Office of International
and Tribal Affairs
(OITA)
FY 2016-2017
National Program
Manager Guidance
PUBLICATION # 160P15002
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Table of Contents
I. EPA Overview to the FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidance 3
II. Introduction 3
III. Cross Agency Strategies 4
IV. EPA Tribal Program Overview 6
V. EPA Tribal Program National Focus Areas 7
VI. EPA's International Program Overview 10
VII. EPA International Priorities 12
VIII. Effective Management 17
IX. KEY CONTACTS APPENDIX 21
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The Overview to the NPM Guidances communicates important agency-wide information and
should be reviewed in conjunction with each of the FY 2016-17 NPM Guidances as well as other
applicable requirements. The Overview also includes important background information and the
cross-program areas that are critical to effective implementation of EPA' s environmental
programs in FY 2016-2017.
II. Introduction
The Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA)'s NPM Guidance (NPG) describes how
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will work together to protect human health and the
environment while advancing US national interests through international and tribal
environmental collaboration.
This Guidance addresses both the Tribal and International Programs and provides direction to the
Agency on tribal and international programmatic priorities for FY 2016-2017. Our tribal and
international partnerships extend to all aspects of the Agency's work and involve every NPM and
Region. As a result, it is increasingly necessary to ensure that these engagements reflect overall
Agency priorities and are consistent across the Agency. This Guidance does not propose new
performance measures or targets. However, it should be noted that OITA has performance
measures that are not in the Guidance, because they are tracked outside of the ACS process. New
measures and targets may be considered in future iterations of OITA's NPM Guidance. The
guidance is a guide, not a comprehensive compendium of activities and requirements. OITA
works collaboratively to identify priorities, assuring alignment with national and international
priorities. Specific expectations and deliverables will be established through negotiations in grant
agreements between EPA regions and tribes.
OITA plays a crucial role in advancing Agency's relationship and environmental priorities with
sovereign nations inside and outside the United States. Working with the experts from EPA's
other program and regional offices, other government agencies, tribes, foreign governments, and
international organizations, OITA identifies international environmental issues and helps
implement technical and policy options to address such issues. OITA also works to protect the
environment in Indian Country in the United States. OITA houses three Offices responsible for
accomplishing these goals.
The Office of Regional and Bilateral Affairs (ORB A) provides policy and programmatic
expertise for matters of environmental and geopolitical importance to the U.S. in other countries,
with a special emphasis on priority countries and regions. ORB A serves as the Agency's primary
point of contact with government officials and environmental experts in priority countries and
regions. ORBA develops Agency-wide strategies for priority countries and regions and maintains
relationships with multilateral experts and international environmental financial institutions in
order to advance work in these areas.
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The Office of Global Affairs and Policy (OGAP) provides policy and programmatic expertise for
environmental and human health issues that are multinational in scope. OGAP provides
institutional knowledge concerning relevant international organizations, serves as EPA's primary
point of contact with these entities, and develops EPA (and, as appropriate, United States
government) positions vis-a-vis these organizations. OGAP identifies broad emerging
international environmental issues and, in concert with internal and external partners, develops
initiatives to address these issues. In addition, OGAP engages on the domestic environmental
aspects of international instruments, such as trade, finance, and investment agreements.
OITA also includes the American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO), which leads and
coordinates the Agency-wide effort to strengthen public health and environmental protection in
Indian country, with a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own environmental
programs. AIEO leads EPA's efforts to protect human health and the environment of federally
recognized tribes by supporting implementation of federal environmental laws consistent with
the federal trust responsibility, the government-to-government relationship, and EPA's 1984
Indian Policy.
As part of the process for identifying national tribal program focus areas, OITA sought early
input from tribes on the FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidance through several early engagement
mechanisms. On October 27, 2014 AIEO hosted a national conference call with tribal
environmental professionals. Tribal representatives from across the country participated on the
call and discussed the development of the FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidance. Several sections of the
FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidance were influenced by tribal comments, most notably the emphasis
on EPA's continuing commitment to consultation on a government-to-government basis.
OITA also receives continual tribal government input on environmental priorities. This
interaction occurs through established mechanisms such as meetings with the National Tribal
Caucus (NTC) and other EPA tribal partnership groups, and meetings with tribal leaders and
tribal environmental professionals. Attendance and discussion with tribal leaders and staff at
national meetings and conferences adds additional early engagement.
III. Cross Agency Strategies
To support EPA's mission in managing towards achieving environmental and human health
results, OITA works in partnership, both internally and externally, to accomplish these results.
Programmatically throughout the next several years, OITA will work to implement EPA's cross-
cutting strategies of working toward a sustainable future; working to make a visible difference in
communities; and launching a new era of partnerships. These cross-cutting strategies stem from
the Agency's priorities and are designed to fundamentally change how we work to achieve the
mission outcomes articulated under EPA's five strategic goals.
1. Working Toward a Sustainable Future
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OITA will work within and across programs, use all available tools, and implement innovative
approaches to apply sustainability principles to its work internationally and in Indian country.
For instance, EPA will leverage U.S. involvement at the multilateral, regional and bilateral level
to implement cross-cutting programs on sustainability that advance multiple international
priorities simultaneously. In addition, OITA will take a lead role in integrating core elements of
EPA international sustainability cooperation efforts in development and implementation of
EPA's Sustainability Plan, coordinating inputs from key NPMs and Regions.
