U.S. Environmental Protect! on Agency • Region 6 • Dallas, Texas
-------
May 30, 2014
This page intentionally left blank.
-------
May 30, 2014
Disclaimer
To the extent this document mentions or discusses statutory or regulatory authority, it does so
for informational purposes only. This document does not substitute for those statutes or
regulations, and readers should consult the statutes or regulations to learn what they require.
Neither this document, nor any part of it, is itself a rule or a regulation. Thus, it cannot change
or impose legally binding requirements on EPA, states, tribes, the public, or the regulated
community. Further, any expressed intention, suggestion or recommendation does not impose
any legally binding requirements on EPA, states, tribes, the public, or the regulated
community. Agency decision makers remain free to exercise their discretion in choosing to
implement the actions described in this Plan. Such implementation is contingent upon
availability of resources and is subject to change.
-------
May 30, 2014
Preface
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to identifying and responding
to the challenges that a changing climate poses to human health and the environment.
Scientific evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate,
outside the range to which society has adapted in the past. These changes can pose
significant challenges to the EPA's ability to fulfill its mission. The EPA must adapt to climate
change if it is to continue fulfilling its statutory, regulatory and programmatic requirements. The
Agency is therefore anticipating and planning for future changes in climate to ensure it
continues to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment even as the
climate changes.
In February 2013, the EPA released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan to the public for
review and comment. The plan relies on peer-reviewed scientific information and expert
judgment to identify vulnerabilities to EPA's mission and goals from climate change. The plan
also presents 10 priority actions that EPA will take to ensure that its programs, policies, rules,
and operations will remain effective under future climatic conditions. The priority placed on
mainstream ing climate adaptation within EPA complements efforts to encourage and
mainstream adaptation planning across the entire federal government.
Following completion of the draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan, each EPA National
Environmental Program Office, all 10 Regional Offices, and several National Support Offices
developed a Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan to provide more detail on how it will carry
out the work called for in the agency-wide plan. Each Implementation Plan articulates how the
office will integrate climate adaptation into its planning and work in a manner consistent and
compatible with its goals and objectives.
Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agency-
wide priorities presented in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. A central element of all of
EPA's plans is to build and strengthen its adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build
capacity in states, tribes, and local communities. EPA will empower its staff and partners by
increasing their awareness of ways that climate change may affect their ability to implement
effective programs, and by providing them with the necessary data, information, and tools to
integrate climate adaptation into their work.
Each Program and Regional Office's Implementation Plan contains an initial assessment of the
implications of climate change for the organization's goals and objectives. These "program
vulnerability assessments" are living documents that will be updated as needed to account for
new knowledge, data, and scientific evidence about the impacts of climate change on EPA's
mission. The plan then identifies specific priority actions that the office will take to begin
addressing its vulnerabilities and mainstreaming climate change adaptation into its activities.
Criteria for the selection of priorities are discussed. An emphasis is placed on protecting the
most vulnerable people and places, on supporting the development of adaptive capacity in the
tribes, and on identifying clear steps for ongoing collaboration with tribal governments.
-------
May 30, 2014
Because EPA's Programs and Regions and partners will be learning by experience as they
mainstream climate adaptation planning into their activities, it will be essential to evaluate their
efforts in order to understand how well different approaches work and how they can be
improved. Each Implementation Plan therefore includes a discussion of how the organization
will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its adaptation efforts and make adjustments where
necessary.
The set of Implementation Plans are a sign of EPA's leadership and commitment to help build
the nation's adaptive capacity that is so vital to the goal of protecting human health and the
environment. Working with its partners, the Agency will help promote a healthy and prosperous
nation that is resilient to a changing climate.
Bob Perciasepe
Deputy Administrator
September 2013
-------
May 30, 2014
Contributors
This document was produced by select members of the Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change
Work Group. Contributors include:
James R. Brown, National Climate Change Adaptation Workgroup Member and Co-author
Jim Yarbrough, National Climate Change Adaptation Workgroup Alternate Member and Co-author
Barbara Keeler, National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup Member, Editor, and Contributor
Rob Lawrence, EPA Region 6 Energy Advisor and Contributor
Wlliam Rhea, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Brian Graves, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Joshua Olszewski, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Verne McFarland, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Casey Luckett, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Randy Gee, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Mark Allen, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Jessica Hernandez, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Julia M. Alderete, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
Kenneth McPherson, Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup Member and Contributor
-------
May 30, 2014
Table of Contents
Disclaimer 3
Preface 4
Contributors 6
Introduction 8
Relationship to Sustainability 9
Part 1: Vulnerability Assessment 10
Part 2: Responding to Vulnerabilities: Priority Actions 22
Part 3: Measuring and Evaluating Performance 27
Part 4: Working with Tribes and Other Sensitive Populations 32
Part 5: Conclusions 34
Figures and Tables 36
References Cited 40
Appendix 43
-------
May 30, 2014
Introduction
The EPA Region 6 Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan stems from the National
Climate Adaptation Plan which was prepared by EPA to fulfill the requirements of Executive
Order 13514, calling for all Federal Agencies to develop a plan on how they will address
climate change adaptation. EPA's draft Adaptation Plan was submitted to the White House
Council on Environmental Quality in June of 2012, and has undergone a tribal consultation as
well as a public review and comment period that ended April 9, 2012. EPA expects to publish
the final Climate Adaptation Plan in 2014. While the Adaptation Plan was under development,
EPA Administrator Jackson issued a Policy Statement on Climate Change in June 2011. The
Policy Statement recognizes that climate change can pose significant challenges to EPA's
ability to fulfill its mission, and calls for the Agency to anticipate and plan for future changes in
climate and incorporate considerations of climate change into its activities. The Policy
Statement also directs all EPA Program and Regional Offices to develop Implementation Plans
that provide more detail on how they will meet the priorities and carry out the work called for in
the Agency's Adaptation Plan.
In response to the Policy Statement, the Region 6 Clean Energy and Climate Change
Workgroup produced a draft Regional Implementation Plan and submitted it to EPA's Office of
Policy on September 18, 2013. The Plan, along with the draft Implementation Plans developed
by all EPA Program Offices and Regional Offices were the subject of a Federal Register notice
of availability and request for public review and comment in late 2013. The comments were
reviewed by EPA Region 6 and, where appropriate, changes were made to this revision of the
Implementation Plan.
The Regional Implementation Plans explain how climate change considerations will be
integrated and mainstreamed into programs, policies and operations to ensure they are
effective under future climate conditions. Through the Implementation Plans, EPA will continue
to protect human health and the environment while accounting for the effects of climate
change. The EPA Region 6 Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan discusses
climate change vulnerabilities the Region will face in coming years, identifies priority actions
the Region will take in response to these vulnerabilities, outlines an approach for measuring
and evaluating performance, and stresses the importance of working in partnership with
stakeholders, states, tribes, and vulnerable communities and places. The Implementation Plan
is an evolving document, and will certainly change as new information about the climate and
ways to mitigate and adapt to it become available. As a result, periodic updates and changes
to this Plan are expected.
This Regional Implementation Plan is voluntary in nature. It does not impose any legally
binding requirements or funding commitments on EPA, states, tribes, the public, or the
regulated community. Its goal is to address the challenges that a changing climate present to
the Region's internal operations, focusing on critical programs, policies and procedures, and to
develop and implement appropriate adaptive measures. State and local decision makers
remain free to exercise their discretion in choosing to implement the actions described in this
Plan. Flexibility is a key aspect of adaptation because it is highly localized and dependent on a
variety of site specific factors. EPA further recognizes that the implementation of adaptation
measures is contingent upon the availability of resources which could be subject to change.
-------
May 30, 2014
Relationship to Sustainability
Many of the adaptations described in this Implementation Plan relate to sustainability. EPA's
efforts to address sustainability are described at:
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-
being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability has
emerged as a serious concern as a result of the unintended social, environmental, and
economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth and consumption of our
natural resources. Climate change impacts can affect the natural environment and even our
survival and well-being. We will need to adapt in order to support the delicate balance among a
healthy environment, societal well-being, and a strong economy.
In the context of this Implementation Plan, sustainability also refers to the momentum and
persistence of Region 6 efforts to champion certain approaches or changes in behavior that
promote adaptation to a changing climate. Should EPA's involvement at some point become
more limited or need to be redirected, Region 6 wants to ensure that the initiative will continue
to grow without our presence.
In some cases, market forces will continue to push desired outcomes even without the
Agency's involvement. For example, in the drought stricken State of Texas, water conservation
and efficiency campaigns through the WaterSense program have been launched by EPA to
encourage changes in the way Texans use water in the industrial, agricultural, municipal and
domestic sectors. As the demand for water continues to grow and supplies diminish, water will
inevitably become more expensive and the free market economy will respond with a variety of
water saving devices and products that were previously not widely available. This economic
response would likely occur with or without government sponsored water conservation
campaigns. Moreover, local watering restrictions and state permitting procedures would
enforce water use restrictions beyond involvement by the federal government. Thus,
sustainability in water conservation and efficiency would be achieved by market forces, even
though an early catalyst to use water more efficiently was created by government. In other
cases where market forces provide less motivation to change, EPA's partnerships with
organizations aligned with our environmental and public health protection goals will be needed
to continue promoting climate adaptation initiatives.
The federal government has an important and unique role in climate change adaptation, but is
only one part of a broader effort that must include public and private partners throughout the
country and internationally. Partnerships with local communities, tribes, states, other
governments, businesses, and international organizations, many of which have already begun
to implement adaptation measures, are essential. EPA's leadership and commitment to help
build the nation's adaptive capacity are vital to the goal of protecting human health and the
environment. Working with our partners, the Agency will help promote a healthy and
prosperous nation that is resilient to a changing climate.
-------
May 30, 2014
Part 1: Vulnerability Assessment
1.1 Geographic Setting
Region 6 straddles three different climate regions identified by the U.S. Global Change
Research Program: the Great Plains, the Southeast and the Southwest. The majority of
Region 6 (by land mass) lies in the Great Plains Climate Region.
Climate Regions
The Third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) was released in May 2014, to fulfill the
requirements of the Global Change Research Act. To complete the assessment more than 70
workshops were held, comprised of a wide range of stakeholders who identified issues and
information for inclusion in the report. Also, over 300 experts compiled and wrote the NCA3,
which draws from an extensive number of peer-reviewed scientific research efforts on climate
change and related topics. The NCA3 identifies eight different climate regions throughout the
United States. While the NCA3 delineates the climate regions by state boundaries, adjacent
areas in two climate regions may bear more similar climate characteristics than that described
in the climate region. For example, in EPA Region 6 part of coastal Texas has climate
characteristics related more to the Southeast climate region as opposed to the Great Plains.
For all U.S. regions, the NCA3 reports that warming in the future is projected to be very large
compared to historical variations. Higher temperatures also contribute to the formation of
harmful air pollutants and allergens (Portier, et al., 2010). Ground-level ozone is projected to
increase in the 19 largest urban areas of the Southeast, leading to an increase in deaths
(Chang, et al., 2010). Precipitation patterns will be altered as well, with some regions
becoming drier and some wetter. The heaviest precipitation events are projected to increase
everywhere, and by large amounts. Extended dry spells are also projected to increase in
length. Some areas could capitalize on longer growing seasons which could benefit the
agricultural sector in parts of the U.S.
Key climate change projections and related issues and impacts for the climate regions and
Region 6 states are presented in the following discussion.
