SEPA      State Innovation Grant
                    Program
                   Wisconsin:
                   Improved Environmental Results and Increased Regulatory Flexibility
                   in Air Permitting for the Printing Sector Using Environmental
                   Management Systems and an Environmental Results Program
The EPA State Innovation Grant Program was established in 2002 to help strengthen EPA's innovation partnerships
with States and Tribes and is a direct result of the Agency's innovation strategy, Innovating for Better Environmental
Results: A Strategy to Guide the Next Generation of Innovation at EPA (http://www.epa.gov/innovation/strategy).
To support the Innovation Strategy, the 2002 grant program focused its efforts on projects that related to one of
the four priority issues: reducing greenhouse gases, reducing smog, improving water quality, and reducing the
cost of drinking water or waste water infrastructure. In addition, EPA sought projects that test incentives that
motivate "beyond-compliance" environmental performance, or move whole sectors toward improved environmental
performance. This series of fact sheets features the State projects selected for funding under the Grant Program.
            Contacts:
Jon Heinrich
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921, Madison,
WI 53707-7921,
jon.heinrich@dnr.state.wi.us
Jennifer Ostermeier
US EPA Region 5; Chicago, IL,
ostermeier.jennifer@epa.gov
Beth Termini
US EPA National Center for Environmental
Innovation, Washington, DC, 21466,
617-918-1662; termim.beth@epa.gov
Background

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Air
Program undertook an extensive evaluation of its air permitting
program.  The objective was to improve WDNR's efficiency in
environmental regulation and program implementation while
meeting the environmental protection needs of our citizens. The
principal goals are to streamline the process and find innovative
air permitting alternatives. This initiative came about due to
concerns over the amount of effort and time involved in air
permitting and its value in achieving measurable environmental
improvement.  Also, like many state and local  environmental
agencies, WDNR's resources are declining and this trend is likely
to continue for the foreseeable future.  There is also  a strong
industry interest WDNR's adopting a more comprehensive
approach to environmental regulation. All these circumstances
provide a strong incentive for the development of innovative and
efficient tools.
                                                           NCEI

                                                           NATIONAL CENTER  FOR
                                                           ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION

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Project Description

WDNR will develop an innovative project that would
apply both Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
and an Environmental Results Program (ERP) across
the entire printing industry sector with a goal of
reducing  the air permit burden while providing
regulatory flexibility and improving the environmental
stewardship of participants.  Wisconsin also hopes to
adapt  the methodology  learned through  the
implementation of this program to other sectors
throughout the state. The printing industry in Wisconsin
is diverse in si2e and products with  small and large-
scale outfits, and is vital to the state's economy. It is
also a significant source of volatile organic compound
and hazardous air pollutant emissions.
WDNR will rely on the work previously performed by
Florida,  Massachusetts, and Rhode  Island as a
foundation for ERP development,  and Colorado's
experience in developing an EMS-Permit approach.
WDNR will also incorporate findings from their permit
improvement initiative and the experience of the Small
Business  Assistance Program  in  the Wisconsin
Department of Commerce which  is already exploring
an ERP.

Benefits of the Project

EMS and ERP efforts tailored to small printers will be
much easier to follow than a traditional permit. The
administrative burden, often considered  arduous and
confusing by  small businesses,  will be  eased.
Compliance inspection will be reduced and the amount
of time required for annual certification should not be
greater than what is currently required  under traditional
permitting.

Project Plan

The project will begin in late 2004 and continue for 3
years.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Policy,
Economics and Innovation
   January 2005
EPA-100-F-05-008

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