EPA910-R-07-003
2007-2011 Region 10 Strategy
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Our vision:
A Healthy, Sustainable
Environment for All
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Cover photo: Region 10 employees Debbie Flood, Brooks Stan field, Joon Song, and Valerie Badon.
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A Message from the Regional Administrator
I am proud to present the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 10
Strategy for 2007-2011. This living document represents the first commitment I
made as I stepped in as Regional Administrator six months ago. Region 10 has
a long history of investment in the highest priority environmental issues in the
Pacific Northwest and Alaska. We developed this new strategy by building on
the significant progress made in the past, and listening to and engaging with our
federal, state, tribal, and local partners. We also surveyed Region 10 employees
about progress to achieve our goals and their view on emerging issues. We
have heard many internal and external stakeholder views on what we do well
and not so well. This strategy is the result of "listening" to all of these
perspectives. It defines our direction and reinvigorates our mission, vision and
core values for the next five years.
Strategy drives priorities and the individual work we each must accomplish.
Clear direction provides a basis for making fair and reasonable decisions to best
use our resources to maximize our impact on public health and the environment.
This plan sharpens our focus and establishes an accountable framework to
monitor our progress. In each of our six endeavors we will be measuring our
success every six months with a simple red, yellow or green light scorecard
depicting our progress.
We are faced with unprecedented opportunities and daunting environmental
challenges, and now, more than ever, we need to be strategic and work
collaboratively with our partners to protect human health and the environment.
As you review this strategic plan for the coming five years, I invite you to look for
further ways we can collaborate to deliver the best results for our
environment.
We in Region 10 will LEAD: Listen and Engage with an Attitude to positively
Deliver fair and equal results for the environment and all people in Region 10.
Thank you for your part in our efforts to LEAD.
Elin D. Miller,
EPA Region 10 Regional Administrator
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Executive Summary
This strategy applies to Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and the approximately two hundred seventy Tribal
governments in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. It has been developed in consideration of the EPA Administrator's
four priorities, the EPA National Strategy, employee input received through an environmental survey; perspectives of
our state, tribal, federal and local partners; and the Region 10 mission, vision and values.
Looking back to the 2005-2006 timeframe, the Region 10 plan included seven regional priorities: Columbia River
Basin, Tribal Environmental Health, Oil and Gas in Alaska and Mining, Diesel Emissions, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane
River Basins, Puget Sound Basin, and Grants Management. You will find these priorities worked into our new plan as
part of a larger area of emphasis.
At the start of our planning process we revised and re-affirmed our mission, vision and values. We believe that an
organization is like a tree, it must be rooted in deeply held values, with all employees sharing a common mission,
vision and values. Our values will be reflected in the way we implement this strategy. For fiscal years 2007-2011,
Region 10 will focus on the following six strategic endeavors.
Support the Core - The Agency has
made significant progress in
protecting the environment
through key statutes like the
Clean Water Act; Safe Drinking
Water Act; Clean Air Act;
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act; Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act;
and the regulatory programs
implementing these laws. The
Region recognizes the importance
of our core regulatory program
work and will ensure that resource
and programmatic decisions
maintain these essential efforts.
This will include improving
strategies to better use existing
resources and focusing additional
resources where significant
shortfalls exist.
Clean, Affordable Energy and
Climate Change - Climate
change poses a serious challenge
to the people of the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska and their
environment. Energy production
and use are closely linked to
climate change. Our goal is to
evaluate the current state of
knowledge, and the tools currently
in use, to determine our best
course of action to address
climate change in the region.
Enhancing Tribal Environments -
Two hundred seventy tribal
communities in Region 10 rely on
natural resources for their
physical, cultural and economic
well-being. We will work with the
tribes in Region 10 to build
environmental management
capacity, improve communication
and consultation, and protect and
restore the natural resources
integral to their existence, with
specific emphasis on improving
air quality and better managing
solid waste.
Protecting and Restoring
Watersheds - To ensure clean,
safe water for all, Region 10 will
continue to emphasize watershed
protection and restoration efforts
in the Puget Sound, Columbia
River, and the Coeur d'Alene
Basin, as well as other locations.
