base of information on PWSs and their compliance with MCLs
and other reporting requirements. FRDS was designed to satisfy the needs for
federal oversight of the PWSS program. It serves its users by providing
information to help States, Regions and Headquarters fulfill their oversight
responsibilities.
Reporting requirements require primacy agents to submit data to the Regional
office quarterly. Subsequently, the Regions report inventory, violations,
variances and exemptions, and enforcement actions data to Headquarters in the
form of FRDS updates. This data is used to produce four main outputs for
Headquarters and Regional oversight: 1) lists of active PWSs and their
compliance status, 2) charts summarizing the regulated community (e.g., percent
of population served, average size of PWSs, MCL violations by county and state),
3) reports on violations (e.g., by type, disposition), and 4) summaries of
enforcement actions taken.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, Program Development and Evaluation Division,
Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch (Data Management
Section).
Systems Status
FRDS 1.5 is operational /active. ODW is currently implementing FRDS-II;
completion is scheduled for October, 1989.
Administrative Order Tracking System (AOTS)
The SDWA Amendments of 1986 increased EPA's authority to issue AOs to
violators. In FY '88, ODW developed the Administrative Order Tracking System
(AOTS) to track AOs and Notices of Violation (NOVs) issued as EPA
enforcement actions. This system was developed using dBASE III-i- on a personal
computer. DWB's Compliance and Enforcement Section uses AOTS to track
compliance actions, penalties, significant noncompliance (SNC) information,
and dates and numbers of water supplies returned to compliance. The system
also contains detailed information such as facility name and facility identifier.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, Program Development and Evaluation Division,
Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch (Data Management
Section).
Systems Status
Nonoperational/Inactive. ODW is currently considering alternatives for
AOTS.
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Public Water System Supervision Program
Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS)
The Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS) consists of a set of
qualitative and quantitative measures that provide DWB with the basis for
evaluating Regional Office performance against National program objectives.
The measures in the system include all the measures in SPMS as well as any
additional measures needed to evaluate performance against the Office of
Water's (OW) national program objectives. The OWAS measures are intended
to supplement the SPMS measures to provide a comprehensive picture of the
program. OWAS provides the framework for the Regional self-evaluations that
are used in the Regional mid-year evaluations. These evaluations detail
progress over the past year. Reports for each Region are maintained in a paper
file.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Drinking Water Branch
Systems Status
Operational / Active
Exceptions Tracking System
The exceptions tracking system is a paper-based system that enables ODW to track
exceptions, which are SNCs that have been out of compliance for at least two
quarters. The system consists of generating a listing of SNCs from FRDS
quarterly and sending that list to the Regions. The Regions consult with the
States, indicate what actions have been taken for each SNC on the list (e.g., issued
an Administrative Order), and send the report back to Headquarters.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Drinking Water Branch
Systems Status
In the recent past, ODW attempted to automate the Exceptions Tracking
System; to date this has not been accomplished and the system is still operated
manually. However, ODW plans to conduct an analysis to determine whether
the requirements for exceptions tracking should be incorporated into FRDS II.
Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS)
SPMS is an Agency-wide system used to track a program's quarterly performance
based on a set of performance measures established by that program. The
commitments are based on measures in the Agency's operating guidance. The
guidance reflects Agency directions and priorities. SPMS tracks actual program
activity against these commitments. In general, the following components
constitute SPMS: 1) goals and priorities, 2) operational planning, 3) performance,
and 4) evaluation.
Responsible Office
Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE), Management Systems
Division, Accountability Systems Branch.
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Public Water System Supervision Program
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Public Water System Supervision Program
ecent IRM-Related Studies
* "An assessment of ODW alternatives for providing data management support to
PWS and UIC primacy organizations", July 1987, ODW
A Drinking Water Requirements Analysis is currently underway; jointly by
OWs Resources Management and Administration Office and ODW.
Program Acronyms
AO
AOTS
BAT
DI
DWB
FOIA
FRDS
GAO
ICRs
MCL
MCLG
NOV
NPDWR
OECM
ODW
OMB
OMSE
OW
OWAS
PWS
PWSS
SDWA
SMCL
SNC
SPD
SPMS
Administrative Order
Administrative Order Tracking System
Best Available Technology
Direct Implementation
Drinking Water Branch
Freedom of Information Act
Federal Reporting Data System
General Accounting Office
Information Collection Requests
Maximum Contaminant Level
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals
Notice of Violation
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
Office of Drinking Water
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Management Systems Evaluation
Office of Water
Office of Water Accountability System
Public Water System
Public Water System Supervision
Safe Drinking Water Act
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level
Significant Non-Compliance
State Programs Division
Strategic Planning and Management System
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Underground Injection Control Program
UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL
PROGRAM
Program
The Underground Injection Control (UIC) program is comprised of the following
components:
* Criteria/ Standards and Guidelines Development sets forth standards and
regulations pursuant to section 1421 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Management of the UIC program involves initiating direct implementation
(DI) and State primacy programs pursuant to sections 1422 and 1425 of the
SDWA.
State Program Resource Assistance provides for allocation of resources to
primacy States to assist with funding of their UIC programs.
Enforcement ensures that all underground injection is authorized by permit
or rule and is in compliance with regulations and standards.
Legislation
The Underground Injection Control program was established by the Safe Drinking
Water Act of 1974 as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of
1980 and 1986. Specifically,
Name and Section
Safe Drinking Water Act:
Section 1421
Section 1422
Section 1423
Section 1424
Section 1425
Section 1426
Section 1451
Subject Matter
Regulations for State Programs
State Primary Enforcement Responsibility
Enforcement of Programs
Interim Regulation of Underground Injections
Optional Demonstration by States Re: Oil or Gas
Regulation of State Programs
Indian Tribes
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Underground Injection Control Program
Mission and Purpose
The national goal of the UIC program, as reaffirmed by the 1986 legislative
amendments, is to establish a Federal-State regulatory system to ensure that
underground sources of drinking water (USDWs), actual and potential, are not
endangered by the underground injection of contaminants. The program
encompasses EPA activities required to develop standards and regulations, to
identify the regulated community, to permit and inspect regulated facilities and to
conduct enforcement and compliance activities for the five classes of injection
wells. Thus, the program seeks to monitor the performance of all owners and
operators of injection wells.
The mission and purpose of the components of the UIC program are:
Criteria, Standards and Guidelines Development
Determines and oversees the requirements under the SDWA for underground
injection wells. This encompasses developing enforceable regulations and
other requirements that constitute the UIC program, and providing direction
and oversight to the implementation of the UIC program.
Management of the UIC Program
Delegates primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for the UIC program to
States that have the capability to effectively administer the program, and
establishes DI programs in States that have partial or no primacy programs.
Under the SDWA, States can assume either full or partial primacy for the UIC
program. Section 1422 of the Act allows States to assume primacy for all or
selected classes of underground injection wells. In 1980, Congress amended the
SDWA with Section 1425 to allow States with existing Class H oil and gas
programs to receive primacy for their Class n wells separately from their other
wells. The UIC program regulates five classes of injection wells:
Class I: wells that inject municipal or industrial waste below an USDW.
Class II: wells that inject fluids for enhanced recovery of oil and gas or
disposal of water obtained by the production of oil or gas; also includes wells
for storage of hydrocarbons.
Class HI: wells that inject fluids for extraction of minerals or energy,
including solution mining of copper and uranium, in-situ oil shale
recovery of geothermal energy for power production.
Class IV: wells that inject hazardous or radioactive waste into or above a
formation which contains drinking water (these wells are illegal).
Class V: all other types of injection wells, including gas storage wells, heat
pumps, injection of geothermal water produced for heating, dry wells, and
irrigation return flow wells.
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Underground Injection Control Program
State Program Resource Assistance
Allocates program grant resources to support programs in protecting USDWs
from contamination through underground injection in all 57 States (including
Territories) and on Indian lands. Grant funds are allocated to full and partial
primacy programs, as well as to 16 full non-primacy and 6 partial non-primacy
States and Indian lands to support DI activities. Grant funds also support
surveillance and compliance activities through the receipt and review of
operator reports and mechanical integrity testing, and support technical
assistance to operators, maintenance of inventory data, and regulatory changes
to accommodate new EPA requirements and/or guidelines.
Enforcement
Ensures that the nation's underground injection well owners and operators
comply with the provisions of the SDWA in primacy and DI States and on
Indian lands.
Functions and Activities
Program Analysis and Planning
Program Analysis and Planning involves establishing program goals and
priorities, and performing the following activities to support these goals and
priorities:
Regulatory Development
The SDWA Act requires EPA to develop, promulgate, review and revise
regulations, policies and guidelines to ensure that USDWs are not
endangered by the underground injection of contaminants through the five
classes of injection wells. The Office of Drinking Water's (ODW)
Underground Injection Control Branch (UICB) also develops regulations for
Class I hazardous waste (I-H) wells related to the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments (HSWA) of 1984, and coordinates and reviews applicable
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) rules and
guidance.
Trend Identification
UICB monitors program-related trends in order to have as much
information as possible about the regulated community and available
technologies for regulatory development purposes.
Budget Projections
UICB projects what the program's resource needs will be in the future and
subsequently prepares and submits the program's annual budget request.
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Response to Inquiries
UICB often receives inquiries from members of Congress, public interest
and environmental groups, and members of the public. In accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), UICB must provide available
information in response to these inquiries in a timely manner.
Oversight
Oversight is a "two-tiered" process in the UIC program. UICB's oversight
function involves monitoring Regional oversight performance and Regional
DI program to ensure that program goals are being met. The Regions' have
oversight over primacy programs to ensure that program goals are being met.
The following activities are part of the UIC program's oversight function:
Technical Support and Assistance
UICB reviews quality assurance (QA) plans and assists with QA training. In
addition, UICB develops technical guidance and documents, and presents
technical seminars (e.g., Inspection Well Technology). Furthermore, UICB
performs State primacy reviews to ensure that State programs are meeting
national program goals and fulfilling all requirements.
Oversight of State and Regional Enforcement
UICB's Compliance and Enforcement Section reviews and evaluated
enforcement work performed by State and Regional programs and makes
suggestions designed to improve performance. Activities include
reviewing and evaluating Administrative Orders (AOs), AO tracking,
penalty tracking, referral tracking, and determining if enforcement actions
are timely and appropriate.
Information Collection and Management
UICB collects a substantial amount of information from the States and the
Regions. Much of this information is collected as part of program
evaluation activities, such as quarterly reports and mid-year self-
evaluations. Quarterly reports are processed and entered into UICB's PFS
system; whose data is also used to fulfill reporting requirements for the
Agency's Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS). The
information contained in these reports includes State/DI permitting
information, inspections, violations, and compliance and enforcement
actions. Additional information is collected during the annual update of
injection well inventory and the Class I-H data base update.
Program Evaluation
UICB performs a number of reviews of primacy and DI program
accomplishments using the information it collects from States and Regions.
These include mid-year evaluations, special oversight reviews, quarterly
reporting requirements, and reconciling (and negotiating) SPMS
requirements.
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Underground Injection Control Program
Compliance and Enforcement
Enforcement activities involve EPA, Regional or State actions taken to obtain
compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or
obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations. UICB's enforcement
activities include dealing with permit appeals, coordinating with the Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM), the Department of Justice
(DOJ) and the Regions regarding enforcement activities, and developing and
reviewing enforcement policy. Most enforcement actions in the UIC program
are taken at the State and Regional levels. UICB tracks and evaluates AOs
issued at the Regional level.
Compliance monitoring and inspections take place at the State and Regional
levels due to the decentralized nature of the UIC program. Each program has
monitoring activities to ensure that owners and operators are meeting program
requirements for the types of wells they operate. Regions are responsible for
overseeing primacy programs' activities; EPA is responsible for overseeing the
DI activities and overall national activity.
Resources Allocation and Management
Resource allocation and management involves distributing resources to the
States and the Regions for implementation and/or oversight of the State UIC
programs. It involves the following activities:
Allocating UIC Program Grants
UICB allocates State grant monies to primacy and DI programs (including
Indian lands) through the UIC grant allocation process using the UIC Grant
Allocation Models.
Allocating UIC Program FTEs
UICB allocates FTEs to the Regions using the Regional Resource
Management Model.
Manages Grants for Implementing HSWA
The Class I-H Section of UICB manages the grant distribution to the States
for implementing the requirements of HSWA. In addition, the Section
supports the development of RCRA resource allocation and workload
models.
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Underground Injection Control Program
Program Budget
Criteria, Standards and Guidelines!
State Program Resource Assistance
Management of the UIC Program
Enforcement!
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workvears
$16.0
11.5
5.6
3.6
114
148
91
TOTAL2 $36.7
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
353
I. Dollar amounts and workyears apply to the entire Drinking Water program (both
PWS and the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program combined)
2. Includes PWS and UIC dollars and workyears for Enforcement and Criteria,
Standards and Guidelines
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is primarily responsible for managing
and overseeing the implementation and operation of the UIC program in the
States, Territories and Indian lands.
Other EPA Offices
Regional Water Management Divisions, though having different functions in
each Region, generally assist the States in developing UIC programs. In
coordination with Headquarters, they provide or arrange for technical
assistance to State and local agencies in developing programs, monitoring
systems, and data collection and analysis systems. The Regions are also
responsible for implementing DI programs in non-primacy or partial primacy
States.
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance; and
provides the principal direction and review of civil enforcement activities for
water (also for air, waste, pesticides, toxics, and radiation). OECM reviews the
efforts of each Region to assure the EPA develops and conducts a strong
enforcement and compliance program.
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with water policy
analysis, including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
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Underground Injection Control Program
* Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE) manages the Strategic
Planning and Management System (SPMS), to which the UIC program submits
Regional data quarterly to track actual performance against negotiated
commitments.
State Organizations
Depending on the organizational structure of each state, one or more of the
following agencies are responsible for developing and operating State UIC
programs, which include: writing permits; conducting inspections; monitoring;
determination of necessary enforcement actions; and data collection and reporting
activities:
* State Health Agencies;
State Environmental Agencies;
State Water Agencies;
State Oil/Gas/Mining Agencies;
State Railroad Agencies; and/or
State Corporation Agencies.
External Organizations
Underground Injection Practices Council (UIPC) is an interest group
concerned with underground injection practices. UIPC meets with EPA semi-
annually to discuss issues of interest to the Agency, the public and the regulated
community.
Program Trends and Initiatives
* Establish criteria for "high risk" contaminant problems, revise regulations for
the control of "high risk" Class V well types, and support actions taken against
these wells.
Revise regulations for Class n wells.
Initiate a study to determine whether Class I-H regulations should apply to all
Class I wells.
Implement new monitoring requirements for Class I wells, continue to issue
and reissue permits and initiate related enforcement actions when necessary.
Review alternative methods for demonstrating mechanical integrity (MIT) of
wells for which no current method is acceptable.
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Underground Injection Control Program
* Increase site inspections, surveillance, and review of monitoring reports to
determine adherence to regulatory requirements.
* Emphasize handling significant noncompliance (SNCs), issuing AOs and/or
initiating legal actions against owners and operators that significantly violate
UIC regulatory requirements.
Support technical assistance to operators, inventory data maintenance,
regulatory changes to accommodate new EPA requirements and/or guidelines.
Provide funds to Indian tribes working towards primacy and continue to
implement the program on Indian lands and in non-primacy States, and
oversee and provide technical assistance to primacy States.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Move towards a decentralized information management system (as a result of
the UIC Data Management Assessment project) where detailed information is
maintained at the program implementation level and summary information is
collected by Headquarters.
Discontinue maintenance of detailed inventory information at Headquarters
since it is maintained at the State and/or Regional levels.
Consider increased assistance for States and DI programs in their data collection
and information management activities.
Define new reporting requirements, develop a minimum data set and
standardized program definitions based on the new requirements.
IRM Infrastructure
ODW's Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch is
responsible for most of the ADP systems for the UIC program (e.g., FURS,
AOTS). Other systems are administered within the UIC Branch (e.g., PFS) or by
contractors (e.g., Class V Data Base).
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Underground Injection Control Program
IRM Budget
Budget
S(millions) Workvcars
FY1986*
FY1987*
FY1988*
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Underground Injection Control program, as
well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Underground Injection
Control program from other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource
Management (OARM) are not included.
Major Information Systems
Federal Underground Injection Control Reporting System (FURS)
The Federal Underground Injection Control Reporting System (FURS)
maintains the national inventory of underground injection well facilities. The
system resides on the IBM 3090 mainframe computer at RTF using System 2000
(S2K) software and the programming language COBOL. It contains
information about well classes, well types within each class, well status and
detailed information about owners and operators of underground injection
well facilities. The information in FURS is updated annually using the data
reported on the EPA 7500-48 forms. The cost of operating FURS is
approximately $75,000-100,000 per year.
UICB uses FURS information primarily for UIC grant allocation
determinations. The Program Management and Evaluation Section receives a
summary of the number of Class I, n and V wells and the number of Class HI
facilities from the Economic Policy Analysis and Data Management Branch on
November 30 of each fiscal year. These summary numbers are then manually
entered into both the UIC Grant Allocation Model and the Regional Workload
Model and used to determine resource allocations. FURS is operated by the
Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch of the Program
Development and Evaluation Division of ODW.
ODW is considering phasing out FURS. A decentralized information
management system will be developed over the next three to five years. In the
interim, UICB will develop procedures to enable them to collect summary
inventory data.
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Underground Injection Control Program
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, Program Development and Evaluation Division,
Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch (Data
Management Section)
Systems Status
Operational/Active. However, UICB is in the process of deciding whether
to continue to operate FURS or to eliminate the system.
U1C Federal Reporting System (PFS)
UICB's Program Management and Evaluation Section uses PFS to store and
process the data reported by Regions and States on the quarterly EPA 7520
forms. The system, which uses Lotus 1-2-3 and PFS software on a personal
computer, contains summary information on: 1) permit determination and
issuance, 2) violation identification and enforcement action (Total), 3)
violation identification and enforcement action (SNCs), 4) MIT and field
inspections, and 5) grant utilization.
In addition, PFS contains detailed information from the Exceptions List Report
(EPA form 7520-4). The Exceptions List is used to track wells reported in SNC
on EPA form 7520-2B for two or more consecutive quarters that have not been
subject to a formal enforcement action or returned to compliance.
The Program Management and Evaluation Section enters the information
from the quarterly reports received from the States and Regions into PFS. The
system then produces a report containing Regional and State totals for that
quarter. OMSE requires Regional totals for SPMS; State totals are required by
UICB to support the program functions (resource management, oversight,
program planning and enforcement).
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Underground Injection
Control Branch (Program Management and Evaluation Section)
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Administrative Order Tracking System (AOTS)
The SDWA Amendments of 1986 increased EPA's authority to issue AOs to
violators. In FY '88, UICB developed the Administrative Order Tracking
System (AOTS) to track AOs and Notices of Violation (NOVs) issued as EPA
enforcement actions. This system was developed using dBASE IH+ on a
personal computer. UICB's Compliance and Enforcement Section uses AOTS
to track compliance actions, penalties, significant noncompliance (SNC)
information, and dates and numbers of wells/facilities returned to compliance.
The system also contains detailed information such as facility name and facility
identifier.
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Underground Injection Control Program
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, Program Development and Evaluation Division,
Economic, Policy Analysis, and Data Management Branch (Data
Management Section)
Systems Status
Nonoperational/Inactive.
AOT£
ODW is currently considering alternatives for
Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS)
The Office of Water Accountability System (OWAS) consists of a set of
qualitative and quantitative measures that provide UICB with the basis for
evaluating Regional Office performance against National program objectives.
The measures in the system include all the measures in SPMS as well as any
additional measures needed to evaluate performance against the Office of
Water's (OW) national program objectives. The OWAS measures are intended
to supplement the SPMS measures to provide a comprehensive picture of the
program. OWAS provides the framework for the Regional self-evaluations
that are used in the Regional mid-year evaluations. These evaluations detail
progress over the past year. Reports for each Region are maintained in a paper
file.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Underground Injection
Control Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Hazardous Waste Injection Well Data Base
UICB maintains an inventory of all Class I-H injection wells. The system was
developed on a personal computer using PFS, and was later converted to
dBASE m+. UICB's Criteria and Standards Section uses the system to store the
information obtained during the special study preceding the Report to Congress
on Injection of Hazardous Waste. The system contains detailed information
such as names and owners of facilities/wells, ID codes, chemical information,
construction information and hydrogeological information. Regions are not
required to update the information in the data base. Some Regions submit
updates, and others do not. Therefore, some of the information is outdated.
