United States
Environmental Protection Agency
FISCAL YEAR 2024
Justification of Appropriation
Estimates for the
Committee on Appropriations
Tab 15: Program Performance and Assessment
March 2023
EPA-190-R-23-001 www.epa.gov/cj
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FY 2022 Annual Performance Report
Introduction
EPA's FY 2022 Annual Performance Report (APR) describes the first year of progress toward the
strategic goals and objectives and cross-agency strategies in the FY2022-2026EPA Strategic Plan,
available at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan. This APR presents results—the
reliability and completeness of which are attested to by the EPA Administrator—against the annual
performance goals and targets in the Agency's FY 2022 Annual Performance Plan (APP) and
Congressional Justification (CJ) as updated in the FY 2023 APP and CJ. Please also refer to EPA's
FY 2022 Agency Financial Report (AFR), available at
https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/results. for information on financial performance results.
Organization of the FY 2022 APR
EPA's FY 2022 performance results and trend data are integrated throughout the FY 2024 APP
and the CJ in the Budget Introduction, Cross-Agency Strategy and Goal Overviews, and Program
Project Fact Sheets. The Program Performance and Assessment section (Tab 15) is the primary
component of EPA's FY 2022 APR. This section also includes EPA's FY 2024 annual
performance goal targets and any revisions to FY 2023 targets. EPA's FY 2022 performance
results and trend data are organized by strategic goal and objective and cross-agency strategy.
Results are presented in detailed multiyear tables with targets, actuals, graphs, and key takeaways
for the Agency's annual performance goals. This section adopts the terminology and color coding
used to measure progress under the EPA Continuous Improvement System, a set of practices and
tools that supports Agency employees in identifying and solving problems for optimal
performance results.
FY 2022 Highlights
EPA took several steps in FY 2022 to enhance protection of human health and the environment.
• EPA launched a national program office dedicated to environmental justice and external
civil rights. This new office elevates these critical issues to the highest levels of the Agency
and solidifies the Agency's commitment to delivering justice and equity for all.
• EPA has taken unprecedented steps to partner with the Department of Justice to develop a
comprehensive enforcement strategy that will leverage all available legal tools to secure
protections for communities that have been overburdened by pollution and environmental
injustices.
• EPA has taken key steps to tackle the climate crisis, such as issuing the most protective
national greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks ever and
a rule to phase down U.S. production and consumption of the highly potent climate
chemicals known as hydrofluorocarbons.
• All EPA program offices and regions have developed climate adaptation plans, which
include actions to assist communities to become more resilient as they face the impacts of
climate change.
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• EPA is building equity, climate mitigation and resilience into its implementation of the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides historic opportunities to strengthen the
nation's drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems and scale up community-led
brownfields revitalization.
• All EPA program offices and the regions have put in place targeted plans to implement
EPA's scientific integrity policy, ensuring that every decision the Agency makes is based
on a strong scientific foundation.
FY2022 Annual Performance Goal Results
For FY 2022, EPA focused on a set of 88 annual performance goals, including annualized long-
term performance goals to achieve ambitious targets set in the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan
and measures representing key work areas that support those long-term performance goals. EPA
met or exceeded 70% of the targets in their entirety for annual performance goals with FY 2022
targets and data available (49 of 70). For nine of its annual performance goals with FY 2022 targets
and data available (13%), the Agency achieved between 75-99% of the target (including five where
the Agency achieved between 90-99% of the target). For 12 of its annual performance goals with
FY 2022 targets and data available (17%), EPA achieved less than 75% of the target.
FY 2022 Performance toward target by goal and strategy
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
2 (NT)
4 (ND)
1 (Y)
6(G)
5(G)
3 (ND)
1 (Y)
4(G)
1 (Y)
7(G)
2 (Y)
11(G)
4 (ND)
2 (Y)
7(G)
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (ND)
1 (ND)
1(G)
1(G)
JJYL
2(G)
JJYL
1(G)
Goal 1: Goal 2: ~ Goal 3: Goal 4: Air Goal 5: Goal 6: Land Goal 7: Strategy 1: Strategy 2: Strategy 3: Strategy 4:
Climate Enforce Water
Enforce
ment/Com
pliance
Chemicals Science Children's Workforce Partnerships
Health
While EPA is making significant progress toward a broad range of outcomes, the Agency missed
targets for 21 (of 70) annual performance goals that had FY 2022 targets and data available.
Reasons for missed targets include the complexity of the environmental challenge, workload
issues, resource/staffing challenges, and delays in program implementation. EPA will continue to
make progress toward its performance targets by applying Lean management principles to improve
the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its operations. More detail is available throughout the
report.
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No FY 2022 results are available for 151 of the Agency's annual performance goals as of February
2023. Reasons for missing data include reporting lags due to grant reporting cycles, additional
time needed to collect and provide quality assurance of data from external sources, no actions to
track in FY 2022, and measurement methods under development. As additional results data are
received for FY 2022 annual performance goals, the Agency will include the results in future
APRs. Finally, FY 2022 results are reported for three of the Agency's annual performance goals
for which no targets were established.2
Fiscal Year 2021 Data Now Available
EPA received final results for one of the two annual performance goals with no results to report at
the end of FY 2021. EPA neither met nor missed the target as it was a measure for which no target
had been established for FY 2022.3 The Agency has no data for the other annual performance goal
because it had no data to track in FY 2021 and the measure was discontinued.4
1 (PM HFC) Remaining U.S. consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), (PM CPP) Million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent reduced annually by EPA's climate partnership programs, (PM AD09) Cumulative number of
federally recognized tribes assisted by EPA to take action to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or recover from the
impacts of climate change, (PM AD 10) Cumulative number of states, territories, local governments, and
communities (i.e., EPA partners) assisted by EPA to take action to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or recover from
the impacts of climate change, (RD2) Number of ORD activities related to environmental justice that involve or are
designed to be applicable to tribes, states, territories, local governments, and communities, (PM NAAQS)
Percentage of air quality improvement in counties not meeting current NAAQS, (PM NAAQS2) Percentage of
people with low SES living in areas where the air quality meets the PM2.5 NAAQS, (PM HCFC) Remaining U.S.
consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chemicals that deplete the Earth's protective ozone layer, in
ozone depletion potential (ODP)-weighted metric tons, (PM WWT-02) Number of American Indian and Alaskan
Native homes provided access to basic sanitation, in coordination with other agencies, (PM TSCA5) Percentage of
existing chemical TSCA risk management actions initiated within 45 days of the completion of a final existing
chemical risk evaluation, (PM TSCA6a) Percentage of past TSCA new chemical substances decisions with risk
management actions reviewed, (PM TSCA6b) Percentage of TSCA new chemical substances with risk management
actions reported to the 2020 CDR reviewed for adherence/non-adherence with TSCA Section 5 risk management
actions that are determined to adhere to those requirements, (PM P2mtc) Reduction in million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent (MMTCChe) released per year attributed to EPA pollution prevention grants, (PM RD5) Number
of actions implemented for EPA scientific integrity objectives, and (PM CHOI) Number of EPA actions that concern
human health that include assessment and consideration of environmental health information and data for children at
all life stages to the extent relevant data are available.
2 (PM RUL) Number of final rules issued that will reduce GHG emissions from light duty, medium-duty, and heavy-
duty vehicles; electric utility generating units; and the oil and gas industry, (PM AD 12) Hours of appropriate subject
matter expert time provided by EPA to help communities adapt to climate impacts, build long-term resilience, and
support the most underserved and vulnerable communities after federally declared disasters, and (PM E21) Number
of significant actions taken by EPA programs with direct implementation authority that will result in measurable
improvements in Indian country.
3 (PM P2mtc) Reductions in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTC02e) released per year
attributed to EPA pollution prevention grants.
4 (PM TSCA1) Number of final EPA-initiated TSCA risk evaluations completed within statutory timelines.
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Verification/Validation of Performance Data
The Agency developed Data Quality Records (DQRs) for the long-term performance goals in the
FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan. FY 2022 DQRs are available at
https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/results. EPA maintains the DQRs to ensure consistency and
quality of data used for assessing and reporting progress for annual performance goals that support
the long-term performance goals. The DQRs describe the results being measured; data sources and
limitations; methods for calculating results; and controls to ensure good data quality.
FY 2022-2023 Agency Priority Goals
EPA met targets for one of the three FY 2022-2023 Agency Priority Goals (APGs) (Communities
Technical Assistance) and missed targets for one of the three APGs (Environmental Justice/Civil
Rights). FY 2022 data are not yet available for one of the three APGs (Reducing
Hydrofluorocarbons).
• Phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). By
September 30, 2023, annual U.S. consumption of HFCs will be 10% below the baseline of
303.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO^e) consistent with the
HFC phasedown schedule in the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act and
codified in the implementing regulations. A 10% reduction would decrease the U.S.
consumption limit to less than 273.5 MMTCO^e in 2023.
No Data. While FY 2022 data are not yet available, EPA met its milestones for FY 2022
and is on track to meet the FY 2023 target. For example, EPA issued a final rule by the
statutory 270-day deadline establishing the allowance allocation and trading program. The
HFC Allocation Framework rule set production and consumption baseline levels from
which reductions will be made, established an initial methodology for allocating and
trading HFC allowances for 2022 and 2023, and created a robust, agile, and innovative
compliance and enforcement system. EPA also held the inaugural meeting of the
Interagency Task Force on Illegal Trade, which prevented illegal shipments equivalent to
approximately 530,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, the same amount as the emissions
from nearly 100,000 homes' electricity use in one year.
• Deliver tools and metrics for EPA and its Tribal, state, local, and community partners
to advance environmental justice and external civil rights compliance. By September
30, 2023, EPA will develop and implement a cumulative impacts framework, issue
guidance on external civil rights compliance, establish at least 10 indicators to assess
EPA's performance in eliminating disparities in environmental and public health
conditions, and train staff and partners on how to use these resources.
Missed FY 2022 target. Met 6 of 10 targeted milestones. For strategy 1, develop and
implement a cumulative impacts framework, met 2 of 2 milestones. EPA has completed an
iterative draft cumulative impacts framework and is implementing a learning agenda,
developing standard operating procedures, conducting workshops with a variety of
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regulatory partners and stakeholders, actively working on demonstration initiatives, and
incorporating cumulative impacts in implementation planning as part of Goal 2 of the FY
2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan.
For strategy 2, issue guidance on external civil rights compliance, met 1 of 2 milestones.
Laid groundwork for completion of the draft guidance in FY 2023: 1) released Interim EPA
Environmental Justice and Civil Rights in Permitting Frequently Asked Questions, which
provides information to Agency, federal, tribal, state, and local environmental permitting
programs on integrating environmental justice in permitting processes and provides
information on the obligation of recipients of EPA financial assistance to comply with
federal civil rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in their
permitting processes; 2) made progress on two guidance documents, including a guidance
on procedural safeguards and another on legal standards, including for "disparate impact"
claims; and 3) completed the outline of the draft guidance on the legal standards. In FY
2023, EPA will hire additional staff to assist with this and other priorities.
For strategy 3, establish at least 10 indicators to assess EPA 'sperformance in eliminating
disparities in environmental and public health condition, met 3 of 6 planned milestones.
Highlights of the work completed include establishing criteria to guide the identification
of indicators, compiling an initial list of 30+ indicator ideas, developing a process to
evaluate the indicator ideas, and creating a workplan for engagement. Several engagement
sessions have been scheduled for early FY 2023, which will allow EPA to catch up on
delayed milestones.
• Clean up contaminated sites and invest in water infrastructure to enhance the
livability and economic vitality of overburdened and underserved communities. By
September 30, 2023, EPA will provide technical assistance to at least 10 communities to
help achieve clean and safe water and reduced exposures to hazardous substances.
Met 2022 target. EPA's Office of Water (OW) and Office of Land and Emergency
Management (OLEM) collaborated to take a "One EPA" approach to addressing water and
waste challenges in pilot communities. EPA will provide technical assistance to these
communities so they better understand opportunities available for funding, technical
assistance, and other forms of community support that may be available to assist them in
their environmental challenges. To help select the pilot communities, OW and OLEM staff
developed a mapping tool that utilizes EPA's GeoPlatform to pull over 40 OW and OLEM
datasets together in a discoverable and accessible way. EPA set minimum criteria for
identifying communities. They must have both hazardous waste and water challenges and
must meet or exceed the 80th percentile of the following demographic indices: low income;
linguistically isolated; and less than high school education. Ten pilot communities have
been selected, one in each EPA region. There were challenges using the mapping tool and
requests for training on and clarification regarding how to use the tool. The Agency held
informational meetings and training on the mapping tool with its regional offices to
overcome these challenges.
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Evidence and Evaluation
Summaries of FY 2022 program evaluations and contributions to EPA's portfolio of evidence are
available at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/results. EPA uses program evaluations and other
evidence to assess effectiveness of programs in meeting Agency goals, to identify ways to improve
mission delivery, and to strengthen use of evidence in decision making. This is particularly
important for fostering transparency and accountability. As one example, the Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) initiated an assessment of offsite compliance
monitoring to gather evidence on its effectiveness compared with onsite inspection, and the best
ways to use it. The results of this assessment will be used to inform and shape enforcement and
compliance strategies. Another example is the program evaluation process for the National Estuary
Program (NEP). Every five years, each location within the NEP is evaluated for progress in
achieving programmatic and environmental results, producing recommendations for improvement
on areas including administration and governance, healthy ecosystems, and communication and
stakeholder engagement.
American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law collectively provide EPA
with more than $60 billion in supplemental funding for a wide range of programs. EPA is
supporting the Administration's Justice40 initiative by prioritizing benefits to underserved
communities in developing requests for grant applications and in making grant award decisions,
to the extent permitted by law.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents the largest appropriation EPA has ever received. This
law more than doubles the Agency's annual budget each year over the next five years to fund water
infrastructure, environmental cleanups, and electric school buses. It also provides funding to
improve recycling programs and prevent pollution. Most of the funding in this law is being
implemented through existing programs such as the State Revolving Funds in the Office of Water
and the Superfund Program in the Office of Land and Emergency Management.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided EPA with $100 million dollars to address health
outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic, with which EPA is funding
environmental justice initiatives and enhanced air quality monitoring.
Additional information including performance results to date is available at:
American Rescue Plan: https://www.epa.gov/arp
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure
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o^tDSr%
V P,Ol^
z UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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o
' WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
ST
THE ADMINISTRATOR
Reliability of EPA's Performance Data
I attest to the reliability and completeness of the performance data presented in the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Performance Report. Because
improvements in human health and the environment may not become immediately apparent,
there might be delays between the actions we have taken and results we can measure.
Additionally, we cannot provide results data for 15 (out of 88) of our performance measures for
this reporting year. Reasons for missing data include reporting lags due to grant reporting
sources, no actions to track in FY 2022 and measurement methods were under development.
When possible, however, we have portrayed trend data to illustrate progress overtime. We also
report FY 2021 final performance results for one measure that became available in FY 2022.
MAR 1 0 2023
Michael S. Regan ^ Date
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Key to Multiyear Table Annual Performance Goal Data Presentation
(PM #) Annual performance goal language here.*
Targets by Fiscal
Year (Line)
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
No Target
Established
13
13
12
11
9
Sites
Increase
Actual
12
11
13
10
9
Gray = No Annual
Performance Goal;
No Data
Purple
Data and
No Target
Green = 100%
of Target Met
Yellow = 75-99%
of Target Met
Red = <75%
of Target Met
White (past year) = No Annual
Performance Goal; Data Available
White (current or
future year) = No Data
Actuals by Fiscal
Year (Bars)
This character indicates a measure also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Goal 1 at a Glance
Tackle the Climate Crisis: Cut pollution that causes climate change and increase the adaptive capacity of Tribes, states, territories, and
communities.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 1 Tackle the Climate Crisis
Obj 1.1 Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Obj 1.2 Accelerate Resilience and Adaptation to
Climate Change Impacts
Obj 1.3 Advance International and Subnational
Climate Efforts
$334,642
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
$309,218
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
1 (NT)
2 (ND)
1 (Y)
2(G)
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
Obj 1.1
Obj 1.2
Obj 1.3
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1 - Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change—Aggressively reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from all sectors while
increasing energy and resource efficiency and the use of renewable energy.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target ( NT)
1(G)
1 (Y)
1(G)
1 (Y)
1 (Y)
1(G)
1 (NT)
2 (ND)
1 (Y)
2(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Began implementing final rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM)
Act to phase down U.S. production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 85% by
2036 which is estimated to cumulatively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4,600
million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCOie) between 2022 and 2050.
• Helped save more than 520B kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and avoid $42B in energy
costs through ENERGY STAR, resulting in emission reductions of -400M metric tons of
GHGs (~5 % of U.S. total GHG emissions) and -440K tons of criteria air pollutants.
• The Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Partnership achieved approximately -2.76
MMTC02e of methane reductions in 2020 and an overall reduction of 10 MMTC02e since
its inception in 2016. Building on these U.S. successes, EPA also supported the launch of the
Global Methane Pledge to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020
levels by 2030.
• Continued work with the Green Power Partnership, which includes 700 EPA Green Power
Partners who collectively use 70B kWh of green power annually and represent nearly 43%
of the U.S. voluntary green power market.
• Published the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 2020:
showing GHG emissions in 2020 (after accounting for sequestration from the land sector)
were 21% below 2005 levels (see: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventorv -us-
greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020).
• Issued the 2021 Automotive Trends Report, finding that for model year 2020, the average
estimated real-world carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rate for all new light-duty vehicles fell
by 7 g/mi to 349 g/mi (lowest ever measured), and all 14 large light-duty vehicle
manufacturers achieved compliance with GHG standards (see:
https://www.epa.gov/automotive-trends).
• Met partner needs for 100% of climate-related research products.
Challenges:
• The AIM Act and the Executive Order on Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars
and Trucks have rigorous schedules for actions to be taken to reduce emissions across
sectors, including requiring multiple rules to be developed at the same time.
• Illegal HFC imports will undermine the enviromnental benefits and integrity of the HFC
phasedown, and disadvantage companies complying with the requirements. It is important
that EPA continues to support the HFC taskforce with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
• Limited resources for federal and state activities to support GHG emission reductions and
other climate goals continue to pose program delivery challenges, but new opportunities
may exist under the Inflation Reduction Act.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Annual performance goal:
(PM HFC) Remaining U.S. consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
273.5
273.5
182.3
MMTCOie
Below
Target
Actual
Data Avail
11/2023
Key Takeaways:
• FY 2020 results (most recent estimate) show the remaining U.S consumption of HFCs was 309 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCOie).
• By September 30, 2023, annual U.S. consumption of HFCs will be 10% below the baseline of 303.9 MMTCOie consistent with the HFC phasedown schedule in the AIM Act
and codified in the implementing regulations.
Metric Details: This measure tracks U.S. consumption of HFCs in MMTCOie. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases, many of which have global warming potentials hundreds to
thousands of times that of carbon dioxide. The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 provides EPA the domestic authority to phase down production and
consumption of HFCs. HFCs are commonly used in many sectors of the economy, including in refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols, solvents, fire suppression, and as foam
blowing agents. The AIM Act provides the legal framework to phase down HFC production and consumption consistent with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer that was ratified on September 21, 2022. Phasing down HFCs globally is expected to avoid up to 0.5° Celsius of global wanning by 2100.
The baseline is 303.9 tons of MMTCOie. Estimates for years prior to the effective date of the regulations (i.e., data for years prior to FY 2022) are derived from a number of
sources: EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (40 CFR Part 98); import records provided to Customs and Border Protection through their Automated Commercial
Enviromnent database; responses from producers and importers to direct outreach from EPA; the proposed rule ("Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance
Allocation and Trading Program Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act" (86 FR 27150; May 19, 2021)); and the Notice of Data Availability ("Notice of Data
Availability Relevant To Petition Submissions Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020" (86 FR 28099; February 11, 2021)). Historic estimates for
previous HFC consumption for FY 2017-2020 are "net supply," which means the quantities of bulk HFC produced + imported - exported - transformed - destroyed. "Net supply"
is equivalent to the term "consumption," and historic estimates are as follows: FY 2017: 290; FY 2018: 306; FY 2019: 314; and FY 2020: 309. For more information, see:
https://www.epa.gov/climate-lifcs-reduction. This measure tracks progress toward a FY 2022-2023 Agency Priority Goal (APG).
Long-Term Performance Goal - By September 30, 2026, promulgate final rules to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light duty,
medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles; electric utility generating units; and the oil and gas industry.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM RUL) Number of final rules issued that will reduce GHG emissions from light duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles; electric utility generating units; and the
oil and gas industry.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
No Target
Established
No Target
Established
Rules
Above
Target
Actual
1
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Key Takeaways:
• In FY 2022, EPA finalized revised national GHG standards for passenger car and light trucks for model years 2023-2026.
• The final rule will result in approximately 3.1 billion tons of GHG emissions avoided through 2050, which is equivalent to more than half of the net total U.S. CO2 emissions
in 2019.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of final rules that will reduce GHG emissions published in the Federal Register. EPA will reduce emissions that cause climate
change through regulations on GHG emissions including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane from light duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles; electric utility generating
units; and the oil and gas industry.
Long-Term Performance Goal - By September 30, 2026, EPA's climate partnership programs will reduce expected annual greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions by 545 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCChe). EPA's climate partnership programs reduced 518.6
MMTCChe of annual GHG emissions in 2019.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM CPP) Million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent reduced annually by EPA's climate partnership programs.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
¦III
Target
486.9
500.7
513.9
MMTCOie
Above
Target
Actual
442.2
505.6
518.4
529.6
Data Avail
11/2023
Data Avail
11/2024
Key Takeaways:
• In FY 2020 (latest available data), EPA's climate partnership programs reduced 529.6 MMTCChe.
• EPA celebrated the 30th anniversary of its climate partnership programs, and the programs continued to deliver significant C02 and non-CO; emission reductions from diverse
sectors including the commercial, residential, manufacturing, transportation, and power sectors.
• Over 30 years, EPA's climate partnership programs have helped Americans save more than $500 billion and achieve more than 6 billion metric tons of GHG emission
reductions.
Metric Details: This measure tracks GHG reductions from EPA's climate partnership programs. The programs included are: ENERGY STAR Products, Residential, Commercial
Buildings, and Industrial programs; Green Power Partnership; AgSTAR Program; Coalbed Methane Outreach Program; Landfill Methane Outreach Program; Natural Gas STAR /
Methane Challenge Programs; SF6 Emission Reduction Partnerships for Electric Power Systems; Responsible Appliance Disposal; GreenChill; and SmartWay. These programs
work hand-in-hand with the private sector and others to achieve more GHG reductions than would be possible through federal regulations alone. These programs seek out and
overcome market barriers, drive policy at the state and local level, and capture and channel marketplace ingenuity towards climate action. For more information, see:
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventorv-us-greenliouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Other Core Work
Annual performance goals:
(PM CRT) Number of certificates of conformity issued that demonstrate that the respective engine, vehicle, equipment, component, or system conforms to all applicable
emission requirements and may be entered into commerce.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
iSJu
Target
5,200
5,000
5,000
4,700
4,700
4,900
4,900
Certificates
Above
IllTl
Actual
5,109
4,869
4,711
4,843
5,351
5,196
Target
Key Takeaways:
• The total number of certificates issued by EPA in FY 2022 was almost 500 more than the target.
• EPA continues to issue vehicle and engine certificates of conformity in a timely manner and on pace with the numbers of requests received.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of certificates of conformity issued in a given year. The Clean Air Act requires that engines, vehicles, equipment, components, or
systems receive a certificate of conformity which demonstrates compliance with the applicable requirements prior to introduction into U.S. commerce. EPA reviews all submitted
requests and issues certificates of conformity when the manufacturer demonstrates compliance with all applicable requirements. This measure illustrates EPA's annual certification
workload. The number of certification requests is determined by the manufacturers' product planning and will fluctuate from year to year. EPA strives to issue vehicle and engine
certificates of conformity in a timely manner and on pace with the numbers of requests received.
(PM REP) Percentage of Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports verified by EPA before publication.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
mill
Target
95
65
98
98
98
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
96
97
96
95
99
97
Numerator
7,828
7,821
7,867
7,722
7,935
7,877
Reports
Denominator
8,127
8,061
8,165
8,126
8,029
8,141
Key Takeaways:
• EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) has consistently maintained a high percentage of verified reports prior to annual publication. While EPA did not meet
the ambitious target in FY 2022, the result is in line with program expectations and will help advance the Agency's understanding of GHG emissions.
• The quality of GHGRP data at time of submittal continues to improve due to GHGRP data system and verification process changes that have increased real-time data quality
feedback to industry reporters over time.
Metric Details: The GHGRP, established in 2009, covers 41 sectors that account for more than 8,100 reports summarizing annual GHG emissions and supply. Both facilities and
suppliers are required to report their data annually by March 31st. After submission of the data, EPA conducts a verification review that lasts approximately 150 days and includes a
combination of electronic checks, staff review, and follow-up with facilities to identify potential reporting errors that are corrected before publication. The 150-day period includes
60 days for EPA to review reports and identify potential data quality issues, 75 days for reporters to resolve these issues, and 15 days for EPA to review responses or resubmitted
reports. EPA typically publishes the data by early October each year. These data support federal and state-level policy development and allow EPA to share GHG emissions and
supply data with industry stakeholders, state and local governments, academia, the research community, and the public in general. There are no targets in FYs 2019-2021 because
this measure was not included in these Annual Performance Plans. For more information, see: www.epa.gov/ghgreporting.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
(PM RD3) Percentage of ORD climate-related research products meeting partner needs.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
93
94
94
Percent
in
Actual
100
100
Above
Numerator
5
7
Products
Target
ii
Denominator
5
7
Key Takeaways:
• All seven climate products assessed met customer needs. Five of these addressed a single research area: approaches for characterizing source emissions, air quality, exposure,
and mitigation strategies. These products provide critical information to help inform programs that empower citizens and local governments to seek reductions in air pollution
emissions and reduce exposures and health impacts.
• The number of climate products being assessed has increased from the previous fiscal year and will continue to do so as EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD)
implements the FY 2023-2026 Strategic Research Action Plan (see: https://www.epa.gov/researcli/strategic-research-action-plans-fiscal-Years-2023-2026).
Metric Details: Partner satisfaction is assessed through a robust survey process. The annual survey engages key users of ORD products. Survey respondents assess the scientific
rigor of research products (quality), product relevance (usability), and timeliness of product delivery. This measure assesses a subset of ORD's research products specifically
related to climate.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.2: Accelerate Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts-
Tribes, states, territories, and communities to the impacts of climate change.
-Deliver targeted assistance to increase the resilience of
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (NT)
2 (ND)
2(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Priority Actions Completed by EPA Climate
Adaptation Plan Priority
77
Total: 155
46
17
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Released 20 Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans, developed by EPA national
program offices and all 10 regional offices. Received input from tribes through a
formal consultation and from state and local government officials through several
engagement sessions. The Plans provide detailed information about the actions each
program and regional office will take to address the five agencywide priority actions
contained in EPA's 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan (CAP) (see:
https://www.epa.gov/climate-adaptation/climate-adaptation-plan). They include over
500 commitments EPA will take over the next five years, with other federal agencies
and partners, to protect health and the enviromnent under future climate conditions.
• Completed over 150 of the commitments made to ensure EPA's programs are
resilient even as the climate changes.
• Provided technical and financial assistance to increase the adaptive capacity and
resilience of EPA's tribal, state, city, local government, and community partners
(e.g., through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). Preliminary data indicates that EPA
partners (41 tribal and 131 state, territorial, local government, and community
partners) took over 150 actions to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from
the impacts of climate change after receiving EPA assistance.
• Modernized EPA's financial programs by integrating climate adaptation criteria into
grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and contracts.
• Provided climate adaptation training, resources and guidance for staff and external
partners to help integrate climate adaptation into business operations, investments,
and decision-making. For example, EPA is developing new training on integrating
climate adaptation into rulemaking processes.
• After federally declared disasters, EPA assists with the immediate response and
long-term recovery. EPA regional offices provided approximately 10,000 hours of
assistance to help communities recover and rebuild after a climate-related disaster.
Challenges:
• This is the first year of these performance measures for EPA. There has been
significant work to develop systems for both doing the work and tracking progress.
The Agency is learning and adjusting the new processes to better support outcomes.
Priority 1: Priority 2: Priority 3: Priority 4: Priority 5: Priority Not
Integrate Consult and Workforce, Measure and Science Identied
Climate Partner Facilities, Evaluate Needs
Adaptation Etc.
As a result of Congress's enacted FY 2022 budget, EPA received fewer than the
requested resources to coordinate and manage cross-agency implementation of this
objective. Although EPA's FY 2022 target was 100 priority actions, EPA programs
identified over 250 actions important to climate adaptation and resiliency. In the end,
EPA achieved 155 of them.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, implement all priority actions in EPA's Climate Adaptation Action Plan and the 20
National Program and Regional Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans to account for the impacts of the changing climate on human
health and the environment.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM AD07) Number of priority actions completed in EPA's Climate Adaptation Action Plan and Program and Regional Implementation Plans.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
100
100
Priority
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
155
Key Takeaways:
• EPA programs and regional offices are taking multiple actions to increase the adaptive capacity of the nation. For example, the Office of Water has committed to incorporate
climate change considerations into infrastructure grant and loan guidance and programs; the Office of Land and Emergency Management is providing climate vulnerability
assessments at Superfund sites; and the Office of Air and Radiation is working within EPA and with external stakeholders to review and revise information for citizens-
especially at-risk populations- on the impact of climate change on ambient and indoor air quality.