We will use integrated, cross-
program approaches to address
water quality problems on a
watershed basis. We will expand
our work to identify and reduce
sources of mercury
contamination, while continuing to
support fish tissue analysis for
mercury and the appropriate
issuance of public health fish
advisories by state and local
governments.
Sustainability and Strategic
Partnerships - We will promote
sustainable practices that allow us
to meet our environmental, social,
and economic needs without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.
We will do this by fostering
strategic partnerships, innovation,
creating incentives, providing
education and leading by
example, focusing on efforts
which give us the best return for
the investment.
A Stronger EPA - Our people are
our greatest resource. To
maintain and further enhance our
talented and highly skilled
workforce, we will invest in their
continued development. We will
strive to increase the diversity
represented by staff and
managers in order to better
address the needs of the diverse
communities we serve. We will
also conduct succession planning
to create a smooth transition
between retiring staff and future
generations of EPA employees.
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Early in our planning process, Region 10 reviewed and enhanced the regional mission, vision, and values, which are
the foundation of this strategy.
Our Vision:
A healthy, sustainable environment
for all.
Our Mission:
To protect and restore the
environment of the Pacific Northwest
and Alaska for present and future
generations.
We will use science to make sound
decisions to:
Protect and restore ecosystems
and ensure healthy airsheds and
watersheds;
Prevent pollution through source
reduction;
Reduce the generation of land, air,
and water pollutants;
Cleanup contaminated sites;
Enforce federal environmental
laws; and
Conserve our valuable resources.
We are accountable for achieving our
mission. Our success as stewards of
the public trust will be measured by
meaningful and lasting environmental
results.
Our Values:
Making a Difference through
People and Teamwork. We
support each other and the people
who work with us by working
cooperatively and collaboratively.
We build bridges between
organizations. Our regional team
will be competent and culturally
diverse.
Communication and Dialogue.
We talk with and listen to our
customers about our values and
our respective expectations for the
Region's programs. We celebrate
our successes and learn from our
mistakes.
Expect Excellence. We set and
meet high standards of quality. We
take pride in the fact that we are
public servants and hold the public
trust.
Professionalism and Respect.
We always treat our colleagues at
EPA, representatives of other
governmental entities,
stakeholders, and the regulated
community with professionalism
and respect. We address conflict in
a constructive and professional
manner.
Honesty and Integrity. We deal
forthrightly with each other and the
public. We meet our commitments.
Willing to Take Risks. We are
willing to take risks, while making
environmentally sound decisions
based on science, statutes and
regulations.
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Support the Core
The Region recognizes the importance of our core regulatory programs and
will work to make and implement resource and programmatic decisions that
ensure and maintain the integrity of our core programs under the Clean Water
Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Clean Air Act; Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act; and the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act. Examples of core work under these statutes
include: Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) compliance; National Permit
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting; implementation of the new
Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) in Indian Country; and hazardous
waste site cleanup. Our initial intention is to strengthen the core programs
identified below by improving strategies to better use existing resources and
focus additional resources where significant shortfalls exist.
This strategic endeavor is dynamic in that current priorities will be re-
evaluated periodically and replaced by others as appropriate. Additionally, the
Region will be conducting an environmental justice review in 2008 to identify
opportunities to enhance our ability to address environmental justice concerns
within our core regulatory programs. Following are the currently identified
core program areas in need of particular focus and attention at this time, along
with supporting actions.
Stormwater Permitting and
Compliance
By September 30, 2007, the
Region will increase staff level-of-
effort in stormwater compliance and
permitting by 2 FTE. This further
investment will result in an increase
in National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)
stormwater compliance and
permitting activity from 2007 levels.
Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFO) Permitting,
Compliance and State Oversight
By September 30, 2007, the
Region will increase staff level-of-
effort in CAFO compliance and
permitting work by 1 FTE. By
December 30, 2007, we will have a
CAFO Program Implementation
Strategy in place. This further
investment and strategy will result
in an increase in CAFO NPDES
permitting compliance and
permitting activity from 2007 levels.
Homeland Security
By September 2007, the Region
will assess our current level of
preparedness, identify any gaps,
and complete a workplan to ensure
Region 10 is adequately prepared
to respond to an incident of national
significance within the Region.