Reports are generated annually for comparison with the information in FURS
to ensure that both inventories are in agreement However, the quality of
FURS data is questionable. Therefore, comparing the information in FURS to
the Class I-H data base does not ensure that the information in the Class I-H
data base is accurate.
Responsible Office
Office of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Underground Injection
Control Branch (Class I Hazardous Waste Section)
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Underground Injection Control Program
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Class V Inventory System
This system contains an inventory of all Class V injection wells. The data base
was developed in dBASE in and is maintained by a contractor (EEI) on a
personal computer in Norman, OK. There is a copy of the data base at
Headquarters and in Region in. The Class V system automates the information
obtained from a special study preceding the Report to Congress on Class V
injection wells. The data base contains information about facilities, well class
and type, well location, well operations, and injection and other formations.
Responsible Office
)ffice of Drinking Water, State Programs Division, Underground Injection
Control Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS)
SPMS is an Agency-wide system used to track a program's quarterly
performance based on a set of performance measures established by that
program. The commitments are based on measures in the Agency's operating
guidance. The guidance reflects Agency directions and priorities. SPMS tracks
actual program activity against these commitments. In general, the following
components constitute SPMS: 1) goals and priorities, 2) operational planning,
3) performance, and 4) evaluation.
The XJICB's Program Management and Evaluation Section enters the Regional
totals from the PFS system into the SPMS Automated System using the
communications package CrossTalk to access the system.
ResponsiblejOffice
Office of Management Systems Evaluation (OMSE), Management Systems
Division, Accountability Systems Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Other Information Systems
Financial Responsibility Workgroup Tracking Report
Corrosion Control Practices Data Base
* Quality Assurance Project Plan Data Base
UIC Grant Allocation and Regional Workload Models
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Underground Injection Control Program
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests OCRs). The following is the only information
collection activities (or ICRs) used to specifically support this program (more
detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Underground Injection Control Program Information #0370
Contact Harold Woodley 382-2738
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Underground Injection Control program;
others support multiple EPA programs.
Public Information Reference Unit (PIRU)
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
* Center for Environmental Research Information
* EPA Region HI Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VH Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(202) 382-5926
(202) 382-5533
(800) 426-4791
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
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Underground Injection Control Program
"An assessment of the UIC program's information management needs" (at the
national, regional and State levels), currently underway, UIC Branch, ODW
"An assessment of ODW alternatives for providing data management support
to PWS and UIC primacy organizations", July 1987, ODW
"A Drinking Water Requirements Analysis" (although the emphasis is on the
PWS program), currently underway, OW's Resources Management and
Administration Office and ODW
Program Acronyms
AO
AOR
AOTS
DI
DOJ
FOIA
FURS
HSWA
I-H
MIT
NOV
OECM
ODW
OPPE
OMSE
OSWER
OW
OWAS
QA
RCRA
SDWA
SNC
SPMS
UIC
UICB
UIPC
USDW
Administrative Order
Area of Review
Administrative Order Tracking System
Direct Implementation
Department of Justice
Freedom of Information Act
Federal Underground Injection Control Reporting System
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984
Class I Hazardous Waste
Mechanical Integrity
Notice of Violation
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
Office of Drinking Water
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
Office of Management Systems Evaluation
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Office of Water
Office of Water Accountability System
Quality Assurance
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Significant Non-Compliance
Strategic Planning and Management System
Underground Injection Control
Underground Injection Control Branch
Underground Injection Practices Council
Underground Source of Drinking Water
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
MARINE
AND
ESTUARINE PROTECTION
PROGRAMS
Program
The Marine and Estuarine Protection program is comprised of the following
major components:
* National Estuary Program demonstrates projects to restore and protect estuaries
of national significance.
* Ocean Dumping Program regulate and implements the Ocean Dumping section
of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act and provisions of the
Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988.
301(h) Program issues waivers from wastewater discharge requirements of the
Clean Water Act for municipalities discharging to ocean waters.
403(c) Program issues special permit requirements under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for industrial discharges to marine
waters.
Near Coastal Waters Strategy is a long-term strategic plan for managing all
coastal waters, including estuaries and other areas of the coast.
* Great Lakes Program is an international program for restoring and protecting
the Great Lakes' environmental quality, authorized by its own section of the
Clean Water Act.
Chesapeake Bay Program is a targeted estuary management program authorized
by its own section of the Clean Water Act.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
egislation
Most of the Marine and Estuarine Protection programs are covered by the dean
Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. The ocean dumping
program implements requirements of the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act (MFRSA) and the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988. The Near
Coastal Waters Strategy draws upon multiple statutes but does not have specific
authorizing legislation. Applicable sections for the programs include:
Name and Section #
Clean Water Act:
Section 320
Section 301 (h), 403(c)
Section 117
Section 118
MPRSA:
Title I
Ocean Dumping Ban Act:
Subject Matter
National Estuary Program
Point source discharges to
coastal waters
Chesapeake Bay Program
Great Lakes Program
Ocean Dumping Program
Ocean Dumping Program
Mission and Purpose
The mission of the Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection, the EPA office
responsible for Marine and Estuarine Protection programs, is to implement
programs to protect human health and the environment, to reduce risk to human
and aquatic life from pollutants, and to restore environmental benefits and uses.
OMEP also plays a leadership role in enhancing coordination of estuarine and
marine research and promoting comprehensive planning and management of
estuarine and marine waters threatened by pollution, development, and overuse.
The mission and purpose of each component, or subprogram, include:
National Estuary Program (NEP)
The goals of the NEP are to protect and improve water quality, enhance living
resources, and provide a mechanism which enables conflicting uses to be
balanced so that the environmental integrity of the estuary is maintained.
Under the program, management conferences comprised of representative
interests in the estuary's protection and management are convened to assess the
environmental status and trends in the estuary, develop a Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), and initiate environmental
control actions. EPA provides up to 75% of the program costs for up to five years.
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Marine and Eshuurine Protection Programs
Management conferences have been convened in twelve estuaries: 1) Buzzards
Bay, MA, 2) Narragansett Bay, RI, 3) Long Island Sound, CT and NY, 4) New
York/New Jersey Harbor, NY and NJ, 5) Delaware Bay, NJ and DE, 6) Delaware
Inland Bays, DE, 7) Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds, NC, 8) Sarasota Bay, FL,
9) Galveston Bay, TX, 10) Santa Monica Bay, CA, 11) San Piandsco Bay, CA, and
12) Puget Sound, WA.
Ocean Dumping Program
EPA's Ocean Dumping Program administers the requirements of the MPRSA.
The purpose of the MPRSA is to regulate the transportation for ocean dumping
and to prevent the dumping of any material in ocean waters which would
unreasonably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the
marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. The EPA
can designate a site where ocean dumping may be permitted. Title n of the Act
requires EPA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
to conduct a comprehensive and continuing program of research and
monitoring regarding the effects of the dumping of material into ocean waters.
The Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 modifies the Ocean Dumping Program.
The purpose of the Act is to end dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste
in the oceans by December 31,1991. Compliance and enforcement agreements
can be negotiated to help phase out dumping. A system of fees and penalties is
also established.
301(h) Program
§301 (h) of the Clean Water Act exempts qualified Publicly Owned Treatment
Works (POTWs) that discharge to marine waters from secondary treatment
requirements. It requires significant monitoring, implementation of
pretreatment, and compliance with existing water quality standards and
secondary equivalency requirements for toxicant removal. EPA has focused on
waiver application review and determinations. The focus is shifting to
evaluating monitoring programs, reissuing permits and complying with new
Clean Water Act requirements.
403(c)/Ocean Discharge Criteria
§403(c) of the Clean Water Act requires that all National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES), permitted discharges from point sources into
certain marine waters, must not unreasonably degrade the marine environment.
This program is intended to identify the sources requiring ocean discharge
evaluations and to provide information to NPDES permit programs to develop
short and long term strategies to reduce loadings having significant impacts.
Near Coastal Waters Strategy
The Near Coastal Waters (NCW) Strategy was developed as part of the EPA
Administrator's strategic planning initiative in 1985. The strategy, completed in
1986, builds upon the understanding gained through the Great Lakes,
Chesapeake Bay, and National Estuary Programs and provides a framework for
managing NCWs in addition to estuaries. The NCW strategy draws upon many
provisions of the Clean Water Act and is intended to coordinate the activities of
many other EPA offices and federal agencies.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
Great Lakes Program
The Great Lakes National Program Office in EPA's Region V in Chicago has the
lead in meeting United States commitments under the U.S.-Canadian Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The agreement was first signed in 1972 and was
updated in 1978 and 1987. The agreements outline the goals for Great Lakes
restoration and management and the requirements for participants. The
program has made progress in controlling nutrient inputs ana is now focusing
on controlling toxicants.
Chesapeake Bay Program
The Chesapeake Bay Program implements the goals and plans of the multi-
government agreement for managing Chesapeake Bay. The most recent
agreement, signed in 1987, sets measurable goals and timetables for cleaning up
the Bay. Commitments include reducing nutrient inputs by 40% by 2000,
developing strategies to control toxicant inputs, managing fisheries and
minimizing the impacts of development on the Bay's drainage basin. The
Chesapeake Bay Program Office in EPA's Region in in Annapolis, MD manages
the operations for the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
Functions and Activities
Regulations, Standards, and Guidance Development
EPA is responsible for developing regulations for the 301 (h) and Ocean Dumping
programs. Approximately twenty regulation and guidance documents have been
prepared to support the 301 (h) program, many of them addressing requirements
for monitoring and using the data evaluation system designed for 301 (h) - ODES.
Revisions to the Ocean Dumping regulations that were under development
have been delayed because of new requirements under the Ocean Dumping Ban
Act.
Under the NEP, EPA develops guidance on Governor nominations to the NEP
and on organizing and managing convened programs.
For the 403(c) program, the Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection (OMEP) is
responsible for identifying the universe of point source discharges to marine
waters and obtaining information on loadings. This information will be
supplied to the NPDES permit program to develop short and long term strategies
to reduce loadings having significant impacts.
Permitting
As part of the administration of the Clean Water Act, EPA is to establish and
apply criteria for reviewing and evaluating permit applications. Applications for
dredge material disposal are reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers according
to EPA criteria.
EPA has primary responsibility for reviewing permit applications and issuing
permits under §403(c) and waivers to requirements for secondary treatment of
municipal waste under §301 (h). EPA Headquarters oversees ana provides
assistance to the Regions in evaluating permit requests. For states with delegated
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
NPDES programs, the state has primary responsibility for reviewing and
approving NPDES-related permits.
The ocean dumping permit program is undergoing changes in order to comply
with the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988. No ocean dumping will be permitted
after 1991. No permits may be issued to applicants before 1991 if the applicant did
not have a permit prior to September 1,1988. Any permits issued to existing
dumpers prior to 1991 must include an agreement to cease dumping.
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
EPA oversees compliance monitoring and inspections. For most NPDES-
delegated states, the state has primary responsibility for these activities.
Dischargers are required to conduct monitoring and submit monitoring reports
to the Permit Compliance System (PCS), as with EPA's other surface water
programs.
For the 301 (h) program, additional rigorous monitoring requirements exist, to be
completed by the discharger. The monitoring is designed to identify whether
there are any adverse environmental impacts of the primary discharge.
The ocean dumping program also requires additional monitoring for
environmental impact assessment. Under the new act, EPA and NOAA are to
conduct joint monitoring programs.
Enforcement
Enforcement activities related to land-based discharges (e.g., 301(h) and 403(c)
discharges) are consistent with other surface water programs.
EPA has available to it a number of enforcement mechanisms to assure
compliance with its regulatory program for water pollution control, the
applicability of which extends to discharges from municipalities and industry
into estuaries, near costal waters, and oceans. The mechanisms include:
issuance of compliance orders (administrative orders subject to judicial review)
directing the violator to come into compliance; injunctive relief (under Section
309) to restrain the violation of any condition or limitation to the
implementation of the Clean Water Act and assure compliance; civil penalties as
a result of permit noncompliance or the violation of administrative orders,
therefore subjecting the discharger to significant financial penalties; and criminal
prosecution to investigate negligence, knowing activity, or knowing
endangerment to the public health and environment. States may have
additional methods of enforcement, resulting in the necessity for the prudent
use of enforcement discretion in the use of the methods open to bring about
compliance.
The Ocean Dumping Ban Act sets out a schedule of fees and penalties to be paid
by dumpers not meeting the statutory deadlines. Consent agreements and other
enforcement actions can be taken against those not meeting the deadlines.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
Program Budget
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workvears
Coastal Environmental Management:
National Estuary Program
301(h)
403(c)
Near Coastal Waters
Great Lakes
$11.0
89
Ocean Disposal Permits
TOTAL
11.0
11.4
7.4
26
10
47
$40.8
172
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection (OMEP) is primarily
responsible for Marine and Estuarine programs.
Other EPA Offices
The Office of Water Regulations and Standards is responsible for developing
standards to protect surface waters, including coastal waters.
The Office of Water Enforcement and Permits provides national program
direction to the NPDES program, including issuance of regulations, policy and
management, and overview of regional and state operations.
* The Office of Research and Development conducts research on near coastal
waters to support development of standards and management plans to protect
coastal waters.
State Organizations
For point source discharges, state agencies responsible for permit programs may
be responsible for NPDES, 301(h) (where applicable), and 403(c) permit programs.
For the National Estuary Program, states participating in the NEP may have a
specific program office (e.g., the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority,
Narragansett Bay Office) or may designate agency staff to coordinate with
regional activities.
State Coastal Zone Management offices may play an increasingly active role in
NEP and NCW programs. Past participation has varied from state to state.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
External Organizations
National Audubon Society
Coastal States Organization
Each program has a number of environmental, public interest groups,
business and other interest groups that operate at the state or local level.
Chesapeake Bay
~ Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Ocean Pumping
~ Oceanic Society
Greenpeace
Port groups
Municipal plant operator groups
Program Trends and Initiatives
The National Estuary Program currently has convened 12 management
conferences. The target for FY 1989-1990 is 16 (i.e., four additional programs).
Many additional nominations from governors are expected over the next couple
years. It is unclear whether additional funds will be authorized and appropriated
to support an increased number of programs. Regions are being given greater
responsibility for program management and grant-making authority; the
Headquarters role is shifting to increased oversight.
The Ocean Dumping Ban Act has modified the direction of the Ocean Dumping
Program. The Agency was preparing to issue revised regulations for ocean
dumping at the end of FY 1988. The regulations have been tabled because of the
Act. The Agency is now developing its plans to implement the Act, which
requires that ocean dumping be phased out by 1991. In cases where the deadline
cannot be met, agreements will be negotiated for another deadline. Fees and
penalties will be imposed.
Under the 403(c) program, the Agency is identifying the universe of dischargers
subject to 403(c)/ocean discharge criteria. The definition of which discharges are
included as 403(c) discharges may come under review in order to protect all
NCWs.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
The Near Coastal Waters Program will focus on developing regional
management strategies and action plans over the next two years. The strategies
are expected to identify regional NCW environmental issues, specifically: 1)
what information needs to be collected, 2) what actions can be taken to improve
and protect NCW quality, and 3) who is responsible.
The Agency is currently working with other agencies and groups to develop a
plan to manage marine debris and to implement Annex 5 of the Marpol
Convention, which requires new controls on debris from ships. The strategy
may determine the Agency's future role in cleaning up and managing marine
debris.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Each NEP management conference is required to develop a data and information
management system. Headquarters is currently working with the regions to
develop guidance on developing the systems. ODES will be made available to
the regions and states, but they are not required to use the system.
Data management requirements for the ocean dumping and 403(c) programs
may be satisfied by ODES. Ocean dumping data is being entered into ODES.
IRM Infrastructure
The Marine Operations Division of OMEP (one of seven offices within OW) has
lead responsibility for managing ODES, OMEP's primary data base. ODES serves
as the data base for the 301 (h) Municipality Waiver program, the Ocean
Dumping program, and the National Estuary program.
IRM Budget
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
Budget
S(millions) Workvears
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Marine and Estuarine Protection program, as
well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Marine and Estuarine
Protection program from other Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource
Management (OARM) are not included.
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
ajor Information Systems
Ocean Data and Evaluation System
The Ocean Data and Evaluation System (ODES) was originally developed to
support the monitoring requirements included in a 301 (h) waiver. It is an
analytically powerful, user-friendly data management system for storing and
analyzing water quality environmental data. ODES is especially capable of
handling estuarine, near coastal, and oceans information. The system supports
environmental data analysis and management decision-making. ODES is
accessible to all federal, state, and local agencies participating in EPA's ocean and
estuarine programs. The data base contains administrative data, discharge data,
permit limitations, ambient water quality data of receiving waters, and biological
data. ODES provides tools to a wide variety of retrievals and analyses, such as
mapping and 3-D graphics, tables, temporal trend plots, species diversity,
evenness, richness and dominance scattergrams, histograms, duster analyses,
analysis of variance and a wide variety of parametric and non-parametric
statistics. Data from ocean dump site monitoring are being entered into the
system. It is likely that 403(c) data will also be entered. The ODES system will
also be made available to NEP management conferences for use in analyzing
estuarine data.
Responsible Office
Marine Operations Division of OMEP
Systems Status
Operational /Active
301(h) Application Tracking System (301(h)INFO)
Publidy-owned treatment works (POTWs) may apply to EPA for a variance from
secondary treatment requirements for a discharge into marine waters. Tracking
of application status is essential to expeditious processing.
Responsible Office
aspon
Offic
ce of Marine and Estuarine Protection
System Status
Operational/Active
Applications for Variance from Secondary Treatment Requirements (File)
(30I(h)APPS)
Under section 301 (h) of the Clean Water Act, publicly owned treatment works
(POTW's) may file for a variance from secondary treatment requirements for a
discharge into marine waters.
Responsible Office
Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
Other Information Systems
Section 403(c) Information
The National Estuarine Pollution Study
Marine and Estuarine Protection Data
Annual Report by the EPA on Administration of Ocean Dumping Program
'Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are the 2 information
collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this program (more detailed
information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Application for Variance from Secondary Treatment Requirements and State
Concurrence #0138
Ocean Dumping Applications, Reporting, and Recordkeeping #0824
Contact: David M. Ogden 475-9498
nformation Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Marine and Estuarine Protection program;
others support multiple EPA programs.
Public Information Reference Unit (PIRU)
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region m Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VH Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Page 10
(202) 382-5926
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
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Marine and Estuarine Protection Programs
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800)368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
"Framework for 301 (h) Monitoring Programs", September 1987, Tetra Tech, Inc,
Program Acronyms
CCMP
CWA
MOD
MPRSA
NCW
NEP
NOAA
NPDES
ODBA
ODES
OMEP
POTW
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
Clean Water Act
Marine Operations Division
Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act
Near Coastal Waters
National Estuary Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
Ocean Data Evaluation System
Office of Marine and Estuarine Protection
Publicly Owned Treatment Works
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Wetlands Protection Program
WETLANDS PROTECTION
PROGRAM
Program
The wetlands activities of the EPA can be grouped in the following categories:
Dredge and Fill Program permits dredging and filling activities in wetlands;
jointly administered by the EPA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps).
* Action Plan is a short-term action agenda in response to the National Wetlands
Policy Forum.
* State and Local Program Assistance and Guidance for enhancing wetland
planning and protection programs as well as state involvement or assumption of
the Dredge and Fill Program.
Legislation
EPA wetlands activities are directly affected by the following:
Name and Section #
Clean Water Act:
Section 404
Executive Order 11990:
Executive Order 11988:
Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act:
Subject Matter
Permit and Enforcement Program
Protection of Wetlands
Flood Plain Management
FWS & NMPS Permit Decisions
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Wetlands Protection Program
ission and Purpose
EPA's wetlands goal is to achieve no overall net loss of the nation's remaining
wetland base, as defined by acreage and function, and to restore and create wetlands,
where feasible, and to increase the quality and quantity of the nation's wetlands
resource base. Thus, EPA will review, and when necessary, revise its programs to
protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of wetlands.
The mission/purpose of the components of the wetlands protection activities are:
Dredge and Fill Program
To maintain and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the
waters of the U.S. by issuing permits for the discharge of dredged or filled
material into the waters and wetlands of the U.S.
