EPA
FISCAL YEAR 2013 CONFERENCE SPENDING REPORT
January 31, 2014
EPA-190-R-14-001
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
Table of Contents
A. Background 3
B. Activities and Internal Controls Undertaken by the EPA 3
C. Overall size and scope of conference spending throughout the year 4
D. "Conferences" above $100,000 4
Sustainable Electronics Forum 4
2012 ENERGY STAR Product Partners Meeting 4
22nd Annual National Association of Remedial Project Managers Training Event 5
2013 Joint Water Quality Standards (WQS) Meeting 5
Global Methane Initiative 5
2013 Partner of the Year Awards Ceremony 6
2013 National Sustainable Design Expo and P3 Awards Ceremony 6
National Brownfields Conference 6
LEAN Skills Development Program 7
2013 NPDES Permit Writers Conference 7
2013 Community Involvement Training Conference 7
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) 7
24th National Tanks Conference and Exposition 8
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
A. Background
Building on the Administration's efforts to eliminate wasteful and inefficient spending, the Office of
Management and Budget issued Memorandum-12-12, "Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency
Operations," in May 2012, which established additional controls over conference spending.1 This
memorandum included a requirement for reporting of conference expenses on each agency's website
starting January 31,2013.
This report provides information on conference expenses in excess of $100,000 during the fiscal year.2 In
this report, the agency provides a description of all conferences where the net expenses for the agency, in
excess of $100,000 includes:
• the total conference expenses incurred by the agency for the conference;
• the location of the conference;
• the date of the conference;
• a brief explanation how the conference advanced the mission of the agency; and
• the total number of individuals whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were
paid by the agency.
In addition, this report provides information on the EPA's overall conference activities throughout the
year, efforts taken to reduce conference spending, and the controls the agency has enacted to ensure
conference spending is reviewed and approved at an appropriate management level.
Section 3003 of the FY 2013 Continuing Resolution (CR), P.L. 113-6, lowered the reporting threshold on
conference spending to $20,000 and included language with new requirements for conference spending.
For conferences occurring April 15, 2013 and after, Agencies are required to notify their Inspector
General of any conference exceeding $20,000 within 15 days from the conclusion date of the conference
for any conference taking place in FY 2013 and beyond.
B. Activities and Internal Controls Undertaken by the EPA
1. The EPA requires Assistant Administrator or Regional Administrator approval of all conference-
related activities above $20,000. The approval must be completed prior to obligating any funds
for a conference-related activity requiring resources above $20,000.
1 "Conference expenses" are defined in OMB M-12-12 as "all direct and indirect conference costs paid by the
Government, whether paid directly by agencies or reimbursed by agencies to travelers or others associated with the
conference, but do not include funds paid under Federal grants to grantees. Conference expenses include any
associated authorized travel and per diem expenses, hire of rooms for official business, audiovisual use, light
refreshments, registration fees, ground transportation, and other expenses as defined by the [Federal Travel
Regulations]. All outlays for conference preparation and planning should be included, but the Federal employee time
for conference preparation should not be included. Conference expenses should be net of any fees or revenue
received by the agency through the conference and should not include costs to ensure the safety of attending
governmental officials."
2 The EPA uses the same definition provided in OMB M-12-12: a "conference" is defined as "[a] meeting, retreat,
seminar, symposium or event that involves attendee travel. The term 'conference' also applies to training activities
that are considered to be conferences under 5 CFR 410.404."
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
2. The EPA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer made a review of conference-related activities
part of the annual A-123 review beginning in FY 2012. The FY 2013 review did not uncover any
non-compliance with newly implemented approval processes.
3. The EPA requires Senior Resource Officials or their designee to report conferences for their
organization with net expenses greater than $20,000 to the OIG within 15 calendar days of the
conference conclusion date. This information will include the: name of the conference,
conference location, conference date(s), and number of agency employees that attended.
4. For conferences with net expenses greater than $100,000, EPA organizations must track and
report the methodology to determine which costs relate to a conference and provide a description
of the contracting procedures used.
5. The EPA is utilizing video conferencing in lieu of in person meetings to conserve resources. If in
person meetings are required, all EPA organizations are required to attest that no adequate federal
space was available prior to obligating federal funds for meeting space.
C. Overall size and scope of conference spending throughout the year
During FY13, the EPA spent $3,339,937 for 13 "conferences" above $100,000. Below is a complete
listing of conference-related activities above $100,000.
