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 EPA 905-F-73-014 ------- 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. (._ 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. ------- |