• Limited resources hinders EPA's ability to implement all the actions necessary as the Agency works to meet its mission, even as the climate changes.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of priority actions implemented in support of EP A's October 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan through the 20 Program and
Regional Implementation Plans. The Action Plan commits EPA to five Priority Actions per year by each of EPA's 10 national program offices and 10 regional offices. EPA will
publish a report annually to share completed actions, accomplishments, and challenges. EPA expects 100 actions per year for a total of 500 actions by FY 2026. The
Implementation Plans identify EPA's specific Priority Actions to: 1) integrate climate adaptation planning into EPA programs, policies and rulemaking processes; 2) consult and
partner with tribes, states, territories, local governments, enviromnental justice organizations, community groups, businesses and other federal agencies to strengthen adaptive
capacity and increase the resilience of the nation, with a particular focus on advancing enviromnental justice; 3) implement measures to protect the Agency's workforce, facilities,
critical infrastructure, supply chains and procurement processes from the risks posed by climate change; and 4) modernize EPA financial assistance programs to encourage
climate-resilient investments across the nation.
(PM AD08) Number of EPA national program offices that have developed adaptation training for programs and staff.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
4
10
12
Program
Offices
Above
Target
Actual
4
Key Takeaways:
• Program-specific training, tailored to specific job duties, is critical for EPA staff to engage in climate resiliency. Updated training developed in FY 2022 includes training for
rule writers, a climate adaptation 101 course to ensure all staff have basic climate adaptation knowledge, and a climate adaptation and mitigation training tailored to EPA's
land and emergency management staff, which more than 600 people attended.
• Future training will include each EPA program office and will focus on integrating climate adaptation considerations into grants, loans, technical assistance, and other program
activities.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Metric Details: This measure tracks the development of training by EPA's national program offices on how current and future climate impacts should be considered in specific
program activities, such as direct program implementation, regulation development, permitting, inspections, enforcement, partnerships, research, grants, loans, and technical
assistance. EPA currently has a training developed for new employees. Offices with existing training will update their materials in 2022 and offices without existing training will
create them for FY 2023 and FY 2024. Twelve total trainings reflect nine national program office trainings plus one general climate adaptation training offered by Office of Policy,
one training for rule writers, and one training focused on children's health.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, assist at least 400 federally recognized Tribes to take action to anticipate, prepare
for, adapt to, or recover from the impacts of climate change.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM AD09) Cumulative number of federally recognized tribes assisted by EPA to take action to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or recover from the impacts of climate
change.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
150
200
Tribes
Above
Target
Actual
Data Avail
3/2023
Key Takeaways:
• Preliminary data as of October 2022 show 41 tribal partners have taken action to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change after EPA assistance. Final
data will be available in March 2023 when grants reports are received from partners. Examples of tribal partner actions include: 1) the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe in
Washington State used assistance from EPA's Puget Sound Program to build climate resilience by enhancing floodplain infrastructure which reduces impacts on water
temperature, water quality, and water chemistry; and 2) The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in New York State has implemented a wide breadth of climate adaptation activities as
part of their Performance Partnership Grant with EPA.
• Tribal partners are being severely impacted by climate change and need financial and technical resources to be able to effectively adapt.
• EPA continues to face challenges to implement this goal due to limited capacity among tribes and within the Agency itself.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the cumulative number of federally recognized tribes EPA provides with financial assistance, technical assistance, or training that then take
action, starting in FY 2022, to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or recover from the impacts of climate change. Actions may include but are not limited to: developing a climate
adaptation plan; identifying potential impacts; assessing vulnerability; planning; applying for additional funding; adoption of adaptation measures such as green infrastructure;
improved coordination with other key organizations (e.g., a state or federal partner); estimation of financial impacts; or more effective remedy selection in a hazardous waste
cleanup program.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, assist at least 450 states, territories, local governments, and communities, especially
communities that are underserved and disproportionately at risk from climate change, to take action to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or
recover from the impacts of climate change.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM AD10) Cumulative number of states, territories, local governments, and communities (i.e., EPA partners) assisted by EPA to take action to anticipate, prepare for,
adapt to, or recover from the impacts of climate change.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
250
300
350
Partners
Above
Target
Actual
Data Avail
3/2023
Key Takeaways:
• Preliminary data show 131 state, territorial, local government, and community partners have taken action to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change
after EPA assistance. Final data will be available in March 2023 when grantees' progress reports are received from partners. Examples of partner actions include: 1) The
Lower Boise Watershed Council in Idaho received funding from EPA's Clean Water Act nonpoint source program to enhance water quality and create co-benefits for climate
resilience; and 2) South Carolina received disaster relief funding through the Enviromnental Justice program to prepare for future climate impacts and conducted their first
planning workshop in FY 2022.
• EPA has multiple programs, across various statutes, to support communities' increased adaptive capacity. Partner actions resulting from EPA grants and loans are easier to
track than those achieved through technical assistance and training because grantees are required to submit regular progress reports.
• Some communities with enviromnental or climate justice concerns have been unable to engage with EPA due to limited capacity to effectively apply for and manage climate
adaptation assistance.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the cumulative number of states, territories, local governments, and communities EPA provides with financial assistance, technical assistance,
or training that then take action, starting in FY 2022, to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, or recover from the impacts of climate change. Actions may include but are not limited to:
developing a climate adaptation plan; identifying potential impacts; assessing vulnerability; planning; applying for additional funding; adoption of adaptation measures such as
green infrastructure; improved coordination with other key organizations (e.g., a state or federal partner); estimation of financial impacts; or more effective remedy selection in a
hazardous waste cleanup program.
(PM AD11) Number of tribal, state, regional, and/or territorial versions of the Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X) or similar systems developed by
universities with EPA support.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
3
6
6
Versions
Above
Target
Actual
1
Key Takeaways:
• There is strong national and international interest in the ARC-X tool based on the number of visitors to the web tool.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
• As a result of Congress's enacted FY 2022 budget, EPA received fewer than the requested resources to implement this objective. Competing demands on staff time and
financial resources limited EPA's ability to meet this goal.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the development of ARC-X or similar systems developed by universities to support tribal, state, regional, and/or territorial partners. ARC-X is
an interactive EPA online resource designed to help local government officials in communities across the United States anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the
impacts of climate change. It also is a portal to all EPA tools and resources on climate adaptation. ARC-X provides users with an integrated package of information tailored
specifically to their needs, based on where they live and the issues of concern to them. The system is available at: https://www.epa. gov/arc-x. A system has been developed when it
is published by the university. These systems provide locally specific climate adaptation information and include local examples and case studies. The information provided in
these resource centers will help communities understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. In addition, regional or local systems may expand resources to encompass
the full breadth of climate adaptation issues, even those beyond EPA's mission. These systems will eventually create a learning network of information that is accessible to
communities of a variety of sizes and capabilities across the country, especially those with enviromnental justice concerns.
(PM AD12) Hours of appropriate subject matter expert time provided by EPA to help communities adapt to climate impacts, build long-term resilience, and support the
most underserved and vulnerable communities after federally declared disasters.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
No Target
Established
No Target
Established
Hours
N/A
Actual
9,763
Key Takeaways:
• These results may understate hours provided due to the difficulty in tracking the work of multiple EPA offices engaged in disaster recovery.
• EPA's assistance for recovery and long-term resilience extends many years past the actual disaster event and is a significant investment on behalf of EPA.
• EPA has an important role in supporting the recovery and long-term resilience of communities post-disaster across all program areas.
• Most of the hours of assistance provided are concentrated in a few regional offices where they are supporting recovery from major disaster events.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA contributions to supporting local communities' efforts to rebuild in a manner that increases community resiliency and adaptive capacity
as they recover from federally declared disasters. This does not include clean-up or immediate response activities, but rather supports communities to build back in ways that help
anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to climate change. There are no targets for this measure as the number of federal declared disasters where EPA assistance is requested varies by
year.
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.3: Advance International and Subnational Climate Efforts-
provide leadership on the global stage to address climate change.
-Collaborate with Tribal, state, local, and international partners and
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Long-Term Performance Goal - By September 30, 2026, implement at least 40 international climate engagements that result in an individual
partner commitment or action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapt to climate change, or improve resilience in a manner that
promotes equity.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM E13a) Number of climate engagements that result in an individual partner commitment or action to reduce GHG emissions, adapt to climate change, or improve
resilience in a manner that promotes equity.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
8
10
10
Engage-
ments
Above
Target
Actual
8
Key Takeaways:
• Many countries and organizations have reached out to EPA to partner on climate activities, showing the strong interest internationally to work with the Biden Administration.
• EPA will continue to review the commitments made by partners with limited capacity to implement and monitor themselves, in particular those commitments made outside of
a funded initiative.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of senior level EPA international actions implemented annually that result in the provision of tools that when utilized by partners
can result in equitable GHG emissions reductions, adaptation to climate change, or improvements in resilience. Climate change is a global issue that has far-reaching human health,
social, economic, and biodiversity impacts on our planet, with direct adverse effects in the United States. EPA represents the U.S. Government in climate-related multilateral
meetings and treaty negotiations, such as Montreal Protocol, UNFCCC, G7 and G20 Enviromnent Ministers meetings. EPA also works directly with other countries and
stakeholders through bilateral agreements and work plans to share technical expertise, implement capacity building, and help countries address their climate gaps.
Other Core Work
Annual performance goal:
(PM E13b) Number of Border 2025 actions implemented in the U.S.-Mexico Border area to improve water quality, solid waste management and air quality including
those that address climate change, and advance emergency response efforts.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
3
10
10
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
6
Key Takeaways:
• The U.S.-Mexico border region residents/communities have benefited and will continue to benefit from capacity-building efforts that improve air and water quality, solid
waste management, and emergency response by going beyond the expected target this year and increasing the targeted number of actions for the upcoming fiscal years. In
2022 two examples of the capacity building efforts are: 1) EPA's Border Office Staff discussed and advised on specifics of the Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Emergency
Preparedness Drill Exercise/training at a Juarez Maquiladora Electrolux; and 2) EPA and the binational Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) discussed with community-based
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GOAL 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
organizations "How to achieve cleaner air for the El Paso, TX - Dona Ana County, NM, and the Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua air basin under the framework of the 1983 La Paz
Agreement."
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA actions to provide tools and capacity building activities that when utilized by partners can result in improved water quality, solid waste
management and air quality. These include actions to address climate change and advance emergency response efforts along the two thousand mile border between the United
States and Mexico.
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GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Goal 2 at a Glance
Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights: Achieve tangible progress for historically overburdened and
underserved communities and ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income in
developing and implementing environmental laws, regulations and policies.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 2 Take Decisive Action to Advance
Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Obj 2.1 Promote Environmental Justice
and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal,
State and Local Levels
Obj 2.2 Embed Environmental
Justice and Civil Rights into EPA's
Programs, Policies, and Activities
Obj 2.3 Strengthen Civil Rights
Enforcement in Communities with
Environmental Justice Concerns
$206,941
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
$89,242
$115,354
$2,345
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
1(G)
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
¦ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1(G)
Obj 2.1
Obj 2.2
Obj 2.3
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GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Objective 2.1: Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal, State and Local Levels—Empower and buihl capacity
of underserved and overburdened communities to protect human health and the environment.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (NT)
1 (ND)
2(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• EPA is in the final stages of development of new technical assistance and grant programs
that will provide broad support for communities to easily access support.
• One of these new grant programs will provide a cross-agency ability for EPA programs
and regional offices to more directly and easily compensate community-based
organizations and leaders involved in EPA activities.
• Developed direct implementation training and hosted sessions for approximately 700 EPA
senior leaders, management, and staff. The training focused on EPA's direct
implementation responsibilities for equitable implementation of federal enviromnental
programs within Indian country.
• Advanced tribal climate change adaptation, including compiling an inventory of all federal
agency tribal climate adaptation plan entries and organizing an EPA National Tribal
Operations Committee meeting focused on highlighting tribal concerns and inputs on
climate adaptation.
• Finalized new 2022 Indian General Assistance Program (GAP) guidance after several
years of consultation and engagement with tribes and within the Agency.
• Determined the baseline of Office of Research and Development (ORD) activities related
to enviromnental justice.
Challenges:
• Competing demands among multiple enviromnental justice initiatives, as well as
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) commitments.
• EPA needs to develop new tools to support process execution, stakeholder engagement,
and coordination across EPA programs and regional offices.
• EPA's current GAP grant allocation process, developed three decades ago, is no longer
meeting the needs of tribes and intertribal consortia. EPA is conducting outreach with
regions and tribes to analyze input for a future decision.
• The Agency continues to explore the most efficient manner in which to make EPA direct
implementation in Indian country regulatory data and information available to tribes and
the public.
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GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all EPA programs that seek feedback and comment from the public will provide
capacity-building resources to communities with environmental justice concerns to support their ability to meaningfully engage and provide
useful feedback to those programs.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR01) Percentage of EPA programs that seek feedback and comment from the public that provide capacity-building resources to communities with
environmental justice concerns to support their ability to meaningfully engage and provide useful feedback to those programs.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
25
50
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA programs and regional offices providing capacity building resources (e.g., fact sheets, trainings, webinars, dedicated
technical assistance, grants) to members of communities to support their ability to provide meaningful feedback to the program during engagement. Each program will determine
how to provide this support. In FY 2023, resources will be provided to EPA programs that connect the principles of meaningful community engagement to the implementation of
providing effective capacity building resources to communities. Tracking will consist of ensuring that each program provides effective support to communities.
(PM EJCR02) Percentage of EPA programs utilizing extramural vehicles to fund organizations and individuals providing environmental justice expertise and support to
advance EPA priorities and activities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
50
75
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA programs that provide financial resources to community-based non-profit organizations, other organizations, and
individuals that provide environmental justice expertise in support of EPA's priorities and activities. As part of EPA's decision-making processes or other Agency work streams,
EPA programs regularly rely upon the time, efforts, and expertise of community members, leaders, and organizations for a variety of activities/inputs. Examples of EPA activities
that organizations or individuals could provide support for include organizing, educating, and engaging communities on enviromnental justice, climate justice, and other EPA
priorities. EPA programs that rely on such community support will provide funding, as appropriate, to those community members/organizations for their time, efforts, and
expertise just as they would if they needed the time, support, and expertise of a scientist or engineer. Providing funding can be achieved through use of financial assistance
instruments such as grants and cooperative agreements, procurement vehicles, or interagency agreements, depending upon the principal purpose of the financial transaction. In FY
2023, resources will be available to EPA programs that regularly rely on the input and time of community leaders and organizations to facilitate their fair compensation.
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GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
(PM EJCR03) Percentage of environmental justice grantees whose funded projects result in a governmental response.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
No Target
Established
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Grantees
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of environmental justice grantees whose EPA-funded projects result in a governmental response (planned and/or actualized).
The governmental response can range from on-the-ground response/activity to a policy change, and it may be at the local, state, tribal, or federal level. Tracking this measure will
require incorporation of expectations for reporting into grant solicitations and agreements, and sufficient time post-award for results to materialize. EPA will establish reporting
mechanisms for this measure in FY 2023. Grants awarded in FY 2023 will not be ready for reporting until sufficient time has passed, most likely in FY 2025.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, include commitments to address disproportionate impacts in all written agreements
between EPA and Tribes and states (e.g., grant work plans) implementing delegated authorities.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR04) Percentage of written agreements between EPA and tribes or states implementing delegated authorities that include commitments to address
disproportionate impacts.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
5
25
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Agreements
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of formal agreements between EPA and institutions that are authorized or hold delegated authorities that incorporate explicit
terms and/or conditions for recipients to be accountable for addressing disproportionate impacts. In FY 2023, the scope of this measure will focus on grant work plans that are
submitted by states and tribes to EPA programs and regional offices for the regular process of negotiating commitments. EPA will partner with stakeholders to determine what
qualifies as a commitment to address disproportionate impacts.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
(PM EJCR05) Percentage of state-issued permits reviewed by EPA that include terms and conditions that are responsive to environmental justice concerns and comply
with civil rights obligations.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
10
25
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Permits
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of state-issued permits reviewed by EPA that are explicitly responsive to enviromnental justice concerns and comply with civil
rights obligations. Achievement of this measure will be pursued through the provision of clear guidance, training, and support by EPA programs to states and other partners. In FY
2023, EPA will develop the method and tracking mechanism necessary to track enviromnental justice and civil rights responsiveness in state-issued permits and what does or does
not qualify for inclusion.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, EPA programs with direct implementation authority will take at least 100
significant actions that will result in measurable improvements in Indian country.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM E21) Number of significant actions taken by EPA programs with direct implementation authority that will result in measurable improvements in Indian country.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
25
20
Significant
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
25
Key Takeaways:
• Trained all EPA offices with direct implementation in Indian Country regulatory responsibilities.
• Initiated mapping of EPA direct implementation regulatory data and information pathways from EPA data systems into EJScreen.
Metric Details: This measure tracks number of significant actions by EPA direct implementation programs that will assist EPA in meeting federal trust responsibilities and provide
for equitable program implementation in Indian country. Significant actions are those actions taken on an annualized basis by an EPA program to achieve four significant direct
implementation program priorities: training on direct implementation for EPA staff; contributing to an Agency direct implementation report identifying barriers and making
recommendations; making EPA direct implementation federal facility and entity data available on EPA's enviromnental justice mapping and screening tool EJScreen; and
identifying actions taken to improve EPA direct implementation and progress made to remove direct implementation barriers.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all state recipients of EPA financial assistance will have foundational civil rights
programs in place.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR06) Percentage of required civil rights procedural safeguard elements implemented by state permitting agencies that are recipients of EPA financial
assistance.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
20
40
45
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
33
Numerator
138
Elements
Denominator
408
Key Takeaways:
• The percentage of civil rights procedural safeguards elements came in above target for FY 2022 and thus the baseline coming into FY 2023 is higher as well, with data review
indicating that several state agency recipients implemented procedural safeguards elements during the course of FY 2022. Accordingly, EPA has adjusted the targets for FY
2023 and 2024.
• Three state agency recipients showed implementation of all the procedural safeguards elements reviewed, with another five state agency recipients needing to implement only
one more procedural safeguard element to have full implementation.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of civil rights procedural safeguards elements implemented by state recipients of EPA financial assistance, calculated in FY
2022 and 2023 as the percentage of required civil rights procedural safeguards elements (8) implemented by state permitting agencies that are recipients of EPA financial
assistance (51) by using a denominator in FY 2022 and 2023 of 408 (51 x 8). The numerator is the total number of civil rights procedural safeguards elements implemented in
aggregate by the state enviromnental permitting agencies. Beginning with FY 2024, EPA will introduce additional annual performance goals to assess other state agency recipients
beyond the permitting agencies for their implementation of the elements; and in addition, EPA will assess other civil rights procedural safeguards elements, including the data
collection requirement, which is a subject of upcoming EPA guidance for recipients.
(PM EJCR07) Percentage of EPA national program and regional offices that extend paid internships, fellowships, or clerkships to college students from diverse
backgrounds.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
50
75
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs and
Regions
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA national programs and regional offices that have dedicated funding to bring college students from diverse backgrounds
into the Agency on paid internships, fellowships, or clerkships.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, increase by 40% the number of Office of Research and Development (ORD)
activities related to environmental justice that involve or are applicable to Tribes, states, territories, local governments, and communities.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM RD2) Number of ORD activities related to environmental justice that involve or are designed to be applicable to tribes, states, territories, local governments, and
communities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
113
113
Activities
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
Key Takeaways:
• Established FY 2019-2022 baseline and FY 2023-2026 targets.
• Published Cumulative Impacts Research: Recommendations for EPA 's Office ofResearch and Development to show various research areas that can use this evolving concept.
This research is essential to solving longstanding environmental health problems, including health disparities exacerbated by racial and social injustices (see:
https://www.epa.gov/svstem/files/documents/2022-09/Cumulative%20Impacts%20Research%20Final%20Report FINAL-EPA%20600-R-22-014a.pdf).
• Integrated enviromnental justice into EPA's FY 2023-2026 Strategic Research Action Plans, as one of six cross-cutting priorities during the research planning cycle.
• Completed Phase 1 of the EJ Video Challenge for Students with the goal of enhancing communities' capacity to address enviromnental and public health inequities using data
and publicly available tools. Distributed a prize package of $45,000 to the Phase 1 winning teams.
• Sponsored seven webinars for Agency staff to advance equity and justice in EPA research and identify high priority enviromnental justice science needs through agency wide
dialogue, and provide opportunities to build collaborations.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of enviromnental justice-related ORD activities that involved communities or are designed to be applicable to tribes, states,
territories, local governments, and communities with enviromnental justice concerns. ORD activities are funded or conducted by ORD. An activity is considered to involve a tribe,
state, territory, local government, or community if ORD engages with or consults the affected entity (or entities) on the specific activity. An activity is considered to be applicable
to a tribe, state, territory, local government, or community if the activity may be used by the entity (or entities) for the benefit of a community (or communities) with enviromnental
justice concerns. The FY 2019-2022 baseline is 324 EJ-focused ORD activities. The goal is a 40% increase, or 454 EJ-focused ORD activities over FY 2023-2026.
(PM RD4) Percentage of ORD environmental justice-related research products meeting partner needs.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
93
94
94
Percent
No Trend
Actual
100
Above
Data
Numerator
1
Products
Target
Denominator
1
Key Takeaways:
• The usability of the enviromnental justice product scored significantly higher when compared to other ORD products that were assessed, likely due in part to the high degree
of involvement the partner had during its development as stated by respondents in the survey.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
• The environmental justice product was titled "develop methods and tools to assess and manage inorganic soil contamination and quantify and understand contaminant
bioavailabilityIt provides the bio-accessibility data requested by EPA regional offices for arsenic and lead contaminated material near residential areas. This allows EPA to
develop soil bioavailability methods, quantify inorganic soil contamination and bioavailability, and provide data for use in assessing and handling contaminated sites (research
available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.i021/acs.iafc.9b06537 | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.est.0cQ6908 |
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883292720302493?ref=pdf download&fr=RR-2&rr=76a9ce58ee6b6fb5).
• ORD will complete, and assess, higher numbers of enviromnental justice-related research products in future years.
Metric Details: Partner satisfaction is assessed through a robust survey process. The annual survey engages key users of ORD products. Survey respondents assess the scientific
rigor of research products (quality), product relevance (usability), and timeliness of product delivery. This measure will assess a subset of ORD's research products specifically
related to enviromnental justice
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Objective 2.2: Embed Environmental Justice and Civil Rights into EPA's Programs, Policies, and Activities—Integrate environmental justice
and civil rights in all the Agency's work to maximize benefits and minimize impacts to underserved and overburdened communities.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Launched a national program office and for the first time issued a national program
guidance dedicated to environmental justice and external civil rights.
• Identified a large pool of potential indicators for the at least ten indicators of disparity
elimination. A workgroup is currently refining and focusing those ideas and is in position
to begin stakeholder engagement.
• Initiated working groups related to rulemakings as the initial phase of ensuring
enviromnental justice integration and civil rights compliance in significant EPA actions.
Two tools (emerging best practices and an inventory of key characteristics of
enviromnental justice analyses) have been internally released within EPA to support more
consistent consideration of enviromnental justice and civil rights by rulemaking working
groups.
• Established a holistic grant and technical assistance program to support community-based
organizations, which will allow EPA to better align investments and efforts to better meet
the needs of communities.
• For the first time, each EPA national program and regional office has developed an
implementation plan to integrate enviromnental justice and civil rights requirements into
its work. These plans cover a broad spectrum of policies and program implementation
activities.
Challenges:
• EPA needs to develop new tools to support enviromnental justice process execution,
stakeholder engagement, and coordination across EPA programs and regional offices.
• Managing enviromnental justice commitments across EPA programs and regional offices
is complex, as is scoping the associated measures appropriately.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce disparities in environmental and public health conditions represented by the
indicators identified through the FY 2022-2023 Agency Priority Goal.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
For FY 2022 and FY 2023, progress on this Long-Term Performance Goal will be tracked under the Agency Priority Goal "Deliver tools and metrics for EPA and its Tribal, state,
local, and community partners to advance enviromnental justice and external civil rights compliance." FY 2024 measures and targets will be published in the FY 2025 Budget.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, 80% of significant EPA actions with environmental justice implications will clearly
demonstrate how the action is responsive to environmental justice concerns and reduces or otherwise addresses disproportionate impacts.
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM EJCR08) Percentage of significant EPA actions with environmental justice implications that respond to environmental justice concerns and reduce or address
disproportionate impacts.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
40
80
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Actions
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of significant EPA actions with environmental justice implications that respond to environmental justice concerns and reduce or
address disproportionate impacts. EPA will initially focus on significant rulemakings for this measure. In early FY 2023, EPA will establish what qualifies as "responsiveness to
enviromnental justice" within the significant rulemaking and will develop a mechanism for tracking this measure within the EPA Action Management System (EAMS) database.
(PM EJCR09) Percentage of programs that have developed clear guidance on the use of justice and equity screening tools.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
50
75
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA programs that have developed written guidance on how their programs use enviromnental justice screening tools.
Guidance will be explicitly for use by staff of that program in headquarters offices and related regional divisions.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all EPA programs that work in and with communities will do so in ways that are
community-driven, coordinated and collaborative, support equitable and resilient community development, and provide for meaningful
involvement and fair treatment of communities with environmental justice concerns.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR10) Percentage of EPA programs and regions that work in and with communities that do so in ways that are community-driven, coordinated and
collaborative, support equitable and resilient community development, and provide for meaningful involvement and fair treatment of communities with environmental
justice concerns.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
25
50
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA programs and regional offices that integrate key principles for community work (e.g., community-driven, coordinated,
and collaborative) into core functions (e.g., regulatory development, permitting, enforcement). This approach will allow EPA to operate across programs to support projects based
on community need rather than operating exclusively in programmatic silos. In early FY 2023, EPA will define what qualifies as working in alignment with this method.
(PM EJCR11) Number of established EJ collaborative partnerships utilizing key principles for community work (e.g., community-driven, coordinated, and
collaborative).
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
30
60
Partnerships
Above
Target
Actual
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of collaborative partnerships in communities supported and participated in by EPA, utilizing key principles for community work
(e.g., community-driven, coordinated and collaborative). In early FY 2023, EPA's Office of Community Revitalization and Office of Enviromnental Justice and External Civil
Rights will develop reporting criteria for the Agency on this measure.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all EPA programs and regions will identify and implement areas and opportunities
to integrate environmental justice considerations and achieve civil rights compliance in their planning, guidance, policy directives,
monitoring, and review activities.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR12) Percentage of EPA programs and regions that have identified and implemented opportunities to integrate environmental justice considerations and
strengthen civil rights compliance in their planning, guidance, policy directives, monitoring, and review activities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
15
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
100
Numerator
18
Programs and
Regions
Denominator
18
Key Takeaways:
• Eight out of eight FY 2023 - FY 2024 National Program Guidance documents (see: https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/national-program-guidances-npgs) have multiple
commitments to integrate enviromnental justice considerations into their work. Seven of eight also included commitments to strengthen external civil rights compliance.
• Each of the 10 EPA regional offices and 7 program offices (Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assistance, Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Office of Land and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Water)
identified opportunities to integrate environmental justice considerations and strengthen civil rights compliance when developing FY 2023 Enviromnental Justice and Civil
Rights Implementation Plans.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA's efforts to ensure that its national programs and regional offices are identifying opportunities to integrate enviromnental justice
considerations and strengthen external civil rights compliance by recipients of EPA financial assistance, and then incorporating those opportunities and areas into strategic
planning, guidance, policy directives, monitoring, and review activities. These opportunities might include regional office review of and recommendations on state permitting
actions. This measure is retired after FY 2022, as each national program and regional office completed the task of identifying areas and opportunities for enviromnental justice
considerations and civil rights compliance in their planning and policy directives.
(PM EJCR13) Percentage of EPA regions and national programs that have established clear implementation plans for Goal 2 commitments relative to their policies,
programs, and activities and made such available to external partners.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
100
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Regions and
Programs
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA national program and regional offices that publish clear written implementation plans or guidance on the concrete steps
necessary to fully implement FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan Goal 2 commitments to integrate enviromnental justice and comply with civil rights throughout the
implementation of their policies, programs, and activities. EPA program and regional offices will work from the Enviromnental Justice and External Civil Rights National Program
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Guidance. In FY 2023, EPA programs and regional offices will begin implementing commitments from Goal 2 implementation plans that were drafted by the end of FY 2022.
Each year, EPA national programs and regional offices will create updated implementation plans for Goal 2 commitments.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all EPA programs and regions will implement program and region-specific language
assistance plans.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR14) Percentage of EPA programs and regions that have implemented program and region-specific language assistance plans.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
30
35
60
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
0
Numerator
0
Programs and
Regions
Denominator
23
Key Takeaways:
• Drafted an initial guidance document for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan development to be issued to EPA programs and regional offices when finalized.
