Publication #:190D13001
April 16, 2013
DRAFT OVERVIEW TO ERA'S DRAFT FY 2014 NPM GUIDANCES
I. Purpose
This new draft overview to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) draft FY 2014 National Program
Manager (NPM) Guidances provides background information and highlights their common elements and
themes. This document should be reviewed in conjunction with each of the draft FY 2014 NPM Guidances
and other applicable requirements to gain a complete understanding of FY 2014 priorities and
implementation strategies.
EPA is soliciting comments on this draft overview, as well as the draft FY 2014 NPM Guidances, from April
11 to May 9, 2013. The draft NPM Guidances and information regarding the public comment period are
available at http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy2014.
II. Background Information on the FY 2014 NPM Guidances
The FY 2014 NPM Guidances provide a national framework for regional, state, and tribal implementation of
EPA's FY2014 Annual Plan and Budget and FY2011-2015 Strategic Plan to advance the Agency's mission.
Regions use the NPM Guidances to establish work plans and work-sharing strategies with states, tribes, and
other partners.
EPA's FY2011 - 2015 Strategic Plan
Strategic Goals
1. Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air
Quality
2. Protecting America's Waters
3. Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable
Development
4. Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing
Pollution
5. Enforcing Environmental Laws
Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies
1. Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism
2. Working for Environmental Justice and Children's
Health
3. Advancing Science, Research, and Technological
Innovation
4. Strengthening State, Tribal, and International
Partnerships
5. Strengthening EPA's Workforce and Capabilities
The FY 2014 NPM Guidances reflect four over-arching themes for program implementation:
> Increase coordination and collaboration across the Agency and federal government and with states,
tribes, and other implementation partners;
> Expedite program delivery (e.g., grant awards, obligation, and liquidation of obligated funds);
> Where appropriate, provide flexibility for states and tribes to achieve national program goals
within existing laws, requirements, strategies, and guidance; and
> Encourage continued use of technology and other tools to achieve program goals and to report and
measure program progress to inform decision making.
The six FY 2014 NPM Guidances1 reflect a new streamlined and consistent format, focusing on
environmental program delivery with regions, states, and tribes. The Office of Environmental Information
(OEI) and Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) provide additional Guidances that focus
primarily on internal Agency-specific efforts. Also there is a list of the National Areas of Focus and
Program-Specific Guidance included in each of these documents available at:
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/fy2014npmgdnceareasoffocus.pdf.
III. FY 2014 Cross-Program Areas
This section includes cross-program areas thatare key to effective implementation of EPA's FY 2014
environmental programs and, where appropriate, incorporate strategies and measures for cross-program
1 Office of Water (OW), Office of Environmental Compliance and Assurance (OECA), Office of Air and Radiation (OAR),
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER),
and National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS).
-------
Publication #:190D13001
April 16, 2013
area implementation. These cross-program areas are grouped below into four broad categories, including
examples of expectations for advancing work in the NPM Guidances. While some NPM Guidances may not
specifically reference a cross-program area, program implementation activities should follow the
guidelines set forth in this section, as appropriate (e.g., Title VI, Quality Program). The graph below
provides a convenient, quick reference for identifying the cross-program areas in the six NPM Guidances.
FY 2014 NPM Guidances with Specific References to Cross-Program Areas
I Quality Policy
I Grants Policy
I Title VI Compliance
e-Enterprise
Children's Health
Exchange Network
Climate Change
I Tribal Coordination
Sustainability
iPlanEJ
I Communities
NEPPS OSWER OAR OECA OW
Draft FY 2014 NPM Guidances
OCSPP
Serving and Protecting Communities
EPA will focus attention on outreach to and protection for communities, especially those historically
underrepresented in decision making. EPA will continue to build strong working relationships with tribes,
communities of color, economically distressed cities and towns, and the public to implement environmental
programs and to ensure the protection of vulnerable subpopulations, with a targeted focus on children.
> Communities. EPA will work with communities to assess and address sources of pollutants at the local
level and, in particular, those communities disproportionately impacted by environmental burdens. For
example, OCSPP and OAR will work to reduce risks from environmental exposures to children in
schools through implementation of Integrated Pest Management and Indoor Air Quality management
programs.