Mining Operations Financial
Assurance
By September 2007, the Region
will have a strategy in place that
includes specific and measurable
steps to ensure mining operations
have adequate financial assurance
mechanisms in place.
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Wetlands Compliance (Clean
Water Act 404)
By September 30, 2007, the
Region will have filled wetlands
compliance program vacancies and
will have a Wetlands Compliance
and Enforcement Strategy in place.
This further investment and
strategy will result in an increase in
wetlands compliance activity over
2007 levels.
Agricultural Burning in Idaho
Animal feeding operations near water bodies have long been and will continue
to be an area demanding EPA attention.
Placer mining poses potential water quality risks in the Pacific northwest and
Alaska. EPA intends to minimize ana contain those risks.
By 2010, public health will be
improved by reducing exposure to
fine paniculate matter from smoke
by working with state, local and
tribal partners to improve smoke
management programs and
increase the use of alternatives to
fire as a crop management tool
from crop residue disposal.
Achieving this goal will be
measured by ambient air monitors,
number of acres burned, and
number of complaints received.
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
Reduction
By September 30, 2007, the
Region will have a strategy in place
to improve public health by
reducing fine paniculate matter
exposure by leveraging pending
non-attainment designations to
expedite control measures in
priority airsheds.
EPA staff taking water samples in flood damaged New Orleans after Hurricane
Katrina. Region 10 provided approximately 89 people to help with homeland
security, water sampling, and cles
leanup after the disaster.
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Clean, Affordable Energy and Climate Change
The Region recognizes that energy production and use and climate change
are closely linked, affecting many dimensions of the environment and the
programs designed to protect and sustain it. The Region has extensive
expertise from which to advance an integrated strategy for clean, affordable
energy and climate change in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The three
major components within this strategic endeavor are: (1) the development
and implementation of a regional approach to address climate change, (2)
participation in the West Coast Collaborative to address diesel, and (3) the
appropriate application of EPA authorities related to oil and gas exploration,
development, and production in Alaska to maximize permitting efficiencies and
maintain environmental standards.
Climate Change
Climate change poses a serious
challenge to the people of the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska and their
environment, threatening to erode
environmental progress achieved
over the past several decades, and
contributing to the emergence of new
problems. Energy-related initiatives
will figure prominently in our strategy
responding to the challenge.
By April 2008, EPA Region 10 will
implement an integrated strategy for
systematically: (1) characterizing
current and projected greenhouse
gas emissions (GHG), impacts, and
programs in the Pacific Northwest
and Alaska; and (2) mitigating,
adapting to, and studying climate
change impacts in the region. The
strategy will feature three-year action
plans for each of its principal
components, including: logic models,
performance measures/
environmental indicators, and
adaptive management mechanisms.
By September 2007, Region 10 will
finalize a plan for developing the
overall strategy, including the
following elements:
Characterization efforts will include
gathering and analyzing information
on:
Current and projected GHG
emission source inventories and
needs.
Monitoring and modeling
(diagnostic and prognostic)
information.
Current and projected climate
change impact scenarios in Region
10.
Opportunities to support the efforts
of Region 10 state, tribal, local, and
federal entities.
Opportunities for using existing
grant and contract programs to
promote mitigation, adaptation and
science efforts.
Mitigation, Adaptation and
Science/Technical efforts will involve
analyzing and prioritizing:
Internal Region 10 efforts to fulfill
needs, perform work, and track
progress.
Opportunities to partner with EPA
programs external to Region 10
and with other governmental,
public, and private entities.
Integration efforts will involve:
Promoting relevant elements of the
Administrator's National Clean
Energy and Climate priority in
Region 10's strategy.
Prioritizing activities across all of
the foregoing elements, developing
a coordinated implementation plan
reflecting a schedule of major
deliverables, significant milestones
and completion timelines, relevant
performance measures and/or
environmental indicators, and an
active communications (in-reach
and out-reach) program.
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The West Coast Collaborative
The West Coast Collaborative is a
public-private partnership dedicated
to reducing diesel emissions from
legacy engines along the west coast.