• EPA is currently developing two model LEP plans, one for programs and one for regional offices, each of which can be used as an example when crafting their LEP plans.
• Added funding to the contract for programs and regional offices to use when providing language assistance services in planned activities.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA national program and regional offices that develop and implement plans and procedures, consistent with EPA Order
1000.32, "Compliance with Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency." The Order outlines necessary steps the Agency
will take to provide meaningful language access to persons with limited English proficiency. Program and regional office plans and procedures will ensure that every EPA
community outreach and engagement activity considers the needs of community members with limited English proficiency and that EPA secures the language services necessary
to provide "meaningful access" to EPA programs and activities for individuals with limited English proficiency. EPA Order 1000.32 is available at:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/epa order 1000.32 compliance with executive order 13166 02.10.2017.pdf.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, all EPA programs and regions will implement program and region-specific
disability access plans.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM EJCR15) Percentage of EPA programs and regions that have implemented program and region-specific disability access plans.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
25
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Programs and
Regions
Denominator
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA national program and regional offices that develop and implement plans and procedures, consistent with guidance and
an EPA Order to be issued in FY 2023 to ensure meaningful access to EPA programs and activities for persons with disabilities. Program and regional office plans and procedures
will ensure every EPA community outreach and engagement activity considers the needs of persons with disabilities and that EPA provides persons with disabilities reasonable
accommodations and appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary so they may effectively participate in EPA program and activities.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Objective 2.3: Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement in Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns-
compliance with civil rights laws to address the legacy of pollution in overburdened communities.
-Strengthen enforcement of and
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Exceeded targets for information sharing sessions and outreach and technical assistance
events held with overburdened and underserved communities and enviromnental justice
advocacy groups on civil rights and environmental justice issues.
• Developed a Process for Prioritizing and Selecting Affirmative Compliance Reviews. EPA
initiated one compliance review in FY 2022.
Challenges:
• Increased workload from the number of external civil rights complaints filed has delayed
the initiation of additional compliance reviews.
• Due to sequencing challenges and workload issues EPA was delayed in initiating the
revised Form 4700-4 review process, upon which the post-award audits of the Form
submissions are contingent. As a result, audits are delayed until at least 2nd quarter FY
2023.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, initiate 45 proactive post-award civil rights compliance reviews to address
discrimination issues in environmentally overburdened and underserved communities.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM EJCR16) Number of proactive post-award civil rights compliance reviews initiated to address discrimination issues in environmentally overburdened and
underserved communities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
/
Target
3
6
12
Compliance
Above
/
Actual
1
1
0
1
Reviews
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Published the Process and Criteria for Prioritizing and Selecting Affirmative Compliance Reviews on January 6, 2022 (see:
https://www.epa.gOv/svstem/files/documents/2022-01/01-06-20-ecrco-process-for-prioritizing-and-selecting-affinnative-compliance-reviews.pdf).
• Initiated a compliance review pursuant to this process on March 18, 2022. EPA was unable to initiate additional audits in FY 2022 due to resource and workload challenges.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA's civil rights enforcement efforts through annual affirmative civil rights compliance reviews of EPA funding recipients targeting critical
enviromnental health and quality of life impacts in overburdened communities.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, complete 305 audits to ensure EPA financial assistance recipients are complying
with nondiscrimination program procedural requirements.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM EJCR17) Number of audits completed to ensure EPA financial assistance recipients are complying with federal civil rights laws.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
J
Target
25
30
50
Audits
Above
Target
Actual
0
0
Key Takeaways:
• Sent notice to recipients of EPA financial assistance of EPA's revised Fonn 4700-4 pre-award compliance review process on July 1. 2022. The revised fonn is effective
January 1, 2023.
• Due to sequencing challenges and workload issues, EPA was delayed in initiating the revised Fonn 4700-4 review process, upon which the post award audits of the Fonn
submissions are contingent. As a result, audits are delayed until at least 2nd quarter FY 2023.
Metric Details: This measure tracks post-award audits of Fonn 4700-4 fonns to ensure EPA financial assistance recipients have in place foundational nondiscrimination program
requirements as required by federal law and EPA's nondiscrimination regulation.
-------
GOAL 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, complete 84 information sharing sessions and outreach and technical assistance
events with overburdened and underserved communities and environmental justice advocacy groups on civil rights and environmental
justice issues.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM EJCR18) Number of information sharing sessions and outreach and technical assistance events held with overburdened and underserved communities and
environmental justice advocacy groups on civil rights and environmental justice issues.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
f
Target
8
90
100
Sessions and
Above
II
Actual
40
30
Events
Target
If
Key Takeaways:
• Facilitated engagements with stakeholders and advocacy groups on strengthening external civil rights and carrying out EPA's commitments to implement enviromnental
justice and civil rights under Goal 2 of the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan.
• Facilitated nine community engagement calls to share information on a variety of Agency and federal initiatives that could be of benefit for communities with enviromnental
justice concerns, and in many cases, to gather feedback and answer questions about these initiatives.
• Facilitated 16 educational sessions with communities and advocacy groups on topics such as enviromnental justice grants management, using EJScreen, EJ 101, EJ Academy
modules, and enviromnental and public health topics such as air quality/air monitoring, clean drinking water, and using safe and effective cleaning products for COVID-19.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA's Office of Enviromnental Justice and External Civil Rights engagements with overburdened and underserved communities and
enviromnental justice advocacy groups on civil rights and/or enviromnental justice issues with impacts on communities with enviromnental justice concerns. This outreach will
help the Agency to better identify concerns and priorities for EPA's civil rights and enviromnental justice work. This also allows for increased capacity-building and meaningful
involvement opportunities for communities with enviromnental justice concerns.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Goal 3 at a Glance
Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance: Improve compliance with the nation's environmental laws and hold violators accountable.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 3 Enforce Environmental Laws and
Ensure Compliance
$569,467
(of $9,559,485..
Obj 3.1 Hold Environmental Violators and
Responsible Parties Accountable
$403,922
Obj 3.2 Detect Violations and Promote
Compliance
$165,545
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective °^°l°ftf\rget TU?L
° 1 ' ~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
¦ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
Obj 3.1
Obj 3.2
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Objective 3.1: Hold Environmental Violators and Responsible Parties Accountable—Use vigorous and targeted civil and criminal enforcement
to ensure accountability for violations and to clean up contamination.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (Y)
1 (R)
3(G)
2(G)
3(G)
2(G)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Percentage of NPDES Permittees in Significant
Noncompliance with their Permit Limits,
FY 2018 - FY 2024
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
~ Actual
¦ Target
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
Strengthened Enforcement to Advance Environmental Justice
• 86 drinking water orders to public water systems (15 were emergency orders).
• Informed >17M people across 10 communities about how to report violations and
provided crime victim support on the "Nextdoor" social media platform, leading to a 51%
increase in criminal leads from the same period in FY 2021.
Combatting Climate Change and integrating climate consideration in policies
• Formed hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) task force with Customs and Border Protection to
interdict HFC imports, and issued 14 Notices of Violation to HFC importers that failed to
comply with GHG Reporting Program obligations.
• Incorporated in settlement talks the impact of climate change on compliance. E.g., an
evaluation showing increased frequency and magnitude of Combined Sewer Overflows,
from increased rainfall and flooding, supported injunctive relief (IR) requirements during
enforcement case negotiations.
Strong Enforcement Results
• Civil actions: $4.3B in IR, $154M in penalties, 195M lbs. of pollution reduced.
• Restored the ability to include Supplemental Enviromnental Projects in settlement
agreements, in appropriate circumstances.
• Monitored open consent decrees of >$78B of enviromnental control obligations.
• Reduced Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permittees in significant noncompliance to 9.0%, surpassing target of 10.1%.
• Criminal cases: secured $149M in fines and restitution, ~$8M in court-ordered
enviromnental projects and forfeited proceeds of $214M (including $203M against Fiat
Chrysler for conspiracy to cheat emissions tests). Obtained 21 year of incarceration.
• Superfund response/cost recovery commitments of ~$575M (including $35M from
redevelopers); oversaw 174 federal facility National Priorities List sites.
Challenges:
• Delays in promotions and new hire processing leave vacancies for long periods, reducing
inspectors in the field and hindering knowledge transfer before departures.
• EPA cannot take enforcement action against facilities unless they are violating a law or
present an imminent and substantial endangerment.
• No authority to address the cumulative impacts of facilities permitted and re-permitted in
communities with environmental justice concerns.
• Complex cases (e.g. involving national companies or extremely complex facilities) often
take longer to resolve.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce to not more than 93 the number of open civil judicial cases more than 2.5
years old without a complaint filed.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM 436) Number of open civil judicial cases more than 2.5 years old without a complaint filed.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
¦
Target
129
120
99
99
96
95
Cases
Below
III
Actual
94
74
66
65
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Ongoing, close cooperation among EPA headquarters, regional offices, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to move the most challenging judicial cases toward
resolution in a more timely manner, thereby returning violators to compliance more quickly and supporting increases in pounds of pollutants reduced and pounds of waste
managed. EPA headquarters, regional offices, and DOJ are also collaborating on best practices to ensure timely conclusion of cases.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of all open civil judicial cases that are more than 2.5 years old without a complaint filed, excluding Superfund, bankruptcy,
collection action, and access order cases. By measuring and highlighting the amount of time from referral of an enforcement case to DOJ to its conclusion, the Agency hopes to
reduce the time by which violation(s) alleged in the case are corrected. Data are tracked in the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). The average time from referral to
complaint for a complaint filed between FY 2013 and FY 2017 was 2.5 years. The baseline for this measure is 129 cases that were more than 2.5 years old without a complaint
filed as of June 30, 2018.
(PM 446) Quarterly percentage of Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees in significant noncompliance with their
permit limits.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
llUr
Target
17.8
15.2
12.7
10.1
10.1
10.1
Percent
Below
Target
Actual
20.3
17.1
16.4
12.6
9.0
Numerator
8,310
7,015
6,941
5,330
3,942
Permittees
Denominator
40,944
41,085
42,334
42,429
44,015
Key Takeaways:
• Reduced the NPDES significant noncompliance (SNC) rate to 9% from the FY 2018 baseline of 20.3%, surpassing the target of 10.1% set under the FY 2018-2022 EPA
Strategic Plan.
• Through the SNC National Compliance Initiative, EPA fully utilized its compliance toolbox. This included developing a new mechanism for prioritizing NPDES
noncompliance to help EPA and states focus attention on the worst violators, and conducting quarterly meetings with all 47 NPDES authorized states focused on data sharing
and ways to reduce SNC challenges.
• These results would not have been possible without the effective EPA-state partnership, and the commitment that states made to the SNC National Compliance Initiative.
Furthermore, a close working partnership with the Association of Clean Water Administrators played a key role in obtaining input from the states to help plot a successful and
collaborative path for the initiative.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Metric Details: This measure tracks the NPDES SNC/Category 1 noncompliance rate among individually permitted major and non-major (minor) NPDES permittees in the last
quarter of the year. NPDES SNC/Category 1 noncompliance identifies a specific level of violation, based on duration, severity, and type of violation, and is assessed quarterly. The
numerator counts major and minor permittees that were in SNC/Category 1 noncompliance in the last quarter of the fiscal year. The denominator includes all active individually-
permitted NPDES permittees (except permittees for which there is insufficient permit data/compliance tracking status in ICIS-NPDES for the data system to evaluate SNC status).
The FY 2018 baseline of 20.3% represents an average based on four quarters of data.
(PM 434) Millions of pounds of pollutants and waste reduced, treated, or eliminated through concluded enforcement actions.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
1
li
L
Target
325
325
325
325
325
325
325
Millions of
Pounds
Above
Target
Actual
461
810
347
2,058
7,864
195
Key Takeaways:
• Results in any given year are dependent on actual case outcomes, which are variable and difficult to predict. Annual totals are often influenced by a few large cases (e.g., the
US Magnesium case in FY 2021 accounted for 90% of the total pounds of pollutants reduced, treated, or eliminated that year). The FY 2022 results are lower than the target
because there were few large pollution reduction cases settled this year.
• Targets for this measure are estimates based on cases in development and past results.
Metric Details: This measure combines estimated pounds of air, water, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and toxics/pesticides pollutants reduced, treated, or eliminated through
concluded enforcement actions.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Objective 3.2: Detect Violations and Promote Compliance—Ensure high levels of compliance with federal environmental laws and regulations
through effective compliance tools — including inspections, other monitoring activities, and technical assistance supported by evidence and
advanced technologies.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (Y)
1(G)
1(G)
1 (Y)
2(G)
3(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
Inspections
• Increased the number of inspections to-5,900, an 84% increase over FY 2021.
• Conducted -57% of inspections in communities with enviromnental justice concerns, up
from 29% in FY 2021.
• Bolstered EPA's inspector cadre, focused on 12 priority areas including increased on-the-
job training, employee recognition, equipment investment, and new promotion potential.
Community Engagement
• Released ECHO Notify, providing local communities with email alerts when a local
facility has a violation or enforcement action. 1,700 subscribers received >132,000 alerts.
• Completed the Refinery Benzene Fenceline Dashboard allowing public users to identify
high benzene readings in fenceline communities.
Compliance Assistance
• Compliance Advisors assisted and trained -209 small Public Water Systems and 64
wastewater treatment facilities in areas with enviromnental justice concerns.
• Expedited return to compliance via Audit Policies; received 597 self-disclosures or new
owner audit agreements covering 918 facilities.
• Issued five Compliance Advisories/Enforcement Alerts to assist with compliance,
including potential noncompliance associated with source water changes at public water
systems, often affecting overburdened communities (e.g., Flint, MI and Jackson, MS).
Evidence-Based Enforcement
• Developed Compliance Learning Agenda to identify evidence-based enforcement tools
having the biggest impact through research partnership projects.
• Advanced EPA Learning Agenda priority area for reducing drinking water noncompliance
by synthesizing existing tools that identify systems of concern and confirming key
characteristics important to maintaining or improving compliance.
Challenges:
• Even with increased hiring, it takes time to train and bring new inspectors up to speed.
• Despite efforts, thousands of community water systems violate health-based standards
each year, exposing millions to potential health risks. The extent of noncompliance is
probably greater than reported. Many states and tribes lack capacity to address violations.
• EPA, tribes, states, and territories often face challenges in keeping up with emerging
technologies. Advances in monitoring and information technology offer great
opportunities for improving the ability to ensure compliance.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, send 75% of EPA inspection reports to facilities within 70 days of inspection.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM 444) Percentage of EPA inspection reports sent to the facility within 70 days of inspection.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
¦
Target
75
75
75
75
Percent
Above
Target
II
r
Actual
83
85
83
Numerator
4,177
1,940
4,362
Reports
Denominator
5,037
2,287
5,237
Key Takeaways:
• Ongoing cooperation between EPA headquarters and regional offices continues to ensure that the majority of inspection reports completed by EPA are sent to facilities within
70 calendar days of an inspection.
• As EPA inspectors have resumed a more active field presence post-pandemic and have conducted more on-site inspections, there was an expected decrease in the completion
of inspection reports within the timeframe as compared with FY 2021 results; however, the results are still well above the target.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of inspection reports completed by EPA and sent to the facility within 70 calendar days of an inspection. Improving the
timeliness of EPA inspection reports allows facilities to more quickly address compliance issues. The 75% goal recognizes that it may not always be possible or appropriate to
provide an inspection report within 70 days because of the nature and complexity of the compliance and enforcement program.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, conduct 55% of annual EPA inspections at facilities that affect communities with
potential environmental justice concerns.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM 450) Percentage of EPA inspections at facilities affecting communities with potential environmental justice concerns.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
45
50
50
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
57
Numerator
3,333
Inspections
Denominator
5,861
Key Takeaways:
• EPA conducted 57% of all inspections at facilities affecting communities with potential enviromnental justice concerns, surpassing the target of 45%. For the first time, using
the recently enhanced ICIS, EPA is able to track inspections in communities designated as having enviromnental justice concerns. ICIS and internal tools have been enhanced
to make this inspection data easily accessible to all Agency staff and management, ensuring that communities most in need of enviromnental protection are receiving
appropriate attention and review.
-------
GOAL 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of EPA on-site inspections conducted by credentialed EPA inspectors at facilities affecting communities with potential
enviromnental justice concerns. The total includes facilities with one environmental indicator triggered at the 80th percentile at the national level (80th percentile/one index trigger)
on EPA's enviromnental justice mapping and screening tool EJScreen, and other areas flagged through an enhanced review. The baseline for this measure is 27% based on an
average of FY 2017- FY 2019 results (pre-COVID levels).
Other Core Work
Annual performance goal:
(PM 409) Number of federal on-site compliance monitoring inspections and evaluations and off-site compliance monitoring activities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Hi
ill"
Target
14,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
Inspections &
Evaluations
Above
Target
Actual
11,800
10,600
10,300
8,500
10,800
13,900
Key Takeaways:
• EPA conducted approximately 5,900 on-site inspections and 8,000 off-site compliance monitoring activities.
• With the COVID-19 pandemic slowing, EPA was able to conduct more on-site inspections, while still utilizing off-site compliance monitoring activities where appropriate
(for example: review of responses to information requests to assess compliance; review of facility monitoring reports and/or sampling data). The return to in-person visits on-
site allowed the Agency to exceed the annual target and increase total compliance monitoring activities by more than 3,000 over the FY 2021 total (with 1,700 additional on-
site inspections).
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA inspections and off-site compliance monitoring activities to determine whether a facility or group of facilities is in compliance with
applicable law.
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Goal 4 at a Glance
Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities: Protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 4 Ensure Clean and Healthy Airfor All
Communities
Obj 4.1 Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized
Pollution and Health Impacts
$555,945
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
$514,157
Obj 4.2 Reduce Exposure to Radiation and Improve
Indoor Air
$41,788
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective ~ 75°w%ofta^Jt
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
¦ <75% of targetmet (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
Obj 4.1
Obj 4.2
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and Health Impacts-
national scales to achieve healthy air quality for people and the environment.
-Reduce air pollution on local, regional, and
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Comparison of Growth Areas and Declining Emissions
1970-2021
Gross Domestic Product
Vehicles Miles Traveled
^4
Population
?rxH
Energy Consumption
CO2 Emissions
*?
Aggregate Emissions
(Six Common Pollutants)
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Issued annual Air Trends Report showing combined emissions of six key pollutants
dropped by 78%, while the U.S. economy nearly tripled between 1970-2021. The
percentage of air quality improvement in counties not meeting current National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is 10%, from a 2016 baseline (based on 2021 data). The
percentage of people with low socioeconomic status (SES) living in areas where the air
quality meets the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS has improved from 43% (2006-
2008 data) to 85% (2019-2021 data) (see: https://gispub.epa.gov/air/
I re rids rc do rt/2022/# ho m c).
• Released AirToxScreen (with 2017 and 2018 emissions data) - the Agency's new and
improved air toxics risk screening tool, which is part of EPA's updated approach that
provides updated data and risk analyses on an annual basis to allow communities to more
readily identify existing and emerging air toxics issues (see: https://www.epa.gov/
AirToxScreen).
• Made significant progress in reducing emissions from power plants through the Acid Rain
Program (ARP) and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). As of 2021, the programs
have delivered a 94% reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and an 85% reduction in nitrogen
oxide (NOx) emissions from 1990 levels. For FY 2021, power plants achieved 100%
compliance in the ARP and CSAPR allowance trading programs.
• Released new total nitrogen deposition maps showing significant reductions in oxidized
nitrogen deposition, consistent with NOx emissions reductions, showing a ~40% increase
in reduced forms of nitrogen from 2000-2020 (see: https://www.epa.gov/report-
environment/ interactive-maps).
• Continued to make progress toward U.S. commitments as a Party to the Montreal
Protocol, whereby the U.S. must incrementally decrease hydrochlorofluorocaibons
(HCFC) consumption and production, culminating in a complete HCFC phaseout in 2030.
• Established the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (BIL) Clean School Bus programs as Justice40 covered programs, engaging with
Agency efforts to develop guidance, best practices, and report on benefits going to
disadvantaged communities.
Challenges:
• Insufficient resources for federal implementation of the NAAQS and other Clean Air Act
(CAA) requirements at the headquarters and regional level continues to pose program
delivery challenges such as timely processing of State Implementation Plans (SIPs).
• Retirements and normal attrition of experienced staff, many with specialized technical
expertise, along with insufficient contract dollars pose ongoing challenges.
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce ozone season emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from electric power
generation sources by 21% from the 2019 baseline of 390,354 tons.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM NOX) Tons of ozone season NOx emissions from electric power generation sources.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
III
iir
Target
355,000
344,000
332,000
Tons
Below
Target
Actual
464,999
443,764
389,170
341,082
359,124
326,722
Key Takeaways:
• Over the last two decades, ozone season NOx emissions have declined dramatically under the Acid Rain Program (ARP), NOx Budget Trading Program (NBP), Clean Air
Interstate Rule (CAIR), and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) programs.
• Between the 2021 and 2022 ozone seasons, national ozone season NOx emissions decreased by 9% from 359 to 327 thousand tons, even with a small rebound (1%) in overall
generation. Within the 12 state Revised CSAPR Update (RCU) region, in which the rule required additional emissions reductions of NOx from power plants,_ozone season
NOx emissions decreased by 21% from 114 to 90 thousand tons.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the ozone season NOx emissions from sources in four of EPA's nationwide and multi-state air pollution control programs: an annual NOx
trading program and two ozone season NOx trading programs operated by EPA on behalf of 27 states in the eastern U.S. under Title I of the CAA, as well as a national NOx
emissions reduction program for the power sector operated by EPA under Title IV of the CAA, the Acid Rain Program. NOx are precursors for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and
ground-level ozone (O3). Researchers have associated PM2.5 and O3 exposure with adverse health effects in toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological studies. Lowering exposure
to PM2.5 and O3 contributes to significant human health benefits. The ozone season corresponds to the warm summer months when ozone formation is highest (May 1 - September
30). Reductions in NOx emissions during the ozone season help areas attain ambient ozone standards. For more information, see:
https://www3.epa.gov/ainnarkets/progress/reports/index.html. _
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, improve measured air quality in counties not meeting the current National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) from the 2016 baseline by 10%.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM NAAQS) Percentage of air quality improvement in counties not meeting current NAAQS.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
..III'
Target
7
8
9
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
3
3
7
8
10
Data Avail
11/2023
Key Takeaways:
• Measured air quality for criteria pollutants continues to show steady improvement. In FY 2021 (latest available data), the decline in measured aggregate air pollution levels
was in large part due to the implementation of state control plans and federal measures. The biggest reductions between 2020 and 2021 were in levels of particulate matter
(PM) and SO2. As a result of improved air quality, 12 areas were redesignated from nonattaimnent to attainment in FY 2022.
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
• The number of days reaching Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or above for the Air Quality Index (based on ozone and PM data for 35 U.S. cities) for the past two years has
held steady at about half of what it was 10 years ago and about a quarter of what it was 20 years ago.
• The effects of wildfires are a significant challenge for meeting these targets. Smoke from wildfires contains harmful air pollutants and can have a notable impact on air quality
trends. For example, 2020 was a large wildfire year in parts of the U.S. (e.g., the largest year in California history), and 2020 PM2.5 and PM10 levels were noticeably higher
compared to 2019 levels. On the other hand, in 2021, more than 2 million fewer acres were burned compared to 2020, and 2021 PM levels were noticeably lower compared to
2020 levels.
Metric Details: This measure shows progress in reducing pollutant concentrations in counties not meeting one or more current NAAQS relative to the 2016 calculated baseline.
The CAA requires EPA to set the NAAQS for six "criteria" pollutants considered harmful to public health and the enviromnent. These national standards form the foundation for
air quality management. The measure is presented as the aggregate percentage change in design value concentrations - a statistic that describes the air quality status of a given
location relative to the NAAQS - since the baseline year. The aggregate percentage change is weighted by the number of counties violating for each pollutant in the baseline year
so more weight is given to pollutants with more violating counties. Four criteria pollutants (ozone, PM2.5. PM10. SO2, and lead) are part of this measure. All counties met the
NAAQS for carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in 2016, so those two criteria pollutants are not considered in this measure.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, strive to ensure all people with low socio-economic status (SES) live in areas where
the air quality meets the current fine particle pollution (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM NAAQS2) Percentage of people with low SES living in areas where the air quality meets the PM2.5 NAAQS.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
linl
Target
90
93
97
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
86
82
82
81
85
Data Avail
11/2023
Numerator
54,121,495
52,044,172
51,560,102
48,678,558
50,304,779
People
Denominator
62,631,596
63,150,683
62,687,368
60,053,454
59,241,268
Key Takeaways:
• Measured air quality for PM2.5 continues to show steady improvement. In FY 2021, the number of people with low SES living in areas with air quality that met the PM2.5
NAAQS increased by almost 2 million and the percentage of such people in these areas was 85%. This air quality improvement can be attributed to implementation of state
control plans and federal measures.
• The effects of wildfires are a significant challenge for meeting these targets. Smoke from wildfires contains harmful air pollutants and can have a notable impact on air quality
trends.
• Another challenge with trying to reach 100% is that certain PM2.5 nonattaimnent areas have long-standing, very difficult air quality problems, such as Fairbanks, AK and the
San Joaquin Valley in California. Bringing those areas into attainment will require additional, more aggressive control measures.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of people with low SES, defined as two times the poverty level, living in counties with monitors measuring concentrations of
PM2.5 that meet the 2012 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Long- and short-term exposures to fine particles can harm people's health, leading to heart attacks, asthma
attacks, and premature death. In the baseline period of 2006-2008, 43% of the low SES population lived in counties that met both PM2.5 NAAQS. Changes since that time reflect
the effectiveness of strategies designed to reduce fine particle pollution.
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, ensure U.S. consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is less than 76.2
tons per year of ozone depletion potential.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM HCFC) Remaining U.S. consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chemicals that deplete the Earth's protective ozone layer, in ozone depletion potential
(ODP)-weighted metric tons.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
||
Target
76.2
76.2
76.2
Below
Target
1 —
Actual
374.6
434.1
224.2
-110.8
20.8
Data Avail
11/2023
Metric Tons
III, —
Key Takeaways:
• The FY 2020 result is negative because exports and destruction together significantly exceeded production and imports in calendar year 2020.
• The measure demonstrates how the U.S. continues to meet its obligations as a Party to the Montreal Protocol.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the United States' annual consumption of HCFCs in ODP-weighted tons. Consumption means the amount of HCFC produced, plus imports,
minus exports, minus destruction, and minus amounts produced or imported for transformation. As a Party to the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. must incrementally decrease HCFC
consumption and production, culminating in a complete HCFC phaseout in 2030. The current annual consumption cap of the U.S. for all HCFCs is 76.2 ODP-weighted metric
tons, down from the 2015-2019 target of 1,520 ODP-weighted metric tons peryear. For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout/phaseout-class-ii-ozone-
depleting-substances.
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.2: Reduce Exposure to Radiation and Improve Indoor Air-
air quality, especially for vulnerable populations.
-Limit unnecessary radiation exposure and achieve healthier indoor
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (ND)
1 (Y)
2(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Number of Lung Cancer Deaths Prevented
through Lower Radon Exposure, FY 2017 - FY 2024
2,100
1,800
1,500
1,200
900
600
300
0
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
i i Artnal Target
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Released, with the American Lung Association, the National Radon Action Plan 2021-
2025: Eliminating Preventable Lung Cancer from Radon in the United States by
Expanding Protections for All Communities and Buildings (see:
http://radonleaders.org/resources/nationalradonactionplan). This is the third installment of
a strategy to increase action on radon and sets a goal for the U.S. to find, fix and prevent
high indoor radon levels in 8M buildings by 2025 and prevent at least 3,500 lung cancer
deaths per year. EPA exceeded this year's target by preventing 1,894 lung cancer deaths.
• Provided knowledge sharing and capacity building through technical assistance, resources,
and events to support a network of more than 1,100 asthma programs.
• Continued to work toward improving adoption of cleaner cookstoves and heating
technologies around the world through international and domestic partnerships and active
technical assistance. As of FY 2022, 67 countries have included clean cooking goals in
their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.
• Continued to demonstrate radiological emergency response readiness and delivered
exposure rate measurement capability to 90 fixed RadNet monitors.
• Initiated contingency planning (for example, developing public communications materials
for use by the U.S. government related to radiation contamination and public health and
safety for U.S. citizens), coordinating closely with federal partners in light of the war in
Ukraine and its potential for impacts on nuclear facilities.
• Participated in planning and execution of the 2022 Cobalt Magnet full-scale radiological
emergency response exercise in Austin, TX. Exercised capabilities and plans by
integrating with other federal departments and State of Texas agencies into a single
incident response organization and executing their capabilities consistent with the federal
government's National Response Preparedness Goal: Protection, Mitigation, Response,
and Recovery.
Challenges:
• With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in indoor air quality (IAQ) interest
and action by the public, congressional, administration and other stakeholders, and EPA
needed to provide further IAQ support which has strained available resources.
• Limited resources to address radiation monitoring (RadNet) information technology and
radiochemistry lab modernization efforts and actions to improve security posture pursuant
to Agency requirements as identified by past audits and inspections.