> Environmental Justice (EJ). EPA will continue to use Plan EJ 2014. EPA's roadmap to integrate EJ
efforts into program development and implementation activities. Plan EJ 2014 tools, guidances, and
strategies include: EJ Legal Tools, EJSCREEN, rulemaking, permitting, community-based programs, and
collaborative efforts with other federal agencies. For example, the OW Urban Waters Program will
advance EJ goals by developing tools for local action at the community level and providing technical
support and funding for place-based projects through various initiatives like the Urban Waters Small
Grants Program and grants funded by EPA, the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program funds
managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
> Children's Health. EPA continues to place a high priority on protecting children's health and has
developed tasks and measures to ensure regional implementation of policies, programs, and standards
which address disproportionate risks to children. For example, OCSPP and OAR will work to reduce
risks from environmental exposures to children in schools through implementation of Integrated Pest
Management and Indoor Air Quality management programs.
> Tribal Programs. EPA is committed to enhancing meaningful collaboration with tribal governments to
implement and assure compliance with environmental programs protective of human health and the
environment consistent with Executive Order 13175 on Consultation with Indian Tribal Governments and
EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Tribes. For example, OSWER will promote actions that
enable tribes to develop integrated waste management plans in Indian Country.
-------
Publication #:190D13001 April 16, 2013
Integrating Sustainabilitv and Climate Change Adaptation into Agency Programs
Efforts are underway to further incorporate principles of sustainability and climate change adaptation into
EPA's core programs and functions.
> Sustainability. In response to a National Academy of Sciences report "Sustainability and the USEPA,"
EPA is drafting an initial plan to more fully integrate the principles of sustainability into all Agency
policies and programs. The plan is expected to focus on actions that need to be performed at the Agency
level and to request that programs and regions develop specific approaches to sustainability
appropriate to their work.
> Climate Change. EPA is committed to addressing the impacts of climate change through its major
programs and initiatives. NPM and regional climate change adaptation plans will include specific
priority actions for integrating adaptation planning into Agency programs, policies, rules, guidance, and
operations to ensure their effectiveness even as the climate changes. These adaptation plans reflect the
Administration's government-wide efforts to safeguard the health and security of communities,
economies, and infrastructure from changing climate conditions.
Using Technology to Accomplish the Agency's Mission
EPA will continue to use technology to achieve the Agency's mission by modernizing government
operations, reducing reporting burden, increasing use of environmental information systems, and ensuring
data quality.
> E-Enterprise. E-Enterprise for the Environment is a joint initiative of EPA and its partners to improve
environmental outcomes and dramatically enhance service to the regulated community and the public
by maximizing the use of advanced monitoring and information technologies, optimizing operations,
and increasing transparency. This initiative will expand the use of advanced monitoring technology in
regulations and inspections so government, regulated entities, and the public will have improved access
to information on sources of pollutants and environmental conditions. For example, as part of Next
Generation Compliance and e-Enterprise, OECA is working with partners to convert paper-based
reporting to electronic reporting and increase use of advanced monitoring in EPA regulations,
inspections, and facility operations. Enterprise also will transform how EPA develops and maintains
information systems, including the creation of shared services and a new EPA portal to provide the
public and the regulated community with the ability to conduct business with EPA electronically.
> Exchange Network (EN). EPA plans to continue to expand the use of EN to share critical program data
with states and tribes, thereby lowering costs, increasing data quality and timeliness, and promoting
more informed environmental decision making. OEI plans to collaborate with states and tribes to
develop services, tools, and applications to make data shared over EN available to environmental
program staff and managers at all levels of government and to the public.
> Quality Program. EPA's Quality Program enhances and in turn ensures the quality of data and
information used in environmental decision making. All EPA environmental operations, as well as state,
local, and tribal governments receiving financial assistance under the authority of 40 CFR 31 and 35, are
required to comply with the Quality Assurance requirements found in EPA Order CIO 2105.0 (formerly
5360.1 A2): Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System.
Ensuring Compliance with Title VI and Grants Policy
Recipients of EPA financial assistance must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and EPA
Grant Policy Guidances, in addition to other applicable regulations, policies, and requirements.
> Title VI. Ensuring compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an Agency priority. All
recipients of EPA financial assistance have an obligation to implement effective Title VI compliance
programs and ensure their actions do not involve discriminatory treatment and do not have
discriminatory effects. The FY 2014 NEPPS Guidance provides details regarding Title VI requirements.
> Grants Policy. EPA will continue to implement the "Timely Obligation. Award, and Expenditure of EPA
Grant Funds" policy in conjunction with our implementation partners to streamline grant processes
and improve the timeliness for award and utilization of EPA grants. The individual NPM Guidances
provide additional information regarding how the Grants Policy applies to their programmatic
activities and applicable grant guidances.
------- |