Globally, governments, organizations, and industry are increasingly seeking to promote
sustainable economic development through a number of efforts, including improving urban
sustainability and infrastructure and greening supply chains. OITA will lead EPA's international
sustainability efforts and facilitates. EPA's collaborative interaction with key international
partners that promote policies and programs that support sustainable development and
innovation, particularly with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, and regional partners.
2. Working Toward a Making a Visible Difference in Communities
OITA will work collaboratively across all programs and hand in hand with other federal agencies
(e.g., Department of State, Department of Interior, etc), communities, and particularly focusing
in Indian Country; to improve the health of all families and protect the environment. For
example, OITA will continue to support tribal youth through EPA's Tribal ecoAmbassadors.
This program supports tribal students in training and conducting research, and environmental
solutions for tribal communities and sharing with tribal partners. In 2016-2017, we will
strengthen this important partnership between EPA and tribal communities. In addition, OITA
will implement community action projects through Commission for Environmental
Cooperation's (CEC) North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action
(NAPECA) grant program.
Through EPA's Public Participation Toolkit, OITA will work with NPMs to increase access to
EPA-community based resources, conducting outreach and building partnerships to help foreign
partners reach out to and include communities in decision making processes. Under the new EPA
Policy on EnvironmentalJustice for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes and Indigenous
Peoples (2014), EPA will work toward greater community involvement in federal program
implementation in Indian country.
3. Launching a new era of Tribal and International Partnerships
OITA will continue to strengthen partnerships with tribes and the global community that are
central to the success of the national environmental protection program through consultation,
collaboration, and shared accountability. In FY 2016-2017, OITA will focus on increasing
tribal capacity to establish and implement environmental programs while ensuring that our
national programs are as effective in Indian country as they are throughout the rest of the nation.
And we will strengthen our cross-cultural sensitivity with tribes, recognizing that tribes have
cultural, jurisdictional, and legal features that must be considered when coordinating and
implementing environmental programs in Indian country.
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OITA will build on our international partnerships to achieve our domestic environmental and
human health goals, including those with the governments, business community, NGOs, and
academics. OITA will strengthen existing and build new international partnerships to encourage
increased international commitment to sustainability goals and to promote a new era of global
environmental stewardship based on common interests, shared values, and mutual respect.
IV. EPA Tribal Program Overview
EPA's Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations (1984
Indian Policy) provides the framework for EPA's relationship with federally recognized Indian
tribes (tribes) and identifies the mechanisms EPA and tribes use to implement environmental
programs in Indian country under federal environmental laws.
EPA headquarters and regional offices will continue to embrace and champion the principles
found in the 1984 Indian Policy and work to incorporate the Policy into the media-specific
priorities, goals and measures that EPA headquarters and regional offices lead, implement, and
support with tribes.
Within the context of the 1984 Indian Policy, OITA reemphasizes three overarching tribal
program principles to assist in guiding activities under the four national focus areas identified for
FY 2016-17.
The overarching tribal program principles for FY 2016-17 are:
EPA acts in a manner consistent with the government-to-government relationship with
tribes;
EPA and tribes work together to identify, design and implement environmental programs
that are protective of human health and the environment; and,
EPA collaborates in a meaningful, open and interactive manner with tribes in areas of
mutual concern.
These principles embody the expectations EPA has with respect to the manner in which we
engage with tribes as we work together on the following four national focus areas.
Three of the national focus areas for FY 2016-17 continue from the previous NPM Guidance:
Implementation of Federal Environmental Programs in Indian Country;
Implementation of the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP); and,
Implementation of Tribal Consultation.
And one national focus areas for FY 2016-17 is new:
Identification and Protection of Tribal Treaty Rights.
The three ongoing national focus areas emphasize the traditional building blocks of the tribal
program. The new national focus area provides emphasis to the effort to ensure protection of
tribal rights found in treaties.
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V. EPA Tribal Program National Focus Areas
1 - Implementation of Federal Environmental Programs
EPA will continue to work directly with tribes to achieve implementation of federal
environmental programs in Indian country. This is achieved through two approaches under
Agency authorities:
1. Program delegations, approvals, or authorizations from EPA to tribes; and,
2. EPA direct implementation activities, that is, activities performed directly by EPA
personnel or EPA contractors to insure compliance with federal environmental laws in
Indian country.
To assist tribes in taking over, or receiving delegation of, federal environmental programs tribes
receive financial and technical assistance through the Indian Environmental General Assistance
Program (GAP). GAP assists tribes and intertribal consortia in planning, developing, and
establishing the capacity to implement programs administered by the EPA. OITA remains
committed to using GAP to help build tribal capacity to administer environmental protection
programs consistent with the federal laws the EPA is charged with implementing.
Through GAP, EPA also provides technical assistance to build environmental protection
program capacity for tribes that are not currently implementing federally authorized regulatory
programs or that may wish to go beyond federal requirements. This approach helps EPA ensure
that tribes have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the Agency's policy making,
standard setting, and direct implementation activities potentially affecting tribal interests.
OITA strongly believes that our national environmental programs should be as effective in
Indian country as they are throughout the rest of the Nation. In general, unless and until a tribal
government has assumed full responsibility for a delegable program, the applicable federal
environmental programs are implemented by EPA. EPA implementation of federal
environmental programs is equivalent inside and outside of Indian country. A continuing
emphasis on ensuring federal program implementation reflects the highest priority of the EPA
tribal program and the most proactive manner in which the Agency acts to protect human health
and the environment for tribes.