• EPA's critical suite of field radiological equipment and instrumentation needs
updating/replacement in order to ensure the highest level of radiological emergency
preparedness (2008 was last modernization effort).
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, prevent 2,250 lung cancer deaths annually through lower radon exposure as
compared to the FY 2020 baseline of 1,684 prevented lung cancer deaths.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM LCD) Number of lung cancer deaths prevented through lower radon exposure.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
1,881
1,981
2,083
Deaths
Above
Actual
1,383
1,482
1,578
1,684
1,795
1,894
Prevented
Target
Key Takeaways:
• EPA exceeded its FY 2022 target and is making progress toward preventing 2,250 lung cancer deaths by 2026. This progress is the result of nationwide efforts to mitigate
homes with elevated levels of radon and to build radon-resistant features into the construction of new homes.
• The 2021-2025 National Radon Action Plan (http://radonleaders.org/resources/nationalradonactionplan) will further support increased efforts to find, fix and prevent high
indoor radon levels in homes and buildings and prevent annual lung cancer deaths.
Metric Details: This measure tracks lung cancer deaths prevented annually by reducing radon exposure, calculated using estimates of the number of homes in the U.S. with radon
levels above the EPA action level of 4pCi/L (picocuries per liter) that have been mitigated and the number of new homes that have been built with radon resistant features. Lung
cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. Exposure to radon indoors is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United
States. EPA estimates there are 12,000 avoidable lung cancer deaths annually attributable to indoor radon exposure and more than seven million homes in the U.S. are at or above
the EPA radon action level. For more information, see https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/5499/liealth-efFects-of-exposure-to-radon-beir-vi: and https://www.epa.gov/sites/
default/files/2015-05/documents/402-r-03-003.pdf.
Other Core Work
Annual performance goals:
(PM RAD2) Percentage of radiation emergency response program personnel and assets that meet functional readiness requirements necessary to support federal
radiological emergency response and recovery operation.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
If
Target
90
92
92
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
92
88
Numerator
128.24
122.78
Personnel
and Assets
Denominator
140
140
Key Takeaways:
• EPA missed the FY 2022 target of 90%, scoring 87.7%. This is due to the loss of Public Information Officer and scientific personnel, and the Mobile Enviromnental Radiation
Laboratory being out of commission due to loss of personnel and limited ability to fund modernization efforts. To address this shortfall, EPA is actively hiring to replace key
personnel.
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GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
• EPA participated in key government exercises in FY 2022 and is actively engaged in contingency planning for supporting responses to any foreign radiological incidents
stemming from active warfare in Ukraine.
Metric Details: This measure tracks percent readiness of EPA headquarters, laboratory and field support elements including assets and equipment, procedures and programs,
licenses and accreditations, personnel, qualifications, exercise participation and training. Percent readiness is calculated by the total score earned during an annual assessment of
elements divided by the total points assigned to those elements.
(PMIA) Number of programs, annually, equipped to support the infrastructure, delivery and sustainability of comprehensive asthma care.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
600
1,800
2,855
3,005
Programs
Above
tlllll
Actual
884
1,232
1,645
2,132
2,446
2,705
Target
Key Takeaways:
• EPA is working to ensure that all people with asthma have access to programs that deliver comprehensive asthma care and improve indoor air quality.
• EPA is providing technical assistance to equip all astluna stakeholders (e.g., individuals, state and community-based healthcare, housing and school systems) to carry out the
straightforward and proven solutions that create healthier indoor enviromnents.
• EPA's astluna community network has nearly 5,000 members supporting more than 1,100 astluna programs across the country.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA delivery of technical assistance, tools, and grant support to equip community-based programs and the organizations that support them to
deliver evidence-based, comprehensive astluna care. Twenty-four million Americans, including 4.2 million children, have astluna. Low income and minority children suffer
disproportionately. In-home enviromnental interventions reduce health care utilization and improve quality of life for people with astluna. No targets were established in FYs
2018-2021 because this measure was not included in EPA's Annual Performance Plan. For more information, see: cdc.gov/astlima.
(PM CS) Millions of demonstrably improved (field or lab tested) cookstoves sold.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
50
60
60
Millions of
Cookstoves
Above
Target
Actual
50
Key Takeaways:
• EPA, in collaboration with the Clean Cooking Alliance, is working to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
• EPA provides ongoing training and engagement of Regional Stove Testing and Knowledge Centers and leads the development of standards for institutional stoves.
• Following the 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate, EPA co-hosted four Cleaning Cooking Consultations with the top three target countries (Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda) on
household energy targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to achieve Paris Agreement goals, continuing to work toward improving adoption of cleaner
cookstoves and heating technologies around the world through international and domestic partnerships and active technical assistance.
Metric Details: This measure tracks millions of demonstrably improved cookstoves sold worldwide. More than three billion low-income people around the world, including
600,000 low-income Americans, cook their food and/or heat their homes with open fires or rudimentary stoves. The resulting exposure to extraordinarily high levels of indoor air
pollution causes 3.2 million premature deaths worldwide, primarily among women and girls. Emissions from household energy /cookstoves are the largest controllable source of
the short-lived climate pollutant black carbon (>50%) and cookstove emissions also include methane and carbon dioxide (CO2). EPA leads the development of cookstove standards
-------
GOAL 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and works with partners to rapidly increase the sustained use of demonstrably clean and efficient cookstoves and
fuels, with approximately 48 million improved stoves sold in 2019. For more information, see: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/liousehold-air-pollution-and-
health.
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Goal 5 at a Glance
Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities: Provide clean and safe water for all communities and protect our nation's waterbodies from
degradation.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 5 Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All
Communities
Obj 5.1 Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable
Water Infrastructure
$3,343,981
$4,637,400
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
Obj 5.2 Protect and Restore Waterbodies and
Watersheds
$1,293,419
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
¦ <75% of targetmet (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
Obj 5.1
Obj 5.2
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water Infrastructure—Protect public health from the risk of exposure to regulated
and emerging contaminants in drinking and source waters by improving the reliability, accessibility, and resilience of the nation's water
infrastructure to reduce the impacts of climate change, structural deterioration, and cyber threats.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~<75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1(G)
1(G)
1(G)
2(G)
1 (ND)
5(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Number of Community Water Systems Still in
Noncompliance with Health-based Standards
since March 31, 2021
3,600
3,000
2,400
1,800
1,200
600
0
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Announced $50 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for drinking water
and wastewater, including substantial investment in disadvantaged communities in
aligmnent with Justice40. This funding will also help make rapid progress on lead service
line replacement, and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging
contaminants.
• Announced development of Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Improvements regulation and
published LCR Inventory Guidance to support water systems to develop inventories of
service line materials and provide states with needed information for oversight and
reporting to EPA (see; https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule).
• Published fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule which will require certain
public water systems (PWSs) to collect national occurrence data for 29 PFAS and lithium
(see: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-12-27/pdf/2021-27858.pdf).
• Ninety-three percent of the population served by community water systems (CWSs)
received drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards
2,971 (85%) of the original 3,508 CWSs with a compliance violation since 2017 have
returned to compliance.
• The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program closed 30
transactions totaling more than $3.8 billion in loans to help finance over $8 billion for
water infrastructure projects and create over 30,000 jobs.
Challenges:
• Advances in research sensing, and measurements for PFAS and other emerging
contaminants create new challenges for developing toxicity data and risk assessments.
• Over 80% of CWSs serve fewer than 3,300 persons. These systems are often challenged to
maintain the technical, managerial, and financial capacity needed to operate a water
system and address increasing cybersecurity issues.
• EPA estimates 6-10 million households are connected to a water system through a lead
pipe/service line.
• Evolving intelligence indicates the Russian Government is exploring options for potential
cyberattacks to critical U.S. infrastructure including drinking water and wastewater
treatment systems.
i i Artnal
¦ Target
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce the number of community water systems still in noncompliance with health-
based standards since March 31, 2021, from 752 to 500.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM DW-02) Number of community water systems still in noncompliance with health-based standards since March 31,2021.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
llilt-
Target
875
640
450
400
CWSs
Below
Target
Actual
3,508
1,718
1,128
1,048
654
537
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target by reducing to 537 the CWSs that remained in non-compliance with health-based standards from the original 3,508. To help address violations, EPA sends
quarterly updates on CWSs with violations to EPA Regional drinking water programs and enforcement programs so that they can work with state programs on actions to bring
those systems back into compliance. EPA also sends quarterly reports on CWSs with violations to United States Department of Agriculture for their awareness of systems in
their purview.
• Ninety-tliree percent of the population served by CWSs received drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards.
• Drinking water systems, especially small systems, often have limited technical expertise to address operational and increasing cybersecurity issues.
• A lack of technical, managerial, and financial capacity can lead to unaddressed deficiencies in the water system. This is the second largest cause of community water systems
in violation.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of CWSs still in noncompliance with the health-based National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (maximum contaminant level
or treatment technique) during any part of the year, relative to the group in noncompliance as of September 30, 2017. A CWS is a public water system that supplies water to the
same population year-round. There are approximately 50,000 CWSs in the U.S. The total includes CWSs in Indian country. As of September 30, 2021, 654 of the original 3,508
systems were still in non-compliance with health-based standards. Data are derived from the Safe Drinking Water Information System Federal Data Warehouse (SDWIS-FED),
which contains information about violations by public water systems as reported to EPA by the primacy agencies (tribes and states with EPA-delegated enforcement
responsibility). Technical assistance provided focuses on non-compliant water systems in underserved communities. EPA expects progress on this measure to decelerate because
many of the remaining systems have complex compliance issues or may require capital infrastructure improvements to help address non-compliance.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce the number of community water systems in Indian country still in
noncompliance with health-based standards since March 31, 2021, from 110 to 70.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM DWT-02) Number of community water systems in Indian Country still in noncompliance with health-based standards since March 31,2021.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
55
35
CWSs
Below
Target
Actual
74
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Key Takeaways:
• 74 CWSs remained in non-compliance with health-based standards in Indian Country. EPA regularly monitors CWSs with violations and works with partners on actions to
bring those systems back into compliance. EPA works closely with Indian Health Service to target funding to tribal water systems with infrastructure needs to improve water
quality and delivery.
• Eighty-five percent of the population in Indian Country served by CWSs received drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of tribal CWSs still in noncompliance with the health-based National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (Maximum
Contaminant Level or treatment technique) during any part of the year, relative to the group in non-compliance on March 31, 2021. There are approximately 730 tribal CWSs. Data
are derived from SDWIS-FED, which contains information about violations by public water systems as reported to EPA by the primacy agencies (EPA regional offices and tribes
with EPA-delegated enforcement responsibility).
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, leverage an additional $45 billion in non-federal dollars through EPA's water
infrastructure finance programs (CWSRF, DWSRF and WIFIA).
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PMINFRA-01) Billions of non-federal dollars leveraged by EPA's water infrastructure finance programs (CWSRF, DWSRF and WIFIA).
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
J-
Target
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
9.5
9.5
Billions of
Dollars
Above
Target
lit
nr
Actual
8.6
9.7
10.3
10.2
12.1
14.6
Key Takeaways:
• In FY 2022, EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and WIFIA programs exceeded the annual target by
leveraging $14.6 billion in non-federal dollars for water infrastructure projects. This success was in part due to the ongoing effective state management and EPA oversight of
the SRFs.
Metric Details: This measure tracks funds leveraged by the three primary water infrastructure programs. These programs represent the largest federal source of funds to address
this critical component of our nation's drinking water and clean water infrastructure. Non-federal funds include loans made from recycled loan payments, bond proceeds, state
match, interest earnings, and co-funding from non-SRF sources. EPA will increase the amount of non-federal funds leveraged by providing communities with tools, training, and
resources to help plan for infrastructure improvements and identify funding opportunities. The Agency will ensure a focus on climate resiliency and equity by revising loan
guidelines, program guidance and providing technical assistance. SRF data are tracked in the SRF Data System.
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, in coordination with other federal agencies, provide access to basic sanitation for an
additional 36,500 American Indian and Alaska Native homes.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM WWT-02) Number of American Indian and Alaska Native homes provided access to basic sanitation, in coordination with other agencies.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
1
Target
6,098
6,098
6,098
Above
Target
ll 1 ~
Actual
5,318
6,398
3,561
9,114
4,007
Data Avail
3/2023
Homes
Hill
Key Takeaways:
• The cumulative number of American Indian and Alaska Native homes that are provided access to basic sanitation in coordination with other federal agencies continues to
grow over time.
• Working with the Indian Health Service, EPA helps provide or restore access to wastewater infrastructure for tribal communities. The data source for this measure is the once
annual data-freeze snapshots from the Project Data System in the Indian Health Service, Division of Sanitation Facility Construction Sanitation Tracking and Reporting
System. As of February 16, 2023, the data for FY 2022 are not available.
Metric Details: This measure tracks American Indian and Alaska Native homes provided with wastewater treatment infrastructure through Congressionally appropriated funds, in
coordination with other agencies. To show progress towards this measure, EPA will use the number of homes that received improved wastewater sanitation services as reported
through the Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitation Tracking and Reporting System (STARS). IHS housing information is collected once annually (typically in November) to
capture the progress of the previous construction season. There were 378,211 American Indian and Alaska Native homes in the IHS database as of FY 2022 (most currently
available data). For more information visit: https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-svstems/clean-water-indian-set-aside-program.) Targets are based on past years'
performance, assumption of relatively constant future funding levels, and continued coordination with other federal agencies.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, provide 2,203 Tribal, small, rural, or underserved communities with technical,
managerial, or financial assistance to improve operations of their drinking water or wastewater systems.
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM INFRA-06) Number of tribal, small, rural, or underserved communities provided with technical, managerial, or financial assistance to improve system operations.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
J
Target
339
542
542
Communities
Above
Target
Actual
187
1,668
Key Takeaways:
• Funded one-to-one technical assistance to rural, small. Tribal, and underserved communities with technical, managerial, or financial assistance issues living in communities of
less than 10,000 people: the Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water Grant
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Program and the Training and Technical Assistance for Rural, Small, and Tribal Municipalities and Wastewater Treatment Systems for Clean Water Act Prevention
Reduction, and Elimination of Pollution Grant Program.
• Examples of assistance provided include: conducting well assessments; helping systems develop and implement asset management programs, adopt, and implement Risk and
Resiliency Assessments (RRA), Vulnerability Assessments (VA), and/or Emergency Response Plans (ERP), and complete energy audits and rate analyses; helping systems
address non-compliance issues; and conducting homeowner visits to collect private samples to test well water for harmful E. coli bacteria.
• One grantee was able to serve 14,363 people, of which an estimated 29% of the total were members of communities of color, and six percent were tribal members, Alaska
Natives or Native Hawaiians.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of tribal, small, or rural communities, or communities with enviromnental justice concerns, provided with EPA technical,
managerial, or financial assistance through on-site visits or training to effectively operate drinking water systems or wastewater treatment systems. Data are collected through
grantee reports.
(PM DW-07) Number of drinking water and wastewater systems, tribal and state officials, and water sector partners provided with security, emergency preparedness,
and climate resilience training and technical assistance.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
2,000
3,500
3,500
Systems and
Partners
Above
Target
Actual
3,939
Key Takeaways:
• Drinking water system operations are challenged due to degradation of sources of drinking water; pressures from extreme weather events, and accidental and intentional
incidents.
• EPA has been conducting significant outreach and training for community water systems on compliance with America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Section 2013
requirements, a need critical to addressing these challenges. AWIA Section 2013 requires CWSs serving more than 3,300 people to develop or update RRAs and ERPs.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of drinking water, wastewater, and stonnwater (water sector) utilities, tribal and state officials, and water sector partners provided
by EPA with practical tools, training, and technical assistance needed to increase resilience to extreme weather events (e.g., drought, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes), malevolent
acts (e.g., cyberattacks), and climate change. EPA assistance promotes a clear understanding of climate change and potential long-term adaptation options for decision-making
related to water utility infrastructure operations and financing. Training and technical assistance will target participation of underserved communities.
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
protective of the health and needs of all people and ecosystems.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (Y)
2 (Y)
2 (Y)
1(G)
1 (Y)
3(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Number of Existing EPA-issued NPDES Individual
Permits in Backlog, FY 2018 - FY 2024
500
400
300
200
100
FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
i i Artnal ^^™Target
Address sources of water pollution and ensure water quality standards are
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Submitted the Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) final rule to
the Office of Management and Budget for Interagency review. Also proposed rulemakings
on Human Health Water Quality Criteria in Washington State and Clean Water Act
(CWA) Section 401 certification to revise and replace the Agency's 2020 regulatory
requirements for water quality certification. Published a CWA Section 404(c) Proposed
Determination to prohibit and restrict the use of certain waters in the Bristol Bay, AK
watershed as disposal sites for the discharge of dredged or fill material associated with
mining the Pebble deposit.
• Announced $132 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding and guidance for
the National Estuary Program. Also established a new $60 million grant program under
BIL for implementing the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan and made over $194 million in BIL
funding available for Geographic Programs.
• Took action on 35 of 37 section 303(d) impaired waters lists that were submitted to EPA
for the 2022 cycle (compared to 14 this time last cycle).
• Restored or improved 110 waters that were previously impaired due to nonpoint sources.
• States and territories have made over 78% progress towards submitting their long-term
priority Total Maximum Daily Loadings (TMDLs), other restoration plans, and protection
plans under the CWA Section 303(d) Program Vision. States and territories have made
continuous progress throughout the entirety of this metric and came within 25% of the
final target.
• Reduced the backlog of EPA's new National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit applications by 79%, and the backlog of existing NPDES permits by
58% compared with the June 2018 baseline.
Challenges:
• A changing climate is affecting how water systems respond to pollution due to changes in
temperature, flow, and sediment.
• Extreme natural events such as hurricanes and wildfires may increase nonpoint source
pollution loading.
• Nutrient pollution affects upwards of 50% of lakes and streams. Total phosphorus levels
are increasing in rivers, streams and lakes across the country. Excess nutrients contribute
to harmful algal blooms (HABs), low oxygen "dead zones," and high levels of nitrates that
contaminate waters while also damaging the economy. Impervious surfaces can generate
increased flows of stonnwater pollutants, degrading water quality and threatening public
health. More information available at: https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution.
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GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, increase by 41,000 square miles the area of watersheds with surface water meeting
standards that previously did not meet standards.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM SWP-01) Annual increase in square miles of watersheds with surface water meeting standards that previously did not meet standards.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
8,000
8,000
17,100
Square Miles
Above
Target
Actual
20,511
Key Takeaways:
• Significantly exceeded the target due to increased number of CWA Section 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Reports (IRs) submitted. IRs are due on April 1 of even numbered years,
but they usually come in slowly throughout the two-year period. However, due to a years-long push by EPA to get states to submit their IRs on time, many states submitted
their 2022 IRs by April 1 or shortly thereafter.
Metric Details: This measure tracks improvements in impaired waters as reported on state CWA Section 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Reports. States report on their water quality
assessments every two years. Water quality standards attaimnent means that: 1) the impairments have been effectively removed due to actions including water quality restoration
efforts, more complete monitoring to better understand waterbody conditions, or appropriate changes in water quality standards; and 2) the waterbody now either fully supports the
use or meets the water quality criterion for that particular pollutant or stressor for which it had been impaired. EPA will ensure watersheds will continue to meet the standards by
assessing for equity and climate impacts. Data are tracked in EPA's Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS). As
states continue to perform assessments, they continue to identify additional impaired waters. As of July 28, 2022, the baseline was 504,605 square miles of watersheds with surface
water not meeting standards. This is an update to the draft baseline of 425,198 square miles that was included in the FY 2023 budget. This measure has transitioned from using the
old National Hydrology Dataset Plus (NHDPlus) V2 catchments to the new a NHDPlus HR-VF-Gen catchment layer. Targets are based on receipt of IRs due to EPA every even
year, with some reporting delayed to other years. Prior to this report, this measure tracked total square miles of watersheds meeting standards in waters previously identified as
impaired.
(PM SWP-02) Annual increase in square miles of watersheds with previously impaired surface waters due to nutrients that now meet standards for nutrients.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
2,100
1,400
1,400
Square Miles
Above
Target
Actual
12,833
Key Takeaways:
• Significantly exceeded the target due to increased number of CWA Section 303(d)/305(b) IRs submitted.
Metric Details: This measure tracks improvements in impaired waters due to nutrients as reported on state CWA Section 303(d)/305(b) IRs. As of July 28, 2022, the universe is
157,485 square miles of watershed area with surface water that are not meeting standards due to nutrients. This is an update to the draft universe of 157,485 square miles that was
included in the FY 2023 budget. Prior to this report, this measure tracked total square miles of watersheds meeting standards due to nutrients in waters previously identified as
impaired.
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Other Core Work
Annual performance goals:
(PM NPDES-03) Number of existing EPA-issued NPDES individual permits in backlog.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
If
lr
Target
360
280
230
250
210
195
Permits
Below
Target
Actual
456
373
333
284
229
Key Takeaways:
• Issued or terminated a total of 125 existing permits, which reduced the backlog of existing EPA-issued NPDES permits by 19% in FY 2022, and by 58% since March 2018.
• EPA headquarters and regions worked closely to identify challenges and develop solutions to complex permitting issues, such as those related to CWA Section 401 water
quality certifications, WOTUS, CWA Section 316(b) cooling water intake mitigation, state legal authority, water quality-based effluent limitations for selenium, nutrients and
other parameters, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS, to aid in the issuance of high-quality permits. These efforts will also help prevent future permits from becoming
backlogged.
Metric Details: This measure tracks existing EPA-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) individual permits that are administratively continued for 180
days or more. EPA modified the title of this measure to specify that only individual permits are being tracked and reported, which has been the case since the measure began in FY
2018. Between FY 2018 and FY 2021, EPA considered permits to be backlogged as soon as they passed their expiration date and were administratively continued. Beginning in
FY 2022, the backlog is defined as permits that are administratively continued for 180 days or more. The change allows for prioritization of complex permits and resource
efficiency. Permits are removed from the backlog as soon as the Agency issues, denies, or terminates a permit. The baseline for this measure is 547 as of March 2018. For FY 2023
and FY 2024, EPA expects the backlog to continue to decrease. Factors that could potentially impact permit backlog reduction in the next two years are a significantly larger
number of permits set to expire during this time period, inability to promptly backfill permit writers and other critical staff due to competing priorities, technical and complex
permit issues, and the addition of new Agency priorities such as implementation of BIL and IRA. EPA will continue to monitor progress on reducing the backlog and will reassess
targets, as needed. Data are tracked in EPA's Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS)-NPDES Database.
(PM TMDL-02) Percentage of priority TMDLs, alternative restoration plans, and protection approaches in place.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
..fill
Target
50
67
84
100
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
14
33.3
51.2
63.5
74.1
78
Numerator
14,045
33,194
48,544
59,470
61,718
65,137
Square Miles
Denominator
99,424
99,415
94,806
93,653
83,308
83,999
Key Takeaways:
• Due to shifting program priorities, staff turnover, or limited capacity many states are not able to complete all plans originally committed to several years ago. Due to the long-
term nature of this work, states were unable to fully predict which plans would be completed and which waterbodies would be delisted over the 6-year-period. Therefore,
achievement of 100 percent of plans in place was difficult. Despite this, states continued to increase the number of plans in place leading to a continuous improvement in the
results throughout the year. For example, EPA approved more than 2,200 TMDLs submitted under CWA Section 303(d).
-------
GOAL 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Metric Details: This measure tracks state priority waters with a TMDL, alternative restoration, or protection plan in place. EPA, tribes, and states cooperatively developed a Long-
Term Vision for Assessment, Restoration and Protection under the CWA Section 303(d) Program(https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-
07/documents/vision 303d program dec 2013.pdf). which encourages focused attention on priority waters and acknowledges that states have flexibility in using available tools -
TMDLs, Alternative Restoration Plans, and protection approaches - to restore and protect water quality. The calculation method provides 0.5 credit for plans under development
and Ml credit when EPA approves a plan. The goal was to have 100 percent of priority waters with plans approved or accepted by FY 2022. The following measure (PM TMDL-
03) will replace this one beginning in FY 2023.
(PM TMDL-03) Square miles of priority areas covered by TMDLs, other restoration plans, or protection approaches.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
7,940
19,280
Square Miles
Above
Target
Actual
Metric Details: This measure tracks square miles of priority areas covered by TMDLs, other restoration plans, or protection approaches included in state commitments submitted
to EPA by September 30, 2022. The universe is 22,685 square miles. This measure does not require a final plan to be in place to count toward the result; states can choose whether
each plan will be in place or in development at the end of the 2-year period. States will be able to meet targets with a mix of plans in development and plans in place depending on
their initial commitments. EPA will continue to use a weighting factor of 0.5 for plans in development. Data are tracked in ATTAINS. This is a two-year bridge measure developed
by EPA in collaboration with the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA), to begin after completion of the current Section 303(d) Vision 1.0 measure (PM TMDL-
02). After completion of this two-year measure, EPA will transition into a Vision 2.0 measure beginning in FY 2025. The bridge measure is a leading candidate for the Vision 2.0
measure. The Vision 2.0 measure will also include a longer-term planning component to align with the timeline of the Vision.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Goal 6 at a Glance
Safeguard and Revitalize Communities: Restore land to safe and productive uses to improve communities and protect public health.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 6 Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Obj 6.1 Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive
Uses and Healthy Communities
Obj 6.2 Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental
Contamination
Obj 6.3 Prepare for and Respond to Environmental
Emergencies
$1,074,586
$221,779
$124,787
$1,421,152
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
Obj 6.1
2(G)
Obj 6.2
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
2(G)
Obj 6.3
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy Communities—Clean up and restore contaminated sites to protect
human health and the environment and build vibrant communities, especially in underserved and overburdened areas.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
4 (Y)
4(G)
7(G)
3(Y)
4(G)
5(G)
3(Y)
3(G)
3 (Y)
6(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Brownfields Accomplishments, FY 2017 - FY 2022
2,400
2,000
1,600
1,200
800
400
0
A
FY 2017
~
FY 2018
~
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
Brownfields Sites RAU
Brownfields Properties Assessed
Brownfields Properties Cleaned Up
EPA, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, has determined that
performance toward this objective is making noteworthy progress due to significant numbers
of brownfield site assessments and cleanups.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Deployed more than $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for cleanup
activities at more than 100 Superfund sites and awarded $190 million for brownfields that
are projected to result in over 880 site assessments, 78 sites cleaned-up, and 20,000 jobs
leveraged in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment. This funding includes substantial
investment in disadvantaged communities in aligmnent with Justice40.
• Added 12 Superfund sites with human exposures under control but retracted 26 sites (-14
net); made 16 additional sites ready for anticipated use, but similarly retracted 64 sites due
to additional investigations; and completed 74 remedial actional projects.
• Cleaned up 173 brownfields, completed 1,637 site assessments, and made 662 sites ready
for anticipated use, leveraging 14,170 jobs and $1.78B and revitalizing communities.
• Made 124 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action sites ready
for anticipated use. The program has also completed construction on 55 final remedies at
corrective action facilities and achieved designated performance standards at 66 facilities.
• Completed 6,536 Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) cleanups that meet risk-
based standards.
• Completed 45 Superfund cleanup projects that address lead as a contaminant.
• Issued 42 Superfund federal facility decision documents; completed 26 remedial actions.
Challenges:
• EPA and the states face challenges such as technically difficult cleanups, lack of viable
responsible parties and cleanup funding, legislative limitations on liability, variations in
cleanup standards and adoption of risk-based corrective action.
• COVID-19 continues to hamper site access and state staff availability to oversee cleanups.
Owners and operators are hesitant to expend resources to move cleanups forward and, in
some cases, are impeded by the availability of cleanup contractors and equipment.
• The remaining sites across all programs are increasingly complicated, requiring more
personnel, funds, and expertise to complete cleanup actions.
• EPA will award approximately $300 million in additional BIL funding for brownfields,
creating increased oversight and reporting responsibilities.
• There is the potential for higher cost Superfund actions due to increased costs for lead (Pb)
and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removals.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, bring human exposures under control at additional 60 Superfund sites.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM151) Number of Superfund sites with human exposures brought under control.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
iLj—
Target
9
8
12
10
10
12
12
12
Sites
Above
nTTTj
Actual
24
32
17
20
13
-14
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Brought human exposures under control at an additional 12 Superfund sites, but these accomplishments were offset by a significant number of retractions.
• Of the 26 total retractions in FY 2022, 22 were changed due to insufficient data status. Only four went to not under control status. Retractions were primarily due to additional
sampling for PFAS concentrations in drinking water and new vapor intrusion pathway investigations.
Metric Details: This measure documents progress achieved in controlling unacceptable human exposures to contamination at both private and federal facility Superfund sites and
denotes a site-wide accomplishment. The human exposure determination at a site can change over time as conditions across portions (operable units) of a site change. EPA regional
offices enter human exposure determinations and supporting data into the Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS). Results reflect a net accomplishment as sites can
shift between human exposure under control to human exposure not under control or human exposure insufficient data. The status change often occurs when a previously unknown
exposure pathway (e.g., vapor intrusion) or contaminant is discovered, and a reasonable expectation exists that people could be exposed or that there is insufficient data to make
such a determination until further investigation takes place. As of FY October 2022, there were 1,535 Superfund sites with human exposures under control out of a total of 1,842
sites where human exposure is tracked.