Great Plains
The Great Plains Climate Region extends from the Dakotas and Montana in the north to Texas
in the south. On the west, it is bounded by the Rocky Mountains and the Basin and Range
geographic provinces, and the central lowlands and coastal plain provinces to the east and to
the south. Parts of eight states in two EPA Regions (6 and 8) are located in this vast grassland
prairie and mountainous region, which nevertheless includes several very large and rapidly
growing urban areas.
Oklahoma and Texas, in EPA Region 6, make up the southernmost extent of the Great Plains
climate region. Climate projections summarized in the NCA3 suggest more frequent and more
intense droughts, severe rainfall events, and heat waves. The NCA3 identifies key climate
change projections, issues and impacts for this region to include:
1. Rising temperatures are leading to increased demand for water and energy. In parts of the
region, this will constrain development, stress natural resources, and increase competition for
water among communities, agriculture, energy production, and ecological needs.
10
-------
May 30, 2014
2. Changes to crop growth cycles due to warming winters and alterations in the timing and
magnitude of rainfall events have already been observed; as these trends continue, they will
require new agriculture and livestock management practices.
3. Landscape fragmentation is increasing, for example, in the context of energy development
activities in the northern Great Plains. A highly fragmented landscape will hinder adaptation of
species when climate change alters habitat composition and timing of plant development
cycles.
4. Communities that are already the most vulnerable to weather and climate extremes will be
stressed even further by more frequent extreme events occurring within an already highly
variable climate system.
5. The magnitude of expected changes will exceed those experienced in the last century.
Existing adaptation and planning efforts are inadequate to respond to these projected impacts.
Southeast
The Southeast climate region includes Atlantic and Gulf coastal states of Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Inland states
comprising the region include Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. In EPA Region 6,
Arkansas and Louisiana belong to the Southeast climate region. The NCA3 reports that
temperatures across this region are expected to increase during the next century, with a
significant increase in the number of hot days exceeding 95°F, and decreases in freezing
events. Projections of future precipitation patterns are less certain than projections for
temperature increases, with many models projecting drier conditions in the far southwest of the
region and wetter conditions in the far northeast of the region. The coastal area of this region is
also vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal land loss, with related threats to infrastructure
through inundation, and salt water intrusion threatening agricultural practices and drinking
water sources (Parris, et al., 2012). All of these projected changes and impacts are expected
to be compounded by population growth projections for the region. Though part of the Great
Plains climate region, areas along the Texas coast may experience climate change issues and
impacts more similar to those projected for the coastal areas in Louisiana. Key climate change
projections, issues and impacts reported in the NCA3 for this area include:
1. For coastal Louisiana (and possibly parts of coastal Texas), sea level rise (and associated
coastal land loss) poses widespread and continuing threats to both natural and built
environments and to the regional economy.
2. Decreased water availability, exacerbated by population growth and land-use change, will
continue to increase competition for water and affect the region's economy and unique
ecosystems.
3. Increasing temperatures and the associated increase in frequency, intensity, and duration of
extreme heat events will affect public health, natural and built environments, energy,
agriculture, and forestry.
Southwest
The Southwest climate region extends westward from New Mexico and Colorado all the way to
the West coast and includes the states of Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California as well. This
vast mountainous and arid region is the driest and hottest part of the United States. Although
New Mexico is the lone state in EPA Region 6 that belongs to the Southwest Climate Region,
11
-------
May 30, 2014
areas in West Texas and the panhandle of Oklahoma may experience similar climate change
effects. The NCA3 reports that climate changes will pose challenges for the already parched
region that is expected to get hotter and, in its southern half, significantly drier. Increased heat
and changes to rain and snowpack will impact the region's agriculture sector, and population
growth will compound the effects of climate change. Severe and sustained drought will stress
water sources, already over-utilized in many areas, forcing increasing competition among
farmers, energy producers, urban dwellers, and plant and animal life. Tourism and recreational
industries could experience economic losses due to these projected changes. The following
climate change projections, impacts and issues which apply to parts of New Mexico, are noted
in the NCA3:
1. Snowpack and streamflow amounts are projected to decline in parts of the Southwest,
decreasing surface water supply reliability for cities, agriculture, and ecosystems.
2. Increased warming, drought, and insect outbreaks, all caused by or linked to climate
change, have increased wildfires and impacts to people and ecosystems in the Southwest.
Fire models project more wildfire and increased risks to communities across extensive
areas.
3. Projected regional temperature increases, combined with the way cities amplify heat,
will pose increased threats and costs to public health in southwestern cities, which is where
more than 90% of the region's population live. Disruptions to urban electricity and water
supplies will exacerbate these health problems.
As a result of this geographic and climate diversity, Region 6 could face many different types
of climate change impacts, including increases in air and water temperatures, drought,
increased flooding, increased frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, loss of
habitat and reduced ecosystem functions, and a general deterioration of water quality. The
southeastern part of Region 6 will face continuing problems of sea level rise and coastal land
loss, while the western section of Region 6 will likely experience reduced snowpack and
associated impacts to natural water storage and discharge in the mountains of New Mexico.
These impacts are expected to be compounded by continued drought, population growth and
competing demands for fresh water among the industrial, agricultural, energy and municipal
sectors throughout Region 6.
1.2 Adaptation Planning
The term "adaptation" relates, in this context, to changes in natural ecosystems that are
induced by climate change or to adjustments we make to expected changes in climate. Such
adjustments can be defensive in nature (e.g., infrastructure changes to anticipate climate
change impacts) or opportunistic (e.g., expanding agriculture in areas that have become more
climatically amenable). Historically, humans have adapted to environmental and climate
changes by growing different crops, modifying shelter types, and moving to new areas (Adger
et al., 2007). However, with the current pressures of climate change on expanding populations,
it will be increasingly difficult for societies to adapt. With increasing interdependence, impacts
on one population or economy can have world-wide repercussions (USGCRP, 2009; U.S.
EPA, 2012a).
In response to this challenge, an Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force has
been created and is co-chaired by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ),
12
-------
May 30, 2014
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. There are also representatives from over 20 federal agencies on
this Task Force. The objective is to develop recommendations to the President about what
federal government can do to better prepare for climate change impacts. One of the first steps
is for each agency to integrate climate change adaptation into their planning, operations, and
policies and to develop a climate change adaptation plan (U.S. EPA, 2012b).
EPA issued a climate change adaptation policy statement in June 2011 (U.S. EPA, 2011) and
a year later completed an agency-wide Climate Adaptation Plan. The policy statement requires
every program and each regional office to develop an Implementation Plan outlining the
projected impacts of climate change on its operations and programs, as we well as carrying
out the work called for in the Agency-wide Plan.
In response, Region 6 coordinated among all its Divisions and with its standing Clean Energy-
Climate Change (CECC) Workgroup. In 2008, the CECC Workgroup produced a strategic plan
for Regional climate change priorities, which served as a starting point for the Implementation
Plan. The EPA Office of Water's "National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate
Change," the NCA3, and reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change proved
to be additional valuable resources to inform the development of the Implementation Plan. The
Region also gleaned insights by coordinating in 2011 and 2012 with state, tribal, and local
governments in the south-central U.S. The challenges expressed by these governments
assisted our efforts to clarify potential vulnerabilities.
Region 6 concluded that our main vulnerabilities internal to our operations involve increasing
air temperatures and worsening air quality, water quantity and quality issues, emergency
response challenges, contaminated site cleanups (CERCLA, RCRA, Brownfields, LUST), the
consequences of enhanced use of pesticides and herbicides, coastal resource protection,
increased requests for assistance from vulnerable populations and tribes, and supporting the
continuity of Region 6 internal operations by providing consistent electrical power and water to
Regional facilities.
Although this document speaks specifically to climate change adaptation, the Region has a
host of additional climate change efforts that fall under the separate category of climate
change mitigation. As a review, climate change adaptation relates to adjusting to a changing
environment while climate change mitigation refers to reducing the human influences on the
climate system. Examples of climate change mitigation would include strategies to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the capacity of carbon sinks. By contrast, an
adaptation measure might be to move coastal infrastructure further inland in response to the
effects of relative sea level rise.
Region 6 has a strong and ongoing climate change mitigation program including a greenhouse
gas reduction initiative, technical programs to enhance geosequestration capacity, and efforts
to promote energy efficiency used for irrigation and water utilities. However, this
implementation plan speaks specifically to adaptation actions. Future revisions to this
Implementation Plan may include mitigation activities.
13
-------
May 30, 2014
1.3 Vulnerabilities to Climate Change Impacts
Generally, climate scientists predict that mean temperatures in the five states of Region 6 will
rise significantly in the 21st century. This will result in higher mean low temperatures in the
winter. In summer months, greater frequencies of heat waves are expected, with elevated high
and low temperatures.
Projections of precipitation changes are less certain than those for temperature. In the Great
Plains, the NCA3 notes that the number of days with heavy precipitation is expected to
increase by mid-century, especially in the north. Large parts of Texas and Oklahoma are
projected to see longer dry spells (Garfin, et al., 2014). ) Under a continuation of current rising
emissions trends, reduced winter and spring precipitation is consistently projected for the
southern part of the Southwest by 2100 (Garfin, et al., 2014). Much of the southern plains and
New Mexico currently experience modest to little precipitation, but it comes with a high degree
of inter-annual variability. The NCA3 notes that "extreme precipitation events" will constitute a
larger percentage of the total, which could prompt greater flooding. Seasonal shifts are likely to
affect snow packs in the mountains of New Mexico, where runoff is expected earlier in the
spring and summer, with attendant decreases in runoff in the warmer months. Droughts are
expected to become more frequent and larger in spatial extent and thus more damaging. The
NCA3 reports that warmer air temperatures, drought conditions and related impacts such as
decreased soil moisture could lead to an increased frequency and spatial extent of wildfires.
Climate change may also play a role in the effects of hurricanes along the Gulf coast, with
some studies showing a lower frequency but slightly higher intensity of hurricanes (Knutson, et
al., 2010). Hurricanes and tropical storms will continue to impact populations, industry, land,
and wildlife in Louisiana and Texas. Coastal land loss and relative sea-level rise are ongoing
challenges in Louisiana and Texas, where some of the highest existing rates of wetland loss
occur. Climate change projections indicate that Gulf coastal ecosystems and communities will
face increasing risks. Though vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure occur
throughout the Gulf coastal zone, two of the largest population centers in the Region, the
Houston-Galveston and the Baton Rouge-New Orleans corridors, have been subject to major
hurricane and tropical storm damage in the past and are of particular concern.
Expected changes in temperature, drought and seasonality are anticipated to significantly
impact municipal water availability, agricultural practices, ecosystem functions, types and
extent of habitat coverage, occurrence of pest problems, human health, population
displacement, coastal infrastructure security, coastal land loss, and air quality in the Region.
Complicating this overall picture is a continuing, underlying variability in weather systems
which may temporarily modify these overall trends and subject the Region to greater weather
variability (Christensen et al., 2007; U.S. EPA, 2012c; Nielsen-Gammon, 2009; Deseret al.,
2012; Longergan, 1998; Hanes et al., 2000; Martens et al., 1997).
In order to evaluate fully the vulnerabilities these changing conditions pose to the Region, a full
assessment was made of the Regional responsibilities by programmatic Divisions. A Regional
organizational chart is included for reference as Figure 1, and a summary of the results is
provided in Table 1. Overall, many of the projections for climate change impacts and
environmental consequences were found to be consistent with findings from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (Field et al., 2007).
