EPA300-F-021-005
l ..S, Environmental Protection Agency -Veterans Health Administration
Compliance Assistance Commitim-ril Statement
This document defines the commitments of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance (OKCA) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the iApartment of
Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to mutually cooperate on the projects
described below. It is the mutual goal of Die two parties mat these projects will result in
improvements to the environmental compliance status of VHA facilities around the Nation. The
parties mutually agree to:
1. Enter into negotiations to develop a mutually satisfactory agreement that addresses: (a)
VHA's conducting environmental compliance audits, and (b) the process to be used by VHA for
the self-disclosure of violations of environmental requirements discovered by VHA through self-
audits so as to properly invoke the benefits available under EPA's Incentives for Self-1'olicing:
Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations policy, 65 Federal Register
19618 (issued April 11 % 2000, effective May 11, 2000) (a/k/a Audit Policy).
2. EPA will conduct Environmental Management Reviews (EMRs) at VHA facilities mutually
agreed upon by VHA and EPA. VHA will work with EPA to determine VHA facilities where
EMRs will be conducted,
3. VHA will update the environmental compliance auditing protocols in its Safety Automated
Facility Evaluation (SAFE) program and/or use alternative environmental auditing protocols to
conduct environmental audits.
4. EPA will advise VHA on developing environmental training materials. The first priority is
for training of Associate Directors of VA Medical Centers. The purpose of the training is to
raise the awareness of Associate Directors and improve their knowledge of environmental
requirements applicable to VHA facilities. LPA will also assist VHA with technical expertise or
other mutually agreed upon training priorities.
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5. OliCA repfl&Mfttliives shuli attend, as muLuiilly agreed, VHA environment I meetings.
conferences and training sessions to (1) raiso itwurcncss t)J cnvironmcnUil rtiquircmonts and (2)
mutually exchyngt1 information and ideas.
Signatures:
Sylvia K/Lowraoce Date
Principal IJeputy Assistant Administrator
t!>iTict; oJ' linforwment ttDd
Compliance Assurance
U,S. E^ironmenial 1'rottiction Agency
____
Laura J, Milit/ Date
Deputy Under Secretary for HeaJth for
Operations and Management
Veterans Health Administration
Depanmeni oi Veterans Affairs
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