Representative Activities:
Direct Implementation of Federal Environmental Laws by EPA.
EPA programs and Region will encourage tribes to participate in policy-making and to
assume appropriate lesser or partial roles in the management of reservation programs. For
example, tribes may play an important role in helping to assure compliance for regulated
entities, including compliance assistance, information distribution, and identification of
regulated entities.
Regions will use Direct Implementation Tribal Cooperative Agreements (DITCAs),
where appropriate, to provide opportunities for tribes to perform program implementation
activities.
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Program Implementation of Delegable Programs by Tribes
Regions will encourage tribes who are interested to assume delegable responsibilities for
environmental program implementation under EPA statutes, and provide technical
assistance and guidance on the approval process as needed. Regions and NPMs should
continue to work closely to discuss eligibility and oversee consistency for streamlined
program approval reviews.
2 Implementation of the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program
(GAP)
GAP continues to be the primary resource to support the development and implementation of
tribal environmental programs. Following extensive consultation and coordination with tribal
governments, OITA released the revised Guidance on the Award and Management of General
Assistance Agreements for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia, (GAP Guidance) in May 2013.
Consistent with the revised guidance, substantive changes to the program management are
ongoing, including the identification of short term and long term indicators of tribal
environmental protection program capacity and the development of EPA-Tribal Environmental
Plans (ETEPs). ETEPs will allow EPA and tribes to align GAP work plan activities with both
EPA and tribal long-term goals and priorities.
The GAP Guidance enhances the EPA-tribal partnership by using ETEPs for joint strategic
planning, documenting mutual responsibilities for program development and implementation,
targeting resources to build tribal environmental program capacities, and measuring
environmental program development progress over time. ETEPs provide the "big" picture of
how the EPA and each tribe will work together to protect human health and the environment for
that tribe's lands within the context of EPA programs. Assessing the needs and priorities of
each tribe allows for a focused government-to-government discussion on actions to meet short-
and long-term tribal program development milestones. This joint planning process also
identifies areas where EPA may need to prioritize its work and resources for that particular tribe,
given the tribe's own priorities, environmental protection needs, and available resources. By
using ETEPs to identify priorities and then map how and when the priorities will be addressed
and by whom, EPA and tribes can then work together to identify technical and other resources
that may be necessary to implement the ETEP.
The fundamental concept of joint planning to achieve environmental protection goals was
originally developed by the very first EPA Tribal Operations Committee in 1994 in coordination
with the National Tribal Caucus of EPA's National Tribal Operations Committee. Many
Regions already have joint planning agreements in place, some in the form of an ETEP. ETEPs
reflect intermediate and long-term goals for planning, developing, establishing, and
implementing environmental protection programs. Regions should continue to work closely
with tribes to develop ETEPs consistent with their own schedules with the long-term goal of
completing the majority of them by FY 2017.
ETEPs should link to GAP work plans by identifying which environmental protection program
capacity indicators a tribe intends to establish and a general time line for establishing them. The
GAP Guidance provides a good starting point for tribes and EPA in the identification of
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appropriate indicators for any particular tribal program being developed. The new GAP
Guidance and the development of ETEPs will ensure the effective implementation of GAP and
the fundamental concepts embodied in the Indian Policy.
Representative Activities:
OITA will provide training to GAP Project Officers and GAP recipients on the revised
GAP Guidance.
Consistent with the revised GAP Guidance, Regions will develop ETEPs with each
federally recognized tribe requesting GAP funds in accordance with the developed
schedules.
3 - Implementation of EPA's Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian
Tribes
In May 2011, EPA finalized the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian
Tribes (Consultation Policy). The Consultation Policy states that EPA will "consult on a
government-to-government basis with federally recognized tribal governments when EPA
actions and decisions may affect tribal interests." EPA programs and Regions are applying the
Consultation Policy to their activities, and communicate regularly with their designated EPA
Tribal Consultation Advisor (TCA) to determine whether an EPA activity or decision is
appropriate for tribal consultation. EPA programs and Regions also work with their respective
tribal partnership groups on consultation questions and determinations. TCAs, and all Agency
employees, have a responsibility to ensure they are planning early with respect to activities,
policies, and actions to which the Consultation Policy applies. The Consultation Policy seeks to
strike a balance between providing sufficient guidance for purposes of achieving consistency and
predictability and allowing for, and encouraging, the tailoring of consultation approaches to
reflect the circumstances of each consultation situation and, if feasible, to accommodate the
preferences of tribal governments.
The EPA Consultation Policy states: "consultation is a process of meaningful communication
and coordination between EPA and tribal officials prior to EPA taking actions or implementing
decisions that may affect tribes." Consultation at EPA consists of four phases: (1)
identification; (2) notification; (3) input; and, (4) follow-up. The Consultation Policy details
appropriate roles and responsibilities for Agency managers and staff involved in the consultation
and coordination process. The Consultation Policy also establishes national guidelines and
institutional controls for consultation across EPA.
EPA's Assistant Administrator for OITA oversees coordination and implementation of tribal
consultation in accordance with the Consultation Policy, Executive Order 13175 "Consultation
and Coordination with Tribal Governments," and the 1984 Indian Policy.