14
-------
May 30, 2014
1.4 Region 6 Program Impacts
1.4.1 Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division
1.4.1.1 Air Quality
Currently there are three metropolitan areas that fail to meet the National Ambient Air Quality
Standard (NAAQS) for ozone in Region 6. However, up to 18 other areas in Region 6 have
recently monitored concentrations exceeding the new NAAQS standard of 75 parts per billion
and may ultimately become "nonattainment" areas. Exacerbating the health impacts from
ozone pollution on urban populations will likely be higher nighttime temperatures expected in
urban areas, both as a consequence of climate change but also because of enhanced effects
from urban heat islands. This is apparently particularly evident in sprawling urban centers,
which are common in Region 6 (Stone et al., 2010).
A related complication for ozone pollution is an anticipated increase in electricity demand due
to higher temperatures in the summer. A further, related complication is the availability of
water for power plant cooling purposes. Without sufficient quantities of water that is cool
enough, interruptions in service or even shutdowns could occur at these power plants, as
happened during the summer of 2011 in Texas (ERGOT, 2011).
Further, other air pollutants, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, may become
problematic in Region 6, particularly if many additional fossil-fueled power plants are built to
meet an accelerating electricity demand. These may also negatively impact progress in
attaining the goals of the Regional Haze Program in Class I National Park and Wilderness
Areas. Increased frequency and spatial extent of wildfires due to enhanced droughts may
significantly increase particulate matter loadings in the atmosphere (U.S. EPA, 2009).
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants and industrial sources in Region 6
contribute to elevated atmospheric concentrations of GHG pollutants, which endanger both
public health and welfare. New major stationary sources and major modifications at existing
stationary sources are required by the Clean Air Act to obtain a GHG air quality permit before
commencing operations.
EPA Region 6 is currently the GHG Permitting authority for GHG Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) in Texas and is implementing this permitting program in Texas under a
Federal Implementation Plan. The other Region 6 states are implementing their own GHG
PSD permitting programs through their EPA approved regulations. With an expectation of
increased industrial activity in Region 6 states, EPA-Region 6 will continue to perform direct
permit development or permit development oversight in those states.
Best Available Control Technology (BACT) determinations for GHGs currently consider options
that improve the overall energy efficiency of new stationary sources or existing sources
undergoing a major modification. As the climate changes, these BACT determinations may
become more detailed and comprehensive, requiring an increased level of Region 6
involvement in order to ensure that sources are constructed and operated in a manner
consistent with achieving the energy efficiency goals established as BACT.
15
-------
May 30, 2014
1.4.1.2 Pesticides
Local, regional, and global climate changes that result in an increase and duration of mean
and extreme temperature, and a reduced average rain fall in combination with extreme
precipitation events and floods, are predicted to result in the increased use of pesticides by
volume, target site, and type.
The region is likely to experience increased incidence of existing pests, exotic invasive
species, and the rise of new endemic pests. The reduced availability of land for agricultural
use, decrease in quality and quantity of water for irrigation, decrease in favorable growing
seasons, and increased demand on commodities will have a significant impact on crops. The
risk of vector-borne diseases that affect public health and agriculture will likely increase
dramatically. This is not only due a predicted increase in abundance of endemic and invasive
pest species, but also due to predicted changes to migration patterns of vertebrate hosts,
human introduction, and temperature conditions that promote decreased development time for
pests and increased pathogen amplification.
As a consequence of the impacts that pests and pest-borne diseases will have on crops and
humans, it is expected that the quantity, formulation, or classification of pesticides will change
in order to combat these pests. It is reasonable to expect that this increase in pesticide use will
generate additional risk to workers, specifically those in agriculture. The use of new and/or
unfamiliar pesticides for new or invasive species will pose challenges in communicating risks
and implications to workers. Issues will include exposure, reentry requirements, health and
personal protective equipment requirements. With an increase in extreme rainfall events and
floods, increased pesticide run-off and contamination of both surface and ground water may
occur. Such events could reasonably be expected to have significant implications for surface
and groundwater quality throughout the Region. Any increased use of pesticides in quantity,
formulation or classification may also increase exposure risks to pollinators. New endemic and
exotic pests may require the use of pesticides on new target sites and time periods that
increase the risk of pesticide exposure to honey bees, native bees, and other beneficial
pollinators (i.e., spraying of pesticides for daytime biting mosquitoes that transmit human
disease). Introduction of novel pesticides and application techniques must consider their
impact on pollinators in a changing climate.
1.4.1.3 Waste Site Management
Flooding from more intense and/or frequent storms may lead to contaminant releases from
Corrective Action waste management sites. Inundation and flooding may lead to transport of
contaminants through surface soils, ground water, surface waters and/or coastal waters.
Saltwater intrusion and increased ground water salinity in coastal aquifers may also increase
the permeability of clay liners installed at waste sites, such as landfills, allowing contaminants
to spread to nearby properties. These contaminant releases may pose an increased risk of
adverse health and environmental impacts.
Additionally, increased incidents of flooding may disrupt existing hazardous waste
management networks. Inundation from relative sea level rise or severe storms may disrupt
the transportation system in place to handle hazardous waste or may damage treatment,
storage or disposal facility infrastructure. A major storm event may increase the amount of
hazardous waste generated, and may lead to the release of hazardous materials. Smaller
entities that use and store hazardous materials may lack resources for emergency planning,
which may increase the risk of abandoned hazardous materials during a flooding or storm
event.
16
-------
May 30, 2014
Changes in precipitation patterns and temperature may adversely affect the performance and
efficacy of remedies, and cleanup timing and duration. To the extent that climate change leads
to more prolonged droughts, water intensive remedies may become limited and the risk of
wildfires spreading to contaminated sites and chemical storage areas may increase (e.g., Los
Alamos National Lab). Changes in precipitation may affect the rate at which vegetation grows,
impacting landfill covers, phytoremediation, ecological revitalization efforts, and remedies
relying on biological processes (e.g., land farming and enhanced monitored natural
attenuation). The impacts may be positive or negative, depending on conditions at each site.
Groundwater characteristics (i.e., depth, flow, chemistry) may also be altered, resulting in
potential adverse impacts on the performance and cost of remediation. To the extent that
temperatures increase with climate change, contaminants at cleanup sites may become more
volatile, increasing risks for local populations.
1.4.2 Water Quality Protection Division
Numerous environmental complications from expected climate change in Region 6 center
around the complex and interrelated issues of drought and inundation. General population
growth and shifts in population from the Region's rural areas to urban centers will continue to
create demands for water storage to maintain sustainable water supplies and increase
competition among water users (e.g., energy, industrial, agricultural and municipal uses).
Decreased water availability due to increased temperature, increased evaporation, and longer
periods of time between rainfall events, coupled with an increase in societal demand, is very
likely to affect many sectors of the Region's economy. More frequent and more intense
droughts could adversely impact agriculture, silvaculture, energy production and a myriad of
other industries and economic sectors.
Decreases in water supply for fire protection could also hamper the capacity of local, state and
federal fire-fighting efforts, which could lead to fire loss increases including human life,
property, infrastructure, and ecosystem flora, fauna, habitat, and function. Declines in soil
moisture are expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of wildfires, which have
increased over the last 30 years, and to impact water quality in streams, creeks, rivers, lakes.
Reduced groundwater supply due to a lack of recharge will also be a concern. Declining
surface and groundwater quantity and quality, coupled with more frequent and severe
droughts, will continue to exacerbate water shortages in the Region.
Loss of snowpack in the western portion of the Region will further impact water use, storage,
and irrigation practices. Warmer temperatures will reduce mountain snow packs and peak
spring runoff from snow melt will shift to earlier in the season, increasing the shortage of water
during the summer. A longer and hotter warm season will likely result in longer periods of
extremely low flow and lower minimum flows in late summer. Water supply systems that have
no storage or limited storage (e.g., small municipal reservoirs) may suffer seasonal shortages
in summer and ecosystems and wildlife may be stressed. The resulting temporal changes in
water distribution, storage and availability could have significant consequences for water
reservoir and storage system design, operation and management to ensure municipal (e.g.,
drinking water and fire protection), agricultural and irrigation, industrial, energy production, and
other critical needs are met. Moreover, the temporal changes in water distribution, storage and
availability could impact downstream water quality and aquatic life. These changes must be
17
-------
May 30, 2014
taken into consideration as the adequacy of current water infrastructure is evaluated and as
new infrastructure is designed and brought into service.
Possible increases in the frequency and altered timing of flooding could increase risks to
people, ecosystems, and infrastructure. Increased flooding could occur as a result of an
increased percentage of winter precipitation falling as rain. Water quality impacts will be
amplified both by increases in precipitation intensity and by longer periods of low flow in
streams. Increased nonpoint source pollution (e.g., sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen) is to
be expected as a result of increased periods of intense rainfall. This could result in changes to
natural stream morphology and could negatively impact the functioning of aquatic ecosystems.
As relative sea levels rise and rainfall patterns change, the physical and chemical structure of
estuaries, coastal wetlands, and tidal rivers are likely to become more variable and potentially
less sustainable. Some of the fastest rates of relative sea level rise in the U.S. are occurring in
areas where the land is subsiding, including parts of the Gulf coast. For example, in coastal
Louisiana, relative sea level rise was about eight inches or more during the last 50 years,
which is slightly faster than twice the global rate. Much of New Orleans sits below the mean
local sea level and the State's only inhabited barrier island, Grand Isle, is reporting one of the
highest sea level rise rates in the world. Projections are that an additional 1,750 square miles
of Louisiana's coastal zone will be inundated in the next 50 years (CPRA, 2012). As the
ecological risks grow so do the financial costs of maintaining and restoring coastal
ecosystems. The challenge will be to leverage financial and technical resources with those
from outside the agency in order to focus more on landscape scale coastal restoration
projects, rather than on small projects yielding more limited results.
Relative sea levels will vary along the Gulf coast and will contribute to changing barrier island
configurations and coastal shorelines. Wetlands will be drowned or eroded and low-lying
areas, including some populated areas, will be inundated more frequently or permanently.
Salinities will increase in the estuaries and aquifers. Hurricanes often have their greatest
impact at the coastal margin where they make landfall, intensifying beach erosion, inland
flooding, and wind-related damage to both cultural and natural resources. Increasing relative
sea level rise, combined with the damaging effects of more intense storm surges and
hurricanes, are expected to pose severe and growing risks to people, personal property, and
public infrastructure along the coast. Infrastructure at risk includes energy, transportation and
communications facilities, as well as wastewater treatment facilities and drinking water
systems.
The Water Quality Protection Division will continue to heighten its focus on sustainable
infrastructure and climate adaptation planning and implementation issues to ensure the water
programs, policies and procedures remain effective even as the climate changes. Attention will
include emergency response planning and recovery functions as well as maintaining the long-
term viability of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs in a changing
climate.
1.4.3 Management Division
Region 6 has its main facilities in three different Texas cities. The main Regional office is in
downtown Dallas, the Regional laboratory is in Houston, and the U.S.- Mexico Border Office is
18
-------
May 30, 2014
in El Paso. Additionally, a Training and Conference Center is located in Addison, a suburb of
Dallas.
In addition to fulfilling Executive Order commitments to reduce energy use, conserve water,
reduce waste, and expand recycling, the Region will likely face acute power and water
challenges in these locations. This is a consequence of being in an area of rapid population
growth that is expected to experience significant warming and less reliable precipitation.
Therefore, all these facilities could suffer from decreasing reliability of electrical power and
water availability. For example, load-shedding occurred in the Texas electrical grid, ERGOT, in
February 2011, with Electricity Emergency Alerts in summer 2011. In addition to employee
discomfort from such a situation, without reliable power and water, information technology
equipment may be compromised. Whether enhancing employee telework would be an
effective response to these challenges is unclear.