(PM S10) Number of Superfund sites made ready for anticipated use site-wide.
Preferred
Direction
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
miN.
Target
45
51
51
51
51
25
15
10
Sites
Above
Actual
43
51
48
34
26
-48
Target
i
Key Takeaways:
• An additional 16 sites were made ready for anticipated use, but these accomplishments were offset by a significant number of retractions (64).
• The retractions resulted from a rigorous review which identified sites which no longer met protectiveness requirements due to detection of PFAS and other emerging
contaminants, aging remedies, and new exposure pathways requiring new institutional controls.
• As most eligible sites have already achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use (SWRAU) status, the remaining sites might require more resources and potentially face more
significant obstacles to SWRAU achievement. Several sites retracted from SWRAU in FY 2022 have re-entered the potential universe of SWRAU sites and are likely to
regain status in coming years.
• EPA plans to undertake several continuous improvement actions to eliminate process pain points and support achieving and maintaining SWRAU.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA's progress in cleaning up and preparing Superfund sites (both private and federal facility) for reuse site-wide, while ensuring human
health and enviromnental protection. To be considered 'eligible' for SWRAU achievement, a site must be construction complete final and deleted from the Superfund National
Priorities List (NPL) or a non-NPL Superfund Alternative Approach (SAA). The SWRAU target measures the number of construction complete final and deleted Superfund
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
National Priorities List (NPL) or non-NPL Superfund Alternative Approach (SAA) sites for which all: 1) remedy decision document (e.g., record of decision (ROD)) cleanup goals
have been achieved for media that may affect a site's current and reasonably anticipated future land use, so that there are no unacceptable risks; and 2) institutional or other
controls required in remedy decision document(s) have been put in place. EPA documents the SWRAU determination directly in SEMS once a site meets all required criteria and
the appropriate EPA regional personnel have approved the determination. Since 2018, SWRAU accomplishments and the inventory of eligible sites have decreased. The number of
SWRAU eligible sites is currently estimated at 236 sites following a 2022 SWRAU information collection effort in coordination with EPA regional offices. Of the 81 sites eligible
in 2022, 16 achieved SWRAU in 2022, though a significant number of retractions (64) increased the eligible universe for FY 2023, as these sites pursue regained SWRAU status.
Many of the remaining eligible sites face increasingly difficult challenges to achieve SWRAU, primarily related to institutional controls implementation and emerging
contaminants. Cleaning up contaminated land reduces the enviromnental and health effects of exposure to contamination in communities, especially overburdened communities,
and contributes toward the Administration's Justice40 goal.
(PM170) Number of remedial action projects completed at Superfund sites.*
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
III
r
Target
105
95
95
80
80
80
75
75
Projects
Above
Target
Actual
97
87
89
91
75
74
Key Takeaways:
• Completed 74 remedial action projects. Issues that contributed to missing the target include changed scope of work, addressing PFAS contamination, potentially responsible
party (PRP) processing delays, remedy redesign supply chain issues, and larger reports require increased review time. These issues and others routinely arise and will likely
continue to be an impediment in reaching targets in FY 2023 and future years.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of remedial action projects completed at Superfund sites. Cleaning up contaminated land reduces the enviromnental and health
effects of exposure to contamination in communities, especially overburdened communities, and contributes toward the Administration's Justice40 goal. By tracking the
completion of a discrete scope of Superfund cleanup activities (for both private and federal facility sites), this measure documents incremental progress in reducing risk to human
health and the enviromnent. Multiple remedial action projects may be necessary to achieve sitewide construction completion. EPA captures this data in SEMS.
* This measure is also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
(PM 137) Number of Superfund removals completed.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
III
w
Target
275
175
175
141
141
183
183
183
Removals
Above
Target
Actual
255
242
233
197
150
195
Key Takeaways:
• Completed 195 removal completions, exceeding the target despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19.
Metric Details: This measure tracks Comprehensive Enviromnental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) removal-related hazardous waste cleanups, known as
Superfund removal actions, including those that are Superfund-lead and PRP-lead. There is no pre-established universe of removal sites, as removal actions take place after a
release has occurred. Data are tracked in SEMS.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, complete 225 Superfund cleanup projects that address lead as a contaminant.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM155) Number of Superfund cleanup projects completed that address lead as a contaminant.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
1
r
Target
45
45
45
Projects
Above
Target
Actual
56
45
Key Takeaways:
• Met target by completing 45 response action projects, consisting of 16 Removal and 29 Remedial projects.
• EPA headquarters and regional offices have increased coordination but the frequency of lead removal cleanups is unpredictable. In contrast to the time-critical and emergency
nature of removals, remedial cleanups take multiple years to complete.
Metric Details: This measure documents progress to reduce exposure to lead and associated health impacts by reporting the completion of cleanup actions that include lead as a
contaminant. Response action projects include removal and remedial actions that address lead as a contaminant. The universe of applicable remedial actions consists of those at all
final and deleted NPL sites and sites with SAA agreements. There is no pre-established universe of removal sites, as removal actions take place after a release has occurred. Much
of the data for this performance measure comes from PRPs and Federal Facilities and the government's program offices cannot control when it is submitted.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, clean up an additional 650 brownfields properties.
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM B32) Number of brownfields properties cleaned up.*
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
1
ir
Target
130
130
130
160
160
Properties
Above
Target
Actual
137
143
190
183
168
173
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, achieving 173 cleanups complete. EPA completed a significant data backlog clean-up effort, which resulted in significantly higher accomplishments from
initial projections.
• Reusing brownfields enables communities to pursue economic growth without expanding their environmental footprint. Accommodating community growth on a revitalized
brownfield site means existing infrastructure is reused, which reduces the need to expand impervious surfaces and vehicle miles traveled associated with new development.
These reductions produce important enviromnental benefits, including improved water quality associated with reduced runoff from stonnwater and nonpoint pollutant sources,
and improved air quality associated with reduced greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle travel. This is an important approach for mitigating climate change.
• Updated the annual target setting process using a new, data-based accomplishment prediction model.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of properties that have been cleaned up to a regulatory risk-based standard using EPA brownfields funding, as reported by
cooperative agreement recipients into the Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) database. Cleaning up contaminated land reduces the
enviromnental and health effects of exposure to contamination in communities, especially overburdened communities, and contributes toward the Administration's Justice40 goal.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
The FY 2023 target is increased to align with increased reporting trends. There are no targets in FYs 2019-2021 because this measure was not included in those Annual
Performance Plans.
* This measure is also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
(PM B30) Number of brownfields sites made ready for anticipated use.*
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Of,
711 III 1
Target
600
684
684
684
684
600
600
600
Sites
Above
Actual
531
861
910
809
616
662
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, achieving 662 properties made ready for anticipated use (RAU). EPA completed a significant data backlog clean-up effort, which resulted in significantly
higher accomplishments from initial projections. EPA regional offices worked closely with grantees on data entry in ACRES to ensure timely RAU reporting.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of properties/sites benefiting from EPA brownfields funding that have been assessed and determined not to require cleanup, or
where cleanup has been completed and institutional controls are in place if required, as reported by cooperative agreement recipients. This activity results in additional sites
available for productive reuse. Prior year targets and results reflect a data cleanup project to collect data on projects completed in previous years that had not been reported
previously. This project is now complete.
* This measure is also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
(PM B29) Number of brownfields properties assessed.*
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
ft
ill r
Target
1,400
1,300
1,400
1,650
1,650
Properties
Above
Actual
1,419
1,919
1,693
1,772
1,682
1,637
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, achieving 1,637 properties assessed. EPA completed a significant data backlog clean-up effort, which resulted in significantly higher accomplishments
from initial projections.
• Updated the annual target setting process using a new, data-based accomplishment prediction model.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of properties that have been environmentally assessed for the first-time using EPA brownfields funding, as reported by cooperative
agreement recipients. The FY 2023 target is increased to align with increased reporting trends. There are no targets in FYs 2019-2021 because this measure was not included in
those Annual Performance Plans.
* This measure is also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, make an additional 425 RCRA corrective action cleanups Ready for Anticipated
Use.
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM RSRAU) Number of RCRA corrective action facilities made ready for anticipated use.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
itt
in*
Target
75
91
117
133
114
100
85
Facilities
Above
Target
Actual
72
117
127
169
146
124
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, making 124 RCRA corrective action facilities RAU.
• There is a decreasing universe of sites, and many of the remaining sites are complex and require significant resource contributions.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of RCRA corrective action facilities made ready for anticipated use (RAU). To be determined RAU, facilities must meet the
following criteria: human exposure under control; final cleanup goals achieved for media that would affect the anticipated use; and if needed, controls in place to ensure long-tenn
protectiveness. Information is entered into the RCRAInfo database by authorized states and/or EPA regional offices overseeing cleanups. There were 3,983 facilities subject to
RCRA corrective action at the end of FY 2022, of which 2,061 had not yet been determined RAU.
(PM CA5RC) Number of RCRA corrective action facilities with final remedies constructed.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
11
Target
98
98
73
55
55
52
Facilities
Above
u
Actual
67
70
80
64
57
55
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Met the target, constructing final remedies at 55 RCRA corrective action facilities.
• Several facilities experienced delays completing final remedies by the end of FY 2022. Many of these will be completed in FY 2023. In addition, the pipeline of available
facilities is narrowing and the facilities remaining have complex issues such as groundwater or financial concerns.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of RCRA corrective action facilities that have final remedies constructed such as a groundwater treatment system, designed to
achieve long-tenn protection of human health and the enviromnent. This measure tracks a mid-tenn step in the progression toward completing facility cleanup. Targets are selected
based on the number of sites in the pipeline with construction planned or underway.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, conduct an additional 35,000 cleanups at Leaking Underground Storage Tank
facilities.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM112) Number of LUST cleanups completed that meet risk-based standards for human exposure and groundwater migration.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
f| 1 -
Target
8,600
11,200
11,200
11,200
11,200
7,439
7,125
6,970
Cleanups
Above
Actual
8,775
8,128
8,358
7,211
7,271
6,536
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Missed the target, completing 6,536 LUST cleanups that meet risk-based standards for human exposure and groundwater migration.
• As the backlog of remaining cleanups declines, confirmed releases also decline and state resources continue to be constrained, making cleanup completions increasingly
challenging.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of completed cleanups of petroleum-contaminated confirmed releases, also known as LUST cleanups. The totals include cleanups
reported by states as well as EPA cleanups in Indian country. Cleanups in Indian country represent approximately 0.2% of total cleanups completed. Data are tracked in the LUST4
database. Targets are ambitiously based on 12% of the prior year's estimated backlog of remaining cleanups. The backlog will continue to reduce over time so the targets will
correspondingly reduce. Forecasted backlog reduction is based on five years of data trends through FY 2020. As of FY 2022, there were 568,981 cumulative confirmed releases,
out of which there were 509,091 LUST cleanups completed.
Other Core Work
Annual performance goal:
(PM COl) Percentage of technical assistance projects in support of environmentally sustainable and community-driven revitalization that support or expand upon
previous or ongoing federal investments.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
TBD
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Projects
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of community revitalization technical assistance engagements with communities that have had programmatic or financial
investments from federal programs within the past five years. These investments include those of EPA or other federal agencies. This subsequent technical assistance can help
maximize the previous investment by supporting its implementation or expanding upon it by helping the community make related improvements. These efforts can help coordinate
and align federal engagements and create connections that will spur ongoing utilization of smart growth tools and best practices toward enviromnental protection and economic
development. A baseline will be established in FY 2023
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GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination—Prevent environmental pollution by preventing releases, reducing
waste, increasing materials recovery and recycling, and ensuring sustainable materials management practices.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1(G)
1(G)
1 (Y)
1 (NT)
1(G)
2(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Number of Updated Permits Issued at Hazardous
Waste Facilities, FY 2017 - FY 2024
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Increased the percentage of updated permits at RCRA facilities to 73.9% from a starting
point of 71.0%. 107 additional permits were renewed in FY 2022.
• Recorded the lowest number of confirmed releases at underground storage tank (U ST)
facilities (4,568) since the program began, indicating success of release prevention
program.
• In November 2021, EPA released the National Recycling Strategy, which is the first in a
series to dedicated to building a circular economy. The National Recycling Strategy
outlines the actions needed to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective domestic
recycling system. Future circular economy strategies will focus on plastics, organics,
electronics, the built enviromnent, and textiles. In November 2022, the program
announced new recycling grant funding opportunities, which were funded by the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). These recycling grants will help communities in
implementing the actions in the National Recycling Strategy.
Challenges:
• Risks of reduced resource capacity due to staff turnover and shifting prioritizations for
federal, state, tribal and local enviromnental land and emergency management
programs. These impacts potentially decrease EPA's ability meet projected targets due to
training and recruitment time lags, as well as the potential loss of expert technical
knowledge.
• Low/Reduced availability of private sector services and parts due to continued supply
chain issues has significantly impeded compliance withUST regulations.
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
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GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, increase the percentage of updated permits at RCRA facilities to 80% from the FY
2021 baseline of 72.7%.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM HW5) Number of updated permits issued at hazardous waste facilities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
liMr
Target
64
64
105
100
90
100
110
Permits
Above
HI
Actual
125
109
124
104
130
107
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, updating 107 permits.
• Raised the percentage of updated permits from 71% to 74%, putting the Agency on a path to achieve the 80% goal at the end of FY 2026. However, because there are many
permits expiring before the end of FY 2026, EPA remains focused on attaining this challenging goal.
• These results are challenging to forecast since there are several factors that can be difficult to project, including permits renewed and permits expiring each year. The renewals
increase the percentage if they are more than the new expirations. These factors do not affect the number of permitted facilities. However, newly proposed facilities with an
initial permit issued that are added to the permitted list and facilities that are removed from the permitted list are factors making it harder to forecast.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of RCRA hazardous waste permit updates or clean-closures in the universe of permitted facilities using EPA's RCRAInfo system.
This does not include all permit maintenance since permit modifications cannot be projected and are not included. The related Long-Term Performance Goal refers to the overall
percentage of RCRA facilities with permits that are not past expiration and have been updated though a permit renewal (or are not past the permit term/expiration). Maintaining up-
to-date permits ensures that permitted facilities have consistent and protective standards to prevent release. This will ensure permits reflect updated standards, remain protective
under changing conditions due to climate change, and provide meaningful community involvement in the permitting process over time. Proper standards for waste management
can protect human health, prevent land contamination/degradation and other releases, and avoid future cleanups and associated costs. EPA directly implements the RCRA Program
in Iowa and Alaska and provides leadership, work-sharing, and support to the remaining states and territories authorized to implement the permitting program. There are about
1,300 permitted hazardous waste facilities in the workload as of October 2022.
(PM UST01) Number of confirmed releases at UST facilities.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
linn
Target
No Target
Established
5,150
5,075
5,000
Releases
Below
Target
Actual
5,678
5,654
5,375
4,944
4,991
4,568
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded target for number of confirmed releases at UST facilities by confirming 4,568 with a target of no more than 5,150.
• Fewest number of annual confirmed releases in the history of the program. Continued implementation of the 2015 regulation changes and maintenance of three-year inspection
cycle are leading factors in this reduction.
-------
GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of confirmed releases discovered at UST facilities during the year. The number of confirmed releases is targeted to decline by 75
each year. The LUST Prevention Program provides funding to tribes and states to prevent releases from the 537,706 federally regulated USTs by ensuring compliance with federal
and state laws through inspections and other activities (data as of FY 2022). Preventing UST releases is more efficient and less costly than cleaning up releases after they occur.
The three-year inspection cycle is a requirement from the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The 2015 revisions strengthen the 1988 federal UST regulations by increasing emphasis on
properly operating and maintaining UST equipment. This includes such items as sump and spill bucket testing, walkthrough inspections, and leak detection functionality testing.
The revisions help prevent and detect UST releases, which are a leading source of groundwater contamination. The two facets of the program (every facility inspected every three
years and new requirements) work in tandem to ensure that the number of confirmed releases continues to decline.
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GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.3: Prepare for and Respond to Environmental Emergencies—Prevent, prepare, and respond to environmental emergencies and
support other agencies on nationally significant incidents, working with tribes, states, and local planning and response organizations.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
2(G)
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Increased the average percentage of emergency response and removal exercises
incorporating Enviromnental Justice to 49% from an estimate baseline of 12.5% based on
FY 2021 data. In FY 2022, 80 such exercises have been conducted and EPA has
participated in 84 additional trainings.
• Performance exceeded expectations to the point where EPA increased the FY 2023 target
from 21% to 30%.
Challenges:
• Residual disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic limit some programs' ability to
conduct live training sessions. A significant proportion of the required training sessions
must be held in person for successful completion.
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
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GOAL 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, ensure that 40% of annual emergency response and removal exercises that EPA
conducts or participates in incorporate environmental justice.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM ER02) Percentage of emergency response and removal exercises that EPA conducts or participates in that incorporate environmental justice.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
14
30
40
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
49
Numerator
80
Exercises
Denominator
164
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target, achieving 49% of emergency response and removal exercises incorporating enviromnental justice.
• This accomplishment is largely due to EPA adapting work plans to this new Administration priority.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of emergency response and removal exercises that EPA conducts or participates in that incorporate solutions to or address
enviromnental justice challenges. The following mechanisms will be used to incorporate solutions to or address enviromnental justice challenges in exercises: involving facilities
in locations that impact communities with enviromnental justice concerns; including an entity with enviromnental justice concerns as a participating organization; including
enviromnental justice concerns or communities in the exercise scenario; or including scenario injects that incorporate enviromnental justice concerns or entities. Incorporating
solutions to or addressing enviromnental justice challenges includes addressing language, mobility, or financial barriers or engaging coimnunity-based leadership. The estimated
baseline for this measure is 12.5%, based on FY 2021 data. The FY 2023 target is increased based on performance results in the initial year of this measure.
(PM ER01) Number of emergency response and removal exercises that EPA conducts or participates in.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
,1-
Target
120
120
120
Exercises
Above
Actual
120
164
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target by conducting or participating in 164 emergency response and removal exercises.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of emergency response and removal exercises that EPA conducts or participates in, including: (1) CERCLA exercises which are
exercises specific to CERCLA requirements or contaminants. These can include participation in exercises with Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) or Risk
Management Plan (RMP) facilities with emphasis on CERCLA hazardous substance releases. (2) Oil spill preparedness exercises including tabletop, functional and full scale, and
Government-Initiated Unannounced Exercises (GIUEs). These include internal exercises to ensure readiness and external training and readiness exercises. (3) Homeland Security
exercises at which EPA staff participated. And (4) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) exercises in which EPA staff participated. The baseline is 120 exercises in
FY 2021. Annual targets for this measure maintain this level of effort.
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GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Goal 7 at a Glance
Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment: Increase the safety of chemicals and pesticides and prevent pollution at the source.
FY 2022 Enacted Budget (in thousands) by goal and objective
Goal 7 Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the
Environment
Obj 7.1 Ensure Chemical and Pesticide Safety
$260,008
(of $9,559,485
EPA total)
$229,616
Obj 7.2 Promote Pollution Prevention
$30,392
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
3 (ND)
w
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
7(G)
Obj 7.1
1 (ND)
1 (Y)
Obj 7.2
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Objective 7.1: Ensure Chemical and Pesticide Safety—Protect the health offamilies, communities, and ecosystems from the risks posed by
chemicals and pesticides.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
3 (ND)
M
7(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
• Issued six draft and two final revised unreasonable risk determinations addressing worker
risks and issued final risk evaluation scoping documents for two chemicals.
• Developed four risk management rules addressing health risks for Office of Management
and Budget review; conducted option selection meetings on an additional five chemicals
in preparation for rulemaking; held 25 trainings on lead-safe work practices; completed
121 Premanufacture Notices (PMNs); proposed, modified, or finalized 288 significant
new use rules (SNURs); launched an initiative to reduce rework of new chemicals risk
assessments to ensure more timely completion of PMNs; and launched a major initiative
to update risk assessment methods and improve the science underpinning PMN reviews.
Pesticides
• Considered effects determinations or protections for federally listed or threatened species
in 100% of its risk assessments supporting new active ingredients and 79% of those
supporting registration review decisions, significantly exceeding targets.
• Completed 35 docket openings, 25 draft risk assessments, and 16 registration review cases
with statutory due dates that fall after October 1, 2022.
• Farmworkers' level of knowledge after participating in pesticide safety training was
96.3% and exceeded the target of 95%.
Challenges:
• Funding has remained largely unchanged from levels prior to the TSCA amendments in
2016, while new work was added by the law. The 2018 TSCA fees rule resulted in
collection of 13% of the artificially low baseline cost estimate for the program and the first
10 risk evaluations were exempted from the fees. The January 2021 proposal excluded the
costs of risk management for the first 10 chemicals and 20 high-priority substances. To
correct this, EPA developed a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the
estimate of implementation cost.
• There is an increasing backlog of Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) and
non-PRIA actions and rising renegotiation rates for PRIA actions. To address this, EPA
committed to fully complying with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) before registering
any new conventional active ingredients and released a workplan to address this challenge,
including by incorporating protections for ESA listed species earlier in the process.
• EPA supported pesticide safety training of 12,716 farmworkers, which was below the
target of 20,000 due to pandemic-related impacts on the national network of trainer
organizations.
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GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, complete at least eight High Priority Substance (HPS) TSCA risk evaluations
annually within statutory timelines compared to the FY 2020 baseline of one.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM TSCA4) Number of HPS TSCA risk evaluations completed within statutory timelines.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
r
Target
0
0
7
Evaluations
Above
1
Actual
1
0
0
Target
¦ #
Key Takeaways
• No risk evaluations were expected in FY 2022 (target zero). Due to reconsideration of earlier risk evaluations, EPA does not plan to complete any risk evaluations in FY 2023.
EPA plans to complete seven risk evaluations in early FY 2024. For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-path-forward-tsca-chemical-
risk-evaluations.
Metric Details: This measure tracks HPS chemical risk evaluations completed annually for existing chemicals within the statutory deadline. Risk evaluations are needed to protect
human health and the enviromnent from unnecessary risks. TSCA requires risk evaluations for HPS to be completed within 3.5 years of the date the chemical is prioritized. TSCA
requires that upon completion of a HPS risk evaluation, EPA must designate at least one additional HPS to take its place, thus ensuring that at least 20 EPA-initiated HPS risk
evaluations are underway at all times. A baseline of one HPS risk evaluation was completed within statutory timelines to protect human health and the enviromnent from
unnecessary risk in FY 2020. For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluations-existing-chemicals-under-tsca.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, initiate all TSCA risk management actions within 45 days of the completion of a
final existing chemical risk evaluation.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM TSCA5) Percentage of existing chemical TSCA risk management actions initiated within 45 days of the completion of a final existing chemical risk evaluation.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
100
100
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
Numerator
Actions
Denominator
Key Takeaways:
• No risk management actions were initiated in FY 2022, as no final existing chemical risk evaluations were completed. Revision of risk determinations for eight of the first 10
EPA-initiated risk evaluations commenced in 2016 will result in risk management actions for those chemicals in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of existing chemical risk management rulemakings initiations, defined as the point at which EPA convenes the Agency
workgroup following the tiering process for the rulemaking, within 45 days of publishing the final risk evaluation. TSCA Section 6(a) requires EPA to issue a proposed risk
management rule for a chemical substance no later than one year after the date on which the final risk evaluation is published, and to publish a final rule no later than two years
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
after the publication date of the final risk evaluation. While EPA's Action Development Process includes timelines that do not conform to TSCA's rulemaking expectations,
prompt initiation of risk management actions after the completion of risk evaluations is necessary for protecting human health and the enviromnent from chemical risks. A baseline
of 100% of existing chemical TSCA risk management actions were initiated within 45 days of the completion of a final existing chemical risk evaluation in FY 2020. For more
information, see: https://www.epa.gOv/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-existing-chemicals-under-tsca#process.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, review 90% of risk management actions for past TSCA new chemical substances
reported to the 2020 Chemical Data Reporting Rule (CDR) compared to the FY 2021 baseline of none.5
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM TSCA6a) Percentage of past TSCA new chemical substances decisions with risk management actions reviewed.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
5
25
30
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
Numerator
Decisions
Denominator
Key Takeaways:
• The database by which this measure will be tracked and calculated is under development. EPA will be able to report for this measure in FY 2023.
• EPA has reviewed risk management actions for over 200 chemical substances included in a SNUR that were reported under the Chemical Data Reporting rule. This universe
does not yet include Consent Orders.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of past risk management decisions for TSCA new chemical substances that were reported under the Chemical Data Reporting
Rule (CDR), that EPA reviews for adherence/non-adherence with these requirements. EPA will use the 2020 CDR report which covers calendaryears 2016 to 2019. Initial upfront
work is required to prepare three data sources for comparison, which may take up to one year to complete (by December 2022). EPA puts measures in place to protect human
health and the enviromnent by identifying conditions to be placed on the use of a new chemical before it is entered into commerce. EPA will review compliance with established
restrictions in TSCA Section 5 Consent Orders or SNURs by cross-walking action requirements with information reported under the CDR rule. Instances of non-compliance will
be relayed to EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance for additional actions. This could include additional virtual records auditing, on-site audits, issuance of
compliance advisories or guidances, requests for information/subpoenas, and modifications/updates to TSCA Section 5 Consent Orders, SNURs, or other requirements, as
appropriate. For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/basic-infonnation-review-new.
5 Changed from "By September 30, 2026, review 90% of risk mitigation requirements for past TSCA new chemical substances reported to the 2020 Chemical Data Reporting Rule (CDR) compared to
the FY 2021 baseline of none."
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
(PM TSCA6b) Percentage of TSCA new chemical substances with risk management actions reported to the 2020 CDR reviewed for adherence/non-adherence with
TSCA Section 5 risk management actions that are determined to adhere to those requirements.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
N/A
25
30
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
Numerator
Substances
Denominator
Key Takeaways:
• The database by which this measure will be tracked and calculated is under development. EPA will be able to report for this measure in FY 2023.
• EPA has reviewed risk management actions for over 200 chemical substances included in a SNUR that were reported under the Chemical Data Reporting rule. This universe
does not yet include Consent Orders.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of new chemicals substances reported under the 2020 CDR reviewed for adherence/non-adherence with TSCA Section 5 risk
management actions that are determined to be in adherence with reported risk mitigation requirements of the actions. For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-
new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/basic-information-review-new.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, recertify before the expiration date 36% of lead-based paint Renovation, Repair,
and Painting (RRP) firms whose certifications are scheduled to expire compared to the FY 2021 baseline of 32%.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM RRP30) Percentage of lead-based paint RRP firms whose certifications are scheduled to expire that are recertified before the expiration date.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
32
33
34
Percent
Mr"
Actual
18
17
19
40
36
31
Above
nil
Numerator
1,793
1,134
1,185
9,006
6,524
2,874
RRP Finns
Target
iiiiii
Denominator
9,851
6,855
6,091
22,384
18,158
9,423
Key Takeaways:
• To ensure the highest recertification rates, which are indicative of industry interest in providing these critical services, EPA will continue outreach and compliance assistance
activities designed to encourage program participation. These activities include communication with participating firms and, to the extent possible with existing resources,
outreach designed to encourage consumers to seek certified firms with the thought that increased demand for lead-safe services will lead to greater participation.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of expiring lead-based paint firm certifications renewed before the expiration date. Number of recertifications can vary widely
from year to year due to external variabilities. This industry has a high level of turnover (companies closing and opening). Higher numbers for this measure reflect interest in the
industry for continuing to provide these critical services. Federal law requires all RRP firms working in housing, or facilities where children are routinely present, built before
1978, to be certified. Finns must apply to EPA for certification to perform renovations or dust sampling. To apply, a firm must submit a completed application and fee to EPA
online. EPA RRP firm certifications are good for five years. Finns must apply for recertification at least 90 days before the finn's cunent certification expires. Data are tracked in
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GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
the Federal Lead-based Paint Program database. Data include recertifications from jurisdictions where EPA administers the RRP Program. These data do not include
recertifications from tribes or states with delegated programs. The baseline of 32% is based on the average recertification rate during the final six months of FY 2021 due to
unusual circumstances in the first half of the fiscal year.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, complete 78 pesticide registration review cases with statutory due dates that fall
after October 1, 2022.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM FIFRA3a) Number of pesticide registration review cases completed with statutory due dates that fall after October 1,2022.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
15
8
14
Cases
Above
Target
Actual
16
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded target due to 11 completed biopesticide active ingredient cases with ESA "no effects" determinations.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the annual number of pesticide registration review case completions with statutory due dates that fall after October 1, 2022. EPA is reviewing
each registered pesticide every 15 years to determine whether it still meets the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) standard for registration and to ensure
that pesticides already in the marketplace do not pose unreasonable adverse effects on people or the enviromnent based on current science standards. A total of 78 registered
pesticides has a 15-year cycle due dates that fall after October 1, 2022. The baseline is one pesticide registration review case completed in FY 2020 with a statutory due date that
falls after October 1, 2022.
