FACTS ON
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION FIVE
1 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 312-353-5800
State & Interstate Programs
State and Interstate Programs is an integral unit of the Office of the
Regional Administrator primarily charged with the responsibility of admin-
istering the provisions of Section 4 and 7 of the Water Pollution Control
Act. Some $3.1 million is presently available for grant-in-aid to the
State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Agencies in this Region for
assistance to the States' in overall efforts to abate water pollution and.
achieve its water quality goals.
Through financial and direct advisory assistance, the primary objec-
tive of the program is to encourage and aid the control agencies in improving
and enhancing their capabilitites in the area of water pollution control
activities which range in scope from public education and involvement to
surveillance of dischargers and general water quality, to effective regula-
tion and enforcement thereof.
In order to qualify for Federal financial assistance, each State or
Interstate compact must prepare and submit annually a five-year plan for the
abatement of pollution and improvement of water quality within its jurisdic-
tion. The plan must be oriented to goals which are consistent not only with
the States' identified needs, but are suitable in terms of national strategy
and attendant statutory and regulatory requirements. The plan must demon-
strate how the goals will be accomplished, including a detail program of
activity for the forthcoming year and the results that are expected from the
program efforts in measurable terms at established points in time. EPA
guides the agencies in preparing the program plans by interpreting Federal
requirements and policy, and evaluates the overall plan. A technical evalua-
tion is coordinated to ascertain specific suitablity and feasibility of each
specific proposed activity. The technical reviews are made by the appropriate
program staff members of the Regional Office and with the staff of the District
Offices.
EPA looks to the States and Interstate organizations to be the prime
movers for the abatement of pollution within their respective jurisdiction.
Accordingly, management within EPA is sensitive and responsive to formulation
of bilateral policy — policies that will have effects upon both Federal and
State activities and accomplishments.
As a result, conferences are held with high ranking State officials,
including the Governors, legislators and State budget agency directors to
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elicit policy direction, program support, and allocation of resources and
funding which EPA has determined as being necessary to assure the accomplish-
ment of goals within an acceptable time frame.
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Uniform state legislation to facilitate and expedite water quality pro-
gram goals, and encouragement and assistance to the State in forming inter-
state compacts are two intergovernmental areas of responsibility of which this
office has an interest. Throughout the program year the Program Advisor
Monitor the States' activities not only to ascertain conformity with the
annual program plan approved by the Regional Administrator, but also to sense
changing needs and provide a mechanism for correlating appropriate respon-
siveness on the part of EPA.
An annual performance evaluation review is made jointly with the State
and Interstate officials to further provide indication of how effectively the
program is operating and serve as a basis for future program development.
The review is oriented to qualitative measurement of program accomplishment
as well as quantitative results.
The office has promoted and facilitated EPA sponsored management studies
of State environmental protection authorities, organization and manpower
staffing needs. These studies are generally related to all aspects of environ-
mental protection program activity.
Since the water pollution control program crosses various functional
organization lines within EPA, the staff acts as facilitators for the State
and Interstate agencies in obtaining resolution to problems or EPA assistance
which involves several organization entities at times.
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