Working with partners in EPA regions
in Seattle and San Francisco, the
Collaborative has leveraged
significant federal, state and local
funds to reduce emissions from the
most polluting heavy duty engines
through cleaner technologies,
practices and fuels. Since it was
convened in April 2004, the
Collaborative has made significant
improvements in air quality and public
health by targeting the highest
polluting engines with the most cost
effective control strategies. EPA
Region 10 will continue to support the
work of the West Coast Collaborative.
By 2011 we will:
Reduce paniculate matter
emissions from heavy duty engines
by 40%.
Displace 10% of petroleum fuel use
with biofuels, compressed natural
gas and other alternative fuels
which contain 25% of renewable
fuels produced in the Northwest
from regional feedstock (agriculture
and forestry).
Achievement of these goals is
contingent on Energy Policy Act 2005
Authority (over $200 million per year
through 2010) and proposed funding
support of $50 million annually in the
FY2007 budgets and beyond (FY07
is presently at $5 million and the
President's budget for FY08 is $35
million).
Alaska Oil and Gas Sector
EPA will exercise its authorities in a
timely and coordinated manner in the
oil and gas sector in Alaska to meet
the highest standards of
environmental and subsistence
resource protection, while not
unnecessarily limiting or restricting
industry in contributing to the energy
needs of the United States. As a
component of the Clean, Affordable
Energy and Climate Change strategic
endeavor, sound decision-making will
reflect integration of agency initiatives
and programs with early project
involvement to facilitate issue
resolution. Working collaboratively
with state, federal and tribal
government partners, EPA programs
and actions will be consistent with the
need to:
allow current production and
exploration levels to be maintained
or expanded in an environmentally
sound manner; and
assure that the effects, direct and
cumulative, will be identified,
minimized and mitigated, where
possible, by integrating input from
partners, stakeholders and the
public.
Success in achieving these goals will
be assessed by monitoring
compliance with oil and gas permits
and regulations that will result in
protection of Alaska's surface and
groundwater resources and air
quality.
Attendees at the West Coast Collaborative Annual Meeting, February, 2007.
Front, from left to right: Jon Scholl, EPA Headquarters, Elin Miller, EPA, Seattle;
Wayne Nastri, EPA, San Francisco. Second row, Greg Johnson, USDA,
Portland, and John Beyer, USDA, Fresno.
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Enhancing Tribal Environments
Region 10 will work with Tribal Governments to protect and restore the natural
resources on which tribal communities rely for their physical, cultural and
economic well-being. Environmental influences have a vast impact on tribal
"way of life" regarding subsistence, cultural resources, traditions, and human
health risks. We respect and support the sovereignty of tribes as they develop
and operate their own environmental programs, or choose to partner with
other entities to manage natural resources.
Assistance for Capacity Building
By October 2008, Region 10 will
develop an improved approach to
awarding and managing Indian
General Assistance Program
(IGAP) grants that better assures
effective use of funds and allows
tribal coordinators to be more
responsive to the broad interests of
the tribes they serve. EPA will
increase the number of tribes
receiving grants by 10% each year;
through additional pre-award
monitoring and closer
management, reduce by 10% each
year the number of new tribal grant
enforcement actions; and reduce
grant workload to an average of 15
to 20 grants per Tribal Coordinator.
Communication and
Consultation
By January 2008, Region 10 will
develop processes that more
effectively inform tribes of the
decisions and activities that may be
of interest to them, thereby
enriching consultation and
enhancing our collaborative
relationships. Region 10 will
develop a web-based listing of
consultations to establish a
baseline and increase the number
by 10% by December 2008.
Regional Tribal Operations
Committee (RTOC)
The RTOC ensures that multiple tribal
perspectives are considered in the
development of regional program
directives to achieve environmental
protection in Indian Country.
By February 2008, Region 10 will
identify ways to improve committee
representation to better meet the
needs of the tribes.
At the April 2008 Tribal Leaders
Summit, tribal leaders will discuss
satisfaction with the RTOC
representation and any need for
further enhancements.
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The Historic Preservation Act,
Section 106
By June 2008, Region 10 will
develop standard operating
procedures to ensure Section 106
compliance and train appropriate
program staff.