(PM FIFRA3b) Number of pesticide registration review dockets opened for registration review cases with statutory completion dates that fall after October 1,2022.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
25
20
28
Dockets
Above
Target
Actual
35
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded target due to completion of 10 workplans for biopesticide active ingredients that identified minimal risks.
• These additional completions could reduce completions in future years.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the annual number of docket openings for pesticide registration review with statutory due dates that fall after October 1, 2022. Docket
openings are the first stage of the registration review process and offer the first opportunity for the public to provide comment. The baseline is 11 docket openings in FY 2020.
(PM FIFRA3c) Number of draft risk assessments completed for pesticide registration review cases with statutory completion dates that fall after October 1,2022.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
9
16
19
Draft As-
sessments
Above
Target
Actual
25
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GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded target due to completion of 19 combined workplan/proposed interim decision documents for biopesticide active ingredients that identified minimal risks, allowing
EPA to skip the risk assessment phase of registration review.
• These early completions could reduce completions in future years.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the annual number of draft risk assessments completed for pesticide registration review cases with statutory due dates that fall after October 1,
2022. The draft risk assessment presents EPA's preliminary risk findings to the public and provides opportunity for public comment. Maintaining targets for this measure helps
ensure that registration review case completion targets are achieved. The baseline is five draft risk assessments completed in FY 2020.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, consider the effects determinations or protections of federally threatened and
endangered species for new active ingredients in 90% of the risk assessments supporting pesticide registration decisions compared to the FY
2020 baseline of 50%.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM ESA1) Percentage of risk assessments supporting pesticide registration decisions for new active ingredients that consider the effects determinations or protections
for federally threatened and endangered species.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
nr
Target
40
80
90
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
50
62
100
Numerator
8
8
14
Risk As-
sessments
Denominator
16
13
14
Key Takeaways:
• After releasing the ESA workplan in January 2022, EPA began considering ESA effects determinations in new active ingredient regulatory decisions on a more aggressive
schedule than was projected when the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan measures were being developed. Outyear targets were adjusted accordingly.
• EPA has committed to including ESA for conventional new active ingredient registrations only, but there will likely be registrations that won't have ESA evaluations and are
not expected to routinely hit 90-100% annually.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of risk assessments for pesticide registration decisions for new active ingredients that incorporate ESA requirements to ensure
federal actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of federally threatened or endangered species or damage their critical habitat. Historically, EPA has not incorporated ESA
determinations into its regulatory decisions other than determinations of "no effects" (mostly for biopesticides), due to the lengthy process of ESA consultation with the Services
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service). EPA will more routinely incorporate ESA effects determinations into its regulatory decisions and ensure
protection for listed species earlier in the consultation process through label mitigation. The FY 2020 baseline year included a relatively higher percentage of determinations of "no
effects" for biopesticide new active ingredient registration decisions in relation to overall new active ingredient registration decisions. Biopesticide determinations of "no effects"
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GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
are estimated to apply to 70-80% of new active ingredient registration decisions in any given fiscal year; the remainder includes conventional pesticides, antimicrobial pesticides,
and biopesticides for which determinations of "no effects" cannot be made.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, consider the effects determinations or protections of federally threatened and
endangered species in 50% of the risk assessments supporting pesticide registration review decisions compared to the FY 2020 baseline of
27%.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM ESA2) Percentage of risk assessments supporting pesticide registration review decisions that include effects determinations or protections of federally threatened
and endangered species.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
,1-
Target
20
30
30
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
27
79
Numerator
29
27
Risk As-
sessments
Denominator
107
34
Key Takeaways:
• The FY 2022 result is driven by ESA "no effects" determinations for biopesticides that exceeded levels considered in setting the target. The targets are largely based on
litigation-driven ESA assessment for conventional pesticides.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of risk assessments for pesticide registration review decisions that incorporate ESA requirements, including decisions subject
either to the statutory deadline of October 2022 for the first cycle of registration review or to a 15-year schedule of review under the second cycle. Implementation of this process
for pesticide registration review decisions will follow implementation for new active ingredient pesticide registration decisions. Some cases in the first cycle of registration review
are currently involved in litigation due to EPA's failure to incorporate ESA considerations. EPA calculated the FY 2020 baseline of 27% based on the portion of all actions in
registration review during FY 2020 for conventional pesticides, biopesticides, and antimicrobial pesticides that included either a determination of "no effects" or measures that are
intended to reduce exposure to listed species. The risk assessments that considered endangered species in FY 2020 were cases where EPA made a determination of "no effects" on
listed species based either on a lack of potential exposure or a lack of toxicological harm. EPA calculated the FY 2020 baseline assuming 107 completed risk assessments of which
29 included determinations of "no effects" on listed species.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, support Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) pesticide safety training
for 20,000 farmworkers annually compared to the FY 2018-2020 annual average baseline of 11,000.
Annual performance goals that support this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM WPSla) Number of farmworkers receiving EPA-supported WPS pesticide safety training.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
20,000
12,000
12,000
Farm-
workers
Above
Target
Actual
12,716
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Key Takeaways:
• Results fell short of target due to pandemic-related impacts on the national network of trainer organizations, including hiring/retention of trainers, training organizations being
defunct, and access to farms/farmworkers denied.
• The grantee is currently aligning/redirecting resources to institutions with training capacity and will continue reaching out to their network and partnering organizations,
including local agencies, nonprofit organizations, community leaders and agricultural employers, to better understand their capacity and increase efforts to return to in-person
training.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of farmworkers trained under EPA cooperative agreements in accordance with the Agricultural WPS rule. The purpose of the WPS
is to reduce pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS offers occupational protections to over 2 million agricultural workers
and pesticide handlers who work at over 600,000 agricultural establishments. WPS pesticide safety training is an annual requirement. An average of 11,000 individuals had the
EPA-supported WPS training from FY 2018-2020, which reflects a sharp drop-off in training in FY 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(PM WPSlb) Percentage of content knowledge demonstrated by farmworker/trainees of pesticide safety upon completion of EPA-supported WPS pesticide training.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
95
95
95
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
96
Key Takeaways:
• Those that received training demonstrated desired knowledge gains from the training; the average percentage of knowledge demonstrated based on post-training assessment is
96.3% for FY 2022.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the average level of knowledge of the pesticide safety content demonstrated by farmworkers/trainees at the conclusion of EPA-supported WPS
pesticide training, based on pre- and post-survey questions administered to trainees. The baseline of 95% is based on post-training assessments conducted annually from FY 2018-
2020.
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Objective 7.2: Promote Pollution Prevention—Encourage the adoption of pollution prevention and other stewardship practices that conserve
natural resources, mitigate climate change, and promote environmental sustainability.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% ot target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (NT)
1 (ND)
1 (Y)
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Announced the availability of $ 100 million over five years in Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (BIL) funding for additional investment in pollution prevention grants, including
substantial investment in disadvantaged communities in alignment with Justice40, to
promote the use of source reduction techniques by businesses. These funds will help
mitigate climate change, reduce the use of hazardous materials and target communities
with enviromnental justice concerns.
• The Safer Choice program added 22 new chemicals to the Safer Choice Ingredients List
and certified 208 new products to carry EPA's Safer Choice label.
• EPA awarded 71 pollution prevention grants to states/tribes to help businesses adopt
source reduction practices and technologies, with emphasis on addressing climate change
impacts and enviromnental justice.
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Challenges:
• The overall number of Safer Choice-certified products has fallen since the baseline was set
because resource levels have required the program to prioritize maintenance of core
functions, including product certification for existing products, over certifying new
products.
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, reduce a total of 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCChe)
released attributed to EPA pollution prevention grants.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM P2mtc) Reduction in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCChe) released per year attributed to EPA pollution prevention grants.*
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
lllir
Target
No Target
Established
1.2
1.2
1.2
MMTCChe
Above
Target
Actual
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.1
Data Avail
10/2023
Key Takeaways:
• The FY 2021 decrease from past years may be due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdowns and economic impacts on facilities implementing pollution
prevention practices. EPA has asked grantees to shift some of their resources from direct technical assistance (which produces direct results such as CO2 reductions) to
documenting and widely sharing pollution prevention approaches so those actions and results can be replicated.
Metric Details: This measure tracks MMTCChe reductions from all Pollution Prevention Grant Program activities. MMTCChe is calculated by using an online tool to convert
standard metrics for electricity, green energy, fuel use, chemical substitutions, water management, and materials management into MMTCChe (https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-
prevention-tools-and-calculators). Annual results are the total reported by grantees in a single year plus the contributions from the previous three years. This method accounts for
recurring benefits of a pollution prevention action, not just in the year it was implemented, but also in future years. Pollution prevention grants are "two-year" grants with an
optional third year for follow-up reporting and case study development. These grants have annual reporting but with a one-year reporting lag due to the grant reporting cycle.
* This measure is also used to track progress in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, EPA's Safer Choice program will certify a total of 2,300 products compared to the
FY 2021 baseline of 1,892 total certified products.6
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM P2sc) Number of products certified by EPA's Safer Choice program.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
Target
1,950
2,000
2,100
Products
Above
Actual
1.948
1,958
1,989
1,929
1,892
1,835
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Disinvestment from the program in prior years caused a drop in the number of certified products. At FY 2022 resource levels, EPA is prioritizing maintenance of existing
partnerships and is not able to invest in broadening the number of certified products and new product sectors.
6 Changed from "By September 30, 2026, EPA's Safer Choice program will certify a total of 2,300 products compared to the FY 2021 baseline of 1,950 total certified products."
-------
GOAL 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Metric Details: This measure tracks the total number of products certified by the Safer Choice program at the end of the year. Safer Choice is a voluntary program that helps
consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the enviromnent. Certified products are verified by
EPA to meet the Safer Choice Standard through initial certification, annual audits, and recertification every three years. The total includes Design for the Environment-certified
antimicrobial products and total number of products certified. Data are tracked in EPA's Safer Choice database. For additional information, see: https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice.
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Cross-Agency Strategies at a Glance
EPA's FY 2022 enacted budget, in thousands, included $1,573,930 of $9,559,485 total for cross-agency mission and science support. This funding
was allocated across strategic goals and objectives in the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan.
FY 2022 Performance toward target by objective
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
3(R)
1 (Y)
1 (ND)
1 (ND)
2(G)
1 (Y)
1(G)
1(G)
1(G)
Strategy 1 Strategy 2 Strategy 3 Strategy 4
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based Decision Making—Deliver rigorous scientific research and analyses to inform
evidence-based decision-making.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (NT)
1(G)
1(G)
1(G)
1 (ND)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Percentage of ORD Research Products Meeting
Partner Needs, FY 2018 - FY 2024
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
1
1
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Strengthening scientific integrity (SI) by providing trainings, conducting outreach events,
implementing senior leader performance standards, and developing policies, procedures
and approaches to address outcomes resulting from audits Federal Managers' Financial
Integrity Act (FMFIA) analyses, the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, and the
biennial SI survey.
• All Deputy Scientific Integrity Officials (DSIOs) developed implementation plans
outlining actions they will take to strengthen SI at EPA. The Agency is on track to
complete 21 actions by the end of FY 2023.
• Developed an SI training to implement in FY 2023.
• Developed an evaluation and assessment plan to monitor SI Program success and effective
SI Policy Implementation.
• Met partner needs for 94% of research products included in the annual customer
satisfaction assessment.
• Expanded the Lab Information Management System to include 225 different analyses and
125 preparation methods, with 21,048 samples processed. The percentage of EPA regional
labs delivering at least 80% of sample analysis work orders on time improved from an
annual average of 50% in FY 2018 to 88% in FY 2022.
• Released the Vision and Principles for Participatory Science (available at:
https://www.epa.gov/participatorv-science/epa-vision-participatorv-science). This
document will guide EPA's use of participatory and community science in its programs to
increase public engagement and take actions to investigate and mitigate enviromnental
problems.
Challenges:
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in EPA's research as most of the workforce in
FYs 2021 and 2022 were forced into full-time telework. EPA staff published fewer journal
articles in FY 2022 than in previous years and experienced delays in producing research
products.
• As of October 2022, 27% of EPA's research and development career staff are retirement
eligible. If unable to sustain a suitably trained and skilled workforce, EPA will be delayed
in meeting research project goals. To address this, ORD is improving its hiring
efficiencies and enhancing its succession management practices.
FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
i i Artnal
¦ Target
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, increase the annual percentage of Office of Research and Development (ORD)
research products meeting partner needs to 95% from a baseline of 93% in FY 2021.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM RD1) Percentage of ORD research products meeting partner needs.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
llf
Target
No Target
Established
77
80
81
93
94
94
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
77
79
80
94
94
Numerator
171
154
120
60
77
Products
Denominator
222
196
150
64
82
Key Takeaways:
• Met partner needs for 94% of research products included in the annual customer satisfaction assessment, based on an annual customer survey of 50 randomly selected ORD
research products. The FY 2022 survey was provided to 210 federal and 63 non-federal respondents and had a 61.9% response rate.
• Nine of the products that were assessed were related to updated Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Value (PPRTV) assessments that provide an important source of toxicity
information and toxicity values for chemicals of concern to the Superfund Program.
• The number of products being assessed has increased from the previous fiscal year for the first time after having trended downward for four consecutive years. This trend is
likely to continue through FY 2023 as the number of products being delivered to ORD partners increases in response to the conclusion of the FY 2019-2022 Strategic
Research Action Plan cycle.
Metric Details: Partner satisfaction is assessed through a robust survey process. The annual survey engages key users of ORD products. Survey respondents assessed the scientific
rigor of research products (quality), product relevance (usability), and timeliness of product delivery. Products are randomly selected from the universe of products identified as
delivered during the previous fiscal year in the Research Approval Planning Implementation Dashboard (RAPID). Per information collection request stipulations, each year ORD
surveys 50 randomly selected products of the universe of products that were delivered. The numerator is a statistical inference from the survey results calculated via a stratified
sample design to account for the proportion of products delivered by ORD and then applied to the entire universe of products. The denominator is the total universe of products.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, implement 126 actions for scientific integrity objectives that are certified by Deputy
Scientific Integrity Officials in each EPA program and region.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM RD5) Number of actions implemented for EPA scientific integrity objectives.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
No Target
Established
21
21
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Key Takeaways:
• All DSIOs have completed development of their implementation plans, which outline actions they will complete to support the long-term performance goal. The Agency is on
track to complete 21 actions by the end of FY 2023.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of actions completed by EPA DSIOs to implement the scientific integrity objectives that implement the EPA Scientific Integrity
Policy (https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-02/documents/scientific integrity policy 2012.pdf). Each DSIO will certify completion of two actions for each of the three
scientific integrity objectives: scientific integrity is highly visible at EPA (Objective 1); all of EPA embraces and models scientific integrity (Objective 2); and robust mechanisms
protect and maintain EPA's culture of scientific integrity (Objective 3). DSIOs are members of the Scientific Integrity Committee representing each EPA program office and
region.
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Strategy 2: Consider the Health of Children at All Life Stages and Other Vulnerable Populations-
health of children at all life stages and other vulnerable populations in implementing our programs.
-Focus on protecting and improving the
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (ND)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
EPA, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, has highlighted this cross-
agency strategy as a focus area for improvement due to delays in finalizing EPA's
methodology for tracking progress toward the long-term performance goal. EPA finalized the
methodology and will begin reporting results in FY 2023.
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Updated EPA's Policy on Children's Health to improve EPA's approach to protect
children by consistently and explicitly considering early life exposures and lifelong health
(see: https://www.epa.gov/svstem/files/documents/2021-10/2Q21-policv-on-childrens-
healthpdf).
• Worked with federal partners through the President's Task Force on Enviromnental Health
Risks and Safety Risks to Children_to launch a new interagency subcommittee on
children's health in the context of climate, emergencies and disasters (see:
https://ptfcehs.niehs.nih.gov/features/featured-activitv/page930423.htm).
• Established Children's Health Program Champions in each EPA national program to
identify opportunities to enhance investments in protection of children's enviromnental
health.
• Sponsored a National Academies of Science workshop on the future of children's
enviromnental health, drawing almost 1,500 attendees.
• Developed an annual performance goal for stakeholder engagement to promote
consideration of children's health at all life stages, with an emphasis on projects in
underserved communities. With regional input, developed guidance outlining and defining
the criteria of projects that are durable, replicable, and widespread.
• Established an annual performance goal to increase number of EPA actions that include
evaluation and consideration of environmental health information and data for children at
all life stages to the extent relevant data are available. With leadership input, simplified
approach to focus on the most important actions and motivate adoption.
Challenges:
• Enviromnental and public health statutes differ in the extent to which they require
protection of children and sensitive populations, presenting challenges in aligning
approaches across program offices.
• Some EPA regional offices may need time to adapt and strategically choose children's
health projects that are durable, replicable, and widespread. Most regions have projects
that are replicable and widespread but lack durability (projects or results that last more
than one year) due to changing priorities or lack of resources.
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, assess and consider environmental health information and data for children at all
life stages for EPA actions that concern human health.7
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM CHOI) Number of EPA actions that concern human health that include assessment and consideration of environmental health information and data for children at
all life stages to the extent relevant data are available.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
50%
163
TBD
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
N/A
Key Takeaways:
• Established the approach and began implementation of the long-term performance goal for Cross-Agency Strategy 2. Set aggressive target and will begin reporting data in FY
2023.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of EPA actions (e.g., rules, risk assessments, exposure assessments, economic and benefits analyses, research and other products,
program implementation guidances, enforcement and compliance efforts and activities, grants, training, partnerships, fact sheets, internal capacity building work other
communication materials) that have a human health impact and for which children's enviromnental health information and data was considered and assessed, to the extent relevant
data are available. The intent of this measure is to demonstrate improvements in complying with EPA's 2021 Policy on Children's Health (https:/A\ww .cpa.gov/childrcn/epas-
policv-childrens-health). which calls for EPA to protect children from enviromnental exposures by "consistently and explicitly considering early life exposures and lifelong health
in all human health decisions." In FY 2022, the measure was a percentage. EPA will set the FY 2024 target based on experience in FY 2023 and will report this target in the FY
2025 Budget.
(PM CH02) Number of EPA regional offices with stakeholder engagement on children's environmental health designed to provide durable, replicable, and widespread
results.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
3
6
7
Regional
Offices
Above
Target
Actual
6
Key Takeaways:
• Six regional offices met the criteria, exceeding the target. For example, EPA Region 6 began implementing a project to provide education on pesticide use and its potential
health impacts to migrant farmworkers and their families along the U.S.-Mexico border, as part of a multi-year five-state effort to train health care providers, school nurses,
respiratory therapists, community health workers, and others in children's enviromnental health issues.
• In addition, EPA Region 9 supported the Western States Pediatric Enviromnental Health Specialty Unit (WSPEHSU) in culturally and linguistically adapting resources from
their Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Toolkit for Early Care and Education for use in the Pacific Islands. The WSPEHSU worked with local community groups in
7 Changed from "By September 30, 2026, assess and consider enviromnental health information and data for children at all life stages for all completed EPA actions that concern
human health."
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to identify priority resources and three key languages for translation - Tagalog, Samoan, and
Chamorro - and disseminate the information throughout the Pacific Islands to help communities protect children.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of EPA regional offices that have developed and are implementing stakeholder engagement activities on children's environmental
health that support joint planning, collaboration, or action; identify and address community-scale issues; build federal/state/local "whole-of-government" partnerships; and/or
address health disparities. EPA aims to increase outcome-driven stakeholder participation and program visibility. The activities under this measure must be underway in
disadvantaged communities for more than one year (durable), include outreach or training materials that could be adapted by other regions or communities (replicable), and involve
more than one EPA region or program office and/or community (widespread).
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence and Workforce Equity-
effective and mission-driven workplace.
-Foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce within an
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 1 (ND) 1 1 KVjH 1 1 (Y)
1 (Y)
mSSSm \ X(G) 1 mg)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Percentage of EPA Contract Spending Awarded to
HUBZone Businesses, FY 2017 - FY 2024
6.0%
5.0%
4.0%
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Formed workgroup to improve and coordinate approaches for reporting the location of
projects funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including investments in
disadvantaged communities in aligmnent with Justice40.
• Assessed effectiveness of EPA's workforce planning tools forthe EPA Learning Agenda
workforce priority area.
• Submitted EPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan to
the Office of Management and Budget outlining necessary actions to meet the highest
DEIA Maturity Level, Leading and Sustaining; conducted mandatory training for all
supervisors on unconscious bias in the hiring process; and expanded access to affordable
childcare for employees and prospective applicants by increasing the childcare subsidy
income eligibility from $75K to $100K.
• Made significant progress toward implementing cybersecurity measures across the
Agency in response to Executive Order 14028: Improving the Nation's Cvbersecuritv.
• Developed a repeatable process for conducting climate resiliency assessments at EPA-
owned facilities to identify potential risks and impacts from climate change, and
completed the first assessment at EPA's laboratory in Gulf Breeze, FL.
• Developed an inventory of current permitting information technology (IT) tools and
automation needs and identified 13 pennitting-related processes to automate.
• Developed comprehensive strategy and electronic toolkit of resources and best practices to
guide the EPA acquisition workforce in enhancing contracting opportunities for HUBZone
and other socioeconomic program small businesses.
• For the 23rd consecutive year, EPA received an unmodified opinion (highest possible) on
its Consolidated Financial Statements.
• Developed and published the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan and issued four major
Evidence Act deliverables.
Challenges:
• Increased workload, competing demands on staff time, and growing costs in Operations &
Administration Program Area may jeopardize the Agency's ability to advance DEIA and
climate resiliency and sustainability efforts. EPA has requested additional funding for
these efforts in the FY 2024 President's Budget.
• EPA faces challenges in meeting cybersecurity mandates due to non-enterprise hosting
and decentralized management of local IT infrastructure.
I I Actual
¦ Target
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, EPA will be in full compliance with the five high-priority directives in Executive
Order 14028 - Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM MFA) Percentage of EPA applications in compliance with multifactor authentication requirements.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
75
85
90
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
48
Numerator
223
Applications
Denominator
463
Key Takeaways:
• Missed ambitious target but continuing to make significant progress towards achieving multifactor authentication compliance for EPA applications in FY 2023.
• Implemented login.gov for multifactor authentication for external facing Web Access Management (WAM)-protected applications.
• Performed an audit of system compliance, strengthening the Agency' s understanding for application noncompliance.
• Currently undergoing a gap analysis which will provide input to the implementation schedule to fully comply with multifactor authentication requirements.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA implementation of one of the five priority requirements of Executive Order 14028 -Improving the Nation's Cvbersecuritv
(https://www.wliitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/12/executive-order-on-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity/). Multifactor authentication confirms user
identify and ensures only authorized users have access to Agency systems and information.
(PM DAR) Percentage of EPA data at rest in compliance with encryption requirements.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
90
95
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Systems
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA implementation of one of the five priority requirements of Executive Order 14028 - Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity. Encrypting
data at rest ensures any unauthorized individual who has gained access to EPA's network or any of its information systems will still be unable to read the data in any meaningful
and potentially destructive or malicious way. The August 2022 baseline for this measure is 83%.
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
(PM DIT) Percentage of EPA data in transit in compliance with encryption requirements.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
90
95
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Systems
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA implementation of one of the five priority requirements of Executive Order 14028 - Improving the Nation's Cyber security. Encrypting
data in transit ensures any unauthorized individual who has gained the ability to monitor network traffic will be unable to read and interpret data in a meaningful and potentially
destructive or malicious way. The August 2022 baseline for this measure is 82%.
(PM ZTA) Percentage of "Zero Trust Architecture" projects completed on time.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
100
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
TBD
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA implementation of one of the five priority requirements of Executive Order 14028 - Improving the Nation's Cybersecuritv. The "Zero
Trust Architecture" security model eliminates implicit trust in any one element, node, or service and instead requires continuous verification of the operational picture via real-time
information from multiple sources to determine access and other system responses. Once implemented, the various components of Agency network infrastructure will be more
resistant to unauthorized access. As of August 2022, EPA is determining the final portfolio of ZTA implementation projects that will be completed under this annual performance
goal and the associated deadlines. EPA will work to achieve the deadlines 100% of the time.
(PM ALR) Implementation of advanced event logging requirements (EL3) across EPA networks.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
ELI
EL3
EL3
Tier
Above
Target
Actual
ELO
Key Takeaways:
• Faced challenges in this area due to continued non-enterprise hosting and decentralized management of local equipment. EPA is making significant progress to move from
ELO - "Not Effective" toward achieving the highest event logging tier and has made a significant investment in modernizing EPA's enterprise log management capability.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA implementation of one of the five priority requirements of Executive Order 14028 - Improving the Nation's Cvbersecuritv. EPA will
implement the highest event logging tier of "Advanced" (EL3) across EPA networks and infrastructure as established by Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-21-31
- Improving the Federal Government's Investigative and Remediation Capabilities Related to Cvbersecuritv Incidents.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, award 4% of EPA contract spending to small businesses located in Historically
Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) compared to the FY 2018-2020 average annual baseline of 2.2%.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM SB1) Percentage of EPA contract spending awarded to HUBZone businesses.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
¦
Target
3.0
3.2
3.4
Percent
Actual
1.6
2.4
2.2
2.0
4.9
3.1
Above
¦ III
Numerator
25.2
37.5
35.0
30.3
75.6
59.6
Millions of
Target
llllll
Denominator
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,900
Dollars
Key Takeaways:
• EPA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) led several Agency initiatives to expand the utilization of small businesses located in HUBZones,
and those owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, in EPA acquisitions. These initiatives included hosting an informational forum soon
after the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to help equip HUBZone and other small businesses to successfully compete for upcoming awards under
EPA's unprecedented investments in enviromnental infrastructure.
• Developed a focused acquisition strategy and electronic toolkit of resources and best practices to guide and empower the Agency's acquisition workforce to enhance
contracting opportunities for small businesses located in HUBZones, and those owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, in accordance
with governing law and federal contracting priorities.
• Engaged in vendor outreach to identify qualified and capable small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in EPA's top
spend categories, by conducting industry listening sessions; coordinating targeted vendor matchmaking with Agency officials; leveraging third-party small business
conferences to expand access to EPA contacting information; and creating a new Vendor Engagement Calendar (see: https://vpmdsweb.epa.gov/Event/list) to provide a
comprehensive list of EPA small business outreach activities.
• Launched a Small Business Vendor Database (see: https://vpmdsweb.epa.gov/Vendors/create) to simplify identification of capable small businesses interested in doing
business with EPA, and deployed a new fully automated internal Small Business Contracting Dashboard providing comprehensive contracting data and robust functionality for
effective EPA data-driven acquisition planning and tracking.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the percentage of total EPA prime contracting dollars awarded to firms designated as a certified HUBZone small business awardees in the
Federal Procurement Data System. To qualify for certification as a HUBZone firm, the small business must: 1) be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a
Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, or an Indian tribe; 2) maintain its principal office within a HUBZone; and 3) hire at least 35% of its workforce
from a HUBZone area. HUBZones are generally defined to include urban and rural communities with low income, high poverty, or high unemployment.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, initiate all priority climate resiliency projects for EPA-owned facilities within 24
months of a completed facility climate assessment and project prioritization.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM CRP) Percentage of priority climate resiliency projects for EPA-owned facilities initiated within 24 months of a completed facility climate assessment and project
prioritization.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
100
100
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Projects
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks initiation of climate adaptation projects at EPA-owned facilities following a climate assessment. EPA will prioritize identified projects based
on multiple factors - ability to execute, impact on facility resiliency, cost, etc. - and initiate projects within 24 months of identification as a priority.
(PM CAA) Number of EPA-owned facility climate adaptation assessments completed.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
2
5
6
Assessments
Above
Target
Actual
1
Key Takeaways:
• Completed one climate resiliency assessment at EPA's laboratory in Gulf Breeze, FL and partially completed a climate resiliency assessment at EPA's laboratory in
Narragansett, RI.
• Faced challenges in this area as a result of time needed to develop and enhance materials and processes for resiliency assessments. The Agency succeeded in establishing
a consistent and updated process for performing climate resiliency assessments at EPA facilities and finalizing a prioritization strategy for high priority resiliency goals.
Metric Details: This measure tracks completion of climate adaptation assessments at EPA-owned facilities with planned long-term occupancy that will determine which facilities
require investments to protect against climate change. Climate resiliency assessments enable EPA to identify facility-specific vulnerabilities and proactively identify projects that
will increase resiliency and fortify facilities against climate-related events.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, EPA will achieve the highest Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Maturity Level of "Leading and Sustaining" as defined by the November 2021 Government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance DEIA in the
Federal Workforce and achieve all EPA goals identified in the Agency's Gender Equity and Equality Action Plan.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM DEIA) Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility (DEIA) actions completed toward Maturity Level "Leading and Sustaining" achieved.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
2
4
Actions
Above
Target
Actual
Metric Details: This measure tracks completion of the eight Strategic Actions in the EPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan. Each completed
action signifies progress toward achieving the highest DEIA Maturity Level of "Leading and Sustaining."