1.4.4 Superfund Division
1.4.4.1 Emergency Response
Region 6 Emergency Response personnel are very familiar with the challenges of responding
to emergencies and natural disasters, having worked for months in several different hurricane
response activities, including that for Katrina in 2005. With hurricanes affecting the Gulf of
Mexico coast perhaps being more powerful, coupled with an expected increase in extreme
precipitation events, Emergency Response in Region 6 will be further challenged. Although the
Region maintains a volunteer, basically trained "Regional Support Corps" to assist emergency
response activities in an extreme short-term need, it is likely there will be shortages of
specialized Emergency Response personnel to respond to these kinds of events in the future.
This is particularly true of major events that may require many weeks or months of follow-up
cleanup activities. Further, if the strength of future hurricanes and extreme precipitation events
is as predicted, Emergency Response personnel may be confronted with a whole new set of
challenges such as massive storm surges, larger and more widespread flash floods, and long-
lived breakdowns in electricity grids and water and sewer systems.
1.4.4.2 Superfund Sites
A number of Superfund sites are located in vulnerable areas of Region 6, particularly the Gulf
Coast regions of Texas and Louisiana. Rising coastal waters and massive storm surges could
potentially flood sites where waste has been capped and left in place. Although most caps and
barriers at Superfund sites are engineered to contain waste for many years, the possibility of
long term and extensive flooding, even permanent submersion, could affect the integrity of
engineered remedies at some sites where waste has been consolidated and remains in place.
Additionally, there are active Superfund cleanups expected to be ongoing for many years to
come in the vulnerable Gulf Coast areas that will likely be impacted by energy shortages,
flooding, storm surges, water shortages and other expected climate change impacts. For
example, domestic or public water supplies could be affected in areas where Gulf Coast
Superfund sites are utilizing energy intensive pump and treat methods to remedy groundwater
contamination in aquifers used to supply drinking water. Or, as discussed above, EPA's
common practice of consolidating waste and leaving it in place in landfills or under engineered
caps may no longer be protective of human health and the environment if climate changes
result in frequent, massive flooding in the Gulf Coast areas.
19
-------
May 30, 2014
In December 2013, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Administrator issued
a memorandum to "Encourage Greener Cleanups." The memorandum encouraged all Office of
Solid Waste cleanup programs, including the Superfund program, to consider utilizing ASTM's
Standard Guide for Green Cleanups (E 2893-13), for reducing the environmental footprints of
cleanups. The Region 6 Superfund Division fully supports its project manager utilizing this
ASTM Standard Guide to "green cleanups", including efforts to consider climate change and
potential adaption when evaluating remedy selections.
1.4.4.3 Brownfields Sites
Brownfield sites in Region 6 exist in many different forms. Brownfield sites can vary from an
old abandoned gas station or movie theater to an illegal dump site or old airport. Some of
these sites are relatively small while others may cover many acres. It is the goal of the
Brownfields program in Region 6 to encourage state, tribal, or local entities that are
redeveloping old Brownfield sites to consider green technologies and sustainable practices
that reduce energy use. In urban areas, the Region encourages development that reduces
GHG effects and minimizes the urban footprint. Some of the Region 6 Brownfield sites have
been returned to parks and to new construction that utilizes practices resulting in Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. These sustainable practices will
continue to be important in the Region 6 Brownfield program and as a means of contributing to
climate change adaptation.
1.4.5 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs
The Region 6 Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs (OEJTA) oversees affirmative
federal environmental protection programs for vulnerable communities and 66 tribal lands in
Region 6. These represent populations that may be at greatest risk as climate change occurs
in the future. Many lower-income minority areas are ones characterized by substandard
infrastructure which may be the first to fail during times of high temperatures, drought or
extreme precipitation events, for example. Older residents of urban areas may be particularly
vulnerable to synergistic health impacts due to elevated night time temperatures which are
expected as the climate changes. Tribes may be particularly affected by heat waves and
drought conditions, as many are dependent upon natural resources on their tribal lands.
OEJTA will be challenged to understand fully the differential impacts on these various
communities, to educate themselves about how EPA may be able to assist these populations
to protect human and environmental health, and to conduct effective outreach to these
vulnerable populations.
As more of the Region's tribal partners begin to develop their own climate change adaptation
plans, OEJTA will need assistance from Regional staff to help with these efforts. OEJTA
should see an increase in this effort and the current draft Indian General Assistance Program
guidance mentions this work as an eligible activity. This increase may occur as soon as 2013.
Demands for funding to address climate change can be expected to increase and, therefore,
there will be a greater need for grant funding from the Region 6 Management Division and
OEJTA's EJ Small Grant program.
1.4.6 Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division
Regional compliance and enforcement activities may be complicated by shifting priorities
influenced by climate change. These could include a surge in violations of water-related
regulations that may occur as a result of excessive precipitation events and floods. Air-related
20
-------
May 30, 2014
regulations could be more frequently violated because of stress on regional electricity grids.
With electricity demand increasing, problematic financing for new electricity generating units,
and long-term fuel trends complicating decision-making, construction of new power plants may
not keep pace. Ensuring grid integrity may portend increasing difficulty meeting air emissions
limits. These same factors can also influence success in meeting water quality effluent limits.
Regular assessment of such trends will be necessary to ensure Regional compliance and
enforcement resources are appropriately tailored to meet future challenges.
1.4.7 Office of Regional Counsel
The Region's broad mandates to protect human health and the environment afford a reservoir
of legal authority to support adaptation work. However, specific legal questions that may arise
in the course of adaptation programming cannot be answered in the abstract. As part of a
federal agency, EPA Region 6 derives its authority to act from the U.S. Constitution and the
laws passed by Congress. Because the legality of its actions is such a high priority for EPA,
program managers and staff will consult with the appropriate attorneys in the Office of General
Counsel (OGC), Offices of Regional Counsel (ORC), and the Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance (OECA) as they conduct their adaptation work.
The variation among the statutes our Region administers, as well as the regulatory programs
EPA designs, implements, and enforces under those laws will require special attention and
legal analysis on a case by case basis. The evolving scientific understanding of climate
change impacts and the sensitivity of EPA programs to those impacts will also necessitate
case specific analysis. The relative weight climate change considerations should be given in
evaluating options for EPA action will depend on many factors including, but not limited to, the
time and geographic scale of the relevant climate impacts compared to the temporal and
spatial scale of the proposed EPA action; the scientific understanding of the climate impacts;
and the environmental and economic consequences estimated to result from the proposed
climate change adaptation measures. Considerations such as these are by definition case-
specific. As such, Regional program managers and staff will consult with this Region's ORC
branch for special analysis and legal application as discrete issues develop.
1.4.8 Cross Program Impacts
Cross-Divisional and interoffice communications and partnerships are essential methods for
Region 6 to understand better its climate change adaptation vulnerabilities and to make plans
to address these. The following is an illustrative, but certainly not exhaustive, list of these:
1.4.8.1 Communications — In light of a changing climate, Region will need to maintain
strong EPA headquarters and Regional communications, as well as with states and tribes. We
will also need to continue Regional training related to climate change (Regional Science
Council and Clean Energy-Climate Change Workgroup), as well as outreach initiatives
(WaterSense, meetings with elected officials, presentations to citizen groups) and conferences
(Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), Low Impact Development (LID), Green
Infrastructure (Gl), Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency Conference, and the Texas Combined
Heat and Power Conference). Much of the internal communications and integration of climate
change adaptation planning and implementation in Region 6 will continue to be coordinated
through the cross-program Clean Energy and Climate Change Workgroup.
1.4.8.2 Partnerships — To leverage resources, involvement and cultivate a synergistic
response from vested stakeholders, Region 6 will continue and expand partnerships with
public, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations, such as Councils of
21
-------
May 30, 2014
Governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (e.g., NCTCOG), North Texas
Sustainable Materials Forum, Texas Association of Builders, Texas AgriLife, DFW International
Airport, Region 6 Tribes and vulnerable communities, sporting organizations (Greening Sports
Initiative), the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, Texas Public Utilities Commission,
Arkansas Public Service Commission, and the Southwest Power Pool. Efforts will be made to
expand informal partnerships throughout affected public and private sectors including but not
limited to the municipal, industrial, energy, agricultural, and transportation sectors. Climate
change adaptation will not be inclusive, integrated or effective unless these key relationships
are developed, fostered, and mobilized into action through active EPA leadership.
1.5 Summary of Vulnerabilities
Region 6 faces many serious vulnerabilities in successfully fulfilling its mission as the climate
changes. As an area of rapid population growth but one subject to major future temperature
and precipitation changes, increasing numbers of people will be impacted by increased
environmental pressures due to climate change. It is our goal to anticipate fully and
understand the nature of such pressures in order to achieve our mission to protect human
health and the environment in the Region. This vulnerability assessment reveals the current
state of knowledge but will necessarily change as additional information is received and new
scientific and technical knowledge is gained. Thus, the vulnerabilities outlined herein are
expected to take on new characteristics and to continue to pose challenges over time.
Part 2: Responding to Vulnerabilities—Priority Actions
2.1 Overview
The NCA3 states that climate change is happening now and that adaptation efforts need to
accelerate to address the impacts. From an Agency-wide perspective, ten separate priorities
have been identified to respond to the climate change adaptation challenge:
(1) Fulfill strategic measures in FY 2014-2018 EPA Strategic Plan by such actions as
integrating climate change trends and scenarios into five rule-making processes, five
major financial mechanisms, and five major scientific models and/or decision support
tools;
(2) Protect Agency facilities and operations;
(3) Factor legal considerations into adaptation efforts;
(4) Strengthen adaptive capacity of EPA staff and partners through training;
(5) Develop decision-support tools that enable EPA staff and partners to integrate
climate adaptation planning into their work;
(6) Identify cross-EPA science needs related to climate adaptation;
(7) Partner with tribes to increase adaptive capacity;
(8) Focus on most vulnerable people and places;
(9) Measure and evaluate performance; and
10) Develop Program and Regional Office Implementation Plans.
22
-------
May 30, 2014
From the Region 6 perspective, we believe priorities 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are the most relevant
and lend themselves to direct Regional action. The other priorities are more properly
addressed at the EPA headquarters program office level. The Region will defer to
headquarters in those areas and will respond when guidance is issued.
To further clarify the Regional roles, EPA's Office of Policy identified several common areas of
focus for the Regions:
(a) Vulnerability assessments;
(b) Priority actions on climate adaptation;
(c) Agency-wide strategic measures on climate adaptation;
(d) Legal and enforcement issues;
(e) Training and outreach;
(f) Partnerships with tribes;
(g) Vulnerable populations and places; and
(h) Evaluation and cross-office pilot projects.
As a precursor to completing this priority actions section of the Regional Implementation Plan,
Region 6 completed a vulnerability assessment which broadly covers the major climate
change-induced conditions to which the Region is expected to be susceptible.
2.2 Selection Criteria
The criteria for selecting priority actions comprised two categories. First, the major Regional
vulnerabilities identified above provided the substance from which priority actions were
derived. Second, agency priorities numbered 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 informed the process by
which the Region proposed to deal with these priority actions.
2.3 Impacts and Actions
Priority actions relating to the Regional vulnerabilities are summarized in Table 1 and the
discussion below provides more detail.
In order to most effectively adapt our ways of conducting business to the realities of climate
change, the Region proposes a process that relies on training, some infrastructure
enhancements, and constant monitoring and evaluation of indicators that signal climate
change in the Region. This approach lends itself to more quickly responding to the effects of
climate change than by prescribing many specific actions now which may be deemed
ineffective and inappropriate in short order. The discussion below reflects this philosophy.