Representative Activities:
OITA will make consultation opportunities publicly available on the Tribal Consultation
Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) available at http://tcots.epa.gov. OITA will
provide regular updates to EPA Senior management and OMB on TCOTS statistics.
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EPA Assistant Administrators and Regional Administrators will implement tribal
consultation under the Executive Order and EPA Consultation Policy, and ensure that all
four phases described in Consultation Policy are appropriately implemented.
EPA Leadership will also ensure timely entry of tribal consultation opportunities into
TCOTS to ensure opportunities for early and meaningful involvement.
Tribal Consultation Advisors will deliver two trainings to staff and managers in their
respective offices during FY 2016.
4 - Identification and Protection of Tribal Treaty Rights.
Under the U.S. Constitution, treaties have the same legal force as federal statutes. And the
United States' government-to-government relationship with and trust responsibility to federally
recognized Indian tribes reinforces the importance of honoring these treaty rights. As such,
EPA has an obligation to honor and respect tribal rights and resources protected by treaties.
While treaties do not expand EPA's authority, EPA must ensure its actions do not conflict with
tribal treaty rights. In addition, EPA tribal consultation efforts and programs should be
implemented to enhance protection of tribal treaty rights and treaty-covered resources when it
has discretion to do so.
Representative Activities:
OITA will provide training to EPA leadership and staff on the importance of tribal treaty
rights and their relevance to EPA's activities.
To help guide the Agency's decisions when treaty rights should be considered, the Office
of General Counsel and the American Indian Environmental Office will develop
additional documents to assist this effort, with input and consultation from tribes.
All four tribal program national focus areas are consistent with EPA's long-term strategy of
strengthening tribal partnerships. These partnerships are created by working together with tribal
governments to increase opportunities for consultation, collaboration, cooperation, and shared
accountability. In recognizing the unique relationship between the United States Government
and federally recognized tribes, EPA works on a government-to-government basis with tribal
governments and acknowledges the cultural, jurisdictional, and legal features that must be
considered when implementing federal environmental programs in Indian country. By pursuing
this cross-cutting strategy through annual action plans, we implement a deliberate, focused effort
to take tangible, measurable actions to transform the way EPA delivers environmental and
human health protection.
VI. EPA's International Program Overview
EPA has a long history of international collaboration on a wide range of global environmental
issues. The primary purpose of EPA's international program is to protect domestic human health
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and environmental by working with other countries and international organization to address
global environmental problems and risks. This purpose is accomplished by focusing on USG
international priorities and key strategies, regions, and countries, as well as multilateral efforts,
and develops Agency-wide strategies for these partnerships.
OITA works with EPA NPMs and Regional Offices in formulating U.S. international policies,
managing to EPA's International Goals and Objectives, and implementing EPA's international
programs, and providing technical assistance to other countries. Consistent with the
recommendations from the Office of Inspector General, OITA will continue to link anticipated
and achieved outcomes to the Agency's Strategic Goals. In FY 2016-2017, OITA will
strengthen its focus on prioritizing, allocating resources, and managing assistance agreements to
advance the Agency's Strategic Goals and international priorities while maximizing limited
resources most effectively and efficiently.
International Objectives
1 - Reduce Transboundary Pollution
Pollution does not stop at national borders. Transboundary flows of air pollutants occur between
the United States, Mexico, and Canada. EPA works with its immediate neighbors through the
Border 2020 program, U.S. Canada Air quality agreement, and the North America Commission
for Environmental Cooperation. In addition to working with key countries bilaterally, EPA
works to address global and international flows and sources of pollution through various
international forums. This work addresses atmospheric mercury, emissions from maritime
transport, international aviation, persistent organic pollutants, and Arctic contaminants.
2 - Advance U.S. Interests Abroad
OITA protects human health and the environment while advancing U.S. national interests
through international environmental collaboration. Working with the experts from EPA's other
program and regional offices, other government agencies, and other nations and international
organizations, OITA identifies international environmental issues and helps implement technical
and policy options to address them. This partnership helps safeguard the health and
environmental safety of individuals in the United States and abroad. Environmental protection
improves lives abroad, leading to a safer, more secure world. Environmental cooperation with
partner countries can advance U.S. goals on environmental challenges such as climate change
and mercury. Food products, pesticides, and other goods are traded globally and make their way
to American consumers. EPA works closely with other U.S. agencies, foreign governments, and
international organizations to develop international standards and approaches and strengthen
protections across the globe.
3 - Promote Good Environmental Governance
EPA engages with countries to build capacity for good environmental governance, including
judicial and legal frameworks, public participation mechanisms, and trade policy. OITA
coordinates with EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Office of General
Council in conducting trainings, hosting study tours, and managing bilateral programs on good
governance. Governance issues span environmental media. Enforcement and compliance actions
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are taken on the national and sub-national level. OITA will coordinate with NPMs and regions in
promoting good environmental governance policies internationally.