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, automate all priority internal administrative processes.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM GOP A) Percentage of priority internal administrative processes automated.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
10
10
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Internal
Processes
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks completion of transitioning priority administrative forms and/or processes to full automation for improved internal data collection and
utilization. Previous examples of administrative process automation include: transitioning OGE-450 Financial Disclosure Forms from electronic documents to a centralized
reporting database; paper-based performance reviews to USA Performance; and transitioning Headquarters Transit Subsidy requests from a paper form to a digital approval
workflow.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, automate the major EPA permitting programs.
Annual performance goals that support this long-term performance goal:
(PM PAT) Percentage of EPA permitting processes automated.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
10
30
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
Numerator
Permitting
Processes
Denominator
Metric Details: This measure tracks the Agency's progress toward bringing EPA into the 21st century by transitioning EPA's major permitting programs from paper to electronic
processes. EPA will advance the paperless transformation through automation of permit application, review, and issuance processes for EPA's permitting programs. This will
reduce processing time on issuing permits, decrease the time between receiving monitoring data and engaging in enforcement actions, and foster transparency by allowing
communities to search, track, and access permitting actions easily. Further, permit automation will enable the integration of climate change and enviromnental justice
considerations into permit processes and ensure that they are addressed within the terms and conditions of the permit. For the regulated community, permit automation will allow
for a simplified, streamlined, and transparent permitting process which will result in time and costs savings. EPA identified a universe of 13 eligible processes. The baseline for
this measure is zero as of FY 2021.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, improve 1,000 operational processes.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM OP1) Number of operational processes improved.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
|A
Target
25
50
72
500
200
200
200
Operational
Above
Jf\-
Actual
N/A
66
502
507
208
Processes
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Exceeded the target with 208 processes improved, with contributions from all 10 of EPA's regional offices and 10 of EPA's program offices. The Office of Air and Radiation
(OAR) achieved 34 improvements—the most of any program office. Region 6 was the highest regional contributor, achieving 19 improvements.
• In Region 6, an executive-sponsored project improved drinking water compliance in New Mexico by working with the State to reduce ground water rule violations by 33%,
including a reduction of 27% in small and rural community water systems.
• In OAR, an executive-sponsored project helped the Office of Transportation and Air Quality create an online funds application that made the Clean School Bus Rebate
Program process smoother for applicants and EPA staff, and reduced the number of mistakes, irregularities, and rework.
• EPA launched a new Process Improvement Awards Program, with monetary incentives, in June 2022. This program aims to recognize the outstanding work performed by
EPA teams who are improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Agency's operations.
• Each EPA regional and program office completed executive sponsored improvement projects resulting in 100 projects across the Agency which fed into the total number of
operational processes improved.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of EPA operational processes improved through the application of Lean principles improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness
of the Agency's operations. An operational process is a sequence of activities that results in the delivery of a service. Process improvements efforts are intended to empower
frontline staff, engage leadership, drive innovation, improve operations, and create a better customer experience. A process improvement is counted when a baseline measure is
exceeded by a reasonable amount, as determined by EPA program or regional office leadership. While a standard percentage improvement is not required, teams are encouraged to
have stretch goals to promote breakthroughs. Process improvements result from a variety of tools (e.g., kaizen events, special senior leadership projects, other problem-solving
activities) and often include standard work (e.g., standard operating procedures) and visual management (visible placement of information and indicators that quickly convey the
status of the process) to help ensure the improvement is sustained and can be shared to promote benchmarking when appropriate.
Other Core Work
Annual performance goal:
(PM CF2) Number of Agency administrative systems and system interfaces.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
IHi>
Target
24
22
22
19
17
17
Svstems and
Below
iTtr
Actual
30
30
30
24
21
20
Interfaces
Target
Key Takeaways:
• Retired one administrative system in FY 2022: Legacy PeoplePlus for tracking employee time worked. Legacy payroll data are now accessible through a reporting tool that
allows for data access and corrections without the need to maintain a separate system.
• Missed the target due to delays in the full implementation of the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). Once IPP implementation is complete in the second quarter of FY 2023,
EPA will retire the three remaining administrative systems originally planned for FY 2022: EASYLITE invoice payment system. Contract Payment System (CPS), and Small
Purchase Information Tracking System (SPITS).
Metric Details: This measure tracks the number of administrative systems or system interfaces EPA actively operates. Administrative systems support execution of the Agency's
administrative functions such as accounting, grants management, and contracts management. System interfaces are connections among administrative systems where data are
shared. Reducing the number of administrative systems and system interfaces has a positive impact on streamlining operational processes and drives the integration of financial
transactions across multiple administrative systems, reducing manual entry, improving data quality, and allowing EPA to input and access data more easily and standardize
reporting as payment processing is moved to a federal shared service provider.
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Strategy 4: Strengthen Tribal, State, and Local Partnerships and Enhance Engagement—Collaborate and engage effectively with Tribal
nations in keeping with the Federal Government's trust responsibilities, state and local governments, regulated entities, and the public to protect
human health and the environment.
Performance toward target over time
Number of measures by percent of target achieved
~ 100% of target met (G)
~ 75-99% of target met (Y)
~ <75% of target met (R)
~ No data (ND)
~ No target (NT)
1 (Y)
1(G)
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022
Counts are of measures that exist in FY 2022. Chart does not include
measures that previously existed but were eliminated prior to FY 2022.
Number of FOIA Responses in Backlog,
FY 2018 - FY 2024
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
rr—-
FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
I I Actual Target
Summary of progress toward strategic objective:
• Led the White House Council on Native American Affairs effort to secure 17 federal
agencies' signatures, including EPA's, to the Tribal Treaty Rights Memorandum of
Understanding as announced at the White House Tribal Nations Summit.
• Reduced by 10% EPA's backlog of overdue Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests,
down to 950 from 1,056 at the beginning of the fiscal year.
• Conducted more than 145 separate tribal consultations on EPA actions or decisions that
may affect tribes, including 19 consultations that considered tribal treaty rights.
• Developing revisions to the 2011 EPA Tribal Consultation Policy to boost effectiveness,
clarify the goals of consultations, and to include tribal treaty rights consultations more
broadly under the Policy.
• In partnership with tribes, filled all 10 tribal representative E-Enterprise Leadership
Council positions, a first since the program was initiated in 2016. E-Enterprise promotes
collaborative and transformative enviromnental protection among EPA, states, and tribes.
• Engaged with states and tribes to update the National Program Guidance emphasizing how
Performance Partnership Grants support stronger partnerships by providing flexibility to
states and tribes.
• Oversaw three public meetings of the Local Government Advisory Committee and Small
Community Advisory Subcommittee and the development of 65 recommendations for
EPA leadership to improve how the Agency works with local governments.
• Held federalism consultations on several major Agency actions, including the National
Primary Drinking Water Regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• Interviewed EPA staff to collect best practices in grant results reporting practices for the
EPA Learning Agenda priority area on grants commitments met.
Challenges:
• Additional tools and training will be needed for EPA staff to implement the EPA Tribal
Consultation Policy revisions under development and expand tribal treaty rights
consultations to national level consultations.
• FOIA backlog reduction is challenged by a historically large backlog of overdue requests
and complex new requests requiring time and significant resources to reduce.
• In FY 2023 through 2024, EPA must procure, configure, deploy, and train EPA staff and
the public to use a new FOIA case management and recordkeeping software solution to
replace FOIAonline, which will be terminated in FY 2023.
-------
CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, consider Tribal treaty rights as part of all EPA Tribal consultations that may affect
Tribal treaty rights.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-term performance goal:
(PM EC41) Percentage of EPA Tribal consultations that may affect Tribal treaty rights that consider those rights as part of the consultation.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
No Trend
Data
Target
20
25
50
Percent
Above
Target
Actual
100
Numerator
19
Tribal
Consultations
Denominator
19
Key Takeaways:
• Developing revisions to the 2011 EPA Tribal Consultation Policy in consideration of tribal input received during a March 2021 consultation period and President Biden's
Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation.
Metric Details: This measure tracks the annual percentage of EPA Tribal consultations that may affect tribal treaty rights that consider those rights as part of the consultation,
consistent with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes: Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights (https://www.epa.gov/tribal/epa-policy-
consultation-and-coordination-indian-tribes-guidance-discussing-tribal-treaty) which establishes clear Agency standards for consultations when an EPA action or decision may
affect tribal treaty rights. Data are collected in EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System, a publicly accessible database used to communicate upcoming and
current EPA consultation opportunities to tribal governments that documents EPA consultations using the tribal treaty rights guidance. The system provides a management,
oversight, and reporting structure that helps ensure accountability and transparency.
Long-Term Performance Goal: By September 30, 2026, eliminate the backlog of overdue Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses,
compared to the FY 2021 baseline of 1,056.
Annual performance goal that supports this long-tenn performance goal:
(PM F02) Number of FOIA responses in backlog.
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY 2019
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
Units
Preferred
Direction
1
llll-
Target
845
712
474
Responses
Below
Target
Actual
2,761
2,128
1,395
1,056
950
Key Takeaways:
• Missed the FY 2022 target but nevertheless reduced by 10% the backlog of overdue FOIA requests.
• Reviewed and assigned for processing 6,595 FOIA requests, processed 234 expedited FOIA processing requests, and processed 799 applications for fee waiver.
• EPA's National Freedom of Information Office provided oversight, project management, legal counseling, training support, and cross-agency coordination for the Agency's
most complex and potentially sensitive FOIA requests, including requests pertaining to scientific integrity; PFAS; EPA's proposed determination to prohibit and restrict the
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CROSS-AGENCY STRATEGIES
use of certain waters in the Bristol Bay, AK watershed as disposal sites for the discharge of dredged or fill material associated with mining the Pebble deposit; and EPA's
COVID-19 response closeout
• Provided training, coaching, and guidance to help EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention reform its FOIA response process.
• The pace of EPA's FOIA backlog reduction is challenged by historically large backlog of overdue FOIA requests in two offices that will likely require both time and
significant resources to reduce, as well as complex multi-part and voluminous electronic records requests.
Metric Details: This measure tracks EPA's responsiveness to the public by measuring progress toward reducing EPA's backlog of responses to FOIA requests. Overdue responses
are indicated in FOIAonline.gov as pending beyond the statutory deadline of 20 working days for simple requests, 30 days or longer for unusual circumstances (e.g., complex
requests), or another timeframe to which the requestor has agreed. EPA receives approximately 7,000 FOIA requests annually.
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FY 2022 EPA Program Evaluations
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
Activity 1:
Title
EPA Learning Agenda: Drinking Water Systems Out of Compliance
Lead National
Program
OECA
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Obj ective 3.1: Hold Environmental Violators and Responsible Parties
Accountable
Estimated
Completion date
2026
Purpose and brief description: The Agency Learning Agenda includes Drinking Water
Systems out of Compliance as a learning priority area. EPA has been working to reduce
noncompliance through guidance, grants, technical assistance, enforcement, and oversight.
Building and using evidence under the Evidence Act to evaluate the effectiveness of these tools
and identify ways to make them more effective will help EPA and the states better understand
the factors and program elements that improve compliance with drinking water regulations.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
a. Does EPA have ready access to data to reliably and accurately measure drinking
water compliance?
b. What factors determine system noncompliance and continuous compliance ?
c. Does increased use of compliance assurance tools (inspections and enforcement)
improve system compliance, and if so under what circumstances?
d. How can we determine if a system has the technical, managerial, andfinancial capacity
to provide safe water on a continuous basis to its customers?
e. What EPA oversight activities are effective at assessing and improving state programs'
ability to drive compliance?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings:
The interim findings from each Drinking Water Learning Agenda priority question are detailed
below:
-------
1. Does EPA have ready access to data to reliably and accurately measure drinking
water compliance?
a. Identified documentation of quality control checks built into SDWIS-Fed that
ensures incoming state data conforms. Completed comparison of 2 state
databases to SDWIS-Fed to assess data transfer errors. Found very high
agreement.
b. Reviewed available state file review reports to identify compliance
determination errors. Not able to quantify or draw conclusions about frequency
of compliance determination errors nationally.
c. Conducted an analysis of monitoring and reporting violations in SDWIS-Fed,
taken at face value, to determine percent of M&R violations that are more or less
likely to be indicative of serious noncompliance. Adds a level of precision to our
understanding of what is not known due to failure to monitor and/or report.
d. Work on Question 1 is ongoing and final results/conclusions/findings are not
available to use for decision-making and planning purposes.
2. What factors determine system noncompliance and continuous compliance ?
a. Identified and synthesized three existing predictive tools that have been tested
and proven successful at identifying systems of concern (each organization
defined different endpoints). Evaluation of those tools confirmed key public
water system characteristics that are important to focus on for maintaining or
improving compliance: source water quality; sound financial management;
operator and technical capacity; management plans in place.
b. The Question 2 evaluation is ongoing and final results/conclusions/findings are
not available to use for decision-making and planning purposes.
3. Does increased use of compliance assurance tools (inspections and enforcement)
improve system compliance, and if so under what circumstances?
a. EPA started evaluating Question 3 in the third quarter of FY 2022. The Agency
consulted with GSA about conducting a prospective study on the impact of EPA
inspections at public water systems and designed a generic study method to
recruit participants, but have not yet determined if the inspection work will be
ripe for study.
b. For the enforcement part of the question, EPA established an agreement with an
academic institution to help evaluate existing enforcement data and potentially
conduct a prospective study to determine how and when enforcement improves
compliance.
c. Work on Question 3 is ongoing and final results/conclusions/findings are not
available to use for decision-making and planning purposes.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
Work on Questions 1, 2, and 3 is ongoing and final results/conclusions/findings are not yet
available to use for decision-making and planning purposes. When all priority questions are
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answered, EPA will use findings to evaluate the efficacy of components of EPA's drinking water
program (and may, by extension, also be applicable to policies or practices used in state and
tribal programs).
Link for findings: Results are not yet published.
Activity 2:
Title
Assessing the effectiveness of offsite compliance monitoring (OfCM)
Lead National
OECA
Program
FY 2022-2026
Goal 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Strategic Goal and
Objective
Objective 3.2: Detect Violations and Promote Compliance
Estimated
2023
completion date
Purpose and brief description:
The COVID-19 pandemic restricted OECA's ability to carry out onsite inspections, which
helped OECA recognize that a broader portfolio of Offsite Compliance Monitoring (OfCM)
activities may provide EPA with additional tools for enforcement and compliance programs.
These tools might include Desk Audits, Clean Air Act (CAA) Stack Test Reviews, Information
Request Response Reviews, among others. To assess what the office learned from the extended
use of OfCM over the past two years and gain insight into the efficacy of OfCM tools in finding
and deterring noncompliance (in comparison to onsite inspections), EPA conducted a
preliminary, short-term assessment of EPA's use of OfCM using readily available data and
information to inform interim guidance and best practices. The Agency now seeks to use those
results to guide a longer-term assessment and research into OfCM and the best uses of these
tools moving forward. OECA anticipates that the answers to these questions will involve
multiple research efforts given the range of programs and OfCM tools that will need to be
assessed.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Research questions:
1. How does the effectiveness of Offsite Compliance Monitoring (OfCM) activities compare
to onsite inspections?
Can OfCM identify the same violations, provide the same specific and general
deterrence, and promote and maintain compliance in the same way as onsite
inspections?
• What are the attributes of OfCM activities and onsite inspections required to
assess their effectiveness?
-------
2. What outcomes does OfCM provide?
• Does compliance depend on which monitoring tool is used or on whether there
is OfCM activity that includes subsequent enforcement action?
3. Do OfCM tools support enforcement activities?
Can evidence collected using only OfCM tools support an impactful enforcement
action?
• What are the key attributes of an effective OfCM tool?
4. What is the best use for OfCM?
• Does it depend on the tool, the program, and/or on the compliance history of
the facility?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
The Agency conducted a short-term study that included a regional questionnaire and preliminary
analysis with collected answers and other available data to begin to answer: 1. Do OfCM
activities lead to enforcement. 2. Are OfCM activities effective? 3. Can OfCM replace onsite
inspections?
These short-term findings include:
OfCM activities do not supplant the need for onsite inspections.
o In many cases the OfCM activity is performed in addition to, or identifies the
need for, onsite inspections.
Formal enforcement rates from OfCM activities estimated between 0% to 43%,
depending on the program.
The assessment identified trends for when OfCM activities were most useful/effective
and when were not:
When is OfCM most useful/effective?
When is OfCM not as useful /effective?
With large, target-rich universe of regulated entities
(e.g., TSCA LBP)
To identify deficiencies that rely upon visual observations
and/or contemporaneous conversation
To narrow the scope of the investigation for onsite
inspections
To identify activities with a temporal component (time-
sensitive activities) (e.g., SW BMPs)
For efficient use of limited resources
To identify facilities which have failed to apply for permit
coverage (non-filers)
To screen and target facilities in remote locations
To identify facilities which have never met reporting
requirements and exist under the radar
To review multiple facilities with a common
operator/owner
To confirm implementation of plans
To review settlements or correct previously identified
violations
When facility personnel are less sophisticated and not
technology savvy
To perform audits, document-heavy compliance reviews
When facility/regulated entity has history of
noncompliance or inspector questions the facility's
statements
To assess reporting requirements and planning
documents
-------
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
These preliminary findings, when supplemented by longer-term studies, will help inform and
shape enforcement and compliance strategies.
Link for findings: Results are not yet published.
Office of Water (OW)
Activity 1:
Title
National Estuary Program
Lead National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The primary purpose of the Program Evaluation (PE) process is
to help EPA assess how the National Estuary Programs (NEPs) are making progress in achieving
programmatic and environmental results through implementation of their Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs). The PE process has proven to be an effective,
interactive management process that ensures national program accountability and transparency,
while incorporating local priority considerations. It also demonstrates the value of federal
investment in estuarine and coastal watershed restoration and protection at the local and regional
levels. The PE process was revised, and new guidance distributed to the 28 NEP locations at the
end of 2021.
The PE process is also useful for:
Transferring lessons learned among NEPs, EPA, and stakeholders through the sharing of
case studies and transferable examples;
documenting the value added to environmental management of estuarine systems using
the partnership model of the national program and its individual NEPs, including their
role in convening stakeholders for decision-making and interpreting science for
management actions;
demonstrating continued stakeholder commitment; and
highlighting achievements and successes of each NEP, as well as suggestions for
continued program improvements.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: Five
PEs were conducted in FY 2022. The evaluation process for NEP locations informs the Agency
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on the progress of the NEP program. It also ensures the locations are delivering environmental
results and are well-managed programs so that they can continue to receive annual grants from
EPA which are matched 1:1 with non-federal dollars.
The program evaluation is focused on the National Estuary Program as described in Section 320
of the Clean Water Act. The PE goals are to:
ensure submissions enable objective and consistent evaluations among the different
NEPs;
ensure a consistent and transparent process to determine NEP CCMP implementation
progress;
further align the PEs with individual NEP CCMP priorities and related NEP annual
work plan goals and accomplishments;
determine progress in achieving programmatic and environmental results by
documenting NEP contributions to improving or reducing pressures on their coastal
watersheds and enabling all NEPs to successfully serve as local implementation partners
for EPA programs; and
identify areas of improvement to assist NEPs in becoming stronger programs and
achieving environmental results.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The NEP Program
Evaluation is an ongoing process that occurs each year. Each location within the NEP is
evaluated every five years. The PE process uses a two-category determination of Proficient and
Progressing, as defined in the 2021 NEP Program Evaluation Guidance. Proficient means a NEP
is adequately meeting programmatic and environmental results. A Progressing determination
means there are missing criteria that need to be addressed before the next PE cycle. A
Progressing determination will catalyze a timeline to address those missing elements or
opportunities for improvement before the next PE cycle. This determination is informed by the
entire PE package (narrative submission, National Estuary Program Online Reporting Tool
(NEPORT) data, annual work plans, and EPA required annual end of year reports), on-site visit,
and through discussions with the NEP under review.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The regular PE process
examines each NEP location on a variety of topics as listed below. Each presents a potential
challenge and can be addressed through the discussions between the PE team and NEP location.
The results include recommendations for improvement based upon the following categories
below and are submitted to each program as a final PE letter.
NEP Administration and Governance Structure
• Grant Obligations and Finance including budget summary
• Healthy Ecosystems (e.g., fish, shellfish, plant, eelgrass, and wildlife populations; habitat
protection/restoration, natural resources, land use, hydrological and ecological
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restoration, invasive species)
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Education and Outreach
Monitoring and Assessment
Clean Water Act Programs Relationship
• EPA Priorities (nutrient pollution, water reuse and conservation, marine litter reduction,
green infrastructure, environmental justice, climate change)
Summary information on the NEP is available on the EPA's NEP website. We acknowledge the
importance of NEP partnerships and proactive actions of most NEP location activities which are
mostly non-regulatory and highly leveraged offering EPA an average value of $22 for every $1
of EPA investment. Individual PE results are typically not made available to the public.
Activity 2:
Title
Report to the Principals' Staff Committee on the status and
vulnerabilities of existing and future Chesapeake Bay monitoring
networks
Lead National
OW
Program
FY 2022-2026
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Strategic Goal and
Objective
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
supported
Estimated
October 2022
completion date
Purpose and brief description: In March 2021, the Principals' Staff Committee (PSC)
requested a study and recommendations on how to improve Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP)
monitoring networks. The monitoring networks include (1) CBP core networks supported
primarily by EPA Chesapeake Bay Program funding, and (2) partnership networks supported by
multiple federal and state agencies. The monitoring review was guided by leadership from the
CBP Scientific, Technical Assessment and Reporting (STAR) team, the Chesapeake Bay
Program Office Monitoring Team, with input from the CBP Scientific and Technical Advisory
Committee (STAC) leadership.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
report addressed shortcomings or needed resources to fill existing gaps and to provide
recommendations on monitoring enhancement to support the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The estimate to enhance
the CBP core networks is $5.4 million in the first year ($1.8 million in capital costs and $3.6
million for operation and maintenance). It is an estimate that could rise subject to operational and
inflationary pressures.
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How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: With the additional funding
that came to CBPO through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds, EPA was able to
partially fund the monitoring needs identified in this report.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/svstem/files/documents/2022-
04/enclosurel epa evaluation of pennsvlvanias amended phase iii wip final O.pdf
Additional FY 2022 Contributions to EPA's Portfolio of Evidence
Office of the Administrator (OA)
Activity 1:
Title
EPA Learning Agenda: Grant Commitments Met
Lead National
Program
OA
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 4: Strengthen Tribal, State, and Local
Partnerships and Enhance Engagement
Estimated
completion
date
Year 2 activities completed September 2022. EPA anticipates completing
all activities by September 2024.
Purpose and brief description:
Historically, EPA annually awarded over $4 billion in grants and other assistance agreements.
With these grants, EPA helps to protect human health and the environment through the work of
its grantees. The management and tracking of the individual awards are dispersed amongst
thousands of staff throughout headquarters and EPA's ten regional offices, which makes
tracking results at the national level challenging. This Learning Agenda's focus is to better
understand how EPA's grant programs track, report, and analyze its outputs and outcomes
achieved to assess and communicate the environmental results accomplished.
The importance and visibility of this effort has increased with the additional funding provided
by American Rescue Plan (ARP), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and, most recently, the
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The potential funding level for EPA's programs could reach
over
$100 billion, making it critical to have mechanisms in place to track, report and assess the
agency's progress in protecting human health and the environment through its grant programs.
This learning priority area outlines work to establish the baseline, assess the current state, and
define the future state of grant result reporting. The effort spans multiple fiscal years, beginning
in FY 2021. In FY 2021, EPA used a survey instrument to establish a baseline knowledge of
grant results reporting practices at the agency. In FY 2022, EPA focused on interviewing
regional and NPM contacts to collect best practices. Efforts in FY 2023 and FY 2024
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will focus on using the gathered data to implement grant program reviews and inform grant
result tracking systems to better communicate and assess the environmental results achieved
through EPA's grant programs.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
What data and information exists to provide a baseline assessment of the agency' s grant
and tracking systems?
Which criteria are used to assess the ability of programs to successfully monitor grantee
performance?
How are the agency' s grant programs meeting their intended purpose?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
EPA surveyed all active EPA grant programs to determine the universe of existing grant
reporting and tracking systems. The surveys provided the data and information needed
to understand existing Agency approaches and processes for collecting, monitoring,
reporting, and evaluating grant commitments.
EPA learned that 99 percent of programs collect output data, but only 31 percent collect
long-term outcomes.
Word documents are the most common method of collecting grantee data.
Common challenges to grantee data collection include labor intensity, poor
communication with grantees, and capacity issues internal to grantees.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA used the findings to
determine a research strategy for FY 2022. Using the FY 2021 results as a launching point, EPA
identified and interviewed 31 regional and NPM staff. Interview criteria included prioritizing
programs receiving additional BIL or ARP funding, programs that reported best practices, and
programs that addressed administrative priorities. In FY 2023, EPA will analyze the Agency's
ability to review progress made in protecting human health and the environment through its
grant programs and demonstrate how EPA's grants programs are achieving the intended
environmental results. A report outlining the findings from the interviews will be published in
FY 2023.
Link for findings: Findings from FY 2021 were published on the Agency's Evidence Act site,
linked below. Findings from FY 2022 will be published in FY 2023.
https://www.epa.gov/svstem/files/documents/2022-09/learning-agenda-grants-commitments-
met.pdf
Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)
Activity 1:
Title
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020
Lead National
Program
OAR
-------
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
April 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA has prepared the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks since the early 1990s, which is submitted to the United Nations in
accordance with the Framework Convention on Climate Change. This annual activity provides a
comprehensive accounting of total greenhouse gas emissions from all man-made sources in the
United States. New in 2022, EPA has also released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks by State, which provides state-by-state data consistent with the national
greenhouse gas inventory and with international standards. As with the national inventory, the
state-level greenhouse gas inventory provides annual data and will be updated each year. This
effort helps inform a variety of questions related to EPA policy, regulations, and program design
as it relates to GHG emissions.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions of interest include:
What are the annual trends in US greenhouse gas emissions and sinks?
How do emissions for 2020 compare to previous years and the long-term trend? What
are the drivers behind any changes in trends?
What is the relative contribution of different emission sources and greenhouse gases to
climate change?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: In 2020, total gross U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions were 5,981 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMT
CO2 Eq.). Net emissions (including sinks) were 5,222 MMT CO2 Eq. From 2005 to 2020, net
emissions declined 21.4 percent, reflecting the combined impacts of long-term trends in many
factors including population, economic growth, energy markets, technological changes
including energy efficiency, and energy fuel choices. The decline in recent years is due to an
increasing shift to use of less CCh-intensive natural gas for generating electricity and a rapid
increase in the use of renewable energy in the electric power sector. Between 2019 and 2020,
greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 10.6 percent due to multiple factors. The primary driver
for the decrease was due to an 11 percent decrease in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion
which was due to a 13 percent decrease in transportation emissions driven by decreased demand
due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Electric power sector emissions also decreased 10
percent, reflecting both a slight decrease in demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and a
continued shift from coal to less carbon intensive natural gas and renewables. Total U.S.
emissions in 2020 were 7.3 percent lower than in 1990, down from a high of 15.7 percent above
1990 levels in 2007.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: An emissions inventory
that identifies and quantifies a country's anthropogenic sources and sinks of greenhouse gases is
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essential for addressing climate change. This inventory adheres to both (1) a comprehensive and
detailed set of methodologies for estimating sources and sinks of anthropogenic greenhouse
gases, and (2) a common and consistent format that enables Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to compare the relative contribution of
different emission sources and greenhouse gases to climate change. EPA prepares the official
U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks to fulfill annual existing commitments
under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-
and-sinks-1990-2020
Activity 2:
Title
2021 Power Sector Programs - Progress Report
Lead
National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
July 2022
Purpose and brief description: Under the Clean Air Act, EPA implements regulations to
reduce emissions from power plants, including the Acid Rain Program (ARP), the Cross-State
Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), the CSAPR Update, the Revised CSAPR Update, and the Mercury
and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). These programs require fossil fuel-fired electric generating
units to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hazardous air
pollutants including mercury (Hg) to protect human health and the environment. This reporting
year marks the seventh year of CSAPR implementation, the fifth year of the CSAPR Update
implementation, the first year of Revised CSPAR Update Implementation, the twenty-seventh
year of the ARP, and the fifth year of MATS implementation. This report summarizes annual
progress through 2021, highlighting data that EPA systematically collects on emissions for all
five programs and on compliance for the ARP and CSAPR. Commitment to transparency and
data availability is a hallmark of these programs, and a cornerstone of their success.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: This
annual activity assesses implementation of multiple regulations to reduce air pollution from
power plants. Specific questions of interest include:
Have the regulations met their emission reduction goals?
What is the compliance record of air pollution sources controlled under these
regulations?
What is the air quality and environmental response of implementing these regulations?