Nonetheless, Table 2 presents specific programs the Region anticipates continuing to
emphasize in order to minimize the effects of climate change on Regional operations.
23
-------
May 30, 2014
2.4 Priority Actions for Identified Regional Vulnerabilities
Priority Climate Change Adaptation Actions for 2016
1. Deliver Regional training on climate adaptation to managers and staff;
2. Consider options for the new Regional facility lease that use renewable energy power sources,
energy efficient technologies, green infrastructure and low impact development approaches;
3. Mitigate drought impacts by setting water use efficiency goals and promotion of EPA's
WaterSense™ program;
4. Continue to strengthen emergency planning and preparedness capabilities within the Region to
enhance response capabilities for extreme weather events and natural disasters;
5. Work with Gulf Coast partners on coastal protection, restoration, and climate adaptation
planning priorities; and
6. Expand partnerships with stakeholders to enhance climate adaptation opportunities and
information sharing.
2.4.1 Higher mean temperatures, with more frequent and intense summer heat waves
The priority action in response to this anticipated impact would involve expanded training for
Regional staff in the air program, pesticides program, environmental justice program, and in
the Management Division. This training would emphasize the scientific basis and engineering
implications of climate change for human health, the efficiencies and risks in employing new
and/or alternate doses of existing pesticides, and safeguarding vulnerable urban populations.
This latter concern may influence debate and decision-making about the robustness of ozone
mitigation strategies in the Region. Also, Regional air program staff should understand the
increasing role of energy production emissions in air quality implementation strategies.
Management Division staff are likely to benefit from training that imparts better understanding
of energy vulnerabilities and needs for Regional facilities.
Together with existing Executive Orders 13514 and 13423 and the expiration of the lease on
the main Region 6 offices in Downtown Dallas in 2017, the Management Division should work
with the General Services Administration to consider options for a facility that makes broad use
of distributed energy generation such as solar, wind, and fuel cells, as well as highly energy
efficient technologies such as ground-source heat pumps. This emphasis would greatly reduce
the vulnerability of the Region to an increasingly stressed electricity grid and would significantly
reduce the Regional office's carbon emissions. Other considerations for the new facility that
would enhance energy efficiency improvement efforts include the use of WaterSense™
labeled products and the use of green infrastructure and low impact development approaches
where feasible.
2.4.2 More frequent and intense droughts in central and western areas of Region 6
The use of existing programs and tools will be expanded to accomplish priority goals in this
arena. Priority actions will include: set goals for enhancing water conservation in new Regional
24
-------
May 30, 2014
Office space; building upon the existing Region 6 web page devoted to the topic of drought;
promoting and expanding the use of tools such as Climate Ready Utilities and programs such
as WaterSense™, Sustainable Communities, Green Infrastructure, and Healthy Watersheds
leveraging and assisting states in using existing funding vehicles to support green
infrastructure, such as SRF, Green Project Reserve, and Clean Water Act Section 319 grants.
Expanded training for Water Quality Protection Division and Environmental Justice-Tribal
Affairs staff would focus on the increased pressures on agriculture, urban and rural residents,
and the power generation industry. While this would focus on water availability, increased
water quality concerns would also be part of this training, which would seek alternative ways to
conserve, reuse, and process water. Management Division staff would receive training in
implications for Regional facilities from increased droughts and water availability. In
conjunction with Executive Orders 13514 and 13423, Management Division staff should
consider enhanced water conservation measures. Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division
staff should receive training to educate them about the role of intense and more frequent
droughts and increased wildfires on regulatory programs such as the Regional Haze Program
and achieving the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).
2.4.3 Increase in extreme precipitation events
Given the intensive efforts in responding to hurricanes such as Katrina in 2005, the Region is
very aware of the magnitude of labor and resources required to respond to major natural
disasters. Because a climate change-forced future is likely to encourage stronger and perhaps
more numerous hurricanes striking Louisiana and Texas, the Region's Emergency Response
Branch in the Superfund Division will probably be even more active in this arena. Training for
these staff is necessary to prepare them for this likely increase in effort, emphasizing
opportunities for even more efficient operations; this training may also reveal a need for
additional personnel or contractor capability.
Beyond training, the recent events from Hurricane Sandy in the northeast U.S. reveal a critical
need for sufficient, uninterruptible power supplies, particularly critical for emergency
responders. In the future, with electricity grids perhaps chronically weakened and stressed by
the long-term effects of climate change, the demands of natural disasters such as major
hurricanes may be significantly more challenging and long-lasting to electricity generation and
transmission infrastructure. The same kinds of pressures can result from increased non-
hurricane flooding. Therefore, Region 6 believes its Emergency Response Branch should be
equipped with distributed generation equipment to produce the electricity it will need to ensure
that power is supplied to field operations. Further analysis would be needed to determine the
optimal mix of power modes (e.g., solar, wind, fuel cell, others). This infrastructure priority
would require a dedicated budget commitment, one that would likely require negotiations
between the Region and headquarters.
The Water Quality Protection Division and the Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal
Affairs staffs would benefit from supplemental training, emphasizing the special anticipated
needs for citizens increasingly impacted by flooding events, as well as temporary infrastructure
dislocations (e.g., waste water treatment plans and water distribution systems).
25
-------
May 30, 2014
2.4.4 Seasonal weather shifts
Water quality and quantity issues will drive adaptations that Region 6 staff should anticipate
and to which the Region will conform policies and procedures. Priorities will be placed on
working with state partners to explore existing infrastructure funding such as SRF to enhance
resiliency, promoting watershed planning tools to address the loss of natural storage and to
better absorb flashy runoff.
Promoting the use of EPA developed software tools among water utility groups such as
Climate Ready Utilities and GREAT 2.0 software will enhance climate adaptation planning in
this sector. Additionally, training of Regional Water Quality Protection Division and Multimedia
Planning and Permitting Division staff members is a goal. Pesticides staff in the Multimedia
Planning and Permitting Division should be trained to anticipate new and expanded pest and
weed problems that will endanger public, agricultural, and natural flora and fauna health.
2.4.5 Increasing rates of relative sea level rise and continued coastal land loss
Sea level rise and coastal land loss have long been significant problems in Region 6. The
Ecosystem Protection Branch will look for increased efficiencies in working with federal, state,
and local partners with a goal of optimizing ongoing efforts to restore, protect, and enhance
coastal habitats. The three Region 6 National Estuary Programs and the Coastal Wetland
Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program will lead the charge and efforts will be made
to improve the effectiveness of the limited resources available. Numerous other coastal
protection programs will play a role and additional ways to better integrate them into other
Regional programs will be evaluated.
Emerging priorities will involve providing technical and planning support for efforts such as the
Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Council, the Gulf of
Mexico Regional Planning Body as part of the National Ocean Council, and the Gulf of Mexico
Alliance. Climate change adaptation goals will be addressed by establishing, refining, or
expanding coastal restoration priorities.
Promoting the use of EPA developed tools, such as Climate Ready Estuaries software, among
key stakeholders involved in protecting and restoring coastal environments will enhance
climate adaptation planning. Internally, training to better familiarize Region 6 staff with long-
term implications of sea level rise on "core programs" could be accelerated. Staff of the Water
Quality Protection Division, the Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs, and the
Superfund Division would be the main recipients of the training.
2.4.6 Outreach, Partnerships, Communication, and Awareness
Beyond those actions described the Region plans to enhance our outreach, partnership, and
communication efforts. One of the top priorities would be to meet regularly with tribes, states,
and other government entities about anticipated climate change impacts and adaptation
challenges.
The Region has initiated this process by sponsoring specific climate change discussion
sessions at the 2011 and 2012 Annual Tribal Environmental Summits, by convening the first
Sustainable Practices Symposium for local elected officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in
August 2012 (including anticipated climate change impacts and adaptation options), and by
26
-------
May 30, 2014
hosting a climate change roundtable with agencies from Region 6 states in July 2008. The
Region has sponsored numerous other specialized workshops.
In the future, the Region proposes to continue holding climate change sessions at the Annual
Tribal Environmental Summits, sponsor climate change listening sessions at Regional Tribal
Operation Committee meetings, speak to individual tribes about climate change, support
sustainable practice/climate change workshops for local elected officials in the Region, and
schedule at least annual meetings with critical agencies of governments in each Region 6
state. The Region will also continue its actions to encourage climate change mitigation and
adaptation through approximately 30 national and regionally-initiated partnership programs.
Region 6 will also maintain close communications with state, local and tribal governments,
non-governmental organizations, colleges and universities, the private sector, other federal
agencies, and other EPA offices in order to properly sense and assess indicators of climate
change in the Region. This process will help inform the Region as to next specific steps to take
in coping with climate change.
Part 3: Measuring and Evaluating Performance
An important facet of both the priority actions relating to Regional vulnerabilities and those
involving outreach, partnerships, and communication will be performance measurement and
evaluation. To this end the Region plans to develop a methodology to assess its effectiveness
in accomplishing specific priority actions that grow from this Regional Implementation Plan.
3.1 Background
The EPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan emphasizes the need for measuring and evaluating
performance so that climate change adaptation is successfully integrated into the Agency's
operations. The agency-wide FY 2014-2018 Strategic Measures address this need by
including three such metrics. These include measures to integrate climate change science into
at least five rule-making processes; to integrate climate change adaptation impacts and
measures into at least five major grants, loans, contracts or technical assistance programs;
and to integrate such science into at least five major models and/or decision-support tools.
EPA understands the transition will be a gradual one as we strive to account for projected
climate change impacts into day-to-day operations. As the national Climate Change Adaptation
Plan states:
EPA recognizes that the integration of climate adaptation planning into its
programs, policies, rules, and operations will occur over time. This change will
happen in stages and measures should reflect this evolution. The earliest
changes in many programs will be changes in knowledge and awareness (e.g.,
increase in the awareness of EPA staff and their external partners of the
relevance of adaptation planning to their programs). Building on this knowledge,
they then will begin to change their behavior (e.g., increase their use of available
decision support tools to integrate adaptation planning into their work). As
programs mature, there will be evidence of more projects implemented as a
result of increased attention to climate-related programmatic issues. Finally, in
the long-term, adaptation planning efforts will lead to changes in condition (e.g.,
percentage of flood-prone communities that have increased their resilience to
27
-------
May 30, 2014
storm events) to directly support EPA's mission to protect human health and the
environment (U.S. EPA, 2012d).
3.2 Approach to Measuring and Evaluating Performance
Region 6 employs several tracking mechanisms to measure and evaluate performance of
internal operations and programmatic activities and outcomes during the year, many of which
relate directly to climate change adaptation. Each year, the Region is active in setting
commitments, monitoring progress and reporting results under the various National Program
Managers (NPM) Guidance documents issued by EPA program offices. In addition, Region 6
develops and reports semiannually on an Annual Plan designed to track additional measures
either not covered or sufficiently emphasized in the NPM guidance. The Annual Plan
showcases regional accomplishments in important program sectors and geographic and
ecological regions that uniquely characterize the priorities and challenges faced by Region 6.
The Region also tracks a variety of progress indicators under its Environmental Management
System. As shown in Appendix A, Regional involvement in developing and reporting progress
on climate adaptation and mitigation related initiatives is part of a cross division, multimedia
reporting and tracking effort. Moreover, the Region recently began hosting what will become
an annual "Earthapalooza" event which will serve as an Internal Educational Forum for Region
6 Employees to better acquaint them on climate change and sustainability topics (also
presented in Appendix A). Another tracking mechanism for measuring and evaluating climate
adaptation related progress involves the Region's Clean Energy and Climate Change (CECC)
workgroup. Initially charged with developing a CECC strategic plan which was completed in
2008, the workgroup reports annually on progress made in furthering the goals and objectives
outlined in the strategy, many of which relate to climate adaptation efforts.
