Bringing state and small local government officials together proactively to address environmental concerns WORKING TOGETHER • Would you like to be more confident that you are aware of all of your environmental requirements? • Would you like to have the regulator working with you? • Would you like to have a realistic and workable plan to get into full environmental compliance and stay there? Did you know that having an • environmental management system for your governmental operations can improve your bond rating and reduce your insurance premiums? THE SMALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE POLICY CAN HELP www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/ smallcommunities/index.html WHY WAIT? Ad NOW TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES STATES & COMMUNITIES TAKE ACTION Your EPA Regional Small Community Contact U.S. EPA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, Rl, VT) Doug Gutro 617-918-1021 U.S. EPA Region 3 (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) Shawn Garvin 215-814-2998 U.S. EPA Region 5 (IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl) Kay Hudson 312-886-4070 U.S. EPA Region 7 (IA. KS, MO, NE) Janette Lambert 913-551-7768 U.S. EPA Region 9 ( AS, AZ, CA, GU, HI, NV) Sunny Nelson 415-947-4255 U.S. EPA Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI) Berry Shore 212-637-3650 U.S. EPA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) Rita Wayco 404-562-8244 U.S. EPA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) Deborah Ponder 214-665-7461 U.S. EPA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) Dale Murphy 303-312-6141 U.S. EPA. Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) Marcia Combes 907-271-6555 For More Information Kenneth Harmon Office DfWPifite/lj .S.E^PA 202-564-7049 harmon.kenneth@epa.gov United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA300-F-06-005 Spring 2006 SMALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMPLIANCE COMFIDEMCE TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE POLICY ------- ADVANTAGES BENEriTS • Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation & Implementation Plan • Flexible Compliance Options • Improved Bond Rating • Reduced Insurance Premiums • Environmental Problems Corrected Before They Start • Designed for Communities of up to 3,300* Residents *up to 10,000 residents if a state assessment determines the local government is unlikely to acheive compliance without assistance STATE EMPOWERMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROEITS STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Small governments can significantly reduce or even eliminate noncompliance penalties. A POLICY THAT WORKS FOR You Small local governments begin by working with their state to assess their compliance with environmental regulations. Small governments must commit to correcting any violations that are found. If the local government cannot correct its violations in 180 days, it must either enter into an enforceable agreement with a schedule for correcting the violations or commit to developing and implementing an environmental management system. EPA may then defer to the state's decision to decrease or waive normal noncompliance penalties. EPA's Policy applies only to non-criminal violations, and violations that do not create imminent or substantial danger to public health. PROTECT YOUR WORLD EPA retains all enforcement authorities, including the discretion to initiate enforcement actions addressing violations that may present endangerment to public health or the environment. ------- |