Action Plan
To address the National Wetlands Policy Forum recommendations concerning
how federal, state, and local wetlands policy can be improved.
State and Local Program Assistance and Guidance
To enhance wetland planning and protection programs as well as state
involvement or assumption of the Section 404 program.
unctions and Activities
Policy, Regulations, and Guidelines Development
EPA works with the Corps to reduce uncertainty and confusion regarding the
implementation of the Section 404 permit program, and in particular, to address
key provisions in the Section 404(b)(l) Site Selection Guidelines through
guidance and staff training. A mitigation policy is implemented such that
unavoidable wetland impacts should be offset by wetlands restoration and
creation. EPA will develop regulations and guidance for distributing grants for
state program development and operation for Sections 404 and 401, and other
state wetland protection programs. EPA is developing technical guidance
regarding Section 404(c) and EPA's "veto" authority over permit issuance.
Permitting and Enforcement
EPA's responsibilities in administering the Section 404 program include:
1) overseeing agency activities involving dredge and fill permit review and state
program development, 2) developing policies, procedures, regulations, and
strategies, 3) restricting or denying discharge sites, 4) coordinating the state
program approval process, 5) assisting in enforcement actions, 6) delegating, to
interested and qualified states, authority to administer the Section 404 program,
and 7) bringing civil or criminal enforcement actions against unauthorized
dischargers and permit violators. Only the State of Michigan has assumed
responsibility for the Section 404 Program.
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Wetlands Protection Program
Research and Development
EPA conducts research and develops technical assistance guidelines concerning
various wetlands issues, such as delineation and mitigation. EPA develops and
tests methods for assessing the cumulative effects of wetland loss and
degradation, identifies opportunities and initiates projects to restore and create
wetlands, supports research to determine attainable standards and critical
pollutant load limits for priority wetland types, as well as researches methods to
assess water quality functions of wetlands. Develops criteria for the design and
approval of State Wetlands Conservation Plans.
State and Local Program Assistance and Guidance
EPA works with state, tribal, and local governments to develop and support
wetlands programs and to review the more traditional state water qualify
programs to enhance the protection of wetlands. EPA provides technical support
and participates in the application of planning approaches to protect wetland
resources including the preparation of State Wetland Conservation Plans. EPA
assists state involvement in and/or assumption of the Dredge and Fill Program
and conducts field-based training courses that focus on innovative wetland
management and regulatory techniques. EPA works with states to improve
application of Section 401 water quality certification to protect wetlands and has
drafted a handbook with examples and guidance. EPA will provide assistance to
states seeking grants for wetland program development and operation of
Sections 404 and 401, and other state wetland programs. EPA plans to host
regional workshops for EPA, state, and local officials and to increase assistance
and information to help state and local governments to protect their wetlands.
Interagency Coordination
EPA works with the Corps, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the state Coastal Zone
Management programs to administer the Section 404 program. EPA provides an
integrated environmental overview for projects proposed by federal agencies.
Works with federal agencies and EPA regional offices to implement
environmental requirements regarding federally conducted, supported, or
permitted activities. Prepares, as appropriate, comments on federal agency
proposed actions, environmental impact statements (EIS), regulations, programs,
and policies. Provides a clearinghouse mechanism for receiving general
inquiries or requests from federal agencies for consultation and technical
assistance. Supports, as necessary, the federal facilities compliance program.
Education/Public Awareness
EPA provides information on the functions and values of wetlands and existing
management programs. EPA conducts a variety of projects designed to heighten
public awareness of wetland functions and values. Such projects include slide
show; poster sessions; wetlands brochures; videos on wetlands mitigation and
creation, general wetlands values and trends, and key wetlands areas; citizen's
guide to the Section 404 program; and publishing cases of wetlands planning
efforts. EPA is also sponsoring a major public awareness effort, "Year of the
Wetlands", for 1991 in coordination with other federal, state and local agencies as
well as private organizations. EPA also encourages voluntary compliance with
the Section 404 program through its public outreach and education efforts.
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Wetlands Protection Program
rogram Budget
Clean Water Act:
Section 404
1988 Budget*
SCmillions) Workvears
$7.7
104
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
NOTE: Wetlands activities performed by other agencies, such as the Corps, are funded through means
other than the EPA budget
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Wetlands Protection (OWP) is responsible for all EPA wetland
activities except for those described below.
Other EPA Offices
Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducts many of the wetland
research efforts including developing methods to assess water quality functions
of wetlands, the cumulative loss of wetlands, as well as the mitigation of
wetlands loss. ORD is also developing a long range plan to develop water quality
criteria appropriate for wetlands. ORD is developing a mitigation handbook to
provide guidelines to evaluate the likelihood that a proposed mitigation project
will succeed; to formulate permit conditions or goals for the project; and to
determine if a project met the goals. ORD has requested funding to evaluate the
effectiveness of wetlands for wastewater treatment.
Office of Water Regulations and Standards (OWRS) is participating, along with
OWP and ORD, in the assessment of how well current water quality criteria
protect wetlands.
Office of Solid Waste (OSW) works with OWP to help ensure that wetlands are
properly protected in relevant regulatory and nonregulatory programs.
Office of Federal Activities is working with OWP to identify potential
approaches to pursue sound mitigation practices through EPA's section 309
Clean Air Act authority to review EIS. This office is drafting regional guidance
on how to track the progress of mitigation commitments made in EIS.
* Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) is working with OWP to
explore existing mitigation banking efforts and determine acceptable conditions
for their implementation.
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Wetlands Protection Program
State Organizations
Only Michigan has assumed the Section 404 program. As of 1984, however,
more than a dozen states have permitting programs specifically directed at
controlling the use of wetlands. These program generally involve regulating
and permitting development projects in wetlands. States also control wetland
use through other programs such as coastal zone management, floodplain
management, critical or natural areas protection, etc. Applicants for Dredge and
Fill permits (Section 404) must certify that the proposed activity complies with
federally approved state CZM programs.
External Organizations
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps): The Corps has joint responsibility in
administering the Section 404 Dredge and Fill Program. The Corps is involved
in permitting, enforcement, and evaluation of the 404(b)(l) Guidelines.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): Consultation with FWS is required for
mitigation activities of most federal water resource projects and in evaluating
the impact on fish and wildlife resources from all new federal projects and
federally permitted projects including Section 404 permits. FWS also has a
variety of wetland preservation and acquisition programs; one such program is
the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program (SWAP) that focuses on waterfowl
habitat in the Prairies. FWS is responsible for the National Wetlands Inventory
(NWI) which includes mapping and reporting wetland trends.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Consultation
with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required to evaluate
the impact on fish and wildlife resources from all new federal projects and
federally permitted projects including the Section 404 Dredge and Fill Program.
* Department of Agriculture (USDA): USDA has responsibility in seeing that the
Swampbuster provision of the 1985 Food Security Act is met. This provision
states that any person who produces an annual agricultural commodity on a
converted wetland shall be ineligible for most farm program benefits during that
year.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA has responsibility in
developing a unified national program for floodplain management. Activities
include providing general guidance for the decisionmaking process of
individuals and federal, state, and local officials concerning floodplain
management and development.
Program Trends and Initiatives
Increase the use of EPA Advance Identification (ADID) of wetlands and issue
ADID guidance for EPA regions and an ADID information kit for state and local
governments.
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Wetlands Protection Program
Provide seed money to test innovative planning approaches. The
Administration has requested grant money for states in FY 1990 for State pilot
projects.
Conduct case studies evaluating wetlands planning efforts.
Host workshops and training sessions in planning and negotiation, and in river
corridor management.
Host regional workshops of EPA, state, and local officials, and increase assistance
and information to help state and local governments protect their wetlands.
Work with the Corps to reduce gaps in the Section 404 regulatory program.
Initiated an ADID effort in the Pearl River Basin of Mississippi and Louisiana
which will apply a recently developed impact assessment procedure for
bottomland hardwood wetlands.
Plan a second pilot study (by ORD) investigating the cumulative effects of
wetland loss on water quality.
Conducting a pilot project to identify Superfund sites which are located in, or
impact wetlands. OWP will work with the Superfund Program to develop their
"Superfund Environmental Evaluation Manual" as technical guidance to
evaluate ecological damage at Superfund sites.
Support demonstration projects creating wetlands for wastewater treatment and
will evaluate the creation and restoration of wetlands as a strategy for managing
stormwater runoff.
Continue to provide technical support to the Des Plaines River Wetlands
Restoration project to restore wetlands along a stretch of the river; these sites will
be used as a laboratory to test the potential and limitations of wetlands to
moderate nonpoint and point source pollution.
Conduct ORD's third pilot study comparing created or restored wetlands with
naturally occurring wetlands. Techniques for evaluating specific wetland
components will be incorporated into a wetlands characterization manual.
Implemented a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of
Army concerning the determination of the geographic jurisdiction of the Section
404 program application of the exemptions under Section 404(f) of the Clean
Water Act.
Implemented a MOA with the Department of Army concerning federal
enforcement for the Section 404 program of the Clean Water Act.
Implement a MOA with the Department of Army to clarify the roles and
implementation of the new administrative penalty authority.
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Wetlands Protection Program
Regional Initiatives
Region I: Expanding the Use of Section 404(c) - EPA Region I has committed to
expand the use of Section 404(c) authority to prohibit or restrict projects which
would cause unacceptable adverse impacts to wetlands. Section 404(c) will also
be used more creatively by identifying and restricting the use of priority wetlands
in advance of specific permit applications.
Region IV: Wetlands Restoration Initiatives - Several wetland restoration
demonstration projects are being undertaken. Projects include wetlands creation
for wastewater treatment and public education, wetland restoration in response
to permit conditions, research efforts exploring the feasibility of restoring
bottomland hardwood wetlands on surface mined soil.
Region VI: Coastal Louisiana Initiative - This comprehensive effort is comprised
of six major planning efforts that include marsh management strategies, dredge
disposal EIS, marsh creation studies, etc. and ten research and demonstration
projects that include ADID, erosion control, cumulative impact assessments, etc.
Region VII: Central Flyway Master Plan - The objective of this projects is to
coordinate federal, Regional, state, and local agencies as well as private interest
groups focused on protecting the integrity of wetlands within the central
migratory bird flyway.
Region VIII: Prairie Wetland Initiative - EPA and FWS have initiated a joint
five year plan to focus on practical ways to more effectively protect prairie
potholes within the existing institutional and legislative framework.
Region X: Wetlands Water Quality Standards - EPA will work on a two year
project with the Washington Department of Ecology to develop water quality
standards for wetlands. Once developed, these standards will be implemented
through Washington's Clean Water Act, Section 401 certification process. The
goal of this project is to develop a model process that can be readily adopted by
other states.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Draft a technical support document for EPA Regional Offices on the use of
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for wetlands protection to assist regional
staff in the effective utilization of regional GIS.
IRM Infrastructure
The office of Wetlands Protection, one of seven offices within OW, has no
automated data bases nor a central point for the collection, storage, analysis, or
dissemination of Wetlands related data.
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Wetlands Protection Program
RM Budget
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
$6.4
8.5
7.9
68
70
71
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Wetlands Protection program, as well as the
IRM budget for other programs funded by OW. Funds for the Wetlands Protection program from other
EPA Offices such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) and
external Offices such as the US. Army Corps of Engineers are not included.
Major Information Systems
There are no major wetlands information systems at EPA.
Residing outside EPA are several wetlands related data bases:
Nation Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
A project established in 1975 and run by the FWS to collect the necessary resource
information to make wetlands decisions. The program includes mapping all US
wetlands and is projected to be completed by FY 1995. The inventory includes
onetime estimates of gains, losses, and quality of each wetland area mapped, the
maps, developed using aerial photographs, are generally based on 1:24,000 scale
USGS quadrangles and illustrate wetland habitats based on the Cowardin et al.
(1979) classification system. Maps have been completed for most coastal areas but
only a fraction have been digitized.
Wetlands Values Data Base
This data base contains thousands of articles concerning attributes and functions
of wetlands. This system is maintained by FWS and is currently being set up to
go through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
Soils Maps
The Soil Conservation Service has soil maps and list of hydric (wetland) soils.
National Wetlands Plant List
Lists of plants that are indigenous to wetlands. This is list consists of two related
data bases.
Inventory of Coastal Wetlands
NOAA compilation of available (non-computerized) coastal wetlands
information by county, state, and estuary.
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Wetlands Protection Program
[formation Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following 4 information collection
activities (or ICRs) are used to specifically support this program (more detailed
information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Information Requirements for 404 State Permit Applications #0220
Prenotification Prior to Discharge or Reporting Pursuant to General Permit #1108
Transmission of Information to Federal Agencies #1109
* 404 State Program Annual Report #1166
Contact: David M. Ogden 475-9498
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Wetlands Protection program; others
support multiple EPA programs.
* Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region ffl Hotline
* EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
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Wetlands Protection Program
ecent IRM-Related Studies
No significant recent (within the past 5 years) program-wide IRM studies are
available.
Program Acronyms
ADIA
CAA
Corps
CWA
CZM
EIS
FEMA
FWS
CIS
MOA
NMFS
NOAA
NTIS
NWI
OPPE
ORD
OWP
OWRS
SAMPS
SWAP
SCS
USDA
USGS
Advance Identification
Clean Air Act
US Army Corps of Engineers
Clean Water Act
Coastal Zone Management
Environmental Impact Statement
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Fish and Wildlife Service
Geographic Information Systems
Memorandum of Agreement
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Technical Information Service
National Wetlands Inventory
Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation
Office of Research and Development
Office of Wetlands Protection
Office of Water Regulations and Standards
Special Area Management Plans (Corps)
Small Wetlands Acquisition Program
Soil Conservation Service
United States Department of Agriculture
United States Geological Survey
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
STATIONARY SOURCES
AND
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
Program
The Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management program is comprised of the
following components:
* Pollutant Strategies & Air Standards Development which is primarily
responsible for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Emission Standards & Technology Assessment which consists of the New
Source Performance Standards (NSPSs) program and the National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) program.
Air Quality Management Implementation provides resources for Regional
operations.
* Trends Monitoring and Emissions Data Management has overview
responsibilities for State ambient air quality assurance activities.
State Program Policy Guidelines & Regulations Development sets forth
requirements for air pollution control programs implemented by States.
State Programs Resource Assistance distributes funds to States through the
Control Agency Resource Supplementation.
RCRA prescribes an Air Program that sets air emission standards for hazardous
waste sites.
Enforcement ensures that emission sources achieve and maintain compliance
with standards.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
egislation
The above programs (except the RCRA Regulatory program) were established by
the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 and the CAA Amendments of 1977. The RCRA
Air Program was established through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) of 1976 and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of
1984. Specifically:
Name and Section #
Clean Air Act:
Section 105
Section 110
Section 111
Section 112
Title I, Part C (160-169)
Titie I, Part 0(171-178)
HSWA:
Subject Matter
Control Agency Grants
Implementation Plans (SIPs)
Requires EPA to establish NSPSs
Authorizes NESHAPs
Prev. of Sig. Deterioration of Air Quality
Plan Req. for Nonattainment Areas
RCRA Air Program
NOTE: Authorization for the Clean Air Act expired in FY1981 but funding for CAA programs have
been included in annual EPA budgets. Legislation to reauthorize the Clean Air Act is pending.
Mission and Purpose
The Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management program, with authority
from the Clean Air Act (CAA), establishes a comprehensive framework to protect
public health and welfare from the adverse effects of airborne emissions from
stationary and mobile sources of pollution (see Mobile Sources Profile). The
program seeks to control and reverse pollution of the ambient air by reducing the
amounts of specific pollutants at their sources. Pollutant limits are set relative to
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) based on health
considerations. These standards are to be met through the application of pollution
control technology to existing emissions sources and through technology-forcing
requirements for new stationary sources.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Stationary Air Program are:
Pollutant Strategies & Air Standards Development
Responsible for the regular review and revision of all existing National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs), identification and assessment of potential
hazardous air pollutants, and overall coordination, development, and review of
air policies and strategies including work on air toxics and on emerging issues
such as acid deposition, stratospheric ozone depletion, and indoor air pollution.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Emission Standards & Technology Assessment
Establishes, reviews, and revises national emission standards for stationary
sources. It is comprised of the New Source Performance Standards (NSPSs)
program and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAPs) program.
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
Establishes, reviews, and revises National Emission Standards for stationary
sources of emissions. These standards ensure that new industrial facilities
comply with uniform Federal air quality standards (rather than Air Quality
Control Regions (AQCR) standards). Standards are developed for specific
pollutants, referred to as criteria pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide, oxides of
nitrogen, and others).
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
Establishes, reviews, and revises National Emission Standards for Hazardous
Air Pollutants for stationary sources. EPA must list hazardous air pollutants
that are likely to cause an increase in mortality or an increase in serious
irreversible or incapacitating illness, and to set emissions standards for these
pollutants at a level sufficient to protect public health with an ample margin
of safety.
Air Quality Management Implementation
Provides resources for the operation and maintenance of air quality
management programs in each of the Regional Offices. The air management
program provides policy guidance and technical consultation to States, helping
them to prepare strategies and regulatory programs.
Trends Monitoring and Emissions Data Management
Oversees State ambient air quality assurance activities, and implementation of
air monitoring strategies described in EPA air monitoring regulations. Provides
National coordination of Regional, State, and local ambient monitoring, air
quality modeling, and emission inventory programs. Issues new and revised
regulatory requirements and related technical guidance.
State Program Policy Guidelines & Regulations Development
Develops guidelines and regulations for air pollution control programs
implemented by the States and aids in the development and implementation of
State and local air pollution control programs. State and local programs are
mainly responsible for attainment and maintenance of NAAQSs, reduction of
air toxics, emissions limitations in Nonattainment Areas (NA), prevention of
significant deterioration (PSD) of air quality in dean air areas, and protection of
visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Protects the air quality in relatively pristine areas of the country from being
degraded to the maximum air pollution levels allowed under the Act. Areas
in the nation are designated as either Class I - very little pollution allowed
(such as National Parks); Class n - modest increases allowed (most areas); or
Class m - up to the maximum NAAQS level (industrialized areas). The CAA
requires visibility protection in many Class I areas.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Emissions Limitations in NonattaJnfnejit Areas (NA)
In areas that have failed to meet air quality standards/ the construction of new
industrial facilities are conditional upon state "offset" programs to ensure
"reasonable further progress" toward the achievement of emissions goals and
the retrofitting of existing facilities with pollution control technology.
State Programs Resource Assistance
Provides financial (through the Control Agency Resource Supplementation
program) and training support to State and local air pollution control agencies
and to air quality programs for Indian lands for the prevention, abatement, and
control of air pollution. The primary objective is to support the development
and implementation of effective State and local programs for the attainment and
maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs), in
accordance with provisions of the Clean Air Act.
Control Agency Resource Supplementation
Provides direct grants to control agencies that have major roles in developing
and carrying out programs under the Clean Air Act. This program constitutes
the major form of EPA resource assistance. The grants support State and local
activities that develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the attainment
and maintenance of the NAAQSs, enforce source emission regulations and
requirements contained within SIPs, review and permit new sources, monitor
ambient air quality for assessing environmental quality and progress, and
develop data bases necessary for regulatory decisions. In addition, these funds
promote the assumptions and implementation of other Clean Air Act
responsibilities, including those for NA, PSD, protection of visibility, and the
implementation of NSPSs and NESHAPs.
Resource Conservation and Regulatory Act Air Program (RCRA)
Sets air emission standards as required by HSWA for non-point sources at
hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs). These
regulations will protect public health from previously unregulated sources of
toxic air pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). TSDFs are a
potentially large source of emissions for which virtually no Federal or State air
regulations exist because of the complex nature of the source category, a lack of
technical data, and a lack of demonstrated control systems.
Enforcement
Coordinates Federal enforcement, together with support to and coordination
with State and local air pollution agencies, to ensure that stationary sources
achieve and maintain compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act
and RCRA.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
'unctions and Activities
Regulations, Standards, and Guidance Development
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to develop, promulgate, review, and revise
NAAQS standards for air pollutants that endanger public health and welfare.
Seven pollutants have been listed to date. In addition to the NAAQS, EPA is
required to develop, promulgate, review and revise NSPSs and NESHAPs.
Under the Clean Air Act, the States have primary responsibility for preparing
attainment strategies and meeting commitments for the development and
implementation of multiple regulatory programs essential to the attainment and
maintenance of NAAQSs, NSPSs, and NESHAPs, reduction of air toxics,
emission limitations in nonattainment areas, prevention of significant
deterioration of air quality in clean air areas, and protection of visibility in
national parks and wilderness areas. State Implementation Plans are used to
meet this requirement.