The Region will continue to evaluate our operations and the dynamic needs of our customers
in the midst of a changing climate. This will be an adaptive process in order to constantly
identify any additional Regional priority actions that might be necessary. We will engage in
ongoing communications with state, local, and tribal governments; non-governmental
organizations; colleges and universities; the private sector; other federal agencies; and other
EPA offices in order to properly sense and assess indicators of climate change in the Region.
This process will help inform the Region as to next specific steps to take in coping with climate
change.
3.3 Measures
As Table 1 indicates, Region 6 priority adaptation actions in response to climate change
constitute significant amounts of personnel training. Most Divisions will require such training
first to evaluate the climate change impacts from the perspective of the various environmental
programs and then to evaluate the means with which the Region can best address the
impacts. Aside from program specific training, the Region will commit to holding at least one
annual training event on climate adaptation such as the "Earthapalooza" event to ensure
employees are aware of the issue and opportunities on how to integrate adaptation into their
daily work.
As part of implementing this plan, Region 6 will also develop a specific list of needed
programmatic training courses and a schedule for delivery. We will establish a roster of
Regional personnel that should receive this training and develop a post-training assessment
survey to determine the effectiveness of the training. Deficiencies in knowledge acquisition will
28
-------
May 30, 2014
be addressed through training revisions and/or course repetition. This training will be subject to
the availability of sufficient resources.
Beyond the Region's training efforts, several priority actions relate to the operation of Regional
office space, as reflected in the Regional Environmental Management System. These include
evaluating alternatives for electricity, energy efficiency, water, and distributed generation
infrastructure. Currently, it is not possible to measure these parameters given the way our
leased space meters electrical and water use. Should alternatives that would allow these
metrics to be tracked become available in the future, the Region will track electricity, energy,
and water use in its office and laboratory space, comparing these totals against those totals
prior to such improvements. In the case of any future acquisition of distributed generation
equipment for use in Regional Emergency Response actions, the Region will investigate the
feasibility of tracking the specific activities that required such power use and the amount of
power produced and used in the field. It will also assess the overall value in deploying these
types of units.
Additional programmatic metrics that will be tracked and reported on under this Implementation
Plan include the following initiatives (with the Region 6 project lead given in parentheses):
1. Provide training for staff and managers on climate change and adaptive measures;
2. Expand Partnerships with stakeholders to leverage their support with climate change
implementation efforts (6PD, 6SF, 6WQ);
3. Distribute Information on Availability of Assistance Agreements (e.g., grants) to
stakeholders facilitate climate change adaptation planning and implementation (6WQ,
6MD);
4. Provide technical assistance to tribes and environmental justice communities on the
development of climate change implementation plans (6PD, 6WQ);
5. Promote the use of tools such as Climate Ready Utilities and Climate Ready Estuaries
among states, tribes and stakeholder groups (6WQ);
6. Promote energy efficiency at water utilities through a series of workshops, focusing on
the US-Mexico Border area (6WQ);
7. Continue to require that 10% Regional Drinking Water and Clean Water State revolving
fund programs support green projects (6WQ);
8. Meet with Tribal and Environmental Justice communities at least once a year to provide
training on climate science and adaptation opportunities and practices (6PD, 6WQ);
9. Recruit 30 additional WaterSense™ partners each year as part of a Regional water
efficiency and conservation campaign (6WQ);
10. Seek opportunities in permitting, compliance assistance and enforcement actions,
remediation and site redevelopment options, as well as funding programs to further
expand green infrastructure, low impact development, and other sustainable practices
(Region 6);
11. Participate in outreach and pilot projects with states, local governments, tribes, non-
governmental organizations, and the private sector focused on implementation of low-
impact development (e.g., with the Texas Land-Water Sustainability Forum) (6PD);
12. Restore coastal habitat and reduce coastal land loss. Region 6 will work with a variety
of partners and through several different programs to promote the development of
scientific models, multi-use planning efforts, and implementation projects for coastal
Louisiana and Texas. Working through the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary
Program, the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, the Galveston Bay Estuary
29
-------
May 30, 2014
Program, and the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act Program
we will track and report on progress in terms of the number of acres restored, protected,
or enhanced per year, with a current goal of at least 3,000 acres per year (6WQ);
13. Work with EPA headquarters to evaluate what, if any, specific Regional actions may be
appropriate to include in the Agency's pilot rule-making processes; grants, loans,
contracts or technical assistance programs; or scientific models or decision-support
tools (Region 6);
14. Brownfields Cleanup and RLF recipients must meet the new term and condition which
requires them to consider changing climate conditions when evaluating remedial options
at a brownfields property. For Region 6, this new Term and Condition will apply to the
following grantees: FY13: three cleanup and five RLF grantees; FY14: one cleanup and
four RLF grantees (6SF);
15. The Region 6 Superfund Division has launched the "Greenovations" and "Green Bean"
Awards. Both awards recognize outstanding efforts in sustainability, including
promoting the utilization or production of renewable energy at Superfund sites. In May
2014, the Superfund Division awarded its first Greenovations Award to Waste
Management of Oklahoma for an innovative alternative energy production project, a
methane gas to liquids (diesel, paraffin wax, etc.), at a Superfund site in Oklahoma City.
The Region 6 Superfund Division will present at least one of these awards annually
(6SF).
16. Meet with State Agricultural Directors to discuss the President's Climate Change
Management Plan and Adaptation practices;
17. Revise and finalize Region 6 Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan based on
public comments;
18. Revise Region 6 climate change web page to expand coverage on adaptation planning;
19. Hold two climate adaptation workshops for environmental justice and tribal
communities;
20. Pilot test a training module on climate adaptation for the Office of Policy;
21. Hold a climate adaptation and emergency planning and response workshop in New
Orleans; and
22. Work in partnership with the Department of Transportation, the Middle Rio Grande
Council of Governments, and other federal and state agencies to develop a climate
change planning scenario project that identifies the benefits of adaptive practices for
transportation and other infrastructure choices in light of a changing climate.
30
-------
May 30, 2014
These measures will be tracked and reported on annually. In addition, the measures will be
reviewed regularly and revised as needed to include new initiatives to promote climate
adaptation. Higher priority measures that will receive particular focus during the next three
years are presented in the text box below:
By 2016, EPA Region 6 will strive to:
1. Train all staff and managers on climate change adaptation;
2. Provide five climate adaptation workshops to Region 6 tribal and environmental justice communities;
3. Recruit 100 new WaterSense™ partners;
4. Expand the Region's extreme weather and natural disaster emergency planning and response
capabilities;
5. Improve technical information transfer to state and tribes on climate science and adaptive measures
by updates to our climate change website;
6. Require that at least 10% of Regional Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving fund awards
support green projects;
7. Hold three energy efficiency workshops at water utilities;
8. Protect or restore 9,000 acres of coastal wetlands;
9. Begin an annual "Greenovations" award program to recognize outstanding efforts in sustainability; and
10. Reach out to state environmental and agricultural directors to discuss the President's Climate Change
Management Plan and Adaptation Measures.
3.4 Greening Assistance Agreements
In addition to the performance measures and tracking noted above, EPA Region 6 will identify
opportunities to promote climate resilient investments in keeping with directives to federal
agencies such as Executive Order 13653. While the draft Climate Change Adaptation
Implementation Plan does not mandate any funding requirements in grant programs, EPA
Region 6 will follow Executive Order 13653 relating to grants, which specifically directs federal
agencies to:
(i) identify and seek to remove or reform barriers that discourage investments or other actions
to increase the Nation's resilience to climate change while ensuring continued protection of
public health and the environment;
(ii) reform policies and Federal funding programs that may, perhaps unintentionally, increase
the vulnerability of natural or built systems, economic sectors, natural resources, or
communities to climate change related risks;
(iii) identify opportunities to support and encourage smarter, more climate resilient investments
by States, local communities, and tribes, including by providing incentives through agency
guidance, grants, technical assistance, performance measures, safety considerations, and
other programs, including in the context of infrastructure development; and
(iv) report on their progress in achieving the requirements identified above, including
accomplished and planned milestones, in the Agency Adaptation Plans, developed in
response to of Executive Order 13514, which calls for all Federal Agencies to develop a plan
on how they will address climate change adaptation.
31
-------
May 30, 2014
EPA Region 6 further notes that existing grant programs such as the CWA 319 program, and
the DW and CWSRF programs can and have been used to support climate adaptation related
activities such as green infrastructure projects, low impact development projects, green roof
projects, as well as energy and water efficiency projects to name a few.
Part 4: Working with Tribes and Other Sensitive Populations
Two fundamental priorities of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan involve working
with tribes to improve their adaptation capacity and focusing on the most vulnerable peoples
and places. Many climate change strategy documents conclude that tribal and other vulnerable
populations will be the hardest hit by changes in climate because they rely on the land for
subsistence and may be less able to readily adapt due to a lack of resources. The Region 6
Implementation Plan aims to improve and expand communications, training, and other
outreach efforts with these groups to enable them to better adapt to climate change impacts.
4.1 Partnerships with Tribes
EPA values its unique government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes in planning
and decision making. This trust responsibility has been established over time and is further
expressed in the 7984 EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian
Reservations and the 2011 Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes. These
policies recognize and support the sovereign decision-making authority of tribal governments.
Supporting the development of adaptive capacity among tribes is a priority for the EPA. Tribes
are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the integral nature of the
environment within their traditional culture. There is a strong need to develop adaptation
strategies that promote sustainability and reduce the impact of climate change on Indian tribes.
EPA engaged tribes through a formal consultation process in the development of the Agency's
Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Tribes identified some of the most pressing issues as
erosion, temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and quality of water.
Tribes recommended a number of tools and strategies to address these issues, including
improving access to data and information; supporting baseline research to better track the
effects of climate change; developing community-level education and awareness materials;
and providing financial and technical support. At the same time, tribes challenged EPA to
coordinate climate change activities among federal agencies so that resources are better
leveraged and administrative burdens are reduced.
This Implementation Plan identifies specific steps that will be taken to partner with tribal
governments on an ongoing basis to increase their adaptive capacity and address their
adaptation-related priorities. These collaborative efforts will benefit from the expertise provided
by our tribal partners and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) they possess. TEK is a
valuable body of knowledge in assessing the current and future impacts of climate change and
has been used by tribes for millennia as a valuable tool to adapt to changing surroundings.
Consistent with the principles in the 1984 Indian Policy, TEK is viewed as a complementary
resource that can inform planning and decision-making.
Networks and partnerships already in place will be used to assist tribes with climate change
issues, including Regional Tribal Operations Committees, the Institute for Tribal Environmental
Professionals and the Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP). Additionally, efforts will be
made to coordinate with other Regional and Program Offices in EPA, since climate change has
32
-------
May 30, 2014
many impacts that transcend media and regional boundaries. Transparency and information
sharing will be a focus, in order to leverage activities already taking place within EPA Offices
and tribal governments.
4.1.1 Building Tribal Adaptive Capacity
Sixty-six federally recognized tribes are located in Region 6. Consistent with tribal sovereignty,
Region 6 partners with these tribes on a government to government basis to strengthen our
relationships so we are better able to fulfill our mission of protecting human health and the
environment for all Region 6 residents. Tribal communities will potentially experience
disproportionate impacts of climate change because of their reliance on natural resources,
which support subsistence hunting, fishing, recreational and other important cultural practices.
