EPA's Intearated Cleanup Initiative EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) in partnership with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) has launched a three-year strategy, the Integrated Cleanup Initiative (ICI), to identify and implement improvements to the Agency's land cleanup programs. The ICI reflects the continued evolution with the goal to better use the Agency's land cleanup tools and programs to accelerate cleanups where possible, address a greater number of contaminated sites, and put these sites back into productive use while protecting human health and the environment. To achieve this goal, the activities of the ICI broadly will: ICI Goal Statement Better use EPA's assessment and cleanup authorities, in an integrated, transparent and accountable fashion, to address a greater number of contaminated sites, accelerate cleanups where possible, and put those sites back into productive use while protecting human health and the environment. Assess approaches and practices across the full spectrum of contaminated sitesSuperfund, brownfields, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action, federal facilities, and underground storage tanks. Share information in a transparent manner and provide opportunities for the public to participate. Focus on enforcement activities and continue to seek accountability from those responsible for cleaning up contaminated sites. Articulate the impact EPA programs have on the environment and the socioeconomic status of site-affected communities. From the Goal statement and broad context of activities, EPA established five Objectives that fit into the framework of OSWER's land cleanup programs: Objective 1: Starting Cleanups - Site identification and assessment activities in the early stages of the cleanup process Objective 2: Advancing Cleanups - Coordination during cleanup activities, including enforcement and accountability strategies Objective 3: Completing Cleanups - Pilot projects aimed at accelerating clean up, managing our work to completion with a strong project management focus, reporting to the public and leveraging revitalization efforts as cleanups are completed Objective 4: Evaluate Performance Metrics and the Effectiveness of the ICI Activities - Performance measurement and determining effectiveness Objective 5: Communicating the Progress - Communicating the benefits and impact of EPA's cleanup programs To achieve the Goal and Objectives of the ICI, specific actions have been developed and consolidated into an Implementation Plan. Each action relates back to the broader activities of the ICI, while ensuring that EPA meets the Objectives of the Initiative. Each action addresses a component or process of at least one land cleanup program. The Plan is a "living document" from which additional actions may evolve. Operationalizing what we learn out of ICI is a key component. Example ICI Actions include: Strengthen the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act's (CERCLA) site assessment and listing processes; Emphasize a project focus and establish a new remedial action project measure; Improve efficiency of administrative grant and contracting processes; Partner with states, territories and tribes to address the backlog of Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites; Link cleanup and revitalization efforts for contaminated sites, including petroleum brownfields; Performance metrics and cross-program measures and indicators; and, Improve communication with other federal agencies on measuring cleanup performance. The Actions, Objectives, and Goal of the ICI position EPA to effectively address a greater number of contaminated sites, accelerate cleanups where possible, return sites to reuse, demonstrate impact of EPA programs, and increase information transparency across all of EPA's cleanup programs. For more information and updates on this Initiative go to http://www.epa.gov/oswer/integratedcleanup.htm Integrated Cleanup Initiative Fact Sheet Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101T) EPA500-F-11-001 \ April 2011 ------- |