VII. EPA International Priorities
In 2010, EPA developed international priorities to strategically focus our engagement with
global partners. These priorities are: Building Strong Environmental Institutions and Legal
Structures; Combating Climate Change by Limiting Pollutants; Improving Air Quality;
Expanding Access to Clean Water; Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals; and Cleaning up
Electronic Waste. In this guidance, sustainability is identified as an international cross-cutting
area, as it spans multiple international priorities. When considering international collaboration
or engagements, OITA, EPA Regions, and NPMs should keep the Agency's international
priorities in mind. EPA Regions and NPMs are to consistently communicate and coordinate
with OITA when considering international requests and engaging in international activities. To
advance the Agency's international goals, EPA will conduct activities within the following
international focus areas that support EPA's six international priorities and one international
cross-cutting areasustainabilitywhich spans multiple priorities.
1 - Building Strong Environmental Institutions and Legal Structures
Countries need strong institutional structures to develop sound environmental policies and
enforce environmental protections. EPA will engage with countries to build capacity for good
governance, including judicial and legal frameworks, public participation approaches, and trade
policies. Overall trade policy will be coordinated by OITA for the Agency.
Representative Activities:
EPA will engage with other U.S. federal agencies and stakeholders to shape U.S. trade
policies, protect the integrity of U.S. domestic regulatory policies, and promote good
environmental governance with our trading partners. EPA will participate in bilateral
and multilateral international trade negotiations as part of the U.S. delegation. OITA
will work primarily with OGC, OCSPP, and OAR.
EPA will support, implement and expand the EPA Export Promotion Strategy, which
facilitates broadened international deployment of advanced environmental solutions
through trade in environmental technologies and more environmentally sustainable
products and services. OITA will work primarily with OW, OSWER and OAR to identify
appropriate technologies and to participate in trade missions with the Department of
Commerce.
Through existing agreements with the China Ministry of Environmental Protection,
Indonesia Ministry of Environment, and Environmental Protection Agency of Taiwan,
EPA will strengthen environmental governance frameworks such as environmental
impact assessments, environmental law and enforcement; develop effective
environmental information management structures; and build regional expert networks
and advance regional knowledge.
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Under the Free Trade Agreements, OITA will work with in Latin American countries in
Central and South America to strengthen environmental governance framework and build
regional expert networks.
EPA will coordinate with the Departments of Treasury and State to ensure that the
integration of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and North
American Development Bank (NADBank) will provide more efficient and accessible
services to border communities.
2 - Combating Climate Change by Limiting Pollutants
The President's Climate Action Plan commits to expanding new and existing initiative to address
global climate changes, including strengthening government response capacities. Climate
change is a global challenge that requires both domestic and international solutions. Climate
change impacts will increasingly affect us all, and vulnerable populations in the Arctic are
bearing some of the greatest impacts. EPA will promote global strategies to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and other climate forcing pollutants such as methane from landfills and black
carbon and will engage on climate adaptation for urban environments.
Representative Activities:
EPA will support the trilateral work of the CEC that will focus on Climate Change
mitigation and adaptation. Working closely with OAR, OEI, OCHP, Regions 1, 5, 6, 9,
and others, OITA will continue to support transition to low-carbon economies by
improving the comparability of greenhouse gas emissions inventories at the national,
state, and local levels in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Working with OW, OITA will
support gathering information to assess the impact of blue carbon in North America.
OITA, with the support of OCHP and OCSPP, will also promote trilateral support to
community-based adaptations that enhance resilience to impacts from climate change that
affect both physical and social environments.
EPA will continue to lead several areas of work in the Arctic, including through the
Arctic Council and with the Government of Russia. During the U.S. Chairmanship of
the Arctic Council from May 2015 - May 2017, EPA will continue to address Short-
Lived Climate Forcers, particularly black carbon, in the Arctic, specifically focusing on
diesel black carbon in the Russian Arctic, and implementation of the Arctic Council
Framework on Enhanced Action to Reduce Black Carbon and Methane. OITA will
work with OAR, ORD, OSWER, Region 10 and other relevant Agency offices to shape
and implement other high profile projects during the U.S. Chairmanship, including work
to expand the use of traditional ecological knowledge.
EPA will promote effective implementation of the International Maritime Organization's
"Mandatory Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters," or Polar Code, part of broader
portfolio of work within the International Maritime Organization that addresses air
quality, water quality, toxics, and climate change. As climate change and technological
advances in ship design and construction facilitates increased use of the Arctic Ocean,
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this Polar Code will outline technical standards and operational guidelines to better
protect this unique, vulnerable environment against the impacts of shipping.
OITA will continue its engagement with BECC and NADBank, OAR, and Regions 6 and
9 to promote reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and renewable
energy along the U.S. - Mexico Border. Priority efforts include completion of climate
change action plans in each of the six northern Mexican Border states and support of
BECC/NADBank project development efforts that promote and fund energy efficiency
and renewable energy (solar and wind) projects in the Border region that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and other climate forcing pollutants.
3 - Improving Air Quality
The World Health Organization reports that in 2012, approximately 7 million people died as a
result of air pollution exposure and finds that air pollution is the world's largest single
environmental health risk. Much of the pollution that contributes to climate change and
increases public health risks, such as asthma and other respiratory diseases, is concentrated in
urban areas which are growing in the U.S. and around the world. It is increasingly important to
develop new measures and initiatives to address growing urban air pollution both at home and
abroad.