D. "Conferences" above $100.000
1. Sustainable Electronics Forum
• Date: 10/8/2012-10/12/2012
• Location: Racine, WI
• Cost: $115,695.48
• Total Attendees: 33
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 33 (6 EPA travelers, 27 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The Sustainable Electronics Forum serves to
advance the mission of the agency by bringing together a collection of electronic industry leaders
to determine the major challenges in addressing e-waste issues. The goal of the forum is to: 1)
develop a shared vision of what truly sustainable electronics should look like, and provide clear
end-goals for design standards development; 2) Promote integration of end-of-life considerations
into front-end product designs; 3) Extend the useful life of electronic products, and assess the
optimal amount of time to keep products in operations; and 4) Support the creation of
environmental criteria for refurbished equipment.
2. 2012 ENERGY STAR Product Partners Meeting
• Date: 10/22/2012-10/24/2012
• Location: St. Paul, MN
• Cost: $139,064.44
• Total Attendees: 601
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 22 (15 EPA travelers, 7 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The ENERGY STAR program is a voluntary
program to identify and promote energy-efficient products and buildings. The meeting directly
advances EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment, through increased energy
efficiency that reduces energy production and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. This
program assists American consumers, businesses and organizations in energy efficient products
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
that transform products in the marketplace. This meeting gathers a collection of industry leaders
to discuss ways to further reduce energy consumption, improve energy security, and reduce
pollution through voluntary labeling of or other forms of communication about products and
buildings that meet the highest energy efficiency standards.
3. 22nd Annual National Association of Remedial Project Managers Training Event
• Date: 11/26/2012-11/30/2012
• Location: Henderson, NV
• Cost: $463,554.97
• Total Attendees: 374
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 270 (220 EPA travelers, 50 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The NARPM serves as an essential vehicle
for Regional Program Managers to receive training in a single venue. This training allows key
skills for managing the agency's complex environmental cleanup issues. The training provides
information on technologies, policies and issues surrounding cleanups to protect human health
and the environment. The event also fulfills our statutory responsibility for technology transfer
and training, and meets the certification requirements under the National Contingency Plan.
4. 2013 Joint Water Quality Standards (WQS) Meeting
• Date: 2/27/2013-3/1/2013
• Location: Washington, DC
• Cost: $101,487.00
• Total Attendees: 104
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 28 (18 EPA travelers, 10 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: In order to meet EPA's mission to protect
human health and the environment, EPA sponsors partnerships with states for all aspects of
environmental protection including water quality. This meeting provides an opportunity for
WQS managers at HQ, regions and the states to discuss mutual policy concerns. This meeting
also serves to maintain effective partnerships between EPA and the states, and within EPA HQ
and regional offices.
5. Global Methane Initiative
• Date: 3/12/2013-3/15/2013
• Location: Vancouver, Canada
• Cost: $401,905.00
• Total Attendees: 451
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 33 (10 EPA travelers, 23 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: This conference meets EPA's mission to
protect human health by working with other countries to decrease global warming caused by
methane emissions. The Global Methane Initiative is a key element of the US Government's
international climate change strategy to promote development and deployment of cost effective
greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies. EPA is the lead agency. The Methane Expo
brings together all partners and private sector stakeholders in a unique international forum and
included participation from 34 countries.
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
6. 2013 Partner of the Year Awards Ceremony
• Date: 3/26/2013
• Location: Washington, DC
• Cost: $118,686.08
• Total Attendees: 857
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 1 (1 non-EPA traveler)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: This is a large showcase event for the
ENERGY STAR program and its partners. This conference advances the mission of the EPA to
protect the environment by encouraging innovation by honoring private industry partners who
have gone above and beyond their commitment to protecting the environment through energy
efficiency. Approximately 800 (out of more than 20K total) partners come together to network
and learn from each other about more ways to improve energy efficiency, learn more about
ENERGY STAR, and highlight the achievements of the past year. Held since 1993, the annual
awards ceremony is a major highlight for many partners, who strive to increase their participation
in the program year after year with the hope of receiving this recognition.
7. 2013 National Sustainable Design Expo and P3 Awards Ceremony
• Date: 4/18/3013-4/21/2013
• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Cost: $374,911.00
• Total Attendees: Approximately 5,000 (public expo)
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 10 (10 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: EPA's People, Prosperity & the Planet (P3)
Program is designed to develop the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers.
The National Sustainable Design Expo is a public showcase of the designs of the P3 teams which
have competitively received a P3 Phase 1 grant coupled with a public expo highlighting
sustainable technologies and initiatives from the non-profit, public, and private sectors. The
annual National Sustainable Design Expo promotes the agency's mission of developing a world-
class science base in the United States for environmental and public health issues and is
sponsored by the agency's Office of Research and Development and the National Center for
Environmental Research.