Air Quality
By 2011, Region 10 will provide air
quality protection in Indian Country
through implementation of the
Federal Air Rules for Reservations
(FARR) and expansion to up to two
new tribal geographic areas or new
source categories, as needed.
Solid Waste Management
By 2011, the Region 10 Tribal
Waste Program has two priorities:
clean, close and upgrade nine open
dumps in Indian Country and other
tribal lands; and increase by 30 the
number of tribes covered by an
integrated waste management
plan.
Water Quality to Protect
Subsistence Resources
By September 2008, EPA will
facilitate discussions with the
Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and
the Umatilla Tribe, to ensure that
tribal perspectives are reflected in
ODEQ's recommendation to the
Environmental Quality Commission
concerning tribal fish consumption
rates for use in the development of
Oregon Water Quality Standards.
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7776 collaborative efforts of the Nooksack Tribe, EPA, and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs have reduced the immediate threats to water quality by removing waste
from the river's edge and temporarily stabilizing the bank.
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Protecting and Restoring Watersheds
Region 10 will continue to place strong emphasis on our important watershed
protection and restoration work. Several watershed efforts are already well
underway and others are being planned. These projects involve a wide cross-
section of Region 10 offices, and our collective efforts will be critical to
meeting our environmental mission. Specific watershed projects include the
following:
Puget Sound, Washington
The State has established a goal of
restoring Puget Sound to a healthy
state by 2020. To assist the State in
attaining this goal, Region 10 will
work with our state, federal and tribal
partners to accomplish the following
by 2011.
Improve water quality and enable
the lifting of shellfish harvest
restrictions on 1000 acres of
shellfish beds
Remediate 200 acres of
contaminated sediments
Restore 3,500 acres of nearshore
wetlands
Reduce diesel emissions in the
airshed by 8%
Columbia River Basin
The Columbia River Basin includes
land belonging to Idaho, Oregon,
Washington and Columbia River
Tribal Governments. We are building
an integrated program, with state,
nonprofits, and tribal partners, to
reduce the concentration of toxins in
fish, sediment and water. Toxics
reduction efforts in the Columbia
River will be enhanced by the on-
going Superfund site-specific
activities such as those on the upper
Columbia, the lower Willamette, and
at Hanford.
By September 2011, working with
our partners we will: ensure
protection, enhancement, or
restoration of 16,000 acres of
habitat in the lower Columbia River
estuary; ensure cleanup of 150
acres of known highly
contaminated sediments; and work
toward a 10% reduction in the
concentration of contaminants of
concern in water and fish tissue,
using baseline data from studies
conducted by the states of Oregon
and Washington.
By the end of September 2007, we
will develop a plan to complete the
Columbia River temperature total
maximum daily load (TMDL).
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Through 2011, we will further reduce
elevated blood lead levels in children
and improve water quality for the
benefit of aquatic life, waterfowl and
other wildlife by engaging in a suite of
activities to include:
By the end of 2007, reissue three
key NPDES Permits for Idaho
phosphorus dischargers to the
Spokane River.
By the end of 2008, complete all
residential and source control
cleanup in the Bunker Hill Box and,
by the end of 2011, complete
residential cleanup throughout the
Coeur d'Alene Basin.
By the end of 2008, ensure the
completion of the Lake Coeur
d'Alene Management Plan.
By the summer of 2009, approve
no fewer than five TMDLs to
address dissolved oxygen, PCBs,
sediment, temperature, and
nutrients.
By the end of 2009, improve water
quality to provide for recreational
uses at two mine and mill sites, and
at one Lower Basin recreational
area by the end of 2010.
By the end of 2009, reduce lead
exposures and complete Phase 1
of the conservation easement
project at the Schlepp property and,
by the end of 2010, develop a
strategy for implementing the lower
Basin lead-sediment cleanup
actions.
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Mercury - A Watershed
Contaminant
We will protect human health in all
states via appropriate and feasible
source reduction strategies and
continue to support fish tissue
analyses for mercury and public
health fish advisories where
necessary.