Representative Activities:
EPA will work trilaterally through the CEC to evaluate the impact of shipping emissions
on public health and the environment, including sharing information on technologies for
compliance with the International Maritime Organization's ship air pollution standards
and the North American Emissions Control Area and providing technical assistance CEC
to conduct air quality and human health benefits modeling to evaluate the public health
and environmental benefits of reducing ship emissions in North American waters. EPA
will also provide leadership and technical assistance through a CEC project to enhance
compliance with, and the enforcement of, sulfur emissions standards for ships operating
in designated Emission Control Areas. OITA will collaborate with OECA, OAR, OGC,
OW, ORD, and Regions 4, 6, and 9 as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of
State and counterparts from Canada and Mexico.
OITA will continue engagement with OAR, BECC and NADBank, and Regions 6 and 9
to reduce air pollution in binational airsheds along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Priority
efforts include quantifying emissions from idling vehicles at the ports-of-entry to better
understand this source of pollution, identifying and implementing emission reduction
strategies and, and working with U.S. and Mexican partners to operate and maintain
effective air monitoring to better understand the transport of binational pollution affecting
border communities.
OITA and OAR will work with bilateral and partnerships to improve air quality and
public health in key priority countries and regions by reducing air emissions from
vehicles and promoting low sulfur fuels.
OITA, OAR, and Regions 1, 9, and 10 will help cities throughout Asia to develop
independent certification and incentive programs to encourage voluntary actions to
reduce the adverse effects of air pollution. EPA will collaborate with Clean Air Asia and
EPA Taiwan to provide technical expertise, pair partner cities in Asia addressing parallel
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air quality challenges, and provide a knowledge platform to share air quality expertise
and report progress.
OITA, OAR, and Regions 9 and 10 will continue the work of the Pacific Ports Clean Air
Collaborative and advance sustainability initiatives in Asia-Pacific ports to reduce air
pollution emissions from marine ports and vessels and broaden collaboration to include
key U.S. and Asia-Pacific ports, environmental agencies, and other partners. Building
on the existing collaboration, EPA will work with China to develop a new initiative to
reduce air emissions form marine ports and vessels.
4 - Expanding Access to Clean Water
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that global access to safe water and adequate
sanitation can reduce illness and death form illness and death from disease, leading to improved
health, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development. Inadequate access to clean water
and sanitation services in the United States and throughout the world remains a serious peril,
especially for vulnerable populations. EPA will help support long-term, sustainable and high-
quality drinking water and sanitation systems for overburdened and underserved communities.
Representative Activities:
Under the U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Program, EPA will work with U.S. and Mexican
partners to address the lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate collection and
treatment of wastewater, management of stormwater pollution, public access to water
quality data, and impacts of climate change that affect precipitation patterns and duration
of droughts in border watersheds and communities. EPA will work with BECC and the
NADBank to pursue the financing and implementation of environmental infrastructure
projects addressing a clean and healthy border environment.
EPA will promote innovative technologies and measures for clean and efficient marine
transportation in North America, including supporting best practices for applying
conservation and restoration approaches to establish carbon budgets for coastal and
marine blue carbon ecosystems.
EPA will promote the use of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) in Africa as an important
approach for ensuring drinking water quality in urban utilities, building the WSP network
throughout Africa, and working to include informal settlements into these urban utility
networks. In West Africa, EPA will work with USAID and country partners to build
institutions and legal structures to support clean water and to strengthen the capacity of
water utilities and water laboratories to effectively monitor and accurately analyze
drinking water and wastewater systems. This work includes technical support from
ORD, OGC and OW.
5 - Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
EPA engages governments around the world, as well as partners like the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP), to reduce the impact to human health and the environment of
toxic chemicals such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, and from hazardous
waste and contaminated sites. OITA leads EPA's participation in negotiations and
implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted in January 2013.
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Representative Activities:
EPA will engage in targeted technical assistance and capacity building to facilitate
implementation of the Minamata Convention while continuing to achieve public health
and environmental benefits from use and emissions reductions. OITA will work with
OAR, OCSPP, and OSWER to develop and implement technical assistance and capacity
building programs that address key implementation needs of selected countries. OITA
will also work with OGC, OAR, OCSPP, OSWER, and OW to track our domestic
implementation and ensure the development of sound guidance and procedures under the
Convention as it moves towards entry into force..
EPA will work with the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance) to
promote the global phase out of lead in paints. EPA will participate in the Lead Paint
Alliance Advisory Group and provide technical and policy expertise in the development
of projects, tools, policy approaches and awareness raising efforts. OITA will co-lead
these efforts with OCSPP and engage other interested NPMs, including OGC and the
Office of Children's Health Protection.
EPA will continue engagement with and support of building the capacity in North
America to develop tools and viable technical programs that will ensure the
environmentally sound management of spent lead-acid batteries across the region and
thus reduce human exposure and environmental ecosystems impacts from lead.
OITA will continue engagement with the Office of Children's Health, OCSPP, the U.S.-
Mexico Border Health Commission, and Regions 6 and 9 to reduce exposure to toxic
chemicals in border communities. Priority efforts include workshops and training on
healthy homes to raise awareness and reduce exposure to lead paint, mercury, and
pesticides and assessing the state of environmental health along the border and create
environmental health curriculum targeted to community health workers (Promotores).
As part of EPA's collaboration with Taiwan, OITA with support from OSWER and
Region 9 will support capacity building regional site remediation work in the Asia-
Pacific region to reduce risks from contaminated sites.