Moreover, a general lack of resources to implement adaptation measures will further
compound climate change impacts. In response, Region 6 announced at the Spring Regional
Tribal Operations Council meeting in Tulsa (April 3, 2013) the formation of a Region 6 Tribal
Climate Change Adaptation Planning Workgroup. The purpose of the workgroup is to form a
community of practice among EPA Region 6 and its tribal communities to assist in the
development of climate adaptation plans. The objectives are:
1) Create a network of professionals to help inform the development of adaptation
plans for Tribal communities;
2) Share scientific information, TEK, grant opportunities, adaptation tools, best
practices, and success stories;
3) Provide tribes with guidance and feedback from EPA as they develop their
adaptation plans; and
4) Replicate effective adaptation planning efforts.
EPA Region 6 will also partner with the South Central Climate Center (Norman, Oklahoma)
and other federal agencies to deliver information and training and to announce the availability
of grants, tools and pertinent resources to support adaptation activities.
4.2 Focusing on the Most Vulnerable People and Places
Certain parts of the population, such as children, the elderly, minorities and the poor, persons
with underlying medical conditions and disabilities, those with limited access to information,
and tribal and indigenous populations, can be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change. Also, certain geographic locations and communities are particularly vulnerable, such
as those located in low-lying coastal areas. One of the principles guiding EPA's efforts to
integrate climate adaptation into its programs, policies and rules calls for its adaptation plans to
prioritize helping people, places and infrastructure that are most vulnerable to climate impacts,
and to be designed and implemented with meaningful involvement from all parts of society.
This Implementation Plan identifies key programmatic vulnerabilities and the priority actions
that will be taken to address those vulnerabilities over time. As the work called for in this Plan
is conducted, the communities and demographic groups most vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change will be identified. The Agency will then work in partnership with these
communities to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change impacts.
These efforts will be informed by experiences with previous extreme weather events,
especially those that have impacted the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas (e.g., Hurricanes
Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Gustav.) and the subsequent recovery efforts.
33
-------
May 30, 2014
Direct impacts on the vulnerable groups in areas experiencing rapid climate change may
include not only changes in ecosystem function and production, but also human health impacts
such as increased illnesses, injuries and deaths from heat waves, extreme weather events,
flooding, and wildfires, as well as respiratory illnesses caused by deteriorations in air quality.
Indirect health impacts could include illnesses and deaths that may arise from climate-related
changes in ecosystems, migration of infectious agents and disease vectors, or reductions in
agricultural and livestock production. Through the Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal
Affairs and other program offices, EPA Region 6 will strive to build the adaptive capacity of
populations in all areas of the region, but in particular those residing in the most vulnerable
places.
In Region 6, people living in areas along the U.S.-Mexico Border and along coastal Louisiana
are perhaps among the most vulnerable to climate change effects. Along the border, increases
in ambient air temperatures, reduced air and water quality, drought, and the threat of wildfires
represent perhaps the greatest climate change impacts. These stressors heighten the
importance of a strategic management of water resources, rangelands, and air quality, which
remain a critical part of the Region's environmental protection goals along the border.
Ecosystems in coastal Louisiana are already experiencing many stressors that threaten a way
of life for people living in this area. Some of these include the loss of habitat and alterations in
ecosystem functions due to factors such as land subsidence, eustatic sea level rise, saltwater
intrusion, coastal development, habitat fragmentation, hydrologic and landscape modifications
resulting from canals and levees, water and air pollution, and declining fishery resources. All of
these can be compounded, if not accelerated, by climate change effects. Moreover, increased
storm intensity for the area profoundly threaten human health and alter ecosystems, as
evidenced by recent hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike.
Region 6 program staff and managers will continue to work with within existing networks such
as the Region 6 U.S. Mexico Border Program Office, the Mexican Government, the Border
Environmental Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank in the
U.S. Mexico Border area, and with the Gulf of Mexico Program Office, the State of Louisiana
and related coastal conservation and protection agencies to ensure they possess the adaptive
capacity to integrate climate change considerations into existing programs, policies,
operations, and funding considerations. Adaptive capacity will be strengthened through
outreach and educational efforts, funding opportunities relating to climate adaptation, and the
delivery of climate adaptation tools such as Climate Ready Utilities and Climate Ready
Estuaries. In addition, Region 6 will continue to promote the Agency's water utility energy
efficiency and WaterSense programs to further strengthen adaptation activities while
introducing mitigation elements at the same time.
Part 5: Conclusions
Region 6 faces significant planning and implementation challenges as climate change occurs
in the 21st century and will practice an overall anticipatory philosophy regarding climate change
adaptation planning. As noted in the NCA3, climate change is happening now and the time to
adapt is now. This Regional Implementation Plan has identified internal priority actions
including infrastructure enhancement and training, which stem from five major identified
climate change vulnerabilities. Externally, the Region has identified technical assistance efforts
with a variety of partners, as well as enhanced outreach and communication to be important
34
-------
May 30, 2014
priority actions to fully address those vulnerabilities. Measuring and evaluating new priority
actions and ongoing adaptation initiatives will be important in gauging Regional effectiveness
in fulfilling our mission. This Regional Implementation Plan is certainly not an endpoint. It is
intended to be the first version of a plan that will change and mature as the Region's
knowledge of, and experience with, climate change adaptation grows. The Region's most
important goal remains to serve all its stakeholders in the most efficient and thorough means
possible, even as climate changes.
35
-------
May 30, 2014
Figures and Tables
Figure 1 - EPA-Region 6 Program Organization
Regional Administrator
Office of Environmental Justice
and Tribal Affairs
Office of
External Affairs
Management Division
Water Qualify
Protection Division
Office of the
Regional Counsel
Multimedia Planning
and Permitting Division
Superfund Division
Compliance Assurance
& Enforcement Division
36
-------
May 30, 2014
Table 1
EPA Region 6 Climate Change Vulnerabilities & Priority Actions
Anticipated
Impacts
Consequences
Involved
Programs
Priority Actions
A.
Higher mean
temperatures,
with more
frequent and
intense
summer "heat
waves" (NCA3,
2014)
Higher O3 and other
criteria air pollutants with
increased difficulty in
attaining health standards
(Chang etal., 2010);
Increased health risks
from "heat island" impacts
(Portier, et al., 2010);;
Multimedia
Planning and
Permitting
Division;
Management
Division
(facilities);
Office of
Environmental
Justice and
Tribal Affairs
Evaluate the potential for using distributed
generation electricity & energy efficiency
infrastructure enhancements in new
Regional office space and energy
infrastructure improvements to existing
office space, contingent upon budget &
GSA considerations; Training for Air,
Pesticides, Environmental Justice/Tribal
Affairs, and Management Division staff.
B.
More frequent
and intense
droughts in
central and
western part of
Region 6
Reduced agricultural
yields; decreased power
plant cooling capabilities;
consumer rationing;
decreased industrial water
availability; more wildfires;
increased blowing dust
Water Quality
Protection
Division;
Management
Division
(facilities);
Office of
Environmental
Justice and
Tribal Affairs;
Multimedia
Planning and
Permitting Div.
Evaluate the possibilities for enhancing
water conservation in new Regional Office
space; Build upon the existing Region 6
web page devoted to the topic of drought;
promote tools such as Climate Ready
Utilities and programs such as Water
Sense, Sustainable Communities, Green
Infrastructure, and Healthy Watersheds;
Leverage and assist states in using
existing funding vehicles to support green
infrastructure, such as SRF, Green Project
Reserve, and Clean Water Act Section 319
grants; Training for Water Quality
Protection Division, Environmental
Justice/Tribal Affairs, and Management
Division staff.
C.
Increase in
extreme
precipitation
events
More extensive flooding
and wind damage from
hurricanes; increased
stormwater runoff and
flashfloods from other
extreme weather events
Superfund
Division;
Water Quality
Protection
Division;
Office of
Environmental
Justice and
Tribal Affairs
Enhance emergency response capabilities
for these types of events; Enhance the
capabilities of the Center of Excellence for
quickly getting water and wastewater
facilities back on line following these
events; Provide technical assistance for
coastal habitat restoration and protection
through such venues as the Urban Waters
Initiative, three NEPs and CWPPRA;
Provide technical assistance in watershed
protection and planning through the 319
and CZARA programs in order to enhance
flood water retention; Training for staff in
Superfund and Emergency Response
Branch, Water Quality Protection Division,
and Environmental Justice/Tribal Affairs.
37
-------
May 30, 2014
D.
Seasonal
weather shifts
High-country snow melt
earlier in spring, with early
floods and summer water
deficits downstream;
increased pests and non-
native noxious weeds with
longer warm-season
periods
Multimedia
Planning and
Permitting
Division;
Water Quality
Protection
Division
Explore existing infrastructure funding such
as SRF to enhance resiliency; Promote
watershed planning tools to address the
loss of natural storage and to better absorb
flashy runoff; Training for Water Quality
Protection Division and Pesticides Section
staff
E.
Increasing
rates of relative
sea level rise
and continued
coastal land
loss
Accelerated loss and
degradation of estuarine
habitats, barrier islands,
and shorelines in
Louisiana and Texas;
Increase in inland floods
from coastal storms, local
precipitation, and
upstream flooding in major
river systems
Water Quality
Protection
Division;
Office of
Environmental
Justice and
Tribal Affairs;
Superfund
Division
Provide technical and planning support for
the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Task
Force, Gulf Ecosystem Restoration
Council, National Ocean Policy, and Gulf
of Mexico Alliance to establish restoration
priorities; Develop and implement
restoration projects through three National
Estuary Programs, Climate Ready
Estuaries Program, and CWPPRA;
Training for staff in Superfund and
Emergency Response, Water Quality
Protection Division, and Environmental
Justice/Tribal Affairs.
38
-------
May 30, 2014
Table 2
Current Climate Change Partnerships
Lead Region 6 Division
Program
Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division
Water Quality Protection Division
Management Division
Superfund Division
Office of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
Office of Regional Counsel
Ozone Advance, Energy Star, Federal Green
Challenge, Landfill Methane Outreach Program,
Repowering America, North Central Texas
Environmental Stewardship Forum, Blue Skyways
Collaborative, WasteWise, Urban Heat Island
Mitigation, Energy Efficiency-Renewable Energy in
SIPs, promoting ecological enhancements at RCRA
sites
WaterSense, Green Infrastructure, HUD-DOT-EPA
Partnership for Sustainable Communities, National
Estuary Program, Climate Ready Water Utilities
Program, CWPPRA, National Ocean Council, Gulf
Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Council, Gulf
of Mexico Program, Gulf Alliance, Gulf Tribal Climate
Adaptation Advisory Workgroup
Regional Environmental Management System, E.O.
13514 and 13423 compliance
Superfund and Brownfields projects utilizing
renewable energy
Environmental Justice Showcase Communities
Partnering with Office of Regional Counsel to fulfill
regulatory responsibilities while optimizing responses
to climate change-forced water and air compliance
issues
Continuing coordination with R6 program offices to
map out appropriate climate change adaptation
support while ensuring regulatory fidelity
39
-------
May 30, 2014
References Cited
Adger, W.N., S. Agrawala, M.M.Q. Mirza, C. Conde, K. O'Brien, J. Pulhin, R. Pulwarty, B. Smit,
and K. Takahashi (2007). Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and
capacity. In Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of
Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds.,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 717-743.
