June 14, 2013
OVERVIEW TO ERA'S FY2014 NPM GUIDANCES
I. Purpose
This new overview to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 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 FY 2014 NPM Guidances and other
applicable requirements to gain a complete understanding of FY 2014 priorities and implementation
strategies.
II. Background Information on the FY 2 014 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 Strategic Plan1 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- 20 15 Strategic Plan
Strategic Goals
1. Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air
Quality
2 . Pro tec ti ng Am eri c a' s Wa te rs
S.CleaningUp Communities and Advancing Sustainable
Development
4. Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing
Pollution
5. Enforcing Environmental Laws
Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies
1. Expandingthe Conversation on Environmentalism
2. Workingfor 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 Guidances2 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/pla mdbudget/focus-areas-fii al-fv-2014-npm-guidances.
III. FY 2 014 Cross-Program Areas
This section includes cross-program areas that are key to effective implementation of EPA's FY 2014
environmental programs and, where appropriate, incorporate strategies and measures for cross-program
area implementation. While some NPM Guidances may not specifically reference a cross-program area,
The EPA Strategic Plan is currently being up da ted for FY 2014-2018 and will be available in February 2 014 at the
following website: http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan
2 Office of Water (OWJ, Office of Environmental Compliance and Assurance (OECAJ, Office of Air and Radiation [OAR],
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (0 CSPP], Office of Solid Was te and Emergency Response (OSWERJ,
and National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPSJ.
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June 14, 2013
program implementation activities should follow the guidelines set forth in this section, as appropriate
(e.g., Title VI, Quality Program]. The eleven cross-program areas are described and grouped below into
four broad categories and include some examples of expectations for advancing work in the NPM
Guidances.
Serving and Protecting Communities
EPA will focus attention on outreach to and protection for communities, especially those historically
under represented 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 El2014. EPA's roadmap to integrate EJ
efforts into program development and implementation activities. Plan EJZ014 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. EPAcontinues 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.
Integrating Sustainability 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. EPA will advance sustainability by collaborating with stakeholders and applying
sustainability principles to core Agency programs and functions3. EPA will routinely consider the
following principles in decisions and actions, as appropriate: (1] conserve, protect, restore and improve
the supply and quality of natural resources and environmental media (energy, water, materials,
ecosystems, land, air] over the long term; (2] align and integrate programs, tools, incentives and
indicators to enhance environmental, economic and social systems; and (3] consider the full life cycles
of multiple resources, processes and pollutants in order to prevent problems and pollution and to create
a sustainable future.
> 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
3 This effort is consistent with the recommendations by the National Academy of Sciences (National Research Council]
report, Sustainabilitvand the U.S. EPA.
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Administration's government-wide efforts to safeguard the health and security of communities,
economies, and infrastructure from changing climate conditions.
Using Innovative Approaches to Accomplish theAgen cy's Mission
EPA will continue to use innovative approaches to achieve the Agency's mission by modernizing
government operations; reducing re porting burden; increasing use of environmental information and new
business models; 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 so
government, regulated entities, and the public will have improved access to information on sources of
pollutants and environmental conditions. E-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
5360.1A2): Policy and Program Requirements for the Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System. When the
Quality Standard (CIO 2106-S-02], which will replace CIO 2105.0, is issued, further guidance will be
provided about the effective implementation dates.
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.
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