State Implementation Plans for achieving national standards are designed such
that EPA sets the standards, while the states are required to choose a strategy that
will achieve those standards. The nation has been divided into 247 individual
air basins, called air quality control regions (AQCRs), and states are responsible
for achieving air quality standards in the regions within its borders.
State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and programs have to be reviewed when
NAAQSs, NSPS, and NESHAPs are modified, or when new standards are
established, or deficiencies are found within the current SIPs. Regions are
currently responsible for sign-off on 50 to 75 percent of SIP packages.
The national program helps ensure consistency among EPA Regional Offices,
States, and local agencies in carrying out the requirements of the CAA by
providing national direction, management, and assistance in the effort for the
attainment of NAAQSs, NSPSs, NESHAPs, and prevention of significant
deterioration (PSD).
EPA also has major responsibilities for helping states develop and implement
programs to assess and mitigate air toxics exposures (RCRA air program). They
have proposed final rules to control emissions for seven types of TSDF area
sources: 1) landfills; 2) surface impediments; 3) land treatments; 4) containers;
5) waste piles; 6) storage tanks; and 7) transfer operations.
Grants from the Control Agency Resource Supplementation support State and
local activities that develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the attainment
and maintenance of national air standards. The grants also fund other states
functions such as: 1) enforce source emission regulations and requirements
contained within SIPs; 2) review and permit new sources; 3) monitor ambient
air quality for assessing environmental quality and progress; and 4) develop data
bases necessary for regulatory decisions.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Permitting
The Regional program, in partnership with State and local air pollution control
agencies, has a major responsibility for implementing the requirements of the
Clean Air Act and related EPA regulations governing the attainment and
maintenance of the national air standards. Issuing permits ID facilities is a major
function in the implementation of SIPs in order to attain national air standards.
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
Periodic or continuous monitoring is performed to determine the quality or
condition of ambient air and emissions in order to identify the level of
compliance with statutory requirements and/or pollutant levels. EPA is
responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State, and local ambient
monitoring efforts.
Enforcement
Enforcement activities involve EPA, state, and local legal actions to enforce
compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, and agreements and/or
to obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
The enforcement process begins when EPA receives data indicating a source has
exceeded its emission limitation. EPA and the source then begin negotiations to
establish requirements for compliance. The requirements include: 1) time
allowed to comply; 2) type of emission controls based upon financial
considerations; and 3) possible civil, administrative, and criminal penalties.
EPA Headquarters provides national policy and guidance, while the Regional
program implements the enforcement effort and bolsters State activity. EPA
enforces the development of SIPs with the ability to prohibit construction of new
industrial sources of air pollution and and can withhold federal funds for
housing, highways, and sewage treatment plants. Courts enforce sanctions if
EPA fails to do so. The enforcement of stationary source permits through fines
and sanctions is a state function. Enforcement focuses primarily on the
requirements established in SIPs for meeting NAAQSs and also on NSPSs and
NESHAPs. Of the 26,000 largest stationary sources, 90% have achieved
compliance with all applicable emissions limitations.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Budget
Poll Strat & Air Std Develop
Emission Std & Tech Assess
Air Qua! Mgmt Imp
Trd Mon & Emiss Data Mgmt
State Prg Pol Guide & Reg Dev
State Prg Resource Assist
RCRAi
Enforcement
1988 Budget*
^millions) Workvears
$11.1
12.6
12.8
8.9
3.6
92.9
3.9
15.4
88
102
287
160
52
4
13
311
1017
TOTAL $161.2
* These figures are taken from the FY1989 EPA Budget estimate
1. RCRA Regulatory Program funds come from the Hazardous Waste Section of the EPA Budget
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
* The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) is primarily
responsible for developing national standards for air quality, emissions standards
for new stationary sources, and emission standards for hazardous pollutants.
Other EPA Offices
Office of Toxic Substance is a division of the Office of Pesticides and Toxic
Substances and is responsible for activities of the Agency mandated by the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) that relate to the air toxics program.
Regional Air Management Divisions, though having different functions in each
region, generally assists the States in developing comprehensive air programs,
including State implementation plans and transportation control programs
plans. In coordination with the Environmental Services Division, the Regional
Air Management Divisions provide or arrange for technical assistance to State
and local agencies in developing and implementing plans, monitoring systems,
instrumentation, and data collection and analysis systems.
Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with air policy analysis,
including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs, policies,
standards, and coordinating, evaluating and developing Agency-wide and
program policies.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) serves as the
principal advisor in matters concerning enforcement and compliance; and
provides the principal direction and review of civil enforcement activities for air
( also for water, waste, pesticides, toxics, and radiation). OECM reviews the
efforts of each Region to assure that EPA develops and conducts a strong and
consistent enforcement and compliance program.
Office of Solid Waste (OSW) in coordination with OAQPS to work towards air
regulations of hazardous wastes as required by RCRA.
State Organizations
* State Air Pollution Control Agencies are responsible for developing State
Implementation Plans, writing permits, conducting inspections, monitoring, and
determination of necessary enforcement actions.
External Organizations
State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA)
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO)
Program Trends and Initiatives
Analyses of acid rain policy and implementation issues and the implementation
and follow-up on pending domestic and international actions needed to protect
stratospheric ozone. Report is due to Congress in 1991.
Implement activities required by the Global Protocol signed in 1987 for the
management of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). SIPs are to be revised by 1991 for
CFCs.
Fully implement the Health Risk Information Center to provide risk assessment
expertise, guidance, and support to developing State and local air toxics
programs.
Adoption of regionally consistent regulations for the control of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including assistance to States in identifying, adopting, and
implementing measures that will directly involve the public.
Focus on sources of nonattainment areas. In FY 1989 conduct 951 inspections,
issue 70 administrative orders, and initiate 38 litigation referrals for the volatile
organic compound (VOC) sources in ozone nonattainment areas. States will be
required to revise SIPs for Particulate Matter nominally 10 microns or less
(PMjo) for high non-attainment areas.
In FY 1989 there will be promulgations for four new NESHAPs, eight additional
priority list categories for NSPSs, and revised NAAQS for Sulfur Dioxide.
Assess the need for a fine participate secondary standard for Particulate Matter
nominally 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5).
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
* 30 chemicals will come under review for NESHAPs. Regulatory decisions on 10
to 12 new compounds or source categories for NAAQSs will be released in
FY1989.
Sulfur dioxide ambient standards revisions may cause the tightening of current
emission limits on existing sources, changing implementation plans in some
states, and revising certain new source permits; also effects acid rain
considerations.
Agency policy developed in FY 1988 in response to the court remand in the vinyl
chloride case will require reproposal of pending NESHAPs and will alter the
current approach for developing NESHAPs proposals.
A major source for information on changes that will affect the Stationary Source
Program is litigation on NSPS, NESHAPs, and SIPs. The outcomes of these cases
result in continual changes to the program.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Increase national coordination of Regional Office, State, and local ambient
monitoring, air quality modeling, and emission inventory programs.
Complete the development and operation of a centralized information
management system for storing, retrieving, and analyzing ambient air quality
and emission data at the State and national level (Aerometric Information
Retrieval System (AIRs)).
In FY 1989,15 to 20 additional States will be added to the 21 States that have
converted to the AIRS system.
Extend the interface between the Facilities Index System (FINDS) and the AIRS
Air Quality Subsystem to the Facility Subsystem and complete the design of the
Facility Subsystem.
Evaluate and review current/new National Air Monitoring System (NAMS) and
State and Local Air Monitoring System (SLAMS) sites/networks.
Develop a toxics emission data base for 30 geographic areas.
Develop models for analyzing impact of NSPSs, NESHAPs, and NAAQS on air
tality. Examples include the Regional Acid Deposition Model and Regional
idant Model.
State size-specific participate matter (PMio) networks will be started.
Implement the Toxics Air Monitoring System (TAMS).
Upgrade and update carbon monoxide and ozone non-attainment areas
databases.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
GSA Triennial review for AIRS will be conducted in FY 1989.
[RM Infrastructure
The Office of Air and Radiation's Senior Information Resources Management
Officer (SIRMO), Jerry Kurtzweg (382-7418), coordinates IRM activity with
OAQPS. Located at RTF, NC are 3 of OAQPS's 4 divisions. Within the Technical
and Support Division is the National Air Data Branch (NADB). NADB is
responsible for air quality monitoring systems and for other ADP systems within
OAQPS.
IRM Budget
FY1986*
FY1987*
FY1988*
Budget
S(millions) Workvears
$4.9
5.6
4.8
34
40
37
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Stationary Source and Air Quality
Management program, as well as the IRM budget for other programs funded by OAR Funds for the
Stationary Source and Air Quality Management program from other Offices such as OECM and OARM
are not included.
Major Information Systems
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) (under development)
AIRS is currently under development, and the basic AIRS system replaced the
Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data (SAROAD) system in mid FY 1987.
AIRS is used by Regional Offices for data input, retrieval, and analysis of data
generated by agencies that have not established direct access to AIRS. AIRS is
being developed to provide current SAROAD capabilities for editing, validating
storing, analyzing and retrieving of air quality data as well as additional
capabilities made possible by utilizing ADABAS. Conversion to FTPS
geographical codes is being done during the conversion to AIRS.
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Monitoring and Data Analysis
Division, National Air Data Branch
Systems Status
Partially complete - the AIRS Air Quality module is operational and the
Facilities module is projected to be operational in 1990.
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data (SAROAD)
Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data (SAROAD) is a system for editing,
storing, summarizing, and reporting ambient air quality data for each AQOt
Raw data are collected by state agencies for the criteria pollutants, reported to
regional offices and submitted for update. The data reporting by states began in
1972-1973. The data are published in summary form, are used for trends analysis,
determine whether National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are being
met, and are used to prepare pollution control strategies. Data from SAROAD
were loaded into AIRS in July 1987 (the basic AIRS system replaced SAROAD in
mid FY'87).
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Monitoring and Data Analysis
Division, National Air Data Branch
Systems Status
Archived/Completed
National Emissions Data System (NEDS)
The National Emissions Data System (NEDS) contains data describing the annual
emissions and operating characteristics of all point and area emitters in the
United States. All states are required by regulation to submit these data on an
annual basis to the Regional Offices. The data are then transmitted to the
National Air Data Branch of OAQPS for processing (will be replaced by AIRS
facility module).
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Monitoring and Data Analysis
Division, National Air Data Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Compliance Data System (CDS)
The Compliance Data System (CDS) is an automated management information
system that stores, sorts, and reports compliance data for approximately 60,000
stationary sources of air pollution that are subject to air quality regulations. CDS
provides a system for tracking compliance and enforcement information to assist
EPA in carrying out its enforcement and surveillance programs concerning
stationary sources of air pollution (will be replaced by AIRS facility module).
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Stationary Source Compliance
Division
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
Air Quality Data Handling System II (AQDHS)
AQDHS is a computerized software package provided to state agencies for storing
and retrieving ambient air quality data. Output programs enable users to easily
supply air quality data to EPA in the required Storage and Retrieval of
Aerometric Data (SAROAD) format. EPA staff maintains the system for the
states (will be replaced by AIRS air quality module).
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Monitoring and Data Analysis
Division, National Air Data Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Emission Inventory Subsystem/Point Source and Area Source (EIS/PS&AS)
EIS/PS&AS is a set of computerized programs suitable for use by state and local
pollution agencies in storing and retrieving data on emitting sources. The
system is currently installed in 28 state and local agencies thus enabling these
agencies to fulfill their emissions reporting requirements with minimal effort.
EIS/P&S is maintained by EPA personnel in the National Air Data Branch.
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Monitoring and Data Analysis
Division, National Air Data Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
BACT/LAER Determinations (BUS)
The data base contains selected parameters, in summary form, from actual issued
new source permits. The parameters consist of pollutants emitted, both types
and amounts, control technology and efficiencies, and location of person making
determination. As states submit new determinations they will be entered into
the system.
Responsible Office
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Emissions Standards and
Engineering
Systems Status
Operational/Active
National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse (NATICH)
The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse is comprised of air toxics
related information gathered from EPA/State/local agencies, and international
and other Federal agencies. Information is disseminated via an on-line user-
friendly (menu-driven) data base (NATICH) and through hardcopy reports and
quarterly newsletters. The primary audience is State/local agencies and EPA
officials involved with air toxics. The information is comprised of regulatory
program information, acceptable ambient concentrations, permitting data,
ambient air monitoring information, source test data, emissions inventory data,
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
research and methods development data, preliminary
results, and bibliographic data.
risk assessment
Responsible Office
OAOPS, Strategies and Air Standards Division, Pollutant Assessment Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Kinetics Model and Ozone Isopleth Plotting (OZIPP)
OZTPP can be used to simulate ozone formation in urban atmospheres. OZIPP
calculates maximum one-hour average ozone concentrations given a set of input
assumptions about initial precursor concentrations, light intensity, dilution,
diurnal and spatial emission patterns, transported pollutant concentrations, and
reactivity of the precursor mix. The results of multiple simulations are used to
produce an ozone isopleth diagram tailored to particular cities. Such a diagram
relates maximum ozone concentrations to concentrations of nonmethane
organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen, and can be used in the Empirical
Kinetic Modeling Approach (EKMA) to calculate emission reductions necessary
to achieve air quality.
Responsible Office
OAQPS, Monitoring and Data Analysis Division, Air Management
Technology Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Other Information Systems
* Trends Report (TRRP)
New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Permitting Programs (NSR/PSD)
National Air Monitoring Stations Management Information System
* Model Evaluation Support System (MESS)
Manpower Model for Control Agencies (MAPC)
Miscellaneous Data Analysis and Air Quality Simulation studies (MDAAQS)
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
rotation Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 150 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Source Compliance and State Action Reporting #0107
National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollution (NESHAP) for
Asbestos - Information Requirements #0111
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Metal Furniture Surface Coating
- Information Requirements #0649
New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC) : Fugitive Emission Sources, Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
Industry # 0662
Contact: Bryan Wood-Thomas 475-8791 or Carla Levesque 382-2468
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to federal and non-
federal agencies, industry, and /or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Stationary Sources and Air Quality
Management program; others support multiple EPA programs.
Air RISC Hotline
BACT/LEAR Clearinghouse
* Control Technology Center Hotline
* National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
VOC/RACT Clearinghouse
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region HI Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
(FTS) 629-0888
(FTS) 629-5432
(919) 541-0800
(FTS) 629-5556
(FTS) 629-5246
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438*2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
EPA Region VH Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
"A Study of Air Program Information Requirements and their Impact on EPA's
Information Technology Modernization Plan", September 1985, OAQPS
"Evaluation of the National Emissions Data System", May 1983, Statistical
Policy Staff, OPRM
* "AIRS Requirements Analysis"
"Air Modelling Capacity Study"
'rogram Acronyms
AIRS
ALAPCO
AQCR
AQDHS
BACT
BLIS
CAA
CDS
CPC
EIS/PS&AS
EKMA
FINDS
HSWA
ISI
LAER
MAPC
MDAAQS
MESS
NA
NAAQS
NADB
NAMS
NATICH
NEDS
NESHAPs
Aerometric Information Retrieval System
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
Air Quality Control Regions
Air Quality Data Handling System II
Best Available Control Technology
BACT/LAER Determinations
Clean Air Act
Compliance Data System
Chlorofluorocarbons
Emission Inventory Subsystem/Point Source and Area Source
Empirical Kinetic Modeling Approach
Facilities Index System
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
Information Systems Inventory
Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
Manpower Model for Control Agencies
Miscellaneous Data Analysis and Air Quality Simulation studies
Model Evaluation Support System
Nonattainment Areas
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
National Air Data Branch
National Air Monitoring System
National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
National Emissions Data System
National Emission Standards for Hazardous air Pollutants
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Stationary Sources and Air Quality Management Program
NSPSs New Source Performance Standards
NSR/PSD New Source Review and Prevention of Significant
Deterioration Permitting Programs
OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OECM Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
OPPE Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation
OZDPP Kinetics Model and Ozone Isopleth Plotting
PM2.5 Particulate Matter nominally 2.5 microns or less
PMio Particulate Matter nominally 10 microns or less
PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
SAROAD Storage and Retrieval of Aerometric Data
SIPs State Implementation Plans
SLAMS State and Local Air Monitoring System
STAPPA State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators
TAMS Toxics Air Monitoring System
TRRP Trends Report
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TSDFs Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
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Mobile Sources Program
MOBILE SOURCES
PROGRAM
Program
The Mobile Sources Air Pollution Control and Fuel Economy program consists of
the following components:
Emission Standards, Technology Assessment and Characterization provides
standards development and analysis required for the control of mobile source
(i.e., motor vehicle) emissions.
Testing, Technical and Administrative Support provides testing, technical, and
administrative support to mobile source operating programs.
* Emissions and Fuel Economy Compliance implements emissions certification
and compliance requirements.
Mobile Source Enforcement ensures compliance with motor vehicle emission
standards.
Legislation
The above programs were established by the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, the CAA
Amendments of 1977 and the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act.
Specifically:
Name and Section #
Clean Air Act:
Title H
Motor Vehicle Info &
Cost Savings Act:
Subject Matter
National Emission Standards
Fuel Economy Info and Requirements
NOTE: Authorization for the Clean Air Act expired in FY1981 but funding for CAA programs have
been included in annual EPA budgets. Legislation to reauthorize the Clean Air Act is pending.
Pagel
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Mobile Sources Program
ission and Purpose
The overall mission of the Mobile Sources Air Pollution Control and Fuel
Economy program is to control the emissions of motor vehicles to meet the
requirements of the Clean Air Act. These requirements include controlling
emissions that increase naturally occurring ozone levels and emissions of air
toxics. The program controls these emissions by setting, implementing, and
enforcing mobile source emissions standards.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Mobile Sources Program are:
Emission Standards, Technology Assessment and Characterization
Responsible for providing standards development and analysis required for the
control of mobile source emissions, including characterization of toxic
emissions, assessment of emissions control technology, analysis of current and
prospective impacts of motor vehicle emissions on air quality, assessment of
alternative fuels, improvement of fuel economy and emissions testing
procedures, and technical assistance to the States for implementation of local
control programs.
Testing, Technical and Administrative Support
Provides testing, technical, and administrative support to mobile source
operating programs of EPA, including automated data processing, timesharing
services, laboratory data acquisition, and computer operations; testing of motor
vehicles to measure emissions and fuel economy; quality assurance and control
and correlation services for EPA and industry testing programs; maintenance
and engineering design of emission testing equipment; and personnel,
administrative, safety, and facilities support services.
Emissions and Fuel Economy Compliance
Implements emissions certification and compliance requirements of the Clean
Air Act and implement the fuel economy information and compliance
requirements of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, including
making fuel economy information available to the consumer through mile per
gallon values displayed on new vehicle labels and published in the Gas Mileage
Guide to ensure that EPA's responsibilities are met under the Corporate Average
Fuel Economy (CAFE) compliance program.
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Mobile Sources Program
Mobile Source Enforcement
Bnsures compliance with motor vehicle emission standards and fuel regulations.
Ensure mat new and in-use vehicles are capable of meeting emission standards
throughout their useful lives, that emissions control systems are not removed or
rendered inoperative, that vehicles incapable of meeting emissions standards are
not imported into the country, and that harmful additives are absent from
gasoline.
Recall Program
Under the authority of Section 207(c) of the CAA, allows the EPA to recall any
class of vehicles that do not conform to emissions standards during their
useful lives.
Selective Enforcement Auditing Program
Ensures that production vehicles and heavy-duty engines are built in
accordance with emissions standards.
Fuels Enforcement Program
Ensures compliance with EPA standards regarding fuels.
Tampering/Fuel Switching Programs
Deters tampering with vehicle emissions control systems or using leaded fuel
in vehicles which require unleaded fuel.
Emission Warranty Enforcement Program
Assesses whether Federal emission warranty requirements of Sections 207 (a)
and (b) of the CAA are implemented.
Functions and Activities
Regulations, Standards, and Guidance Development
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to develop, promulgate, review, and revise
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) for air pollutants that
endanger public health and welfare. Under Title n of the CAA, the EPA is
responsible for developing emissions standards for mobile sources.
States have primary responsibility for preparing attainment strategies and
implementing them to meet NAAQSs and emissions standards set by the EPA.