Carter, L. M., J. W. Jones, L. Berry, V. Burkett, J. F. Murley, J. Obeysekera, P. J. Schramm,
and D. Wear, 2014: Ch. 17: Southeast and the Caribbean. Climate Change Impacts in the
United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond,
and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 396-417. doi:10.7930/JON-
P22CB. On the Web: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/southeast
Chang, H. H., J. Zhou, and M. Fuentes, 2010: Impact of climate change on ambient ozone
level and mortality in southeastern United States. International Journal of Environmental
Research and Public Health, 7, 2866-2880, doi:10.3390/ijerph7072866
Christensen, J.H., B. Hewitson, A. Busuioc, A. Chen, X. Gao, I. Held, R. Jones, R.K. Kolli, W.-
T. Kwon, R. Laprise, V. Magana Rueda, L. Mearns, C.G. Menendez, J. Raisanen, A. Rinke, A.
Sarr and P. Whetton, 2007: Regional Climate Projections. In: Climate Change 2007: The
Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen,
M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 887-892.
CPRA, 2012. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana. Louisiana's
Comprehensive Master Plan fora Sustainable Coast, May 23, 2012.
http://www.coastalmasterplan.louisiana.gov
Deser, C., R. Knutti, S. Solomon, and A. Phillips. Communication of the role of natural variability
in future North American climate. Nature Climate Change 2: 775-779 (2012).
Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, 2011. Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Events Summary
August 2 — August 5, 2011 available at:
http://search.ercot.com/search?q=Energy+Emergencv+Alert+%28EEA%29+Events+Summarv
+Auaust+2+%E2%80%95+August+5%2C+2011+&btnG=Search+%3E&site=www All docume
nts&client=default frontend&proxvstylesheet=ercot com&output=xml no dtd&ie=utf-
8&oe=utf-8&ud=1 &sort=date%253AD%253AL%253Ad1 &entar=0
Field, C.B., L.D. Mortsch,, M. Brklacich, D.L. Forbes, P. Kovacs, J.A. Patz, S.W. Running and
M.J. Scott, 2007: North America. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.
Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J.
van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 617-652.
40
-------
May 30, 2014
Haines, A, A. McMichael, and P. Epstein. Environment and Health: 2. Global Climate Change
and Health, Canadian Medical Association Journal 163 (6): 729-734 (2000).
Knutson, Thomas R. Knutson, John L. McBride, Johnny Chan, Kerry Emanuel, Greg Holland,
Chris Landsea, Isaac Held, James P. Kossin, A. K. Srivastava and Masato Sugi. Tropical
Cyclones and Climate Change. Nature Geoscience 3, 157-163 (2010).
Longergan, S. The Role of Environmental Degradation in Population Displacement,
Environmental Change and Security Project Report 4: 5-15 (1998).
Martens, W., T. Jetten, and D. Focks. Sensitivity of Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Dengue to
Global Warming, Climate Change, 35 (2): 145-156 (1997).
Parris, A., P. Bromirski, V. Burkett, D. Cayan, M. Culver, J. Hall, R. Horton, K. Knuuti, R. Moss,
J. Obeysekera, A. Sallenger, and J. Weiss, 2012: Global Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the
United States National Climate Assessment. NOAA Tech Memo OAR CPO-1, 37 pp., National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD. [Available online at
http://scenarios.globalchange.gov/sites/default/files/NOAA SLR r3 0. pdfl
Portier, C. J., T. K. Thigpen, S. R. Carter, C. H. Dilworth, A. E. Grambsch, J. Gohlke, J. Hess,
S. N. Howard, G. Luber, J. T. Lutz, T. Maslak, N. Prudent, M. Radtke, J. P. Rosenthal, T.
Rowles, P. A. Sandifer, J. Scheraga, P. J. Schramm, D. Strickman, J. M. Trtanj, and P.-Y.
Whung, 2010: A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change: A Report Outlining the
Research Needs on the Human Health Effects of Climate Change, 80 pp., Environmental
Health Perspectives and the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, Research
Triangle Park, NC. [Available online at www. niehs.nih.gov/climatereport]
NCA3, 2014 Reference Citations
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, and J. G.
Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate
Assessment: Part 9. Climate of the Contiguous United States. NOAA Technical Report
NESDIS 142-9. 85 pp., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Washington, D.C. [Available online at
http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/technical reports/NOAA NESDIS Tech Report 142-9-
Climate of the Contiguous United States.pdfl
Garfin, G., G. Franco, H. Blanco, A. Comrie, P. Gonzalez, T. Piechota, R. Smyth, and R.
Waskom, 2014: Ch. 20: Southwest. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third
National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds.,
U.S. Global Change Research Program, 462-486. doi:10.7930/J08G8HMN.
[Available online at
http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/southwest1
Shafer, M., D. Ojima, J. M. Antle, D. Kluck, R. A. McPherson, S. Petersen, B. Scanlon, and K.
Sherman, 2014: Ch. 19: Great Plains. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third
National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds.,
U.S. Global Change Research Program, 441-461. doi:10.7930/JOD798BC.
41
-------
May 30, 2014
[Available online at
http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/great-plains1Nielsen-Gammon, J.C. The
Changing Climate of Texas in: The Impact of Global Warming on Texas Second Edition
[Schmandt, J., J. Clarkson, and G. North (eds.)]. University of Texas Press, Austin, 2011.
Stone, B, J. Hess, and H. Frumkin. Urban Form and Extreme Heat Events: Are Sprawling
Cities More Vulnerable to Climate Change Than Compact Cities? Environmental Health
Perspectives. 118(10): 1425-1428(2010).
U.S. EPA, 2012a. Adaptation Overview, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-
adaptation/adapt-overview.html
U.S. EPA, 2012b. Federal and EPA Adaptation Programs.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/fed-programs.html
U.S. EPA, 2012c. Great Plains Impacts & Adaptation, http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-
adaptation/greatplains.html
U.S. EPA, 2012d. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan
(Draft), June 2012. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/EPA-climate-change-adaptation-
plan-final-for-public-comment-2-7-13.pdf
U.S. EPA, 2011. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Statement on Climate Change
Adaptation, Lisa Jackson, Administrator, June 2, 2011.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/Downloads/impacts-adaptation/adaptation-statement.pdf
U.S. EPA. Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality: A
Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone (An Interim Report of the U.S.
EPA Global Change Research Program). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,
DC, EPA/600/R-07/094F, 2009.
USGCRP (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Karl, T.R., J.M. Melillo,
and T.C. Peterson (eds.). United States Global Change Research Program. Cambridge
University Press, New York, NY, USA.
42
-------
May 30, 2014
Appendix
Copy of All Hands Memo Announcing Regional Involvement in Climate Adaptation and
Mitigation Related Initiatives and the Announcement of "Earthapalooza" which will serve as an
Internal Educational Forum for Region 6 Employees
This is being sent as R6 All Employee Memo - Please do not reply to this mass mailing
This memo and all Region 6 "All Employee Memos" may be viewed on the Region 6 Intranet
NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW
April 4, 2013
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: How EPA Region 6 is Working to Achieve Better Environmental Practices
FROM: Ronnie Crossland /s/Ronnie Grassland
Acting Assistant Regional Administrator
for Management
TO: All EPA Region 6 Employees/SEEs/Contractors
As Earth Day approaches, I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the exciting ways EPA
Region 6 is working to achieve better environmental practices, and how we as individuals can each
contribute. EPA is leading a change in how our society protects the environment and conserves
resources for future generations by encouraging Americans to rethink the way we manage our resources.
Not only are we taking steps within our own organization to reduce our environmental footprint through
the hard work of our Environmental Management System Team, but we are also challenging other
agencies, organizations, and municipalities to do the same through EPA's Sustainable Materials
Management Program; exploring ways to "green" sports events and venues as part of EPA's Green
Sports workgroup; and engaging in a pilot climate change mitigation initiative.
Below are highlights of these programs and what you can do to help.
Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Programs:
The SMM Programs provide opportunities for businesses, universities and government entities to
increase efficiency, reduce waste, and gain recognition for protecting human health and the
environment. There are three SMM programs:
43
-------
May 30, 2014
• Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) - Grocers, universities, stadiums, and other venues commit to
a three-year goal for reducing the amount of food reaching landfills by learning to purchase
leaner and divert food away from landfills for better uses. We currently have 143 participants
signed on to the challenge and collectively diverted 71,521 tons of food from landfills in 2011.
Contact: Golam Mustafa
• Electronics Challenge (FEC) - Electronics manufacturers and retailers who become a partner
of the Electronics Challenge commit to sending all their collected electronics to only certified
electronics recyclers. Certification seeks to ensure environmental excellence in managing used
electronics. EPA Region 6 has also lead by example by achieving the Federal Electronics
Challenge Platinum award for ensuring environmental excellence in the way we purchase, use,
and dispose of federally owned electronics.
Contact: Stephen Sturdivant
• Federal Green Challenge (FGC) - Federal Agencies commit to lead by example by reducing
their facilities' environmental impact and save money in two of six areas: waste, purchasing,
electronics, energy, water and transportation. We currently have 29 facilities representing 12
different federal agencies signed up as participants, including the EPA Region 6 facilities.
Contact: Joyce Stubblefield
Environmental Management System (EMS) Team:
The EMS team is a group of representatives from each division working towards encouraging
improvement in EPA Region 6's designated Significant Environmental Aspects: Electricity Use, Vehicle
Emissions and Fuel Use, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Electronics Stewardship and Green
Purchasing. Along with a focus on the Significant Environmental Aspects, the EMS team helps Region
6 meet SMM program commitments. Through the EMS team:
• Our goal of 5% paper reduction each FY has been exceeded, FY 2012 being the best year by
far
• The next big focus in our Regional Office will be green purchasing
• Region 6 joined the FGC, reducing their environmental impact in purchasing and electronics
Climate Change:
The Region's Clean Energy-Climate Change Workgroup, formed in 2008 with Divisional
representatives, continues to track and report annually on climate change mitigation and adaptation
activities in six sectors. These sectors include Greenhouse Gas Regulatory, Internal Conservation and
Efficiency, Alternative and Renewable Energy and Green Remediation, Climate Change Adaptation,
Sea Level Rise/Coastal Land Loss, and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Partnerships. Many different
activities which either directly or indirectly benefit climate stewardship are occurring throughout the
Region and are captured within these sectors.
The Region is completing a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, required by the
Council on Environmental Quality. It will focus on assessing challenges to Regional operations from
future climate change and taking steps to cope with these challenges. The Water Quality Protection
Division and the Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division are taking the lead in drafting the plan,
44
-------
May 30, 2014
with input from the other Divisions. Also, the Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division is engaged
in a pilot climate change mitigation initiative in 2013. This initiative focuses on encouraging voluntary
greenhouse gas emissions from stationary/area sources and on accelerating the purchase of green power
and installation of on-site renewable energy.
What can you do?
• Consider ways to reduce your food waste ( )
• Reduce paper usage by printing double sided or not printing at all
• Ensure electronic purchases are EPEAT certified and energy efficient options are enabled
(EJ )
• Recycle all paper and #1 plastics
• Turn off equipment and lights when not in use
• Commute efficiently by utilizing public transportation, carpooling, walking or riding your bike
when possible
• Participate in the EMS Team (contact Julia Alderete or David Bond for more information)
What's next?
• Come to the )E«etttHBltfff.I»ca!locaa»e« open house on April 11 from 10 am - 2 pm in
the 12th floor conference rooms to hear more about the SMM and EMS activities in Region 6
• Enjoy Earth Day themed movies the week of April 15
ORethink
45
------- |