8. National Brownfields Conference
• Date: 5/15/2013-5/17/2013
• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Cost: $629,283.01
• Total Attendees: 2,652
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 78 (76 EPA travelers, 2 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The National Brownfields Conference is the
largest event in the nation that focuses on environmental revitalization and economic
redevelopment. The purpose of this conference is to train communities, tribes, states and
nonprofit organizations regarding brownfields assessment, cleanup and redevelopment. The
Brownfields Program is designed to empower states, communities and other stakeholders in
economic redevelopment; to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up
and sustainably reuse brownfields properties. This conference advances the agency's priorities for
job creation, economic development, local community engagement, and creating positive
environmental outcomes.
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
9. LEAN Skills Development Program
• Date: 6/17/2013- 6/20/2013
• Location: Arlington, VA
• Cost: $111,115.86
• Total Attendees: 36
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 36 (36 EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The Office of Policy convened a national
LEAN Skills Development Program for EPA employees as a part of EPA's ongoing efforts to
foster organizational excellence. OP provided participants with the lean/business process
improvement skills and coaching needed for EPA to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
its programs and processes. The skills development sessions comprised of six phases including
two 1-week in person training sessions. The remaining four phases were accomplished via
remote/virtual means using the knowledgeable and materials of a contractor and available though
EPA's eLearning Skillport website.
10. 2013 NPDES Permit Writers Conference
• Date: 7/22/2013-7/26/2013
• Location: Shepherdstown, WV
• Cost: $116,884.50
• Total Attendees: 164
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 58 (31 EPA travelers, 27 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits create the primary regulatory mechanism to reduce surface
water pollution in the nation. This conference offers the only opportunity nationally for NPDES
permit writers to be trained in more complex and advances topics of the NPDES program
including stormwater, combined sewer overflows, and whole effluent toxicity, and emerging EPA
policy on topics such as nutrient pollution.
11. 2013 Community Involvement Training Conference
• Date: 7/29/2013-8/1/2013
• Location: Boston, MA
• Cost: $518,911.80
• Total Attendees: 374
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 148 (148 EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The Community Involvement Training is an
agency-wide training conference that has been held annually from 1998-2007 and semi-annually
since 2007. The CIT training is designed for managers, project staff, and our federal, tribal, state,
and local government partners to come together to plan and implement environmental community
involvement, partnership, outreach, and education programs. This conference provides a platform
for all attendees to discuss successes, obstacles and lessons learned, as well as an opportunity to
cultivate cross-program/cross-agency relationships.
12. National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)
• Date: 9/11/2014-9/12/2014
• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Cost: $138,768.00
• Total Attendees: 252
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 64 (36 EPA travelers, 28 non-EPA travelers)
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EPA Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Spending Report
• How the conference advances the agency mission: In 1993, the EPA established the National
Environmental Justice Advisory Council in order to obtain independent, consensus advice and
recommendations from a broad spectrum of stakeholders involved in environmental justice. As a
federal advisory committee, the NEJAC was chartered to provide the Administrator with advice
and recommendations on integrating environmental justice considerations into the agency's
programs, policies, and day-to-day activities. The NEJAC consists of representatives of
community-based groups, business and industry, academic and educational institutions, state and
local governments, tribal governments and indigenous organizations, and non-governmental and
environmental groups. The council meets publicly approximately two times a year and provides a
forum for discussions about integrating environmental justice into EPA priorities and initiatives.
The NEJAC public meeting was convened to receive comments, and discuss and provide
recommendations regarding these primary areas: (1) implementation of EPA Plan EJ 2014; (2)
the EPA's tribal program; (3) the EPA's science and research program; and (4) the EPA's
guidance on public engagement in permitting. The NEJAC also provides an environment for all
parties to express their viewpoints and to formulate independent, clear and timely consensus
advice and recommendations to the EPA about major public policy issues.
13. 24th National Tanks Conference and Exposition
• Date: 9/15/2013-9/18/2013
• Location: Denver, CO
• Cost: $109,651.41
• Total Attendees: 663
• Individuals traveling on agency funds: 70 (68 EPA travelers, 2 non-EPA travelers)
• How the conference advances the agency mission: The 24th National Tanks Conference and
Exposition educates attendees on the best management practices and upcoming issues related to
protecting the environment and human health from the dangers of releases from underground
storage tanks. When underground storage tanks leak, there is a potential threat for groundwater
contamination, which is the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. This
conference is the only national forum where state, tribal, and federal regulators, and industry
partners can meet to share, discuss, and learn about the latest policy and information needed to
help administer and manage UST programs and prevent potential UST leaks.
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