Each state must submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the EPA for review
of the state's NAAQSs attainment strategies. SIPs include strategies for both
mobile and stationary source emissions. (See the Stationary Sources and Air
Quality Management Program Profile for related information.)
Permitting/Registration
EPA reviews and evaluates applications for certification of motor vehicles and
engines.
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Mobile Sources Program
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
EPA is responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State, and local
monitoring efforts. The EPA develops and directs compliance programs which
include inspections, surveillance and testing of new and in-use vehicle
emissions and related fuels. States implement inspection and maintenance
0/M) programs to ensure compliance with motor vehicle emissions standards.
Enforcement
Enforcement activities involve EPA, state, and local legal actions to obtain
compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or
obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
EPA Headquarters provides national policy and guidance for enforcement of
mobile source emissions standards and supports Regional and State enforcement
efforts.
Program Budget
Emission Std, Tech Assess, & Char
Test, Tech & Admin Support
Emiss & Fuel Econ Comp
Enforcement
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workvears
$7.4
6.1
1.9
7.3
TOTAL $22.7
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
77
94
33
107
311
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Organization
The Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) is responsible for characterizing and setting
standards for mobile source emissions and related fuels. OMS also supports
emissions and fuel testing, compliance, and enforcement activities and reviews
mobile source related provisions of State Implementation Plans (SIPs).
Other EPA Offices
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) coordinates mobile
source regulations enforcement efforts with the Office of Mobile Sources.
* EPA Regional Offices help coordinate inspection/maintenance and other in-use
compliance programs.
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Mobile Sources Program
State Organizations
» State agencies implement inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs to ensure
compliance with motor vehicle emissions standards. The State of California,
which had air emissions standards in place before the Clean Air Act, operates its
own mobile source emissions programs.
External Organizations
Department of Transportation (DOT) collaborates with OMS on compliance
matters.
* Motor Vehicle Manufactures Association works with EPA to correlate
emission tests between manufactures and the Agency.
Program Trends and Initiatives
New rule regarding standards for fuel and fuel additive testing protocol to be
proposed in FY 1989.
New standards for methanol vehicles were proposed and promulgated in
FY1988.
Revised light-duty truck hydrocarbon standards will be promulgated in FY 1989.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to be published for controlling diesel fuel
composition consistent with toxics particulate control.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) will be considered for publication for
heavy-duty emissions banking and trading.
* Significant effort will be spent implementing the on-board refueling emissions
control rule.
Emissions impact of alternative fuels, such as oxygenated blends and
Compressed Natural Gas will be investigated in FY 1989.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
None specifically for Mobile Sources program, see Stationary Sources and Air
Quality Management Program Profile for related information.
IRM Infrastructure
* The Office of Air and Radiation's Senior Information Resources Management
Officer (SIRMO), Jerry Kurtzweg (382-7418), coordinates IRM activity with OMS.
Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan are 3 of OMS's 5 divisions. In the immediate
office of OMS is the Data and Systems Staff, responsible for OMS data
management.
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Mobile Sources Program
Budget
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
Budget
SCmillions) Workvears
$4.9
5.6
4.8
34
40
37
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Mobile Source program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OAR. Funds for the Mobile Source program from other Offices
such as OECM and OARM are not included.
Major Information Systems
Emissions Certification Data Base (ECDB)
The Certification Division has responsibility for administering federal laws and
regulations relating to vehicle and engine preproduction emissions certification,
development of fuel economy labels, and calculation of Corporate Average Fuel
Economy figures for each automobile manufacturer. The division uses data
collected on vehicle and engine tests performed at EPA and manufacturer sites to
monitor and evaluate manufacturer compliance with the regulations. Programs
assist in decisions regarding requirements for further testing, approval of vehicle
change requests, and changes to vehicle configurations. This system is composed
of six subsystems (HDECERT, LDSFE, LDS, MOCERT, CIDB, CERTAPPL).
Responsible Office
Office of Mobile Sources Air Pollution Control, Certification Division
System Status
Operational /Active
Other Information Systems
Ann Arbor AP-42 Program (APGR)
Ann Arbor Air Quality System (AQSY)
Ann Arbor Certification Information and Fuel Economy Data Base (CIDBX
Ann Arbor ECTD HD System (ECHD)
Ann Arbor Evaluation and Development Test System (EDTS)
Ann Arbor In-Use Test Data System (IUTD)
Ann Arbor Laboratory Computer System (LCS)
Applications for Certification (CERTAPPL)
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Mobile Sources Program
Assembly Line Test and Selective Enforcement Audit Data (ALT-SEA)
Computer Timesharing Resource Control System (RCS)
Field Office Inspection Data Base (CASEREP)
Fuel Economy (LDSFE)
Fuel and Fuel Additives Registration System (FFARS)
Fuels Inspection Data Base (FUELDB)
Heavy-Duty Engine Certification Data (HDECERT)
Imports Data Base (IDBS)
In-Use Technology Assessment (IUTA)
In-Use Vehicle Fuel Economy Data (IUFED)
Lead Additive Report for Refineries and Importers and for Manufacturing
Facilities or Sites (LDPHDN)
Light-Duty Vehicle/Truck Certification (LDS)
Motor Vehicle Tampering Survey (MVTS)
Motorcycle Certification Data (MOCERT)
Recall Data Base (RECALLDB)
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 25 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Information Requirements for Importation of Nonconforming Vehicles #0010
Motor Vehicle Emission Certification and Fuel Economy Labeling Program
#0783
Sale and Use of Aftermarket Catalytic Converters #1292
Gasoline Volatility Enforcement #1367
Contact: Bryan Wood-Thomas 475-8791 or Carla Levesque 382-2468
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Mobile Sources Program
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers/ and other
information dissemination services that provide information to federal and non-
federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Mobile Sources program; others support
multiple EPA programs.
Unleaded Fuel Hotline, Region I
VOC/RACT Clearinghouse
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region in Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(800) 821-1237
(800) 631-2700 (MA)
(FTS) 629-5246
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
"A Study of Air Program Information Requirements and their Impact on EPA's
Information Technology Modernization Plan", September 1985, OAQPS
"Evaluation of the National Emissions Data System", May 1983, Statistical
Policy Staff, OPRM
"AIRS Requirements Analysis"
"Air Modelling Capacity Study"
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Mobile Sources Program
gram Acronyms
AIRS
ALT-SEA
APGR
AQSY
CAA
CAFE
CASEREP
CERTAPPL
CIDB
DOT
ECDB
ECHD
ECTS
FFARS
FUELDB
HDECERT
ICRs
IDBS
I/M
IUFED
IUTA
IUTD
LCS
LDPHDN
LDS
LDSFE
MOCERT
MVTS
NAAQS
NPR
OAQPS
OECM
QMS
RCS
RECALLDB
SIPs
Aerometric Information Retrieval System
Assembly Line Test and Selective Enforcement Audit Data
Ann Arbor AP-42 Program
Ann Arbor Air Quality System
Clean Air Act
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Field Office Inspection Data Base
Applications for Certification
Ann Arbor Certification Information and Fuel Economy Data Base
Department of Transportation
Emissions Certification Data Base
Ann Arbor ECTD HD System
Ann Arbor Evaluation and Development Test System
Fuel and Fuel Additives Registration System
Fuels Inspection Data Base
Heavy-Duty Engine Certification Data
Information Collection Requests
Imports Data Base
Inspection and Maintenance programs
In-Use Vehicle Fuel Economy Data
In-Use Technology Assessment
Ann Arbor In-Use Test Data System
Ann Arbor Laboratory Computer System
Lead Additive Report for Refineries and Importers and for
Manufacturing Facilities or Sites
Light-Duty Vehicle/Truck Certification
Fuel Economy (system)
Motorcycle Certification Data
Motor Vehicle Tampering Survey
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
Office of Mobile Sources
Computer Timesharing Resource Control System
Recall Data Base
State Implementation Plans
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Radiation and Radon Program
RADIATION AND
RADON PROGRAM
Program
The Radiation and Radon Program consists of three program areas:
Radiation Standards, Assessment, and Management is responsible for
developing, promulgating, and implementing environmental radiation
standards and guidelines to protect the public health and the environment.
Radiation Research researches, demonstrates, and evaluates techniques to
prevent and mitigate exposure to radon gas in homes.
Radon Action Program addresses and reduces the health impacts of radon
exposure through the Radon Measurement Proficiency Program (RMP), the
House Evaluation Program (HEP), the Mitigation and Prevention Program, and
the Development and Demonstration Program (DDP).
The above programs are based on authorities granted in the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1977, the Atomic Energy Act as transferred to EPA by
Reorganization Plan #3 of 1970, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA), the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Federal Water Pollution Act,
Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Safe Drinking Water Act,
Public Health Service Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Specifically:
Name and Section #
Clean Air Act:
Atomic Energy Act:
RCRA:
SARA:
Title IV
Fed Water Pollution Act:
Marine Protection, Research,
and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA):
Safe Drinking Water Act:
Subject Matter
Regulate Radioactive Air Pollutants
Environmental Standards for Radiation
Waste Material Standards
Indoor Radon
Radioactive Water Pollution
Ocean Disposal of Wastes
Safety of Drinking Water
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Radiation and Radon Program
and Purpose
The overall goals of the Radiation and Radon Programs are to reduce health effects
and environmental impacts of radiation exposure, to assess emerging radiation
problems, to maintain a capability to respond to radiation emergencies, and to carry
out supporting research on radiation.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Radiation and Radon Program are:
Radiation Research
Researches, demonstrates, and evaluates techniques to prevent and mitigate
exposure to radon gas in homes. EPA also conducts a radiochemical analytical
quality assurance program which supports Federal, State, and local laboratories
making radioactivity measurements.
Radiation Standards, Assessment and Management
Develops, promulgates, and implements radiation environmental standards and
guidelines to protect the public health and the environment. Supports activities
of Regional Offices and participates in the implementation of standards for
airborne radionudides. Reviews environmental impact statements, provides
the public with technical information, and provides direct assistance and
radiological expertise to the Regions, States, and local governments.
Operates the Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS)
to track large atmospheric releases of radioactive materials.
Emergency Response Plans
Modifies EPA's Emergency Response Plan as necessary to maintain
consistency with the Federal Plan administered by Federal Emergency
Monitoring Agency, coordinates Region emergency response plans, and assist
FEMA.
Radon Action Program
Addresses and reduces the health impacts of radon exposure. Problem
Assessment programs identify areas with high levels of indoor radon and
determine the national distribution of radon levels and associated risks. They
include: 1) mitigation and prevention programs that identify cost-effective
methods to reduce indoor radon levels in existing structures and prevent
elevated radon levels in new construction, 2) capability development programs
that stimulate the development of State and private sector capabilities to assess
indoor radon problems, and help people mitigate these problems, and 3) public
information programs that work with the States to provide timely information
to the public on indoor radon, its risks, and available means to reduce the risks.
Radon Measurement Proficiency Program
Conducts voluntary testing of private sector radon measuring products to
insure that they are accurate.
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Radiation and Radon Program
Evaluation Program
Evaluates the cost and effectiveness of radon reduction techniques, trains State
and private sector personnel in mitigation methods, and provides feedback to
the Development and Demonstration Program.
Mitigation and Prevention Program
Demonstrates and evaluates techniques to reduce radon levels in existing
homes and identifies and evaluates ways to prevent radon problems from
occurring in new homes.
Development and Demonstration Program
Researches, develops, and demonstrates cost-effective radon mitigation and
prevention techniques in houses.
Functions and Activities
Regulations, Standards, and Guidance Development
Under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act as transferred to the EPA by the
Reorganization Plan #3 of 1970, the EPA is responsible for formulating and
recommending policies, criteria, and standards designed to protect the
environment and the general public from the effects of both ionizing and non-
ionizing radiation.
Support activities include evaluation of human health and environmental risks
of radiation exposure, and evaluation of economic feasibility of alternative
choices of control methods, technologies, and processes.
Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
EPA is responsible for the national coordination of Regional, State and local
radiation and indoor radon monitoring efforts. EPA oversees the clean-up
efforts and surveys radiation levels at Three Mile Island (TMI) and operates the
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) to track large
releases of radioactive materials.
States, local governments, and the private sector actively work with the EPA to
monitor indoor radon levels.
Enforcement
Enforcement activities involve EPA, State, or local legal actions to obtain
compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or
obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations of radiation standards and
regulations.
The EPA in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission has responsibility for enforcing the standards and
regulations regarding radiation set forth by the EPA.
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Radiation and Radon Program
Research and Development
The Radon Gas and Indoor Air Quality Research Act of 1986 (SARA Title IV)
authorizes the EPA to establish a research program in order to gather
Information on all aspects of indoor air quality, including indoor radon, to
coordinate Federal, State, local, and private research and development efforts
relating to the improvement of indoor air quality, and to assess the appropriate
actions to be taken by the Federal Government to mitigate the HI effects of indoor
air pollution.
Program Budget
Radiation Research
Radiation Standards, Assess & Manage
Radon Action Program
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workyears
$3.0 20
7.7 109
7.4 53
TOTAL $18.1
* These figures are taken from the FY1989 EPA Budget estimate
182
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
Office of Radiation Programs (ORP) is responsible for the radiation activities of
the EPA, including development of radiation protection criteria, standards, and
policies, measurement and control of radiation exposure, and research
requirements for radiation programs.
Other EPA Offices
Office of Research and Development (ORD) supports radiation research
necessary to fulfill radiation program missions, including researching radon
mitigation techniques needed to support the Radon Action Program, and
providing monitoring and quality assurance support for laboratories that
measure radionudide emissions.
Office of Water (OW) sets Ocean Disposal regulations which ORP reviews to
develop criteria and background for regulatory changes regarding ocean disposal
of low-level radioactive waste.
Office of Drinking Water (ODW) works to develop and update drinking water
radiation regulations.
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Radiation and Radon Program
Regional Offices provide national guidance studies to improve the quality of
Superfund database on air radioactivity issues, provide technical support, data,
guidance, training, and inter-office coordination for Superfund activities, and
implement programs for sources covered by NESHAPs for airborne
radionudides from emission sources within their geographic boundaries.
Regions also coordinate radon efforts and emergency response plans at the
regional level.
State Organizations
States agencies coordinate State and private sector radon efforts, including
training, information gathering and assessment, and mitigation and prevention
programs, implement programs for sources covered by NESHAPs for airborne
radionudides from emission sources within the State, update and maintain state
emergency response plans, cany out remedial actions conforming to EPA clean-
up and long term control standards of uranium mill tailings, and enforce EPA
standards for effluents and emissions of mill tailings.
External Organizations
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overviews State, Regional,
and national radiation accident emergency response plans.
Department of Energy (DOE): 1) conducts radon assessment and reduction
activities in support of the Radon Action Program, 2) manages remedial actions
conforming to EPA clean-up and long term control standards of uranium mill
tailings, 3) implements and enforces EPA standards for the disposal of
transuranic and high-level radiation, and 5) will implement and enforce EPA
standards for land disposal of low-level radioactive wastes for Federal
Government storage facilities (selection of appropriate standards is under way).
Department of Defense (DOD) will work with EPA to implement
radiofrequency radiation guidelines as they effect the DOD.
United Nations, National Academy of Sciences, National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurements, and the International Commission on
Radiation Protection, and others provides scientific literature on radiation
effects and authoritative radiation risk summaries.
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other agencies work with EPA
in development and implementation of radiofrequency radiation guidelines.
* Nudear Regulatory Commission (NRC): 1) develops and enforces
Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nudear Power Operations,
Standards for Remedial Actions at Inactive Uranium Processing Sites, and
Standards for the Disposal of Radioactive Materials at Active Uranium and
Thorium Processing Sites, 2) enforces EPA standards for effluents and emissions
of mill tailings, 3) implements and enforces EPA standards for the disposal of
transuranic and high-level radiation, and 4) will implement and enforce EPA
standards for land disposal of low-level radioactive wastes (sdection of
appropriate standards is under way).
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Radiation and Radon Program
Mine Safety and Health Administration issues regulations to implement the
EPA's final interim Federal Radiation Council recommendations regarding
maximum annual exposure levels of miners to radon decay.
* Food and Drug Administration surveys seafood catches in and around old
dump sites near Boston, San Francisco, and Atlantic Qty to verify the absence of
abnormal radionudide levels.
* National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) works with ORP to relate
vacant lot soil gas measurements to a potential for elevated indoor radon levels
in new construction.
Council of American Building Officials and three model code organizations
ensures that the Agency's radon prevention efforts are reflected in local building
codes.
Center for Disease Control, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, Tennessee Valley Authority, National Institutes of
Health, and the National Bureau of Standards work with EPA on radon research
efforts.
Program Trends and Initiatives
* Increase interest in the effects and control of indoor radon radiation (in
partnership with the States), including proposed initiatives in Regions 3, 5, and,
7 for FY 1989.
* Re-examine all radionuclide NESHAPs and decrees promulgated under the CAA
- due to the FY 1987 vinyl chloride court decision.
* Research the possible regulation of airborne radionudides from phosphogypsum
piles.
Develop standards for low-level waste, residual radioactivity, Uranium Mill
Tailings Radiation Control Act, groundwater, and provide guidelines or
standards on radiofrequency radiation (a Notice of Proposed Recommendations
(NPR) regarding radiofrequency radiation was published in the Federal Register
on July 30,1986).
* Propose National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. An Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on September 30,
1986.
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Radiation and Radon Program
Trends and Initiatives
Develop a large centralized clearinghouse for Federal, State, local, private sector
and international radon activity information.
* Explore methods to improve the responsiveness of EPA's Environmental
Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) through equipment updates
and replacement and through refinement of system design and operation.
IRM Infrastructure
The Office of Air and Radiation's Senior Information Resources Management
Officer (SIRMO), Jerry Kurtzweg (382-7418), coordinates IRM activity for ORP.
IRM activities are further administered and coordinated in the Program
Management Office and the Radon Division's Policy and Public Information
Branch.
IRM Budget
Budget
S(millions) Workvears
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
$4.9
5.6
4.8
34
40
37
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Radiation and Radon program, as well as the
IRM budget for other programs funded by OAR. Funds for the Radiation and Radon program from
other Offices such as OECM and OARM are not included.
Major Information Systems
Low-level Radioactive Waste Environmental Transport and Risk Assessment
Code (PRESTO-EPA)
PRESTO-EPA is a computerized model which calculates the potential health
effects to an exposed population from the radioactivity which escapes from a
shallow land burial site or through options from a deep geological burial site.
DARTAB is used as a subroutine to calculate fatal cancers and genetic defects.
RADRISK data is required to run the model.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/Active
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Radiation and Radon Program
Airborne Paiticulate and Precipitation Data (ERFD)
ERFD is a data base containing data on gross beta concentration in samples of
airborne participates and precipitation. Location (city & state), 5 hour field
estimate (pico curies per cubic meter), along with maximum, minimum, and
average results for same are given as well as millimeters of rainfall analyzed and
reported in nano curies per liter.
isible Office
ffice of Radiation Programs, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
System Status
Archived/ Completed
Atmospheric Dispersion of Radionudides (AIRDOS-EPA)
AIRDOS-EPA is a model for estimating annual intakes and exposures from the
atmospheric release of radionuclides. The purpose of the program is to provide
these quantities as input to a companion program (DARTAB) to assess the
individual or collective doses and risks associated with chronic releases of
radionuclides. Atmospheric dispersion, wet and dry disposition, and food
pathway models are included. Provision is made for radionudide chain
ingrowth and decay as well as environmental removal in the terrestrial portion
of the model.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/ Active
Dose and Risk Assessment Tabulation (DARTAB)
DARTAB is a program used to compute fatal cancers and genetic defects from
radiological concentrations on the ground surface, air, and in water and
vegetation. It is used in conjunction with RADRISK information to provide risk
assessment information for AIRDOS-EFA and PRESTO-EPA.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/Active
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Radiation and Radon Program
Eastern Environmental Radiation Facilities (EERF)
EERF is a radiation lab committed to the management of about a dozen radiation
sampling networks which submit samples for analysis on regular schedules.