6 - Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the U.S. and the world and cleaning up e-
waste has become a global priority. In response to this challenge and a 2010 Presidential
Proclamation, EPA, the General Services Administration, and the Council on Environmental
Quality led an interagency task force in the development of the National Strategy for Electronics
Stewardship which was released in July 2011. In alignment with this strategy, OITA leads
EPA's international efforts, through both bilateral and global efforts, engaging with OSWER,
OECA, OGC, OCSPP, ORD and Regions 3, 8 and 9.
Representative Activities:
EPA will work with governments, industry, NGOs, and international organizations,
particularly the United Nations Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative, to improve
the understanding of the global flows of e-waste. EPA will support the development of
information on global flows and ensure this information is shared with stakeholders in
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order to reduce harm to the environment and human health from U.S. exports of e-waste
and improve safe handling of used electronics in developing countries.
OITA with support from OSWER, OECA, ORD, and Regions 3 and 9, will work with
Taiwan EPA to lead a new Asia-Pacific regional network designed to facilitate the
development and exchange of policy-level information on e-waste management. OITA,
OSWER, and Region 9 will also work in mainland China to implement pilot projects in
Beijing and Shenzhen.
In the Latin American and Caribbean regions, OITA will work with OSWER, OECA,
Region 2, Region 4, and other partners on building regional capacity for the
environmentally sound management of e-waste and other solid waste.
EPA will continue engagement with OSWER, BECC/NADBank, and Regions 6 and 9 to
promote the environmentally sound management of e-waste in Mexico. Priority efforts
include collecting over 15 tons of e-waste and build institutional capacity for e-waste best
practices in Mexico, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and
develop e-waste recycling markets in Mexico to develop environmentally sound
management of e-waste in Mexico
In Africa, EPA and its international partners will continue to strengthen Ethiopia's
sustainable e-waste recycling program that serves as a foundation for a $1 million Global
Environment Facility project in East Africa and disseminate lessons learned throughout
the region. Additional efforts to learn how e-waste imports are monitored in Nigeria will
provide valuable information to stakeholders on the burdens facing developing countries
that import high volumes of e-waste.
VIII. Effective Management
l. Agency HPO efforts
As today's environmental problems continue to increase in complexity, EPA's ability to respond
creatively, flexibly, and effectively will demand new approaches to problem-solving and the use
of new tools and technologies. OITA will support these efforts by establishing itself as a high
performing, results driven organization characterized by business practices that are collaborative,
efficient, and cost-effective. OITA will use new communication tools the Agency has provided
to enhance communication, transparency, and cooperative problem solving across the Agency
and with our domestic and international partners to advance protection of human health and the
domestic and global environment.
OITA will focus on streamlining business practices and its core program processes. OITA is
committed to process improvement through the application of LEAN methodologies and other
business practice improvement techniques, as well as the engagement of the expertise and
insights of Agency employees to identify opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
OITA will cultivate a work environment that offers high-quality work life for all employees by
engaging them in the decision making process, and providing opportunities for continuous
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learning. OITA will use recently developed collaboration tools to improve communication,
cross-program integration, access to information and transparency.
Financial instruments such as interagency agreements, grants, and contracts provide necessary
resources for EPA's ability to engage international and tribal partners and address key
environmental problems. Effective management and oversight of the financial resources that
fund these international engagements is vital for effective international and tribal programs.
OITA will practice outstanding financial resource stewardship to ensure that all OITA programs
use resources efficiently and operate with fiscal responsibility and management integrity.
By combining the strengths of a supportive work environment with a streamlined and
collaborative business culture, OITA will continue to establish itself as a high performing
organization. OITA will demonstrate positive environmental outcomes achieved as a result of
EPA's collaboration with other countries and organizations to improve environmental
governance, environmental cooperation and advance protection of human health and the
environment.
2. MO Us and International Agreements
EPA provides grants and enters into cooperative agreements with both foreign governments and
international organizations that support protecting human health and the environment while
advancing U.S. national interests through international environmental collaboration. OITA
supports EPA Environmental and Results policy (EPA Order 5700.7) and has established
processes to link proposed assistance agreements to the Agency's Strategic Plan; ensure that
outputs and outcomes are appropriately addressed in assistance agreement competitive funding
announcements, work plans, and performance reports. OITA considers how the results from
completed assistance agreement projects contribute to the Agency's programmatic goals and
responsibilities.
Working through the International Programs Council, OITA developed and finalized Guidance
on International Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Interagency Agreements (IA) and
Letters/Statements of Intent (LOI/SOI) in order to promote a consistent and coordinated policy
within the Agency. This Guidance is intended to ensure that the appropriate policy and legal
issues for establishing international MOUs, lAs and LOI/SOI are considered and incorporated
throughout the Agency, and is consistent with EPA Delegation of Authority 1-11. Interagency
Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (1200 TN542 dated 10/07/2010), which
delegates the authority to OITA to concur on lAs and MOUs where performance occurs outside
the United States.
The Guidance outlines a clear step-by-step process for the development of new international
agreements, and the review of existing ones by the Agency. When OITA is the designated lead
for an international agreement, it consults with relevant NPMs during the drafting/reviewing of
the agreement. When an NPM is the designated lead, it is encouraged to involve OITA staff from
the beginning, and is required to seek clearance from OITA at the Assistant Administrator level,
as well as clearance from OGC. Depending on the type of agreement, the Department of State
may need to provide its own clearance, which OITA helps facilitate.