By April 2008, the Region will
develop a strategy to implement the
EPA 'Mercury Roadmap' within
Region 10.
By December 2008, determine and
characterize the sources of
mercury contamination in water
bodies of southern Idaho which are
subject to fish advisories and
TMDLs.
Other Priority Watersheds
Region 10 is using integrated, cross-
program approaches under the Clean
Water Act to address water quality
problems on a watershed basis. Our
primary tools are water quality
standard setting, monitoring, listing
impaired waters, developing TMDLs
for impaired waters, ensuring permits
are written to address point sources
and stormwater, and providing
various grants to encourage
implementation of effective actions to
address non-point sources. When
appropriate, we work with other EPA
programs to bring to bear the
necessary tools and authorities to
address watershed problems whose
causes are outside or beyond the
scope of Clean Water Act programs
(i.e., cross-program efforts to address
Continued monitoring of Region 10 watersheds is a necessary part of our
strategy for clean water now and in the future.
phosphorus problems in the Portneuf
River, addressing mercury in
southern Idaho). Our approach to
addressing water quality problems
depends on building partnerships
with states, tribes and other entities.
These integrated efforts are resulting
in implementation of actions to
address water quality problems in the
Snake River, and the Klamath, Boise,
Willamette and many other
watersheds in the region. Specific
objectives are to:
By December 2009, complete
remaining TMDLs for the Snake
River. This includes the mercury
TMDL for the Brownlee portion of
the Snake River as well as the
temperature TMDL for the Upper
Snake Rock section and the
dissolved oxygen TMDL for the
mid-Snake Succor.
By December 2009, evaluate
monitoring data for the mid-Snake
River and evaluate effectiveness of
implementation efforts and whether
progress toward meeting TMDL
targets is occurring.
By December 2008, complete the
nutrient TMDLs for the Portneuf
River and revise NPDES permit
limits to be consistent with TMDL
waste load allocations.
By December 2008, complete the
nutrient TMDL for the Boise River
and revise NPDES permits
consistent with TMDL waste load
allocations. Include water quality
trading provisions in the TMDL to
enable water quality trading in
permits.
By December 2008, complete the
TMDLs for the Klamath River.
By December 2009, complete the
assessment by the Willamette
Partnership (enabled by the EPA
targeted watershed grant) to
identify types of activities that could
generate temperature credits that
could be included in NPDES
permits to enable trades.
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Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships
We will promote sustainable practices that allow us to meet our
environmental, social and economic needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs. We will accomplish this by fostering
strategic partnerships, innovation, incentives, education and leading by
example, focusing on efforts which give us the best return for the investment.
Government Partnerships
By June 2008, EPA Region 10 and
Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation will
coordinate efforts to develop a
statewide greenhouse gas
emissions inventory and identify
opportunities to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
By September 2008, EPA and
Idaho will have determined if a
renewed Memorandum of
Understanding is in the interests of
the signatory parties. If so, by
December 2008, the State and EPA
will have a framework in place for
improving the Clean Water Act
NPDES compliance rates for beef
cattle operations and addressing
the issue of a new EPA CAFO rule.
By September 1, 2007, states,
tribes and federal partners will
complete mapping identified
contaminants of concern (DDT,
PCBs, PBDEs and mercury) for the
lower and mid-Columbia River
basin, beginning at the mouth of
the river in Astoria and ending at
Grand Coulee Dam.
By September 30, 2007,
discussions will be completed with
the Department of Ecology, King
County and Seattle and the
updated Source Control Agreement
for the Duwamish Waterway
signed.
Continually improve the
Performance Partnership
Agreement (PPA) process in each
state through management-to-
management meetings in advance
of negotiations, lessons learned
sessions after PPAs are completed,
and routine communication
throughout implementation.
By June 2008, complete a plan to
enhance and implement tribal
consultation and meaningful public
involvement on the North Slope of
Alaska. The plan will define how
EPA will communicate, share
knowledge and involve North Slope
villages in our decision making,
with consideration of unique
cultures and subsistence practices.