These samples are from a wide variety of media. In addition, the EERF analyzes
large numbers of samples for special projects. The Clean Air Act (CAA) data base
has information covering all samples analyzed at EERF.
isible Office
ice of Radiation Programs/ Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
System Status
Operational/Active
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS)
Tracks ambient levels of radiation found in air, milk, and water. Common
fission products and actmides are included. Levels are determined by analysis of
samples of water, air, milk and other media, and results are entered into a data
base. Outputs include a quarterly report of ambient levels. Data from surveys
and studies are also included in the data system.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
System Status
Operational/Active
Environmental Radiofrequency Data Base (ERD6)
Tracks ambient radiofrequency environments (0.5 -1.6 Megahertz, 54-900
Megahertz) in 15 metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,
Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San
Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.) and about 30 measurement
sites in each metropolitan area. Results are reported in Volts/meter for 0.5-1.6
Megahertz and in microwatts/square centimeter for 54-900 Megahertz.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/ Active
General Radiation Health Impact Evaluation
This system is used to assess health impact from environmental radiation from
sources such as radon in water, air and drinking water, and external gamma
radiation measured by TLD dosimeters.
isible Office
)ffice of Radiation Programs, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
System Status
Operational/Active
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Radiation and Radon Program
High Level Radioactive Waste-Repository Risk Model Environmental Pathways
(WESPDOSE2)
This computer code is used in ORFs high level radioactive waste analysis to
calculate somatic and genetic risk information for use by the QRP REPRISK
computer code. The code calculates somatic and genetic health effects per Curie
release of user specified radionudides to the available environment for four
release modes, which are: releases to a river, releases to an ocean, releases to land
surfaces and releases to air. The code traces the environmental transport of
radionudides released via each of these release modes through applicable water,
air and terrestrial environmental transport pathways to man, calculates the
external exposure and intake of radionudides, and determines the resulting
somatic and genetic risk to the exposed population.
>onsible Office
fice of Radiation Programs, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility
System Status
Operational/Active
Maxey Flats Data File
This data base consists of burial records of radioactivity burial at the Maxey Flats,
Kentucky Flat up to year 1971. Information includes originator, shipment
number, burial site locations, radionudides and activity. File is suited to analysis
via the Statistical Analysis System and programs specifically written in SAS for
analysis.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Archived/Completed
Occupational Radiation Data Files
Data files for exposure to occupational workers for years 1970 and 1980 are
contained in the database. Information indudes birth date, types and amounts of
exposure, and identification of Industrial dassification. Information output is by
industry, age groups, exposure, and collective dose.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/Active
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Radiation and Radon Program
PERMDATA Management System (PERMDATA)
PERMDATA data base contains the following: Perm Id, the location code, the on
and off dates and times for sample, total runtime in hours, the TLD detector
number and its dose date, the alpha and gamma TLD readouts, calibration factor,
radon concentrations, and a fault code if applicable. This data is used to evaluate
possible health hazards from exposure to radon-222.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs, Las Vegas Facility
System Status
Operational/ Active
Radionuclide Dose Rate/Risk (RADRISK)
RADRISK is a model designed to estimate the health risk due to inhalation or
ingestion of radionuclides for arbitrary exposure periods. The end result of the
system is a set of values relating fatal cancers and genetically significant radiation
doses to a unit intake of radionuclides. The model is a greatly revised
combination of two previously existing programsINREM n and CAIRO. The
health risk from external exposures is also estimated by the CAIRO model using
dose rates from a separate modelDOSFACTER.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/ Active
Sample Tracking and Data Management System- Indoor Radon
This data base consists of the indoor radon/radon progeny data stored in the
Sample Tracking and Data Management System. Data includes track, etch and
other radon monitoring results.
Responsible Office
Office of Radiation Programs, Las Vegas Facility
System Status
Inactive/Onhold
Three Mile Island Environmental Radiation (TMI RAD)
Contains environmental radiation data collected following March 28, 1979
accident at Three Mile Island, Middletown, PA. Data from EPA Public Health
Service (PHS), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Energy
(DOE), state, and utility itself are included.
Responsible Office
spon
Offic
ice of Radiation Programs
System Status
Operational/Active
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Radiation and Radon Program
Oilier Information Systems
* Cohort Analysis of Increased Risks of Deaths Model (CAIRO)
* High Level Radioactive Waste-Repository Risk Model (REPRISK)
* Maximum Individual Dose Model (MAXDOSE)
* Plutonium Air Inhalation Dose (PAID)
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests OCRs). The following is an example of the
approximately 15 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) #0877
Contact: Bryan Wood-Thomas 475-8791 or Carla Levesque 382-2468
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to federal and non-
federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Radiation and Radon program; others
support multiple EPA programs.
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region HI Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VH Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
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Radiation and Radon Program
IRM-Related Studies
No significant recent (within the past 5 years) program-wide IRM studies are
available.
xxigr
Acronyms
AIRDOS-EPA
CAA
CAIRO
DARTAB
DDP
DOD
DOE
EERF
ERAMS
ERDB
ERFD
FCC
FDA
FEMA
HEP
MAXDOSE
NAHB
NESHAPs
NPR
NRC
ODW
ORD
ORP
OW
PAID
PERMDATA
PRESTO-EPA
RADRISK
RCRA
REPRISK
RMP
SARA
TMI
TMIRAD
WESPDOSE2
Atmospheric Dispersion of Radionuclides
Clean Air Act
Cohort Analysis of Increased Risks of Deaths Model
Dose and Risk Assessment Tabulation
Development and Demonstration Program
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Eastern Environmental Radiation Facilities Sample Data
Base
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System
Environmental Radiofrequency Data Base
Airborne Participate and Precipitation Data
Federal Communications Commission
Food and Drug Administration
Federal Emergency Management Agency
House Evaluation Program
Maximum Individual Dose Model
National Association of Home Builders
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
Notice of Proposed Recommendations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Drinking Water
Office of Research and Development
Office of Radiation Programs
Office of Water
Plutonium Air Inhalation Dose
PERMDATA Management System
A Low-Level Radioactive Waste Environmental Transport
and Risk Assessment Code
Radionudide Dose Rate/Risk
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
High Level Radioactive Waste-Repository Risk Model
Radon Measurement Proficiency Program
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
Three Mile Island
Three Mile Island Environmental Radiation
High Level Radioactive Waste Risk Model Environmental
Pathways
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Toxic Substances Program
TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROGRAM
Program
The Toxic Substances program is comprised of the following components:
Asbestos in Schools, which provides a wide variety of technical assistance
services and guidance materials primarily to schools for the purpose of
promoting effective remedial actions for asbestos violations, and to strengthen
education and technical assistance programs at the State and local levels.
* Chemical Review and Testing, which reviews and tests existing and new
chemicals for toxicity for the purpose of determining whether or not a chemical
may pose an unreasonable risk, or that if produced in substantial quantities, may
result in significant human exposure or environmental release.
Toxic Substances Research, which supports the Office of Toxic Substances (OTS),
by performing research in the areas of test method development and validation;
biomarkers, dosimetry, and extrapolation; exposure monitoring; environmental
engineering and technology; special human data needs; structure activity
relationships (SARS); and, biotechnology.
Toxic Substances Enforcement, which functions to maintain an efficient and
effective national compliance monitoring program with appropriate coverage of
all enforceable Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations.
Legislation
The Toxic Substances program was established by the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) of 1976, and has been influenced by other Acts. Specifically:
Name and Section #
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):
Asbestos Hazard Emergency
Response Act (AHERA):
Asbestos School Hazard
Abatement Act (ASHAA):
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA):
Subject Matter
Control Toxic Substances
Immediate Response to Violations
School Education and Enforcement
Support from OTS to RCRA
NOTE: TSCA was amended in 1981 and received authorization for one year.
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Toxic Substances Program
ission and Purpose
The Toxic Substances program, with the authority from the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA), establishes a comprehensive framework to protect public
health and welfare and the environment from the adverse effects of toxic
substances. The program seeks to monitor and control the production and use of
toxic substances by enforcing a strict chemical review/testing and enforcement
effort.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Toxic Substances program are:
Asbestos in Schools
Responsible for providing technical assistance to individuals and organizations
interested in addressing asbestos hazards under AHERA. Activities include:
1) providing technical guidance and advice (primarily through Regional offices),
2) working with States to develop State certification programs which meet the
model program requirements under AHERA for asbestos abatement contractors,
inspectors and management planners, and 3) updating technical information
and model planning materials.
Chemical Review and Testing
Responsible for reviewing through testing, the potential effects of existing
chemicals at any stage, and all new chemicals before they are manufactured or
imported the purpose of which is to protect human health and the
environment from unreasonable risks arising from the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, or disposal of chemicals.
Toxic Substances Research
Responsible for: 1) conducting research on biological markers, dosimetry, and
extrapolation, 2) collecting and making available information on special human
data needs, 3) performing ecological research - Transport, Fate, and Field
Validation, 4) undertaking engineering research in support of TSCA,
5) performing exposure monitoring research, 6) developing structure activity
relationships data, 8) carrying out studies on ecotoxicity and develop
environmental risk assessment protocols, and 9) providing support for TSCA
studies.
Toxic Substances Enforcement
Responsible for: 1) protecting human health and the environment from
unreasonable risks arising from the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
or disposal of chemicals, 2) complying with TSCA and other legislation described
above in the section entitled, "Legislation", and 3) influencing the evolution of
chemical technology by encouraging innovation and introduction of safer
chemical substitutes.
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Toxic Substances Program
.Functions and Activities
Testing and Review
Chemical Testing
EPA must respond within one year to the Interagency Testing Committee's
(ITC) lists of chemicals designated for priority testing consideration. EPA uses
TSCA Section 4 to require testing on other chemicals of concern to the Agency.
The testing program emphasizes the importance of obtaining good quality test
data as quickly as possible and uses a negotiated approach to testing whenever
possible. This requires the publication of acceptable test methodologies, as
well as conducting laboratory/data audits to ensure the data can be used for
regulatory purposes.
Existing Chemical Review
To accomplish this, EPA looks at known information on existing chemicals,
determines whether there might be a problem associated with the chemicals,
assesses the magnitude of the problem, identifies a solution, and translates the
solution into action. This process of evaluating a chemical's risk as it moves
through the review cycle is referred to as the existing chemical program.
TSCA authority over existing chemicals is broad. Section 8 permits EPA to
gather information which is already available to manufacturers and
processors. Section 6 allows EPA to control a chemical at any stage in its life
cycle or ban it completely. Section 9 provides for the formal referral of a
chemical to another regulatory Agency. The significant new use provisions of
Section 5, as well as nonregulatory chemical advisories, are also used to
address certain existing chemical problems. TSCA authorities are also useful
tools to apply to cross-media existing chemical problems
New Chemical Review
EPA imposes or negotiates a variety of control actions on new chemicals of
concern. These include issuance of TSCA Section 5(e) and 5(0 orders to
control or prohibit manufactures of the chemical or withdraw them from the
market. Section 5(e) orders are issued when available data are inadequate to
evaluate the health and environmental risks posed by a new chemical and
when the chemical "may present" an unreasonable risk or will be produced in
substantial quantity and will have substantial human exposure or
environmental release. The majority of these orders are made with the
consent of the producer and results in limited manufacture of the substance
until more definitive information is obtained. Section 5(f) is invoked when a
chemical is found to present an unreasonable risk. In some cases these
findings lead to an immediately effective Section 6(a) rule banning production
of the chemical.
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Toxic Substances Program
Certification and Training
EPA (mostly regional offices) provides technical guidance and advice, working
with States to develop State certification programs which meet the model
program requirements under AHERA for asbestos abatement contractors,
inspectors, and management planners, and updating technical information and
model planning materials.
EPA headquarters provides one-time grants to States to pass enabling legislation
and/or establish asbestos abatement contractor, asbestos inspector, and
management planner certification/accreditation and training programs.
Compliance and Enforcement
The toxic substances enforcement program ensures compliance with TSCA and
related rules and regulations. The Regional offices inspect facilities that
manufacture, process, distribute, use, or dispose of new or specifically regulated
chemicals. Regional staff provide technical assistance to the regulated
community in complying with applicable TSCA regulations, and prepare and
issue notices of violation and administrative orders.
Headquarters is responsible for the overall management of the national toxic
substances compliance monitoring program. Headquarters provides support in
the development of new TSCA regulations to assure that they are efficient and
equitable from an enforcement viewpoint, develops enforcement response
policies and compliance monitoring strategies for each new rule, and provides
compliance assistance and technical support to case development and
prosecution activities. Headquarters also manages the laboratory data integrity
program, which involves inspections of laboratories that perform chemical and
environmental testing, and in-depth audits of test studies submitted to the
Agency pursuant to TSCA and FIFRA testing rules.
EPA funds cooperative agreements with State agencies to develop and operate
toxic substances compliance monitoring programs in the area of existing
Chemicals control. The program permits wider coverage of the regulated
community without requiring additional Federal personnel.
Program Budget
Research & Development
Financial Assistance (Asbestos in Schools)
Toxic Substances Strategies
(Chemical Review and Testing)
Enforcement
TOTAL
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workvears
$26.8
42.6
48.4
11.9
188
11
479
184
$129.7
873
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
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Toxic Substances Program
^Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), under the Office of Pesticides and Toxic
Substances (OPTS), is primarily responsible for providing leadership for the
overall Toxic Substances activities of the Agency under the authority of the
TSCA, AHERA, and ASHAA legislation; including the development of strategic
plans for the control of the national environmental toxic substances issues.
Other EPA Offices
The Pesticides and Toxic Substances Division (PTSD) is a division of the Office
of General Counsel (OGC), and is responsible for providing legal counsel,
opinions, litigation support, and services with respect to the Agency's pesticides
and toxic substances program and activities.
The Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division (PTSED) is a division
of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) and services
EPA by: 1) providing the principal direction and review of civil enforcement
activities for pesticides and toxic substances enforcement, 2) initiating and
conducting reviews of potential civil enforcement litigation referrals from
Regional and media program offices, 3) advising and making recommendations
based on FIFRA and TSCA legislation, 4) identifying the need for new or revised
strategies, policies, or procedures, 5) providing legal counsel to program offices,
and 6) assisting States and Regions with compliance and enforcement efforts.
* Regional Toxic Substances Divisions, though having different functions in
each region, generally assist the States in developing comprehensive toxic
substances programs, including State testing and review programs and State
implementation and control programs.
The Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with toxic
substances policy analysis; including conducting economic evaluations of Agency
programs, policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating, and developing
Agency-wide and program policies.
The Office of External Affairs (OEA) acts as a clearinghouse for information
required by the public regarding, in this profile, toxic substances.
* The Office of Water (OW) assists with chemical testing information to be
provided by OTS; to be used for setting toxic level measurement criteria
standards for water.
Office of Solid Waste (OSW) assists with chemical testing information to be
provided by OTS - especially for PCBs.
State Organizations
State Toxic Substances Offices assist EPA in performing chemical research and
testing, monitoring and enforcing industry activities that involve toxic
substances.
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Toxic Substances Program
External Organizations
Department of Justice (DOJ) prepares and reviews Toxic Substances legislation
with EPA's assistance; involved in civil, criminal, and administration
enforcement, and imposing penalties and fines for violations.
Program Trends and Initiatives
Continue actions to reduce risks form asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) by: 1) banning the import, manufacturing, and processing of five
categories of asbestos products (roofing felt, flooring felt, vinyl-asbestos floor tile,
asbestos-cement pipe and fittings, and asbestos clothing), 2) phasing out the all
remaining asbestos products over the next ten years allowing industry time to
develop and market good substitutes, e.g., brake linings, 3) implementing actions
to ensure that the hazards of asbestos in buildings are properly controlled, 4)
phasing out certain PCB-containing electrical equipment, e.g., certain PCB
transformers with high secondary voltages in or near commercial buildings to be
phased out by October 1990, 5) focusing EPA's attention on improving the
permitting and monitoring of PCB storage and disposal facilities, 6) developing a
program for tracking PCB wastes from the waste generator to disposer, and
7) taking action against violators of PCB disposal regulations.
Use a variety of tools, including regulatory controls, outreach, technical
assistance, educational programs, and coordination with other programs, to
provide the greatest environmental results. FY 1989 programs will be concerned
with the practical, real world implications of OTS risk management decisions.
Enforce Compliance/Monitoring Programs by: 1) targeting compliance efforts
towards the most critical environmental problem areas to achieve the maximum
effects when instances of noncompliance are detected and corrected, 2) using a
full range of enforcement tools, including injunctive relief, orders to compel or
restrain action, administrative penalties, or criminal action, to achieve
compliance, e.g., large school districts and previous noncompliers will receive
the top asbestos compliance efforts, 3) applying frequent and thorough
inspections of disposal sites and large-scale handlers will continue to be the
priority for the PCB compliance program, 4) directing State compliance programs
and senior citizen organizations that will significantly bolster the OPTS
compliance effort.
Define "New Uses" for Existing Chemicals to allow reevaluation of already-
approved chemicals by classifying "new uses" for these chemicals. The
Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) directs that no person will be allowed to
manufacture or process a chemical in the category for a given "new use" without
first submitting a notice similar to a pre-manufacture notice.
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Toxic Substances Program
Continue to Evaluate Biotechnology Developments and Regulations by:
1) preparing for future developments in biotechnology by attempting to
determine up front the problems that might occur before a new technology is
widely applied/ and 2) evaluating biotechnology regulations and modify their
scope as necessary. Examples of Biotechnological Developments include:
1) tracking the release of genetically altered bacteria, 2) developing bacteria to
protect plants against frost, 3) using bacteria to enhance alfalfa yield, and 4) using
bacteria for toxic waste disposal.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Improve Information Collection and Sharing by: 1) ensuring coordinated and
comprehensive regulation of toxic chemicals by improving information
collection and sharing, and 2) collecting and sharing information among all of
EPA's regulatory programs, as well as those of other agencies; e.g:
An outreach service, known as Chemical Assessment Desk, has been
established to help EPA regional offices and the states improve their risk
assessments by providing toxicity and risk information on chemicals reviewed
in the toxic substances program.
Through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, EPA
is working with other countries to coordinate the information gathering,
testing, and evaluation of existing chemicals of common concern.
Emphasize the use of generic approaches to information-gathering rules. In
1989, the Agency will use the Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule
(CAIR) to gather essential information economically and to reduce reporting
burden on industry.
Identify toxicity data gaps by using routine hazardous chemical release
information gathered under SARA section 313; to be used in doing site-specific
risk assessments.
Encourage and provide risk management and risk assessment training to
achieve more decentralized capabilities in Regions and States.
Establish a program of packaging the most important existing data, effectively
disseminating this information where it is needed, and training individuals to
use it for the best results.
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Toxic Substances Program
M Infrastructure
The Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances' Senior Information Resources
Management Officer (SIRMO), Thomas Hooven (382-2906), coordinates IRM
activities for OPP and OTS. The Office of Toxic Substances' Information
Management Division is the focal point for IRM in OTS. It's primary functions
include the administration of Confidential Business Information (CBI) in its
Confidential Data Branch and liaison with the public through its Public Data
Branch.
IRM Budget
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
FY1986*
FY 1987*
FY1988*
$7.1
9.6
12.9
42
46
57
These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Toxic Substances program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OPTS. Funds for the Toxic Substances program from other Offices
such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
Major Information Systems
Automated Document Control Register (ADCR)
This system integrates the Office's system with the agency-wide data collection
and reporting system run by the Financial Management Division (FMD). ADCR
serves as the checkbook while FMD's Financial Management System serves as
the program office's bank. ADCR supplies accurate, up-to-date information on
financial transactions initiated by the program office and provides detailed data
on each financial transaction.
Responsible Office
ffice of Toxic Substances (OTS), AA for Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Toxic Substances Program
Extramural Tracking System (ETS)
This system is an interactive system designed to help Agency managers prepare
budgetary submissions and establish timetables for monitoring contracts.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), AA for Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Graphical Exposure Modeling System (GEMS)
This system is an interactive computer system developed to support integrated
exposure assessments. GEMS integrates graphics, mapping, statistics, file
management, modeling, and chemical property estimation with a user-friendly
interface.