OITA ensures that all EPA international agreements, regardless of size and type, conform to the
Agency's international policy goals, including:
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Whether the proposed activity(s) as stated in the statement of work advances the
Agency's Strategic Goals in advancing public health and environmental improvement
and clearly indicates how project outcomes will further the Agency's international
priorities;
Whether the project benefits any existing or proposed formal or informal
intergovernmental arrangement;
Whether, EPA's overall relationship with the country concerned is coordinated and
aligned; and
Whether the work is complementary and not a duplication of Agency's international
efforts.
* For more information, see Attachment A, Guidance on International Memoranda of
Understanding, Interagency Agreements, and Letters/Statements of Intent, May 2014.
3. OITA Measures
The Office of International and Tribal Affairs continues to work on developing and
strengthening program measures to capture accomplishments achieved by both the international
and tribal programs.
In the International arena, these accomplishments will be described in terms of performance
measures, of which there are of three types utilized in the Performance Measures Framework
developed by the managers and staff of the international program.
Outputs - products and services delivered, often referring to the completed activity, i.e.,
the amount of work done within the organization or by its contractors;
Intermediate Outcomes - an outcome that is expected to lead to a desired end but is not
an end in itself (such as service response time for police), and there may be multiple
intermediate outcomes to any service or program;
End Outcomes - the end result that is sought (such as reduced incidence of crime), and
there may be multiple end outcomes to any service or program.
For Tribal Capacity Building, OITA will continue its efforts to improve how it measures and
reports on the progress tribes have made in developing and implementing environmental
protection programs in Indian country. This effort will build on the Indian General Assistance
Program (GAP) guidance designed to improve tribal capacity development milestones beyond
the current indicator, which shows the percent of tribes implementing federal regulatory
programs.
For example, although some tribes may not seek primacy, authorization, approval, or delegation
of federal programs, they nonetheless remain important partners in ensuring environmental
protection. In other cases, a tribal government works with EPA to assist with the implementation
of federal environmental programs in Indian country. OITA will lead efforts in establishing
effective measures that capture the capacity development progress of tribes seeking to establish
and implement programs in these two areas while also continuing to measure and report on tribes
that EPA treats in a manner similar to a state.
New measures to reflect the progress EPA is making in building tribal capacity will be derived
from a multi-year effort. As a first step, the Agency recently completed the development of a
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suite of environmental protection program capacity-building indicators and published them in the
new GAP guidance. Tribes will use these indicators as they develop specific program capacities
under the GAP. These indicators reflect examples of the range of program capacities that tribes
develop, up to the program implementation phase.
4. Grant Guidance
OITA's goal for all assistance agreement programs is to expeditiously obligate grant funds
appropriated by Congress in the first year of availability. OITA, including partnering with
regional offices, works expeditiously to obligate, award, and expend annual appropriations in a
timely manner by focusing on minimizing any delays in obligating grant funds in the first year of
availability; working to reduce the accumulation of unexpended appropriations in awarded grants
to address unexpended appropriations in awarded grants; and continuing to accelerate grant
outlays.
In addition, OITA continues to place a high priority on effective grants management by working
in partnership with Project Officers, Regional contacts, and OITA managers in disseminating,
implementing, and ensuring compliance with EPA new and existing grants management policies
and procedures. Specifically, we will strengthen our compliance, review, and monitoring of all
OITA grants and cooperative agreements by implementing the Post-Award Management Plan.
OITA supports the Agency policy (EPA Order 5700.5A1) to promote competition to the
maximum extent practicable in the award of assistance agreements. We will work with Project
officers to ensure compliance with Agency policy concerning competition in the award of grants
and cooperative agreements and ensure that the competitive process is fair and impartial, that all
applicants are evaluated only on the criteria stated in the announcement, and that no applicant
receives an unfair advantage. Where appropriate, OITA will incorporate Agency new
approach to boilerplate clause language in all situations, with the expectation of simplifying and
expediting the solicitation process.
Consistent with the recommendations from the Office of Inspector General, OITA will work
with regions to ensure that they negotiate environmental plans with tribes. The revised GAP
Guidance describes the EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans (ETEPs) that each tribal grantee will
establish with EPA to clarify mutual roles and responsibilities for addressing tribal priorities and
ensuring implementation of EPA program authorities. OITA considers the ability to track
impacts and progress of funding decisions to be essential to an effective government-to-
government joint strategic planning process. The items listed below are the four required
elements of an ETEP:
1) Tribal Environmental Programs and Priorities
2) EPA Programs and Priorities
3) Inventories of Regulated Entities
4) Mutual Roles and Responsibilities for Tribal Program Development Milestones and
Environmental Program Implementation
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EPA will track the number of tribes with ETEPs and will explore modifications to the GAP
Online assistance agreement work plan management tool to track capacity indicators linked to
the long-term goals identified in the ETEPs.
IX. KEY CONTACTS
Contact Name Subject Area Phone Email
Jeff Besougloff
Alexander
Metcalf
Joshua Novikoff
Ryan
Humrighouse
EPA Tribal Program
Global Affairs and Policy
Regional and Bilateral
Affairs
Grant Assistance
202-564-
0292
202-564-
0077
202-564-
1032
202-566-
1680
besougloff.jeff@epa,gov
metcalf.alexander@epa.gov
novikoff .j oshua@epa. gov
humrighouse.ryan@epa.gov
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