State Innovation Grant Program: Rhode Island
An Environmental Results Program (ERP) for Construction Site Runoff Control
(2007 Competition)
ie innovation urani rrogram 10 support
efforts led by state environmental agencies to test innovative approaches
for achieving better environmental results and improved efficiency in
permitting programs. Between 2002 and 2007, the State Innovation Grant
program competition awarded over six million dollars to support 35 state
projects that test permitting innovation for a variety of regulated entities
including several small business sectors. Asummary of the awards by year
appears in the table below.
State Innovation Grant Program Statistics, 2002-2007
Competition Proposals Proposals Total Program
Year Submitted Selected Funding ($)
2002/2003
$618,000
$1.425 Million
$1.479 Million
Cumulative
$1.243 Million
$1.611 Million
$6.376 Million
"Innovation in Permitting" has been the theme of the State Innovation Grant
competition since its inception. In the last three competition cycles states
received awards for projects in the following three categories:
• The Environmental Results Program (ERP) is an innovative
approach to improving environmental performance based on a system
of the interlocking tools of compliance assistance, self-certification
(sometimes, where permissible, in lieu of permitting), and
statistically-based measurement to gauge the performance of an entire
business sector. The program utilizes a multimedia approach to
encourage small sources to achieve environmental compliance and
pollution prevention. (See: http://www.epa.gov/permits/erp/)
• Environmental Management System (EMS) is a system involving a
continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the
processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its
business and environmental goals. EMSs provide organizations of all
types with a structured system and approach for managing
environmental and regulatory responsibilities to improve overall
environmental performance and stewardship.
(See: www.epa.gov/ems/info/index.htm)
• Performance Track is a partnership that recognizes top
environmental performance among participating US facilities of all types,
sizes, and complexity, both public and private.
(See: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/)
NCEI has provided awards also for projects testing watershed-based
permitting, and for permit process streamlining in past competitions. For
more information on the history of the programs, including information on
solicitations, state proposals, and project awards, please see the EPA State
ittD://www.eDa.aov/innovation/statear
Project Background:
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management (RIDEM) is charged with enforcement of
Construction Site Runoff Control under the stormwater
management provisions of the Clean Water Act.
Under the Phase II Stormwater Rule, operators of
small municipal separate storm sewer systems
(MS4) must include "Minimum Control Measures" in
their stormwater management programs. To satisfy
this minimum control measure, the operator of a
regulated small MS4 needs to conduct public
education or equivalent outreach activities and
determine the appropriate best management
practices (BMPs) and measurable goals. An MS4
must meet all of the requirements of its Rhode Island
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES)
permit, which requires an operator of a regulated
small MS4 to develop, implement, and enforce a
program to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff to
their MS4 from construction activities that result in a
land disturbance of an acre or more. RIDEM and
most other state environmental agencies lack the
resources to inspect every regulated construction
site for compliance with State Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) required under the
RIPDES General Permit. The RIDEM ERP is being
implemented to provide an innovative, "non-
traditional" strategy to help ensure that MS4
operators meet Phase II requirements.
The RIDEM, in an effort to gain federal assistance
with this effort, applied for and received an EPA State
Innovation Grant in the 2007.
Project Description
RIDEM, working with the University of Rhode Island
Center for Pollution Prevention and Environmental
Health, is developing an ERP approach to control
erosion and sediment run off from MS4 construction
NCE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION
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sites greater than one acre. All applicants for a
RIPDES permit, as well as RIDEM's stormwater
Coordinators, will receive a compliance checklist to
facilitate a program that includes compliance
assistance and instruction, self-certification, and a
statistically-based auditing of compliance. The check
list requirements will focus on the implementation and
maintenance of BMPs, as referenced in the State of
Rhode Island Stormwater Manual, to control sediment
and erosion from the regulated construction sites.
RIDEM is also developing a training program for the
applicants and inspectors on how to use the check list.
Environmental Business Practice Indicators (EBPIs),
based on measurable goals developed by EPA and
other performance criteria will be selected and
measured to evaluate the program's success.
The ERP approach allows the RIDEM Stormwater
Coordinators, and the MS4 operators to work together
to ensure compliance with state regulations. A tandem
approach of self-certification and statistically-based
auditing by RIDEM will be used to meet this
requirement. Additional benefits of this project include:
improved compliance targeting; more efficient
response to public concerns; and improved reporting
on compliance. This strategic innovation will enable a
more efficient use of limited resources and produce
measurable environmental results.
The project began with the award of the grant on
October 1, 2007 and will take four years to complete.
Connection to EPA's Goals:
This ERP is directly aligned with EPA's Strategic Plan
Goal 2 - Clean and Safe Water. This project's general
focus is the prevention and reduction of water pollution
caused from stormwater runoff at construction sites, as
required by the Clean Water Act - Phase II Stormwater
Final Rule. The project also assists EPA in meeting its
Strategic Objective 2.2, Protect Water Quality, by
providing an innovative approach to continuing
implementation of a core national water program
(NPDES).
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Project Contacts:
For more specific information on the
Rhode Island State Innovation Grant,
please contact one of the individuals
below:
Ronald Gagnon
State Project Manager
235 Promenade Street
Providence, Rl 02906
(401)222-6822 ext.7500 FAX: (401)222-3810
ron.gagnon@dem.ri.gov
Marge Miranda
US EPA Region 1
1 Congress Street
Suite 1100
Boston, MA02114
(617)918-1825 FAX: (617)918-1809
miranda.marge@epa.gov
Jennifer Linn
USEPA Headquarters
EPA West Building
1301ConstitutionAve.,N.W
Washington, DC 20004
(202)566-1258 FAX: (202)566-2210
linn.jennifer@epa.gov
Program Contact:
Sherri Walker
State Innovation Grant Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460 (MC1807T)
(202)-566-2186; FAX (202) 566-2220
walker.sherri@epa.gov
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Policy,
Economics and Innovation
(1807T)
May 2008
EPA-100-F-08-041
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