Res
ible Office
iffice of Toxic Substances (OTS), AA for Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Interagency Testing Committee Tracking System (ITS)
This system is a collection of computer programs designed to aid in recording,
tracking, and managing activities concerning the scoring and subsequent review
of chemicals by the Interagency Testing Committee (ITC); this system is used to
monitor the chemicals being considered by the ITC.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), AA for Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational/Active
TSCA 8(a) Level A Information System (LEVEL8(A))
This system consists of a collection of computer programs standard forms, and
manual procedures which validate, store, and selectively report the data collected
under the Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR); approximately 250
chemicals in data base.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), AA for Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational/Active
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Toxic Substances Program
Toxic Release Inventory (Automated Data Base)
TRIS is located on the IBM 3090 mainframe at EPA's National Computer Center,
RTF, North Carolina. The system uses ADABA5E, EPA's standard data base
management systems and can be accessed via the NCC telecommunications
network. It supports retrieval of four standardized reports and Ad hoc queries
via SuperNatural and SAS.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational /Active
FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System (FATES)
This system produces a data base which contains the following information: 1)
Record of FIFRA and TSCA inspections and enforcement proceedings, 2)
Registration data for pesticide producing organizations and annual pesticide
production reports, 3) Data for State grant-in-aid program and accomplishment,
and 4) Program and financial status of TSCA inspection contracts.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement; Office of Compliance
Monitoring (OCM), Compliance Division, Compliance Branch
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Other Information Systems
Acute Oral Toxicity for Birds, Mice, Rat, (ORALTOX)
Asbestos Information System (AIS)
Automated Personnel System (APS)
Chemical Collection System (CCS/RTS)
* Chemicals in Commerce Information System (CICIS)
Chemical Update System (CUS)
Document and Personnel Security System (DAPSS)
Ecological Monitoring System
Existing Chemical Assessment Tracking System (CECATS)
FIFRA and TSCA Case Tracking System (CASETRK)
Files of Exposure Assessments for Existing Chemicals
Inventory Reporting Requirement System (IRR)
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Toxic Substances Program
Management Information Tracking System (New Chemicals) (MTTS)
OPTS Regulation Tracking System (OPTS RTS)
OTS Chemical Directory (CHEMD)
OTS Milestone Tracking System (OTS MTS)
Office Director Assignment Tracking System (ODATS)
Office of Toxic Substances Equipment System
PENTA
Summary of Ecotox Data on Ethoxylated Surfactants (ETHOX)
Toxics and Pesticides Management System (TOPSY)
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 34 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
TSCA Section 8(c) Adverse Reaction Records #1031
« Comprehensive Assessment and Information Rule #1325
Asbestos-in-School Rule #1365
PCB Notification and Manifest Rule #1446
Contact: David Di Fiore 382-2744
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Toxic Substances program; others support
multiple EPA programs.
Asbestos Clearinghouse
Asbestos Technical Information Service
Chemical Assessment Desk
Page 11
(FTS) 382-3949
(800) 334-8571/ext 6741
(FTS) 382-3483
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Toxic Substances Program
TSCA Hotline
TSCA Public Information Office
Toxic Substances
Center for Environmental Research Information
EPA Region HI Hotline
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VH Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
Recent IRM-Related Studies
(202) 475-8823
(202) 554-1404
(202) 554-1404
(202) 382-3587
(FTS) 684-7376
(800) 438-2474
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
* No significant recent (within the past 5 years) program-wide IRM studies are
available.
Program Acronyms
ADCR
AHERA
AIS
APS
ASHAA
CAIR
CASETRK
CCS/RTS
CECATS
CHEMD
DAPSS
DOJ
ETHOX
ETS
FATES
Automated Document Control Register
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
Asbestos Information System
Automated Personnel System
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act
Comprehensive Assessment Information Rule
FIFRA and TSCA Case Tracking System
Chemical Collection System
Existing Chemical Assessment Tracking System
OTS Chemical Directory
Document and Personnel Security System
Department of Justice
Summary of Ecotox Data on Ethoxylated Surfactants
Extramural Tracking System
FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System
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Toxic Substances Program
GEMS
GI
HESAP
IRR
ITS
LEVELS(A)
MITS
ODATS
OEA
OECM
OGC
OPPE
OPTS
OPTS RTS
ORALTOX
OTS MTS
OSW
OTS
OW
PCB
PDM
PITS
PTSD
PTSED
RCRA
SARA
SARS
SNUR
TOPSY
TRI
TSCA
Graphical Exposure Modeling System
Global Indexing System
Health and Environmental Study Audit Program
Inventory Reporting Requirement System
Interagency Testing Committee Tracking System
TSCA 8(a) Level A Information System
Management Information Tracking System (New Chemicals)
Office Director Assignment Tracking System
Office of External Affairs
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring
Office of General Counsel
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
OPTS Regulation Tracking System
Acute Oral Toxicity for Birds, Mice, Rats
OTS Milestone Tracking System
Office of Solid Waste
Office of Toxic Substances
Office of Water
Polychlorinated Biphenyis
Probabilistic Dilution Model
Project Information Tracking System
Pesticides and Toxic Substances Division
Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
Structure Activity Relationships
Significant New Use Rule
Toxics and Pesticides Management System
Toxic Release Information
Toxic Substances Control Act
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Pesticides Program
PESTICIDES PROGRAM
Program
The Pesticides program is comprised of the following components:
Pesticides Research, which supports the development of scientific methods to
assess risks to human health and the environment from exposure to pesticide
products.
Pesticides Registration and Reregistration, which focuses efforts on the
registration of new pesticides, and review and reregistration or cancellation of
previously registered pesticides.
Pesticides Enforcement, which focuses on compliance monitoring of pesticides
programs, and certification and training (C&T) of pesticide applicators.
Generic Chemical Review Program, which reviews chemicals to determine
adverse effects on health and the environment.
Legislation
The Pesticides program was established by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenb'cide Act (FIFRA) of 1972, and has been influenced by other Acts; specifically:
Name and Section
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA):
Endangered Species Act (ESA):
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (FFDCA):
- Delaney Clause
Subject Matter
Pesticide Registration Regulations
Protection of Endangered Species
Pesticide Residue Tolerances Levels
NOTE: FIFRA was amended on 10/25/88 which establishes fees for reregistration of pesticides, to be
deposited in a special fund, the "Judgment Fund", at the Treasury Department.
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ission and Purpose
The Pesticides program, with the authority from the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), establishes a comprehensive framework to protect
public health and welfare and the environment from the adverse effects of
pesticides. The program seeks to monitor and control the production and use of
pesticides by enforcing a strict registration of new and reregistration of already-
registered pesticides.
The mission/purpose of the components of the Pesticides Program is:
Pesticides Research
Responsible for developing criteria for evaluating and assessing the impact of
pesticides to determine the hazard to human beings and the environment and, if
necessary, developing appropriate restrictions.
Pesticides Registration and Reregistration
Responsible for complying with legal requirements for pesticides registration and
reregistration as mandated in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA).
Pesticides Enforcement
Responsible for developing national strategies for the monitoring and control of
pesticides, and enforcing compliance with pesticides programs and the law.
Generic Chemical Review Program
Responsible for reviewing chemicals used in the production of pesticides to
assign the highest priorities to new chemical reviews and to determine the
effects of chemical combinations; current studies emphasize ground-water, food
safety, home and garden pesticides, antimicrobials, fish and wildlife, and
endangered species.
Functions and Activities
Permitting
Registration: New pesticide products may be registered and current registration
may be amended to add uses or new formulations. Registration decisions
involve reviewing formulation, effect, exposure, and use data to ensure that
product use will not result in "unreasonable adverse effects" and limiting the
risks associated with use through label precautions, special packaging
requirements, application directions, and where necessary, restriction of use to
trained applicators.
Special Registration: Responds to requests for experimental use permits and
emergency exemptions. These permit the use of unregistered pesticides, or the
use of registered pesticides for sites/pests not included in their registration, to
generate registration data or meet pest emergencies. The program also reviews
state registration of pesticides for special local needs and state plans for
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experimental use permits. These functions are required by Section 5,18, and 24
of HERA.
Tolerances: The goals of this program is to protect public health while giving
appropriate consideration to the production of an adequate/ wholesome, and
economical food supply. This is achieved by establishing tolerance levels for
residues of both active and inert pesticide ingredients (or exemption from the
requirements of a tolerance) in or on raw agriculture commodities and processed
foods. Temporary tolerance may be established for food or feed crops to be
marketed following the application of experimental use pesticides. Testing of
analytical methods ensures that established tolerances can be adequately
enforced.
General Pesticide Chemical Review and Reregistration: This program includes
reregistration standards and Final Regulatory Standards and Tolerance
Reassessments (FRSTRs) to enable the Agency to meet efficiently the statutory
mandate to update and reexamine information on currently registered pesticide
and to reregister them, and Special Reviews conducted to rigorously evaluate the
risks and benefits of pesticides with an identified potential for producing
significant adverse health or environmental effects, and to take appropriate
regulatory action (e.g., suspend, cancel, modify, or return to registration).
Enforcement
The pesticide enforcement program provides direction and technical and
financial assistance to the States and, where the States do not operate
comprehensive programs, operates programs directly. The Regional offices
negotiate and manage cooperative agreements under which the States operate
enforcement and pesticide applicator certification and training programs. The
Regions assist the States with enforcement actions and prepare and issue notices
of violation and administrative orders in instances where a State refers a case to
the Agency for action. The Regions provide technical and compliance assistance
to the agricultural chemical industry, commercial and private pesticide
applicators, user groups, and States.
The Headquarters component establishes national program priorities. It also
provide support in the development of new FIFRA regulations and develops
enforcement response policies and compliance monitoring strategies for each
new rule. Special Review decisions and key Registration and Data Call-in
activities also require enforcement input and assistance. Headquarters prepares
annual guidance for the cooperative Federal/State enforcement program.
Certification and Training
The Headquarters staff of the Certification and Training program establishes
national program priorities and C&T requirements. It develops national C&T
strategies as chemicals are classified for restricted use and national C&T issues are
identified. It establishes priorities for developing training materials, and
prepares annual guidance for the cooperative Federal/State certification
program.
This program is designed to ensure that only competent, trained applicators
handle, apply, store, and dispose of restricted use pesticides. EPA funds
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cooperative agreements with States to certify applicators to use restricted use
pesticides. State certification programs must be approved by EPA and must
provide not only initial certification, but also mechanisms for maintaining
applicators' competency. This is accomplished by requiring applicators
periodically to renew their certification by completing State-specific
requirements.
EPA has an interagency agreement with the Department of Agriculture to
provide training to pesticide applicators by working through State Cooperative
Extension Services. Applicators receive training in the areas of safe and effective
use of pesticides, and changing technological and regulatory requirements.
In Colorado, EPA administrators the Certification and Training program for
private applicators. In Nebraska, EPA administers the Certification and Training
program for both private and commercial (for-hire) applicators. Certification and
training funds are used to support these Federally run programs and to develop
Regional education packages and special initiatives to meet new or emerging
pesticides issues and critical gaps.
Program Budget
1988 Budget*
S(millions) Workyears
Pesticides Research & Development $12.9 114
Pesticides Abatement & Control 17.0 269
Generic Chemical Review 35.7 319
Pesticides Enforcement 18.7 127
TOTAL $84.3 829
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate
Responsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
The Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS) is the Lead EPA Office.
Two key offices under OPTS are:
The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is primarily responsible for
providing leadership for the overall pesticide activities of the Agency under
the authority of the FIFRA and several provisions of FFDCA legislation;
including the development of strategic plans for the control of the national
environmental pesticide issues.
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The Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training Program, Director and
Staff, is responsible for providing direction for, and implementing and
regularly reviewing the Agency's regulatory and non-regulatory pesticide
applicator training and certifications activities under Sections 4 and 23 of
FIFRA.
Other EPA Offices
* The Pesticides and Toxic Substances Division (PTSD) is a division of the Office
of General Counsel (OGC), and is responsible for providing legal counsel,
opinions, litigation support, and services with respect to the Agency's pesticides
and toxic substances program and activities.
The Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division (PTSED) is a division
of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring (OECM) and services
EPA by: 1) providing the principal direction and review of civil enforcement
activities for pesticides and toxic substances enforcement, 2) initiating and
conducting reviews of potential civil enforcement litigation referrals from
Regional and media program offices, 3) advising and making recommendations
based on FIFRA and TSCA legislation, 4) identifying the need for new or revised
strategies, policies, or procedures, 5) providing legal counsel to program offices,
and, 6) assisting States and Regions with compliance and enforcement efforts.
Regional Pesticides Divisions, though having different functions in each
region, generally assist the States in developing comprehensive pesticides
programs, including State registration programs and State implementation and
control programs.
The Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (OPPE) helps with pesticides
policy analysis; including conducting economic evaluations of Agency programs,
policies, standards, and coordinating, evaluating, and developing Agency-wide
and program policies.
The Office of External Affairs (OEA) acts as a clearinghouse for information
required by the public regarding, in this profile, pesticides.
The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) assists OPP with the National Survey of
Pesticides in Well Water a comprehensive statistical survey of underground
drinking water sources in the U.S.
State Organizations
State Pesticides offices assist EPA in performing pesticide research and
registration activities, and monitoring and enforcing compliance with pesticide
registration standards.
External Organizations
The Department of Justice (DOJ) prepares and reviews Pesticides legislation
with EPA's assistance; handles judicial and administration cases and administers
penalties.
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* The Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service informs EPA
of requirements of the Endangered Species Act and the use of Pesticides on
endangered species.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) makes recommendations to EPA
regarding NAS-conducted studies for EPA of methods for setting tolerances of
pesticide residues in food, under FFDCA, Delaney clause (see "Legislation"
section above).
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) assists EPA in its efforts
to expand and update its applicator certification and training program.
Program Trends and Initiatives
Implementation of 1988 FIFRA Amendment calls for: 1) acceleration of
reregistration or review of a number of active ingredients in order to update the
scientific testing supporting the registration of these chemical (approximately
50,000 pesticide products and 600 active ingredients and 900 inert ingredients are
currently under evaluation; since 1978, approximately 25 active ingredients have
been evaluated each year, estimating completion to be in about 20 years), 2)
collection of fees from reregistrants to be deposited in a Judgment Fund at
Treasury, and 3) elimination of automatic entitlement to indemnity payments
for all person other than certain, identified end users, e.g., farmers, and to
provide that all indemnity payments will come from the Judgment Fund of the
Treasury, not from EPA's operating budget.
Expand and update the Applicator certification and training program by working
with USDA, the States, tribes, etc., to revise certification regulations, expand
training materials and requirements, and continue joint EPA-USDA reviews of
state methods for certification.
* Prepare a compilation of all pesticide monitoring studies conducted in the
United States to expand the Pesticide Monitoring Inventory; currently contains
information about 300 pesticide monitoring projects.
Assign the highest priorities to new chemical reviews due to the significant
growth in new chemical submissions.
* Implement an Agricultural Chemicals and Ground-Water Strategy that:
1) performs ground-water monitoring studies for pesticides, e.g., determination
of ground-water monitoring data requirements for use in pesticide registration,
and 2) continues dealing with existing ground-water contamination, e.g.,
conducting a nationwide survey of pesticides in drinking water to determine the
extent of contamination, publication of health advisories regarding chemicals in
ground water, setting maximum allowable levels of pesticides in drinking water.
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Develop a plan to implement recommendations for improving methods for
ensuring food safety - presented by other organizations from studies performed
by those groups, e.g., National Academy of Sciences conducted a study of
methods for setting tolerances of pesticide residues in food.
* Continue examining the extent of consumer exposure to unsafe levels of
pesticides from home and garden products, e.g., elimination of indoor use of
certain termiticides, investigation of the use of Blockade-brand flea and tick
repellents for pets, identification of available health and environmental data on
lawncare products for hazards evaluation.
Continue with the implementation of the EPA-developed strategy that groups or
ranks inert ingredients according to their toxicity or need for additional toxicity
testing; includes the following steps: 1) recommendation for safer substitution
chemicals, 2) relabelling of products to identify toxic inerts, and 3) if enforcement
efforts fail, hold hearings to evaluate the need for cancellation of a product
containing inert ingredients in question.
Continue to implement the EPA-developed strategy for improving the
regulation of antimicrobial pesticides. This calls for: 1) the examination of the
design and performance of laboratory testing procedures to ensure the
consistency of results and indicate the effectiveness of a product in both the lab
and the real world, 2) the prohibition against manufacturers making
EPA-unapproved claims regarding product effectiveness, 3) the improvement of
labeling requirements, and 4) studying the effects of genetically-engineered
microbial pesticides (GEMPs).
Expand the 1974 worker protection standards to apply to all pesticide handlers,
including greenhouse, nursery, and forestry workers as well as farm workers,
including enhancement of enforceability of the regulation provisions,
improvement of requirements for training, protective clothing, and warnings
about pesticide-treated areas.
Ensure continued analysis efforts on the effects of pesticides on fish and wildlife
by: 1) preparing guidance for improving the way in which field studies are
conducted, and 2) developing improved methods for determining the effects of
pesticides on entire ecosystems as well as individual organisms.
Consider modifications to the Endangered Species program (Endangered Species
Act) due to the economic and environmental impacts of pesticides uses on
endangered species.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
Modify existing Reregistration Systems or build new ones to accommodate
reregistration fee billing/collection processes and fee program maintenance costs.
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Review the complete data sets of active ingredients found in pesticides for the
Registration/Reregistration Program and continue giving top priority to food-
use pesticides for the reregistration process.
Ensure that critical data gaps are filled through information and data collection
activities, such as: Pesticide Data Call-In Program, Initial Registration Standard
Program, National Survey of Pesticides in Well Water, Pesticide Monitoring
Inventory. Also continue efforts to disseminate data bases to state and local
levels where they are required for accurate risk assessments and management
decisions and verify that environmental data represent accurate effects of a
pesticide on fish and wildlife in their natural habitat.
Support more informed, decentralized decision-making activities by providing:
1) more complete data sets to the field, 2) tools to enhance the field's ability to
interpret data in a balanced site-specific fashion, and 3) tools for more effective
communication of information.
Begin a major five-year research program for the improvement of computer
models of ecosystems in different environments across the country.
IRM Infrastructure
The Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances' Senior Information Resources
Management Officer (SIRMO), Thomas Hooven (382-2906), coordinates IRM
activities for OPP and OTS. IRM activity for OPP are centered in the Program
Management and Support Division, namely, the Information Services Branch
and the Systems Branch. The Field Operations Division is responsible for
information dissemination and sharing with the public through its Public
Information Branch.
IRM Budget
Budget
$(millions) Workvears
FY1986* $7.1 42
FY1987* 9.6 46
FY 1988* 12.9 57
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Pesticides program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OPTS. Funds for the Pesticides program from other Offices such as
OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
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lajor Information Systems
Ecological Monitoring System
This system is to be comprised of a set of computerized data bases intended to
accommodate and provide accessibility to data produced by the IERL-RTP
environmental assessment contractors and from any other source of multimedia
emissions data. Sources of multimedia emissions include conventional
combustion processes, energy conversion processes, and industrial sources. This
system will include gaseous (GEDS), liquid (LEDS), and Solid Discharge Data
Systems (SDDS) and the Fine Particle Emissions Information System (FPEIS)
which is currently operating at RTP/NCC. Field measurement data and air flow
stream data for chemical and radioactive emittants will be included.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS), Hazard Evaluation Division,
Exposure Assessment Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System (FATES)
This system produces a data base which contains the following information:
1) Record of FIFRA and TSCA inspections and enforcement proceedings,
2) Registration data for pesticide producing organizations and annual pesticide
production reports, 3) Data for State grant-in-aid program and accomplishment,
and 4)Program and financial status of TSCA inspection contracts.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement; Office of Compliance
Monitoring (OCM), Compliance Division, Compliance Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
National Human Milk Monitoring Program (NHMP)
This program is a data base containing values of chlorinated hydrocarbonticides
and polychlorinated biphenyl residues found in human milk samples provided
by approximately 3,000 volunteers randomly selected from the entire continental
U.S.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP)
Systems Status
Archived/Completed
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National Pesticide Hazard Assessment Program
This program consists of surveys, conducted and studied, designed to obtain
information on adverse health effects possibly associated with human exposure
to pesticides.
Responsible Office
sponsioie Umce
Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP)
Systems Status
Operational/Active
OPP Administrative Support Systems (OPPAS)
This system is used to provide valid unit cost data to support external budget
requests; assist in identifying workloads and impact of special projects; develop
historical data base for monitoring and forecasting long-range plans; and assign
personnel to specific projects and tasks. This system contains the following
subsystems: 1) OPP Personnel System, 2) OPP Budget System, 3) Time
Accounting Information System (TAIS), 4) Automated Document Control
Register, 5) On-line Tracking System, and 6) Registration Action Tracking
Systems (RATS).
