EPA300-F-021-005
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -Veterans Health Administration
Compliance Assistance Commitment Statement
This document defines the commitments of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance (OECA) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of
Veterans Affairs;' Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to mutually cooperate on the projects
described below. It is the mutual goal of the two parties that these projects will result in
improvements to the environmental compliance status of VHA facilities around ihe Nation, The
parties mutually agree to:
1. Enter inlo 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-Policing:
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 itie environmental compliance auditing protocols in its Safety Automated
Eacilily Evaluation (SA1H'K) 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. EPA will also assist VHA with technical expertise or
other mutually agreed upon training priorities.
-------
5. OliCA representatives shall attend, as mutually agreed, VHA environmental meetings.
conferences and training sessions 10 (1) raise awareness of environmental requirements and (2)
mutually exchange information and ideas.
fc / 1C A
Sylvia K/Lowranee Date
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of hnforcement and
Compliance Assurance
U,S. fHironmental I'rotectuiri
/<•
•*•
Laura J. Millt^f Date
Deputy Under Secretary for Health for
Operations and Management
Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
------- |