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Resource Conservation
Challenge
By 2011, two of the Region 10
states will have implemented
sustainable partnerships with the
private sector and/or universities to
increase the amount of materials
recycled. Through these
collaborations, we will achieve a
minimum of 10% waste reduction
per partnership. (Sustainable is
defined as committed funding,
staffing and implementation for at
least 5 years.)
By 2011, EPA will have 15 National
Partnership for Environmental
Priorities partners who have
collectively reduced at least 40,000
pounds of priority chemicals
(persistent, bioaccumulative toxics
such as lead, mercury,
naphthalene, cadmium, PCB, and
dioxins).
Smart Growth
By 2008, we will identify the scope,
interests, opportunities and
partners for creating a regional
Smart Growth network for Puget
Sound for promoting, researching
and practicing Low Impact
Development and Smart Growth for
a more liveable community and as
a means of watershed protection.
By 2009, we will promote, fund and
encourage Smart Growth/LID as a
major action in the storm water
component of EPA's Priority Plan
for Puget Sound.
Sustainability Education
By 2010, we will educate EPA
employees through a variety of
activities, including partnering with
the Regional Innovation Council
and other federal agencies to
provide presentations by speakers,
conducting "Sustainability and EPA"
training, and hosting at least one
Sustainable Partners Forum. We
will seek an 80% approval rating in
course evaluations that course
objectives have been met. We will
maintain the Region 10
Sustainability webpage and track
its usage, and review all locally
generated Requests for
Procurement to ensure grant
solicitations identify sustainable
outcomes as criteria for award
whenever possible.
Sustainable Infrastructure
By 2008, we will co-host a
sustainable infrastructure workshop
with Region 9, and establish a
Regional action plan for EPA,
states and utilities.
Continued growth is a reality in the Pacific Northwest and will likely be so in the
future. EPA Region 10 hopes to partner with other government and commercial
entities to work for sustainable future options we can all live with.
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A Stronger EPA
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Region 10 is known as a great place to work, with a talented and highly skilled
workforce. We want to keep it that way and build on these attributes by
increasing our diversity. To best achieve our environmental mission, we
continue to look for better ways to attract and keep top notch talent, enhance
our diversity, support and train our employees, and improve communication
between management and staff at all levels. The Region will focus on the
following eight areas identified by staff and management, and re-survey the
staff by the end of 2009 to determine our progress.
360" Feedback
By September 30, 2007, complete
360° feedback for executive team
members. In 2008, conduct 360°
feedback for unit managers and
explore options for a staff 360°
feedback process, with an
implementation goal of 2009.
Address Employee Performance
and Conduct Issues
In 2007, provide supervisors with
training on available tools to
address performance and conduct
issues, and establish periodic
follow-up meetings for supervisors.
By October 2007, provide staff with
generic information on types of
actions taken to improve employee
performance and conduct.
Strengthen Hiring and
Promotion Process
By February 15, 2007, survey staff
regarding their specific concerns
about the Region's hiring and
promotion process. Communicate
results of the survey by April 15,
2007.
By May 11, 2007, each office will
submit their proposed long-term
Position Management Plan (PMP),
describing their grade structure and
succession planning needs to the
Human Resources (HR) Unit.
By March 2008, HRwill provide
three opportunities for staff to
attend a workshop on merit
promotions.
Succession Planning
By July 30, 2007, the Region will
develop a framework for a 3-year
succession management plan for
FY08-FY10.
Target Recruitment to fill
Priority Needs
By April 15, 2007, management will
determine and approve the number
of budget supported external hires.
By May 15, 2007, Human
Resources (HR) will visit four or
more universities to recruit and hire
new graduates.
By June 2007, HR and the Equal
Employment Officer will provide
joint diversity training to selecting
officials on the Merit System
Principles. All hiring decisions will
be based on applicant knowledge,
skills and abilities, in compliance
with Merit System Principals.
By July 2007, HR will develop and
implement a process for the
Recruitment Outreach Coordinator
to communicate and advertise EPA
employment opportunities, utilizing
input from the Special Emphasis
Program Managers and the
Diversity Action Counsel, ultimately
increasing the pool of qualified
diverse candidates.
