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. ------- |