Publication Number 540S16002 Summary of Early Engagement with our Partners on FY 2018-2019 Priorities Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) Participants in the Early Engagement Process: OLEM (immediate office and program offices), EPA lead regions for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) & Superfund, states (Environmental Council of the States, Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) and state program implementers), tribes (National Tribal Caucus, Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program Steering Committee and tribal co-regulators) and locals (Local Government Advisory Committee, National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals and local governmental leaders). Process: During early August 2016, OLEM's Assistant Administrator initiated early engagement with our partners by notifying states, tribes, local government partners of OLEM's approach to discussing priorities for FYs 2018-2019. Within these email communications, OLEM briefly described the process by which it would seek input from its partners and included a list of meetings when priorities would be discussed. The communication also highlighted OLEM's National Areas of Focus for FY 2016 and FY 2017 as the basis for priority work in FY 2018 and beyond. During the early engagement period, OLEM program offices held in-person meetings and conference calls with state and tribal partners to discuss priorities and other important issues. OLEM also held a national conference call with federally-recognized tribes related to OLEM program and partner priorities. Additionally, the email address, NPMOLEM@epa.gov, was established for this period for partners to share their thoughts for priorities and/ or issues of concern. Page 1 of 6 ------- Date of Contact Venue EPA/ OLEM FY 2018-2019 Priorities Priorities/ Issues Raised by State, Tribal or Local Discussed Partner August 2, 2016 EPA OUST/ Discussed Office of Underground Storage ASTSWMO appreciated the opportunity to ASTSWMO Tanks (OUST) priorities. participate in the early engagement process and Tanks Prevention - they had no issues. They did provide some Subcommittee useful inputs and suggestions: Monthly call EPAct implementation including 3 year inspections. Bolster compatibility explanation in guidance. Regions work in Indian country including Implementation of new regulations is essential. inspections and implementing new Also need to educate owners and operators on regulations. new regulations. Also educate contractors. Ensuring compatibility. Must update and change the Significant Operational Compliance (SOC) measure. States implementing EPAct and new regulations. Insurance - issues with aging tanks and no longer being able to get insurance States working to get SPA. Update the Petroleum Vapor Intrusion (PVI) Cleanup - guidance to say "continue to implement" States manage and oversee cleanup. Include a more general statement about financial responsibility that is appropriate and States and EPA reduce backlog (including effective; This does not just include state funds. cleanups in Indian country). EPA in partnership with states develop Move the State Program Approval (SPA) and tools and training. Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) to program management Annual state fund soundness reviews. Enforcement. Page 2 of 6 ------- Date of Contact Venue EPA/ OLEM FY 2018-2019 Priorities Discussed Priorities/ Issues Raised by State, Tribal or Local Partner Implement vapor intrusion guidance. August 5, 2016 ASTSWMO Brownfields and Superfund Symposium EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) provided a brief overview of OLEM's early engagement process on behalf of EPA OLEM offices in attendance (EPA OSRTI, the Office of Brownfields Land and Revitalization (OBLR) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM)). No specific priorities discussed. None. August 22, 2016 Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Meeting EPA OEM indicated that oil spill prevention program will continue to focus resources toward the inspection of high risk Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Program and Facility Response Plans (FRP) facilities. The EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) will focus resources toward the inspection of high risk facilities, and will finish the remaining activities from the Chemical Safety Executive Order, such as final publication of the revised RMP rule. None. September 14, 2016 EPA OUST Tribal and EPA Underground Storage Tank (UST) Contacts Partnership between tribes and EPA. Implementing updated UST regulations. Petroleum Brownfields. Reference to Consultation Policy and Tribal Treaty Rights Guidance should be included in the guidance. Page 3 of 6 ------- Date of Contact Venue EPA/ OLEM FY 2018-2019 Priorities Discussed Priorities/ Issues Raised by State, Tribal or Local Partner Quarterly Teleconference Vapor Intrusion Guidance. Environmental Justice. Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Clarify that tribes can provide but are not required to provide underground storage tank operator training. Consider including opportunities for information and data sharing. September 22, 2016 OLEM early engagement call with tribes. OLEM program office representatives tracked OLEM's FY 2016-2017 National Program Manager (NPM) Guidance and FY 2017 Addendum to offer a similar and concise summary of what they anticipated their program priorities would be for FYs 2018-2019. In particular, EPA OEM indicated that the oil spill prevention program will continue to focus resources toward the inspection of high risk SPCC and FRP facilities. The RMP program also will focus resources toward the inspection of high risk facilities, and will finish the remaining activities from the Chemical Safety Executive Order, such as final publication of the revised RMP rule. EPA OBLR also provided an update of current initiatives including Tribal Capacity Building technical assistance, the 2017 National Brownfields Conference, moving up the CERCLA 128(a) allocation cycle, and the upcoming new grant sustainability requirement for competitive and non- competitive grants. Tribal participant posed question concerning which agency to contact for oil spill incident notification. Tribal participant was interested in having a discussion about remedy protection and institutional controls. Page 4 of 6 ------- Date of Contact Venue EPA/ OLEM FY 2018-2019 Priorities Discussed Priorities/ Issues Raised by State, Tribal or Local Partner EPA OSRTI described continued focus on enforcement, robust site assessment and listing, streamlined document reviews, managing sites to completion, management of post-construction activities and five-year reviews, redevelopment, and state and tribal engagement. EPA Federal Facilities Restoration Reuse Office (FFRRO) highlighted Making a Visible Difference in Communities and E-Manifest System and E-Enterprise (e.g., FEDFacts) initiatives. September 22, 2016 EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR)/ ASTSWMO conference call Sustainable Materials Management, hazardous waste management, state funding, and waste data and information. None. October 12, 2016 EPA FFRRO/ ASTSWMO monthly conference call Making a Visible Difference in Communities and E-Manifest System and E-Enterprise (e.g., FEDFacts). Advancing Superfund Remedial Cleanup (e.g., Munitions, Emerging Contaminants, Groundwater technical assistance). Technical updates regarding military munitions. Improvements to the FEDFacts website. Would like to continue discussion about EPA's Groundwater Policy. October 13, 2016 ASTSWMO/EPA OSRTI, OBLR and OEM Conference Call This call was conducted jointly with the OSRTI, OBLR, and OEM. This included an overview on the purpose of the NPM Participant was interested in learning more about the new Grants Policy Issuance (GPI) about Sustainability and how it will apply to the noncompetitive CERCLA 128(a) grants. Page 5 of 6 ------- Date of Contact Venue EPA/ OLEM FY 2018-2019 Priorities Discussed Priorities/ Issues Raised by State, Tribal or Local Partner guidance and the process/ timetable for providing input. EPA OEM described focusing resources at high risk oil and RMP facilities and finishing the remaining activities from the Chemical Safety Executive Order, such as final publication of the revised RMP rule. EPA OSRTI highlighted continued focus on enforcement, robust site assessment and listing, streamlined document reviews, managing sites to completion, management of post-construction activities and five-year reviews, redevelopment, and state and tribal engagement. EPA OBLR summarized brownfields priorities within the OLEM FY 2016-2017 NPM guidance. OBLR also provided an update of current initiatives including Tribal Capacity Building technical assistance, the 2017 National Brownfields Conference, moving up the CERCLA 128(a) allocation cycle, and the upcoming new grant sustainability requirement for competitive and non-competitive grants. Page 6 of 6 ------- |