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Enhance Employee
Development Opportunities
By June 30, 2007, provide training
to all supervisors on "How to
Conduct Successful Mid-year
Reviews". By January 2, 2008,
provide end-of-year Performance
Appraisal and Recognition System
(PARS) training to supervisors and
staff.
By January 2008, design a rotation
process for supervisors and
implement the process by March,
2008. In 2009, develop and
implement a rotation plan for staff.
By April 2008, provide three career
development training sessions to
assist employees with outlining the
steps to achieve their career goals.
Improve Internal
Communication
In 2007, improve and maintain
transparency and communication of
Executive Team (ET) decisions by
publishing the weekly ET notes on
the intranet Info Page, providing
regular updates on ET activities in
the Regional Administrator's (RA)
"In a Nutshell" newsletter to staff,
and presenting significant decisions
and issues at quarterly all staff
meetings.
In 2007, increase RA and Deputy
Regional Administrator (DRA)
visibility and staff contact by
holding meetings on office floors.
Goal: 20% of RA/DRA time, when
in the Seattle office is spent outside
of the RA's suite. In 2007, hold
monthly RA "coffees."
In 2007, develop a communications
plan for Region 10's six strategic
endeavors which includes a web
presence, strategic external
communication and involvement,
and periodic progress reports.
In 2008, restructure the Region 10
Intranet (InfoPage) into a
comprehensive resource for
internal communication,
collaboration, and guidance for
human resources, information
technology, facilities, environmental
assessment services, and more.
Create an Intranet Coordinator
Team, with representatives from
each office, responsible for
publishing internal electronic
communications.
Environmental Justice
By December 2008, all unit
managers will have taken the
advanced version of the
Fundamentals of Environmental
Justice Training.
By December 2008, all Regional
staff and the Executive Team
members will have taken the one-
day version of the Fundamentals of
Environmental Justice. Major
program areas will have had
secondary level training in the form
of program and issue specific
consultations.
EPA needs engineers and scientists to carry out an increasingly demanding
and complex mission.
We would like to thank the 75% of Region 10 employees who took the time to respond to our survey and provide their
thoughtful comments. Additionally, we would like to thank and acknowledge the members of the survey team who
designed the survey; correlated and summarized the data; verified the results; and refined the conclusions with EPA
employees at several open meetings. This information was critical to building a sound strategy. Members of the
survey team included Joyce Kelly, David Bray, Ben Cope, Debbie Flood, Kris Flint, Christine Psyk, Rick Parkin and
Joann Hiatt, with information technology support from Jennifer Wolfe and Bill Clugston.
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Region 10 Executive Team
The Region 10 Strategy could not have been developed without the engagement of the Region 10 Executive Team.
Their commitment to the mission of EPA and to a healthy and sustainable environment is commendable.
Elin D. Miller Michael F. Gearheard
Regional Administrator Director, Office of Water & Watersheds
Ronald A. Kreizenbeck Julie M. Hagensen
Deputy Regional Administrator Director, Office of Management Programs
Richard G. Albright Joyce C. Kelly
Director, Office of Air, Waste & Toxics Director, Office of Environmental Assessment
Michael A. Bussell Edward J. Kowalski
Director, Office of Compliance & Enforcement Regional Counsel, Office of Regional Counsel
Mary Beth Clark Daniel D. Opalski
Tribal Policy Advisor, Tribal Operations Director, Office of Environmental Cleanup
Marcia L. Combes Michelle I. Pirzadeh
Director, Alaska Operations Office Director, Office of Ecosystems, Tribal, and Public Affairs
Thomas G. Eaton M. Socorro Rodriguez
Director, Washington Operations Office Director, Oregon Operations Office
Anita J. Frankel James H. Werntz
Manager, Clean Affordable Energy and Climate Change Director, Idaho Operations Office
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
Public Environmental Resource Center
1200 Sixth Avenue (ETPA-124)
Seattle, Washington 98101
Phone: (206)553-1200
epa-seattle@epa.gov
EPA910-R-07-003
July 2007
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United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
Public Environmental Resource Center
1200 Sixth Avenue (ETPA-124)
Seattle, Washington 98101
Pre-Sorted Standard
Postage & Fees Paid
U.S. EPA
Permit No. G-35
Seattle, WA
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