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP)
Systems Status
Operational/Active
Pesticide Document Management System (PDMS)
This system maintains scientific data required by the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), that is used to decide whether or not a
pesticide product can be manufactured in the U.S.; related information from
published literature is also included.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS), Program Management and
Support Division, Information Services Branch
Systems Status
Operational /Active
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Pesticide Incident Monitoring System (PIMS)
This system enters, stores, coordinates, and retrieves pesticide incident data
within the EPA. Additionally, this system develops and maintains reporting
sources, monitors suspected incidents, and provides confirmatory analysis and
data on the circumstances of the incident.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS), Hazard Evaluation Division,
Exposure Assessment Branch
Systems Status
Under Development
Pesticide Product Information System (PPIS)
This system contains information concerning all pesticide products registered in
the U.S. It includes registrant name and address, chemical ingredients, toxicity
category, brand name, etc.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP)
Systems Status
Operational /Active
Pesticides Use Surveys
This system contains a varied amount of surveys used to aid EPA in planning
and determining the benefits of pesticide uses. Surveys include: National
Pesticide Usage Survey of Golf Courses, National Pesticide Usage Survey of
Nurseries, National Survey of Hospitals, and Pesticide Usage Survey of Non-
Farm Food Establishments.
Responsible Office
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPTS), Benefits and Use Division,
Economic Analysis Branch
Systems Status
Archived/Completed
Other Information Systems
Case Management System (CMS)
EPA Chemical Activities Status Report (EPACASR)
FIFRA and TSCA Case Tracking System (CASETRK)
Industry File Indexing System (ISIS)
OPTS Regulation Tracking System (OPTS RTS)
Pesticides Analytical Transport Solution (PESTAN)
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Pesticide Monitoring Inventory
Pesticides Research (HEPS)
« Pesticide Root Zone Model (PREPRZM)
Region 7, FIFRA Neutral Inspection Selection System
Region 7 Nebraska Pesticide (PEST)
Toxics and Pesticides Management System (TOPSY)
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 19 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support this
program (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Application for New or Amended Pesticide Registration #227
* Data Call-in/Registration Standards Program #922
* Tolerance Petitions for Pesticides and New inert Ingredients #597
Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training #155
Contact: David Di Fiore 382-2744
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Pesticides program; others support
multiple EPA programs.
National Pesticides Information Retrieval System
(NPIRS) (FTS) 557-9351
National Pesticides Telecommunications Network (800) 858-7378
(806) 743-3091 (TX)
Pesticides Docket (703) 557-4434
* Center for Environmental Research Information (FTS) 684-7376
EPA Region IH Hotline (800) 438-2474
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Pesticides Program
EPA Region IV Hotline
EPA Region V Hotline
EPA Region VII Hotline
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(800) 241-1754
(800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
(FTS) 757-2827
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
"Assessment of OPP Information Resources Management", May 1987, American
Management Systems, Inc., Contract #68-01-7281, Delivery Order #18
* The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is currently conducting a study
to evaluate non-occupational exposure to household pesticides - to be completed
in FY 1989.
Program Acronyms
CASETRK
CMS
C&T
DOI
DOJ
EPACASR
ESA
FATES
FFDCA
FIFRA
FPEIS
GEDS
GEMPS
HEPS
ISI
ISIS
LEDS
NAS
OPP
OPP AS
OPPE
FIFRA and TSCA Case Tracking System
Case Management System
Certification & Training
Department of Interior
Department of Justice
EPA Chemical Activities Status Report
Endangered Species Act
FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Fine Particle Emissions Information System
Gaseous Emissions Data System
Genetically-Engineered Microbial Pesticides
Pesticides Research
Information Systems Inventory
Industry File Indexing System
Liquid Emissions Data System
National Academy of Sciences
Office of Pesticide Programs
OPP Administrative Support Systems
Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
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Pesticides Program
OPTS
OPTS RTS
ORD
PDMS
PEST
PESTAN
PIMS
PPIS
PREPRZM
PTSD
PTSED
RATS
SDDS
SPAS
TAIS
TOPSY
TSCA
USDA
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
OPTS Regulation Tracking System
Office of Research and Development
Pesticide Document Management System
Region 7 Nebraska Pesticide
Pesticides Analytical Transport Solution
Pesticide Incident Monitoring System
Pesticide Product Information System
Pesticide Root Zone Model
Pesticides and Toxic Substances Division
Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division
Registration Action Tracking Systems
Solid Discharge Data System
Science and Policy Analysis Staff
Time Accounting Information System
Toxics and Pesticides Management System
Toxic Substances Control Act
United States Department of Agriculture
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Draft: 6/8/89 Title Ill/Toxic Release Inventory Program
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT (TITLE III)/
TOXIC RELEASE INVENTORY
Program
Responsibilities for the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
(EPCRA are divided between the Office of Toxic Substances (OTS) and the Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response. This profile details activities in the area of
Toxic Release Inventory, mandated under EPCRA Section 313.
OTS has primary responsibility for implementation of Section 313 of EPCRA.
Section 313 requires EPA to establish an automated inventory of toxic chemical
emissions to the air, water, and land. The purpose of this reporting requirement is
to inform government officials and the public about the release of toxic chemicals
into the environment. Specific activities required to implement Section 313 related
responsibilities include:
Section 313 chemical listing and delisting activities.
Collection of Section 313 release inventory data forms from covered facilities
(approximately 17,500 facilities).
Processing of Section 313 trade secrets claims.
» Section 313 enforcement activities (e.g., facility audits, identification of non-
reporting facilities, legal actions).
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egislation
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 1986 is Title in of the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 (P.L, 99-499, 42
U5C 11001). The program is popularly called 'Title IE". Major sections include:
Name and Section # Subject Matter
Superfund Amend:
Section 301 Establishment of SERC's and LEPC's
Section 302 EHS List and Facility Notification for EHS's
Section 303 Emergency Response Plans
Section 304 EHS Release Notification
Section 311 Material Safety Data Sheets
Section 312 Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory
Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory
Section 322 Trade Secrets
Section 324 Public Availability of Data
Section 325 Enforcement
Mission and Purpose
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act created a new
relationship among government agencies at all levels, business and community
leaders, environmental and other public-interest organizations, and individual
citizens. For the first time, the law makes citizens full partners in preparing for
emergencies and managing chemical risks. Under EPCRA Section 313, citizens are
provided with specific information about the toxic chemicals released within their
communities. This information is used to enhance the awareness of the presence
of toxic chemicals in cities, counties, and states throughout the country.
Under Section 313, facilities must report routine annual releases of any of some 320
toxic chemicals into the air, water, or soil to the Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA must create, maintain and make available to the public by telecommunication
and other means the data reported by facilities under this section. In support of
Section 313, EPA reviews claims of trade secrecy, lists and delists Section 313
chemicals, takes enforcement actions, and provides for the disclosure of all
information to health professionals as needed.
EPA's Office of Toxic Substances is responsible for the following aspects of the
program:
Listing and delisting Section 313 chemicals.
Collection of Section 313 data from covered facilities (approximately 17,500
facilities).
* Processing of Section 313 trade secrets claims.
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Performing/coordinating section 313 enforcement activities (e.g., facility audits,
identification of non-reporting facilities, legal actions).
Supporting the Title HI hotline and publication distribution.
Preparing the annual National Toxic Release Inventory Report.
Functions and Activities
EPA has direct authority for the development of the Toxic Release Inventory
System. Unlike some other sections of EPCRA, EPA (not states and localities) is the
key actor. Under Section 313, the Office of Toxic Substances:
Develops and maintains the Toxic Release Inventory System. OTS compiles the
annual Section 313 toxic release inventory forms (Form R) from facilities into a
national computerized data base called the Toxic Release Inventory System
(TRIS). This data base must be accessible to the public through computer
telecommunications and other means.
Enters facility Section 313 submissions (Form R) into TRIS. EPA does not enter
data submitted to states or localities under other Sections of EPCRA.
* Resolves data quality problems with facility submissions.
Supports continued operation of the Title III hotline.
Responds to public petitions to add or delete chemicals from Section 313
reporting requirements, identifies additional criteria for listing chemicals, and
analyzes threshold levels for future reporting.
Takes Section 313 enforcement actions.
Reviews Section 313 trade secret claims.
Program Budget
1988 Budget*
$(millions) Workyears
OPTS-Titie m $8.2 35
Enforcement 0.5 11
TOTAL $8.7 46
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 EPA Budget estimate and include OPTS Headquarters
Title III Activities only.
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Title Ill/Toxic Release Inventory Program
esponsible Organizations
Lead EPA Office
* The Office of Toxic Substances (OTS), a division of the Office of Pesticides and
Toxic Substances (OPTS), is the lead EPA office. Specifically:
TSCA Assistance Office (TAO)
Within the context of EPCRA, TAO is responsible for gathering, developing
and disseminating information pertaining to EPCRA Section 313 chemicals. It
is responsible for Section 313 listing and delisting activities. It develops and
distributes information about Section 313 chemicals, including chemical fact
sheets, booklets, brochures, films, videotapes, questions and answers, and
other materials. TAO arranges symposia, meetings, and conferences to
exchange information relevant to EPCRA implementation and sponsors
meetings between the Agency and industry, labor, environmental groups,
trade associates, and other interested parties. For example, TAO runs the Title
in hotline, develops Title III videotapes, is developing a state network of
Section 313 health officials, and will participate in a nationwide EPCRA
teleconference.
Economics and Technology Division (ETD)
ETD is responsible for economic, industrial chemistry, and engineering
analyses in support of OTS program activities. In support EPCRA, ETD is
developing the tools and guidance necessary to help EPA and the public use
data from the Toxic Release Inventory System data base (TRIS) to conduct risk
screening and develop pollutant loading estimates.
Information Management Division (IMP)
IMD is responsible for all information and security services in support of
TSCA and is the focal point of toxic chemical information in EPA
Headquarters. In relation to EPCRA, IMD is responsible for the development
of the Toxic Release Inventory System and data base, collection and entry of
facility submitted Form R's into the system, release of TRI data to the public,
and Section 313 trade secret processing.
Other EPA Offices
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (Emergency Preparedness Staff)
has responsibilities under EPCRA Sections 302, 304, 311, and 312 for emergency
planning and community right-to-know under.
EPA Regional Offices provide technical and other assistance to the regulated
community on Section 313 reporting requirements. The Regions will also assist
States in improving the public's understanding of the data.
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State Organizations
* State Emergency Planning Commissions (SERCs) are responsible for State
implementation of EPCRA.
* Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPCs) are responsible for local
implementation of EPCRA, including emergency planning, facility data
collection, and public information dissemination.
External Organizations
National Governors Association
* National Association of Title HI Managers
* Chemical Manufacturers Association
Program Trends and Initiatives
Increased public awareness of the national inventory of chemical emissions has
the potential to influence EPA's future priorities. OTS will significantly expand
its efforts to assure a degree of data quality for the Section 313 data that enhances
its utility to the public.
OTS anticipates that public availability of Section 313 data in May of 1988 will
stimulate interest and increase the demand for chemical information. OTS plans
to enhance TRIS data manipulation and retrieval capabilities to support EPA
program office need for TRI data. In support of this effort OTS is investigating
the application of GIS technology to TRI data.
OTS will support a pilot program to assist states in preparing to deal with receipt
of the Section 313 data. OTS will help states and EPA regions to develop the
capacity to help the public make informed decisions about the TRI data.
OTS will continue to review trade secret claims, continue Section 313 chemical
listing and delis ting activities, maintain the hotline and take enforcement
actions.
IRM Trends and Initiatives
The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data represent a valuable new source of
information about chemicals used by facilities and released into the
environment. EPA collects facility Section 313 submissions (Form R) and makes
that information available within the Agency and to the public. The Office of
Toxic Substances is responsible for Section 313 information and development of
the TRI data base. OTS will support the Title HI program by: ensuring the TRI
data is made available to the public, that the data in the data base accurately
reflects the data provided by the regulated community, and by continuing efforts
to make TRI data available to the Agency through the development of
standardized reports and "user friendly" interfaces.
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Make the TRI data base available to the public in the spring of 1989.
Direct Online Access: The Environmental Protection Agency has signed an
Interagency Agreement with the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make
the TRI data base available to the public through TOXNET. TOXNET features
a user-friendly interface to aid in information retrieval, has a user connect
time cost of $18.00 to $25-00 per hour, and provides access to complementary
lexicological and other health and safety data files. Information can be
downloaded to PC's for further review and analysis.
~ Magnetic Tape: EPA will also make TRI data available to the public on
magnetic tape through the National Technical Information Service.
Commercial Vendors: EPA will encourage commercial vendors to purchase
the TRI tapes from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and
make the data available on their systems.
Microfiche: EPA will make TRI data available to public libraries on microfiche.
- CD-ROM: EPA will make the TRI database available on CD-ROM.
Make the TRI "internal" data base available to states, EPA Regional Offices and
Headquarters.
State Access: States will have access to the TRI "internal" data base through
EPA Regional Section 313 coordinators and through the OIRM State/EPA data
management project.
EPA Access: EPA program offices can access the TRI "internal" database
through the IBM 3090 mainframe at EPA's National Computer Center, RTF,
NC. via normal NCC telecommunications procedures.
Enhance TRI data base retrieval capabilities. Currently, the internal data base
offers EPA program offices data access via ad hoc queries using SuperNatural, the
ADABAS retrieval language. Contingent upon available funding, EPA may
incorporate some of the following features to make retrievals more "user-
friendly'.
Provide a menu driven interface
Develop a programmed interface to SAS
Add more standardized reports
Incorporate graphic capabilities
Incorporate mapping capabilities
- Provide interfaces to other EPA databases (e.g., FINDS)
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Title Ill/Toxic Release Inventory Program
Based upon data in the TRI data base, EPA will develop a draft report to illustrate
potential uses of the TRI data. The National Report will summarize the TRI data
t>y geographic regions, manufacturing sectors, total releases of specific chemicals
by environmental medium, waste treatment type and efficiency, and a variety of
other measures. Both narrative and detailed tabular information will be
included in the Report.
Provide EPA Regional Offices and States with TRI Retrieval Training.
Continued Operation of the TRI Reporting Center.
Form R Modification: EPA will make technical corrections to Form R. Such
corrections include minor clarifications in directions and slight modification of
the Form R itself (e.g., adding an optional space for industry use only). Facilities
use this form to report the release of toxic chemicals covered under Section 313.
Magnetic Media Submission of Form R: EPA will continue efforts to encourage
the regulated community to submit Section 313 submissions electronically. OTS
has completed development of a guide for the electronic submission of this
information and continues to work with commercial vendors to develop
satisfactory software.
* EPA intends to develop "step-by-step" documentation to provide Regional
Offices access to the internal database. Frequently, EPA Regional Offices have
different telecommunication configurations and require detailed instructions to
access the data base.
* EPA intends to conduct a geographic information system (GIS) pilot project to
demonstrate the applicability and use of Section 313 data in a GIS environment.
* EPA will continue to maintain the list of key designated state health information
officers to contact for information regarding the health effects associated with
Section 313 releases.
* OTS has developed a dBase application to track Section 313 petitions received for
TRI chemical listing and delisting. The system tracks the status of the petitions,
providing information such as date of receipt, chemical name, submitter,
requested action and schedule. Agency initiated additions are tracked separately.
OTS is considering the possibility of making the New Jersey Fact Sheets about
Section 313 chemicals available online to EPA E-mail users.
Improve the integration of TRI and other Agency data with information
available from other Agency systems, OIRM is sponsoring an effort to establish
an EPA facility identification standard for all EPA regulated facilities. When
fully implemented, each EPA regulated facility would have a standard ID
number. This number would be used across programs within the Agency and
would facilitate data integration and analysis.
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IRM Infrastructure
OTS's Section 313 IRM activities are under the general direction and guidance of
the Information Management Division. The major systems support contractor is
SYCOM. SYCOM is responsible for the development of TRIS, the Toxic Release
Inventory System.
IRM Budget
Budget
$(millions) Workyears
FY1986* $7.1 42
FY1987* 9.6 46
FY 1988* 12.9 57
* These figures are taken from the FY 1989 A-ll exhibit 43A
NOTE: The above figures include the IRM budget for the Title III: TRI program, as well as the IRM
budget for other programs funded by OPTS. Funds for the Title III: TRI program from other Offices
such as OECM and Office of Administration and Resource Management (OARM) are not included.
JVlajor Information Systems
OTS has many different information systems which support its mission and
functions. Systems in this section are those identified which provide direct support
to OTS's EPCRA Title HI activities.
Title III LAN
The Title ffl LAN is used by the OTS reporting center to process and track facility
Section 313 submissions. This system uses dBase III and is accessed via terminals
at the Reporting Center and support limited dial-up capabilities to the OTS
Information Management Division. Facility submitted data is entered into the
LAN, reviewed for errors, and then uploaded on to the TRIS mainframe data
base.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
SystemsStatus
Operational
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Toxic Release Inventory System (TRIS)
TRB is located on the IBM 3090 mainframe at EPA's National Computer Center,
RTF, North Carolina. The system uses ADABASE, EPA's standard data base
management systems and can be accessed via the NCC telecommunications
network. It supports retrieval of four standardized reports and Ad hoc queries
via SuperNatural and SAS.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational
NLM TOXNET
The law requires that EPA make TRI data available to the public via computer.
EPA has executed an interagency agreement with the National Library of
Medicine (NLM) for making TRI publicly available through NLM's TOXNET.
Users can search categories of information contained on the TRI forms such as
chemical identity, zip code, company name, release to the environment,
treatment methods, etc. TOXNET is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week
for a modest connect fee.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational
Ask SAM
Ask SAM is a on-line data base providing instant access to most frequently asked
questions about Section 313. Information included the data base was complied
from EPA responses to public queries received by the Title HI hotline.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational
Roadmaps
Roadmaps is an on-line data base providing summary data and references on
chemicals listed in Section 313 of the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorizaton Act (SARA). The database is intended to assist users
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(particularly Regional, State and local) of Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory
(TRI) data to perform their own (preliminary and site-specific) exposure and risk
assessments on these chemicals. Roadmaps is menu-driven data base for use on
an MS-DOS compatible personal computer.
Responsible Office
Office of Toxic Substances
Systems Status
Operational
Information Collection
Information collection from non-federal sources must be requested through
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The following are examples of the
approximately 7 information collection activities (or ICRs) used to support both
Title HI programs (more detailed information can be found in the specific ICRs).
Community Right-to-Know, Title IH (311, 312) of SARA 1986 #1352
Emergency Planning and Emergency Release Notification #1395
Trade Secret Claims for Community Right-to-Know and Emergency Planning
Information #1428
Title ID Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Form #1363
Contact: Carl Koch 382-2739
Information Dissemination
Following is a list of information clearinghouses, information centers, and other
information dissemination services that provide information to other federal and
non-federal agencies, industry, and/or the public.
Some of these services are specific to the Title III: TRI program; others support
multiple EPA programs.
* Center for Environmental Research Information (FTS) 684-7376
EPA Region in Hotline (800) 438-2474
* EPA Region IV Hotline (800) 241-1754
EPA Region V Hotline (800) 621-8431
(800) 572-2515 (IL)
EPA Region VII Hotline (FTS) 757-2827
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Title Ill/Toxic Release Inventory Program
Public Information Center (PIC)
Risk Communication Hotline
Small Business Hotline
(202) 475-7751
(FTS) 382-5606
(202) 475-8665
(800) 368-5888
(202) 557-1938
Recent IRM-Related Studies
OTS conducted a study of error rates on facility submitted Section 313 Form Rs.
OTS conducted a study to determine the best approach to providing TRI data to
the public. This study resulted in the selection of NLM's TOXNET as the
appropriate vehicle.
Program Acronyms
CERCLA Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980
EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 is
Title HI of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
(SARA)
ETD Economics and Technology Division
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
GIS Geographic Information System
IMD Information Management Division
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
NLM National Library of Medicine
NTIS National Technical Information Service
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S.
Department of Labor
RQ Reportable Quantity: An amount of a Superfund hazardous
substance that, if release, must be reported under the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.
SERC State Emergency Response Committee
TAO TSCA Assistance Office
Title m The third part of SARA, also known as the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act.
TPQ Threshold Planning Quantity: The amount of an extremely
hazardous substance present at a facility above which the facility's
owner/operator must give emergency planning notification to the
SERC and LEPC.
TRI Toxic Release Inventory: A national inventory of annual toxic
chemical releases from manufacturing facilities.
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