A New Era of State, Local, Tribal, and International Partnerships
FY 2014 Action Plan
With State and Local Partners
1. Continue Agency consultations with state and local elected officials on EPA rulemakings, guidance,
and policies (Supports Principles 1 and 4).
• In addition to the "Big 10" intergovernmental associations1, EPA will include other
intergovernmental organizations and state and local officials in federalism consultations--
such as the Local Government Advisory Committee, National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture, National Association of State Conservation Agencies, and the
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials-when the EPA policy or rule impacts
their organizations.
• National Program Managers and Regional Offices will conduct additional outreach with
intergovernmental partners on regulations, major guidance, and other Agency policies by
September 2014, including New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gases from
Modified and Reconstructed Electricity Generating Units, Waters of the U.S., climate
resilience, sustainability, and chemical plant safety.
• Continue collaborations with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) to ensure
strong EPA-state engagement around Civil Rights Act Title VI grant management programs,
consistent with the ECOS-EPA collaboration agreement. By September 2014, EPA will: (1)
work with ECOS to determine areas where enhanced communication and collaboration are
needed; (2) host a minimum of two stakeholder focus groups/workshops that include states;
and (3) develop recommendations on approaches for compliance with Title VI that reflect
stakeholder input.
2. Use the National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) as a platform to improve
EPA's working relationship with the states (Supports Principles 1, 2, and 3).
• In partnership with the states, EPA will improve and enhance NEPPS to further our shared
governance framework, promote greater EPA-state consensus on priorities, and achieve
effective, complementary environmental management and program accountability. By
September 2014, EPA will design a new National Program Manager (NPM) guidance
process to shift from an annual to a two-year cycle, focusing on establishing earlier and more
meaningful engagement with states and tribes in the development of national priorities and
enhancing the flexibility provided to EPA regions, states, and tribes.
• The EPA/State Worksharing Task Force and EPA National Training Manager will work with
EPA's learning community to compile an inventory of EPA training and develop options to
assess the states' priority training needs and other approaches to share EPA's expertise with
states. Recommendations will be presented to the EMC by September 2014.
lrThe Big 10 intergovernmental associations are the largest national organizations for state and local governments and include
the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties, U.S.
Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, International City/County Management Association, County Executives of
America; National Association of Towns and Townships, Council of State Governments, and the Environmental Council of
States.
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3. Through E-Enterprise, work with states to improve environmental outcomes and enhance service to
the regulated community and the public by increasing the use of advanced monitoring, information
technologies, and shared systems.
• Launch the EPA ECOS E-Enterprise Leadership Council and prioritize implementation
projects by February 2014.
4. Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state-federal interactions in EPA's oversight of state
delegated programs.
• Complete assessment of ongoing initiatives and near and long term ideas for improving the
oversight process for NPDES, Title V, and RCRA Subtitle C permitting programs by
September 2014.
• In partnership with states, implement the State Review Framework Round 3 efficiencies
identified in FY2013 and initiate a dialogue about the future direction of environmental
enforcement oversight by September 2014. Through the process to improve state
involvement in the development of national program priorities established in NPM guidance,
as well as in revitalizing NEPPS, EPA will also collaborate with states to identify promising
opportunities to redefine the EPA-state oversight relationship. By September 30, 2014,
through discussions on advances and innovations in program management, EPA and the
states will identify shared principles to guide a redefinition of the state-EPA oversight
relationship.
With Tribes
1. Develop EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans (ETEPs) with each tribe who applies for and receives an
Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant (GAP), consistent with the May 2013 GAP
Guidance. (Supports Principles 1, 2 and 3)
• By January 2014, each Region will have finalized its plan for developing ETEPs with the
GAP recipients in their Region.
2. Improve the coordination and implementation of the Agency's consultation activities under the
"Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes" through enhanced communication
tools, training and outreach. (Supports Principle 2 and 3)
• By September 2014, Tribal Consultation Advisors will host a minimum of two internal
trainings for EPA staff in their Office or Region about how to implement the Policy.
3. By May, 2014, stand up the Environment & Natural Resources Subgroup of the White House
Council on Native American Affairs; and by September 30, 2014, identify a pilot opportunity that
will demonstrate federal interagency cooperation in working with Tribal partners in a defined
geographic region.
International
1. Strengthen EPA leadership in the Arctic Council and with other governments to improve policies
and implement cooperative projects that address climate change and reduce contamination of the
arctic. These efforts are designated as a priority under the U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic
Region. (Supports Principles 1 and 2)
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• By April 2014, finalize U.S. position for the contents of a voluntary agreement on black
carbon under the Arctic Council, which will be implemented during the U.S. Chairmanship
of the Council in 2015; and
• By September 2014, obtain Arctic Council approval for and implement project on black
carbon best practices with other Arctic Council countries.
2. Build on the agreements reached at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(Rio+20) in 2012, by implementing priority actions in support of the Ten-Year Framework of
Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP). (Supports Principles 1 and 2)
• By June 2014, host the first global practitioners workshop on building an international
partnership to improve life-cycle assessment data accessibility, applications, and database
interoperability; and
• By September 2014, complete the United States country profile for the United Nations
10YFP Global Sustainable Consumption and Production Clearinghouse.
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