-------
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The ARP, CSAPR,
CSAPR Update, Revised CSPAR Update, and MATS have delivered substantial reductions in
power sector emissions of SO2, NOx, and hazardous air pollutants, along with significant
improvements in air quality and the environment. Program highlights include, but are not limited
to:
Annual SO2 emissions:
o CSAPR - 592,000 tons (93 percent below 2005)
o ARP - 936,000 tons (94 percent below 1990)
• Annual NOx emissions:
o CSAPR - 440,000 tons (80 percent below 2005)
o ARP - 763,000 tons (85 percent below 2000)
• CSAPR ozone season NOx emissions:
o 242,000 tons (46 percent below 2015)
• Compliance:
o 100 percent compliance for power plants in the market-based ARP and CSAPR
allowance trading programs
• Emissions reported under MATS: Mercury - 3.0 tons (90 percent below 2010)
In addition to the demonstrated reductions achieved by the power sector emission control
programs described in this report, SO2, NOx, and hazardous air pollutant emissions have
declined steadily in recent years due to a variety of power industry trends that are expected to
continue.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The ARP, CSAPR and the
CSAPR Update are implemented through trading programs1 designed to reduce emissions of
SO2 and NOx from power plants. Established under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments, the ARP was a landmark nationwide cap and trade program, with a goal of
reducing the emissions that cause acid rain. The success of the program in achieving significant
emission reductions in a cost-effective manner, as demonstrated through past progress reports,
led to the application of the market-based emissions trading tool for other regional
environmental problems, namely interstate air pollution transport, or pollution from upwind
emission sources that impacts air quality in downwind areas. MATS set limits on emissions of
hazardous air pollutants from power plants. EPA published the final standards in February 2012,
and the compliance requirements generally went into effect in April 2015, with extensions for
some plants until April 2016 and a small number until April 2017. As such, 2021 is the fifth full
year for which most sources covered by MATS have reported emissions data to EPA.
Exposure to mercury and other hazardous air pollutants at certain concentrations and durations
can increase chances of neurological and developmental effects, cancer, and reproductive,
respiratory, and other health problems. NOX emissions contribute to the formation of ground-
level ozone and fine particle pollution, which cause a variety of adverse human health effects,
while SO2 emissions are linked with a number of adverse effects to human health and
ecosystems. These adverse effects underline the continued need for pollution reduction under the
ARP, CSAPR, CSAPR Update, the Revised CSAPR Update and MATS. These reports are
critical
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for monitoring these programs to ensure they are continuing to deliver substantial environmental
and human health benefits.
Link for findings: https://www3.epa.gov/airmarkets/progress/reports/
Activity 3:
Title
U.S. State-level Non-CCh Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential: 2025-
2050
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
March 2022
Purpose and brief description: This report is a follow-on to the 2019 EPA technical report,
Global Non-CQ2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Projections & Mitigation Potential: 2015-
2050. The U.S. State-level Non-CO2 Mitigation Potential provides states with improved data to
better understand the costs and opportunities for reducing emissions of potent greenhouse gases,
including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases from anthropogenic sources at the state
level. This report looks at projected emissions of these gases through 2050 and provides
comprehensive technical and economic data on the opportunities and costs for reducing non-
CO2 greenhouse emissions.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
This report and its web-based summary are intended to provide analysis of the abatement
potential and costs of implementing specific abatement technologies for reducing non-CCh
greenhouse emissions. The analysis and accompanying dataset provide information that can be
used by state and local policymakers to understand mitigation opportunities in areas that may not
have received the same attention as electricity generation and transportation.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
• U.S. energy-sector non-CCh GHG emissions are projected to be 285 MtCChe in 2030
• Industrial process emissions are projected to reach 307 MtCChe in 2030
• National agriculture-sector emissions are projected to reach 625 MtCChe in 2030
Through 2030 emissions from landfills and wastewater are projected to grow at similar
rates, reaching 174 MtCChe in 2030
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The analysis and
accompanying dataset are intended for use by state and local policymakers to understand
mitigation opportunities in areas that may not have received the same attention as electricity
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generation and transportation including sub-national contributions to GHG emissions, as well as
the costs and opportunities for various mitigation measures. The report presents technical
information that can be useful in economic modeling and climate mitigation analysis. The
accompanying dataset is an input into the Non-CCh Greenhouse Gas Data Tool, a data
exploration tool for viewing non-CCh GHG projections and mitigation assessments.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/global-mitigation-non-co2-greenhouse-gases/us-state-
1 evel-non-co2- ghg-miti gati on-report
Activity 4:
Title
Seasonality and Climate Change: A Review of Observed Evidence in the
United States
Lead
National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: This technical report summarizes observed changes related to
seasonality in the United States, discusses how climate change affects the timing and nature of
seasonal events, and describes some of the related implications of those changes. To accomplish
this, EPA analyzed a subset of indicators based on long-term observations to explore the
interconnectedness of seasonal changes, including the cascading effect of physical climatic
changes and downstream biological, ecological, and social responses.
The report aims to summarize the current state of the science related to historical changes in
seasonality and provide tangible examples of the ways in which climate change is altering the
nature of seasonal events—and how these changes affect ecological and societal systems.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions of interest for the activity include:
• What are the seasonal impacts of climate change?
• What seasonality changes have been observed in the United States?
• What are the downstream effects of these seasonal changes?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Indicators reveal that
warming temperatures have shortened frost seasons, led snowmelt to occur earlier in the year,
and contributed to a decline in snowpack. Similarly, wildfire and heat wave seasons have
increased in duration and severity, impacting ecosystems, human health, and economies. Leaf
and bloom dates are occurring earlier than before, and the growing season has extended to cover
a greater portion of the year. Subsequent sections of this report explore how changes in
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one season cascade across and impact events in other seasons (e.g., winter conditions affect
harvests in the following fall).
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Examining indicators of
seasonal processes and systems sensitive to seasonality provides a framework for better
understanding the implications of a changing climate through time. EPA intends for this report to
be used as a tool for the public, scientists, analysts, decision-makers, educators, and others to
communicate the seasonal impacts of climate change and their downstream effects.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/seasonalitv-and-climate-change
Activity 5:
Title
Climate Change Indicators in the United States
Lead
National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
The Climate Change Indicators Page is Regularly Updated
Purpose and brief description: EPA's Climate Change Indicators in the United States were
created with the primary goal of informing readers' understanding of climate change,
specifically the public, scientists, analysts, decision-makers, and educators. The climate change
indicators can also be used as a tool for communicating climate change science. EPA partners
with more than 50 data contributors from various government agencies, academic institutions,
and other organizations to compile a key set of indicators related to the causes and effects of
climate change. These indicators also provide important input to the National Climate
Assessment and other efforts to understand and track the science and impacts of climate change.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
Climate Change Indicators serve to increase understanding of the impacts of climate change and
track trends. They also provide a tool to improve communication on climate change science. By
increasing understanding and improving communication the Climate Change Indicators help
inform science-based decision making.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: These indicators
characterize observed changes from long-term records related to the causes and effects of
climate change; the significance of these changes; and their possible consequences for people,
the environment, and society. Examples of indicators include:
• Heat waves: trends in the number of heat waves per year (frequency); the average
length of heat waves in days (duration); the number of days between the first and last
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heat wave of the year (season length); and how hot the heat waves were, compared with
the local temperature threshold for defining a heat wave (intensity).
Coastal flooding: tracks periodic inundation based on measurements from tide gauges
at locations along U.S. coasts.
Glaciers: examines the balance between snow accumulation and melting in glaciers and
describes how glaciers in the United States and around the world have changed over
time.
Growing season: looks at the impact of temperature on the length of the growing
season in the contiguous 48 states, as well as trends in the timing of spring and fall
frosts.
• Wildfire: tracks four aspects of wildfires over time: the total number of fires (frequency),
the total land area burned (extent), the degree of damage that fires cause to the landscape
(severity), and the acreage burned by fires starting in each month of the year (seasonal
patterns).
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA uses the findings of
the Climate Change Indicators in the United States to:
• Effectively communicate relevant climate science information in a sound, transparent,
and easy-to-understand way.
• Assess trends in environmental quality, factors that influence the environment, and
effects on ecosystems and society.
• Inform science-based decision-making.
EPA also uses the data gathered through this activity to produce technical reports including the
above report: Seasonality and Climate Change: A Review of Observed Evidence in the United
States.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators
Activity 6:
Title
Our Nation's Air: Status and Trends Through 2021
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA is committed to protecting public health and the
environment by improving air quality and reducing air pollution. In this review and annual
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report, EPA presents the trends in the nation's air quality and summarizes the detailed
information found at EPA's Air Trends website.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions of interest include:
• What are the national trends in air quality, including unhealthy air days and air pollutant
emissions?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Nationally,
concentrations of the criteria air pollutants dropped significantly since 1970. Between 1970 and
2021, the combined emissions of the six common pollutants (particulate matter (PM2.5 and
PM10), sulfur dioxide (S02), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
carbon monoxide (CO) and lead (Pb)) dropped by 78%. This progress occurred while the U.S.
economy continued to grow, Americans drove more miles, and population and energy use
increased.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Annual emissions estimates
are used as one indicator of the effectiveness of the Air Program. EPA and states track direct
emissions of air pollutants and emissions that contribute to the formation of key pollutants, also
known as precursor emissions. Emissions data are compiled from many different organizations,
including industry and state, tribal, and local agencies. Understanding emission sources helps
EPA and states control air pollution.
Link for findings: https://gispub.epa. gov/air/trendsreport/2022/#home
Activity 7:
Title
Title V Permitting Program Reviews
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA periodically reviews state and local permitting programs,
including fees, under Title V of the Clean Air Act as part of its responsibility to oversee
delegated and approved air permitting programs. In general, the purpose of these program
reviews is to identify good practices, document areas needing improvement, and learn how EPA
can help the permitting agencies improve their performance.
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Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: N/A
(same as above).
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Results varied and were
specific to the program being reviewed.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The reviews assess the
overall effectiveness of the planning, permitting, monitoring and compliance, and enforcement
programs to identify good practices implemented by the state/tribal agency, areas needing
improvement within the state/tribal program, and ways in which EPA can improve oversight.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/title-v-operating-permits/epa-oversight-operating-
permits-program
Activity 8:
Title
2021 EPA Automotive Trends Report
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
November 2021
Purpose and brief description: This annual report is part of EPA's commitment to provide the
public with information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel
economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the Agency's GHG
emissions standards. The data that EPA gets from our compliance and testing programs are
important to the transportation and research communities for setting the baseline to inform
policy and regulatory discussions.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions include:
• What are the new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel economy,
and technology data?
• What is the auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the agency' s GHG emissions
standards?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The report found that
since 2004, C02 emissions have decreased 24%, or 112 g/mi, and fuel economy has increased
32%, or 6.1 mpg. The EPA Automotive Trends Report found that all large car manufacturers
have achieved compliance with the Model Year (MY) 2020 light-duty GHG standards.
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How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The data collected as part
of this report support several important national programs, including EPA criteria pollutant and
GHG standards, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and vehicle
Fuel Economy and Environment labels. The analysis is a snapshot of the data collected by EPA
in support of several important regulatory programs and is presented with the intent of providing
as much transparency to the public as possible. The data show the change and innovation in the
industry since model year 1975, and the manufacturers' performance under EPA's GHG
standards.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/automotive-trends/download-automotive-trends-
report#Full%20Report
Activity 9:
Title
Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report: EPA Needs to Develop a
Strategy to Complete Overdue Residual Risk and Technology Reviews
and to Meet the Statutory Deadlines for Upcoming Reviews
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
March 2022
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General initiated this evaluation to determine whether EPA has conducted residual
risk and technology reviews, or RTRs, in a timely manner, as required for EPA to revise
standards, as needed, to protect the public from air toxics emitted by stationary sources. Through
these reviews, EPA determines whether more health-protective standards are necessary. If the
reviews are delayed or not performed, public health may be impacted.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
report addressed the following question:
• Has EPA conducted residual risk and technology reviews in a timely manner, as required
for EPA to revise standards, as needed, to protect the public from air toxics emitted by
stationary sources?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: EPA needs to complete
overdue RTRs or TRs to ensure that National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAPs) are updated to protect the public from air toxics emissions, including minority and
low-income communities that are disproportionately impacted by industrial facilities and other
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pollution sources cited in their communities. EPA needs to determine the workforce needed to
meet its statutory mandate. In addition, rather than being driven by court orders and consent
decrees, as well as by administration priorities that may detract from the Agency's ability to
meet statutory deadlines, EPA should develop a strategy incorporating the results of its
workforce analysis to ensure that overdue reviews are completed in as timely a manner as
practicable and that future reviews are conducted in accordance with statutory deadlines.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG has 2
recommendations for OAR: Recommendations 1 and 2 are both resolved. The OIG's
recommendations are as follows:
• Perform a workforce analysis to determine the staff and resources needed to meet the
statutory deadlines for residual risk and technology reviews, initial technology reviews,
and recurring eight-year technology reviews, as well as to complete any such reviews
that are overdue.
• Develop and implement a strategy to conduct (a) residual risk and technology reviews
and recurring technology reviews by the applicable statutory deadlines and (b) any
overdue residual risk and technology reviews and recurring technology reviews in as
timely a manner as practicable. The strategy should take into account the Agency's
environmental justice responsibilities under Executive Order 12898 and other applicable
EPA and executive branch policies, procedures, and directives.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-epa-needs-develop-
strategv-complete-overdue-residual-risk-and-0
Activity 10:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Title V Program Needs to Address Ongoing Fee
Issues and Improve Oversight
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
January 2022
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General initiated this evaluation to determine the extent to which EPA has conducted
evaluations of state and local Title V programs and identified insufficient collection or misuse of
fees in accordance with two guidance documents published in 2018: Updated Guidance on EPA
Review of Fee Schedules for Operating Permit Programs Under Title V, and the Program and
Fee Evaluation Strategy and Guidance for 40 CFR Part 70.
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Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
report addressed the following question:
To what extent has EPA conducted evaluations of state and local Title V programs and
identified insufficient collection or misuse of fees in accordance with relevant guidance?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The nation's Title V
permitting authorities continue to face many Title V fee challenges, and EPA regional oversight
has varied significantly because of a lack of criteria for when to conduct Title V fee evaluations,
as well as a lack of a standard minimum level of review. Further, many regions struggle with a
lack of resources and financial expertise. Without adequate fee evaluations, regions may not
identify and resolve Title V fee issues, resulting in Title V programs that are not self-sufficient
and unable to conduct Title V activities, including permit renewals, compliance monitoring, and
enforcement. As Title V activities diminish, there is an increased risk of noncompliance with the
requirements of the Clean Air Act, which could result in increased pollution and other impacts
to human health and the environment.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG has 6
recommendations for OAR: All 6 recommendations are resolved. The OIG's recommendations
are as follows:
Coordinate with EPA regions to provide recurring training on Clean Air Act Title V
fee laws and regulations to permitting agencies.
• In collaboration with EPA regions, develop and implement a plan to address declining
Clean Air Act Title V revenues.
• Update EPA's guidance documents to require regions to establish time frames for
permitting authorities to complete corrective actions in program and fee evaluation
reports and clear, escalating consequences if timely corrective actions are not
completed.
• Update the Clean Air Act Title V guidance documents to establish criteria for when
regions must conduct Title V fee evaluations and require a minimum standard of review
for fee evaluations.
• Provide training to EPA regional staff on the updated Clean Air Act Title V fee
guidance and how to conduct fee evaluations.
Collaborate with regional staff to identify and make available the regional resources and
expertise necessary to conduct fee evaluations.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-epas-title-v-program-
needs-address-ongoing-fee-issues-and-improve
Activity 11:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Is Taking Steps to Update Its Federal Radiation
Guidance
Lead National
Program
OAR
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FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.2: Reduce Exposure to Radiation and Improve Indoor Air
Completion date
January 2022
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General initiated this evaluation to address an OIG Hotline complaint that alleged
EPA is not following the best-available science regarding low-dose radiation because it
continues to use the linear no-threshold (LNT) model to inform its radiation guidance. The
objective was to determine the extent to which EPA has effectively implemented a process for
reviewing and updating its federal radiation policies and guidance, specifically those that rely on
the LNT model.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
report addressed the following question:
To what extent has EPA effectively implemented a process for reviewing and updating
its federal radiation policies and guidance, specifically those that rely on the LNT model?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The report found that
EPA does not have a formal process for updating its federal radiation guidance, some of which
relies on the LNT model, but instead updates the guidance pursuant to its strategic plan and
annual priority goals. EPA relies on the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air's strategic plan, as
well as on new models, peer-reviewed information, and updated data identified by the Center for
Radiation Protection Knowledge, to keep its radiation guidance current. By issuing FGR 15,
developing FGR 16, and requesting that the Scientific Advisory Board review the draft FGR 16,
EPA has taken steps to ensure that its radiation guidance, including that regarding low-dose
radiation exposure, is updated and informed by the best-available and peer-reviewed science.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG had no
recommendations for OAR.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-hotline-epa-taking-
steps-update-its-federal-radiation-guidance
Activity 12:
Title
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report: Oil and Gas:
Federal Actions Needed to Address Methane Emissions from Oil and
Gas Development
Lead National
Program
OAR
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FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
Completion date
April 2022
Purpose and brief description: GAO reviewed methane emissions from oil and gas
development on federal lands. This report (1) describes the steps federal agencies have taken to
reduce methane emissions from oil and gas, and implementation challenges; (2) examines
actions selected industry entities are taking to reduce methane emissions; and (3) examines how
selected states regulate methane emissions and to what extent those efforts could inform federal
actions.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
evaluation addressed the following questions:
• What steps have federal agencies taken to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas?
o What have been the implementation challenges for federal agencies in taking
these steps?
• What actions are industry entities taking to reduce methane emissions?
• How do selected states regulate methane emissions?
o To what extent can those efforts inform federal actions?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Methane is a substantial
contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, results in air pollution, and constitutes a lost
source of revenue for the federal government when emitted from sources on federal lands. While
EPA and BLM have taken steps in an array of rules to reduce methane emissions, administrative
and legal challenges have hindered their implementation. In the midst of federal uncertainty, the
oil and gas industry is voluntarily taking actions to reduce methane emissions, but federal
regulations can impede adoption of alternative technologies for detecting methane emissions.
Without greater flexibility in its process for approving alternative technologies, EPA may hinder
the adoption of innovative approaches by operators for detecting and reducing methane
emissions. Large oil- and gas-producing states are taking steps to regulate methane that go
beyond what BLM demands, such as requiring operators to submit gas capture plans prior to
drilling and to establish and meet goals for gas capture. Without BLM taking steps to institute
similar requirements for operators on federal lands, operators will continue to vent or flare
methane that contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and the federal government
will continue to lose revenues from the production of oil and gas.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The report included one
recommendation for EPA:
• EPA Administrator should provide greater flexibility to operators for using alternative
technologies to detect methane emissions.
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Link for findings: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104759
Activity 13:
Title
GAO Report: Refined Coal Production Tax Credit: Coordinated Agency
Review Could Help Ensure the Credit Achieves Its Intended Purpose
Lead National
Program
OAR
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 4: Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities
Objective 4.1: Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and
Health Impacts
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: GAO examined (1) the extent to which producers have claimed
the refined coal production tax credit since tax year 2010; (2) what the federal government
knows about the extent to which producers have demonstrated the emissions reductions required
to claim the credit; and (3) the extent to which the federal government's implementation of the
credit aligned with selected criteria for assessing tax expenditure performance.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: GAO's
assessment addressed the following question:
To what extent have producers claimed the refined coal production tax credit since tax
year 2010?
• What does the federal government know about the extent to which producers have
demonstrated the emissions reductions required to claim the credit?
To what extent has the federal government's implementation of the credit aligned with
selected criteria for assessing tax expenditure performance?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Congress considered
whether to extend the tax credit period, which expired on December 31, 2021, for refined coal
production facilities. However, federal agencies do not have a good understanding of the credit's
effectiveness in reducing emissions of certain harmful pollutants. This limited understanding
stems in part from producers' use of pilot-scale testing—one of the three methods allowed by
IRS guidance—to demonstrate emissions reductions. GAO recommended that if Congress
extended the credit period, a coordinated review by Treasury, IRS, EPA, and DOE could help
determine whether changes are warranted to improve the credit's performance.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The assessment included one
recommendation for EPA:
The GAO recommended that if Congress would have extended the refined coal
production tax credit, the Administrator of EPA should coordinate with Treasury, IRS,
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and DOE to review the performance of the credit in achieving its intended purpose and
identify and implement, as appropriate, any improvements towards achieving that
intended purpose, such as adjustments to allowable emissions testing methods.
Link for findings: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104637
Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)
Activity 1:
Title
OIG Report: The EPA Was Not Compliant with the Payment Integrity
Information Act for Fiscal Year 2021 - P00050
Lead National
OCFO
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy
supported
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: The Office of Inspector General conducted this audit to
determine whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency met the requirements of the
Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 as they relate to the formulation and inclusion of
payment integrity information in the Fiscal Year 2021 Agency Financial Report and
accompanying materials.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 requires inspectors general to determine and report
their agencies' compliance with the Act every fiscal year. The Act also requires the heads of
each agency to periodically review and identify all programs and activities with costs exceeding
the $10-million statutory threshold that may be susceptible to significant improper payments.
Prior to fiscal year 2021, the EPA had designated its grants payments as susceptible to
significant improper payments.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The EPA was not
compliant with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 because the Agency did not
adhere to all of the Office of Management and Budget's improper payment reporting
requirements for fiscal year 2021. Specifically, the EPA did not adequately conclude whether its
programs with annual outlays greater than $10 million were likely to make improper payments
above or below the statutory threshold.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIGmade four
recommendati ons:
-------
1. Review the OIG-identified questioned costs for the grants payment stream, determine
the payment allowability, recover costs as appropriate, and recalculate the error rate.
2. Conduct an off-cycle risk assessment, applying the Standard Operating Procedure Grants
Improper Payment Review, dated September 2021, and include the risk assessments in the
Agency's Fiscal Year 2023 Agency Financial Report, ensuring that the risk assessments
contain:
a. An assessment of all programs and activities with outlays greater than $10 million.
b. An identification of which programs and activities with annual outlays exceeding the
statutory threshold are included in each risk assessment.
c. A mechanism for identifying, accounting for, estimating, and reporting improper and
unknown payments and for detailing efforts taken to prevent and reduce such payments.
2. For payment streams other than the grants payment stream, update the standard operating
procedures so that they establish a sufficient methodology for programs and activities
with outlays of more than $10 million to adequately conclude whether they are
susceptible to significant improper payments. The standard operating procedures should
identify which programs or activities are included.
4. Periodically train Agency personnel on and provide completed course training certificates
for:
a. The Standard Operating Procedure Grants Improper Payment Review, dated
September 2021, which includes the Payment Integrity Information Act Review
Checklist. Such training should include any updates to these documents and emphasize
the application of the cost-allowance principles and adherence to the terms and
conditions of federal awards.
b. All standard operating procedures, as well as any updates to them, implemented for
other payment streams.
Link for findings: httys:/fwww. eya. gov sy stem files documents 2022-06 eycioig 2022062 7-
22-P-0050.ydf
Activity 2:
Title
OIG Report: The EPA's Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020 (Restated)
Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial
Statements - P0062
Lead National
Program
OCFO
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
-------
Completion date September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this audit pursuant to the Hazardous Waste
Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. The Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to prepare and the Office of Inspector General to audit the accompanying financial
statements of the EPA's Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
objectives were to determine whether:
• The fund's financial statements were fairly stated in all material respects.
• The EPA's internal controls over financial reporting were in place.
• EPA management complied with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant
agreements.
The Act also requires the OIG to analyze the fees collected and disbursed, fee structure, level of
use of the system, and success of the system in operating on a self-sustaining basis.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG rendered a
qualified opinion on the EPA's fiscal years 2021 and 2020 (restated) Hazardous Waste Electronic
Manifest System Fund, known as the e-Manifest Fund, financial statements, meaning that,
except for material errors in accounts receivable and earned revenue, the fiscal year 2021
financial statements were fairly presented. The OIG made two recommendations:
1. Correct the accounts receivable and earned revenue balances.
2. Assess EPA's procedures for recording eManifest delinquent amounts and implement
controls to prevent accounts receivable and earned revenue duplication.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA concurred with both
recommendations: The balances have been corrected and controls in the new e-Manifest system
have been designed to prevent these types of issues in the future. In addition, an interface
between the e-Manifest system and Compass was implemented in April 2022 which properly
records the accounts receivable and earned revenue in the accounting month in which they are
earned. Controls were implemented in the new system to properly record delinquent amounts
and prevent duplicate reporting
Link for findings: https://www.epa.govoffice-inspector-general report-epas-fiscal-years-2021-
cind-2020-re stated-hazardous-waste-electronic
Activity 3:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 Hazardous Waste
Electronic Manifest System Fund Financial Statements -F00015
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Lead National
Program
OCFO
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this audit pursuant to the Hazardous Waste
Electronic Manifest Establishment Act. The Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to prepare and the Office of Inspector General to audit the accompanying financial
statements of the EPA's Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
primary objectives were to determine whether:
• The financial statements were fairly stated in all material respects.
• The EPA's internal controls over financial reporting were in place.
• EPA management complied with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant
agreements.
The Act also requires the OIG to analyze the fees collected and disbursed, fee structure, level of
use of the system, and success of the system in operating on a self-sustaining basis.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG rendered a
qualified opinion on the EPA's fiscal years 2020 and 2019 Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest
System Fund, known as the e-Manifest Fund, financial statements, meaning that, except for
material differences in accounts receivable and earned revenue, the fiscal year 2020 financial
statements were fairly presented. The OIG noted the following material weaknesses:
• The EPA continued to make errors in its financial statement preparation process.
• The EPA did not have adequate internal control over accounts receivable and earned
revenue. We noted the following significant deficiency: the EPA misstated its appropriated
balances.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The report contains two
recommendations for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The OCFO does not agree with
the categorization of the issue presented by the Office of Inspector General as a significant
deficiency but concurs with the recommendations and has provided corrective actions.
1. In coordination with the assistant administrator for Land and Emergency Management,
enhance internal controls over accounting for expenses recorded under fund codes so
that appropriation balances are accurate. Specifically, EPA needs to implement
preventative controls, so fund expenses are properly coded when processed, and
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implement detective controls at the fund level to ensure fee-based expenses and
appropriations-based expenses are properly segregated, reconciled, and recorded in the
general ledger.
2. Correct the expenses recorded in excess of appropriated balances.
Link for findings: hups: www.epu.xov system files documents 2022-
08/ epciois 20211229-22-F-0015.vdf
Activity 4:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 Financial Statements for
the Pesticide Registration Fund 22-F-0014
Lead National
Program
OCFO
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act requires that the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General perform an annual audit of
the financial statements for the Pesticide Registration Fund.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: To
expedite the registration of certain pesticides, the Pesticide Improvement Act requires the EPA
to assess and collect pesticide registration fees. The fees collected are deposited into the
Pesticide Registration Fund. The Agency is required to prepare financial statements that present
financial information about the fund. The Pesticide Registration Fund also requires that decision-
time review periods be established for pesticide registration actions and that the OIG perform an
analysis of the Agency's compliance with those review periods.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG did not
identify any instances of noncompliance that would result in a material misstatement to the
audited financial statements. In addition, the Agency was in substantial compliance with the
statutory decision-time review periods
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made three
recommendations which were both accepted and implemented by the Agency.
1. Correct the calculation in its Pesticide Registration Improvement Act 20-04 on-top
adjustment to accurately capture the amounts for footnote 10, "Income and Expenses
from Other Appropriations."
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2. Document the control activities and procedures for calculating the income and expense
amounts for footnote 10, "Income and Expenses from Other Appropriations."
3. Develop a plan to strengthen and improve the preparation and management review of the
Pesticide Registration Improvement Act Fund financial statements and adjustments
entered into the accounting system so that errors and misstatements are detected and
corrected in a timely manner.
Link for findings: lillps: innr. epa. gov sy stem files documents 2021-12 epaoia 20211221-
22-f-0014.pdf
Activity 5:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 (Restated) Financial
Statements for the Pesticides Reregi strati on and Expedited Processing
Fund - 22-F00012
Lead National
OCFO
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy
supported
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: The Food Quality Protection Act requires that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General perform an annual audit of the
financial statements for the Pesticides Reregi strati on and Expedited Processing Fund, also
known as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Fund. The EPA is responsible
for reassessing the safety of older pesticide registrations against modern health and
environmental testing standards.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: To
expedite the reregi strati on process, Congress authorized the EPA to collect fees from pesticide
manufacturers. These fees are deposited into the fund. Each year, the Agency prepares financial
statements that present information about the fund, along with information about the EPA's
progress in reregistering pesticides.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG noted one
material weakness: the EPA materially misstated the FIFRA income and expenses from other
appropriations and one significant deficiency: the EPA needs to improve its financial statement
preparation process. The significant deficiency was initially reported in OIG Report No. 21-F-
0014, EPA's Fiscal Year's 2020 and 2019 (Restated) Consolidated Financial Statements, issued
November 16, 2020. The OIG is reporting this significant deficiency for the FIFRA Fund
financial statements.
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How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made three
recommendations which were accepted by the Agency and corrective actions have been
completed.
1. Correct the calculation in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 20-03
on-top adjustment to accurately capture the amounts for footnote 10, "Income and
Expenses from Other Appropriations."
2. Document the control activities and procedures for calculating the income and expense
amounts for footnote 10, "Income and Expenses from Other Appropriations."
3. Develop a plan to strengthen and improve the preparation and management review of
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Fund financial statements and
adjustments entered the accounting system so that errors and misstatements are
detected and corrected in a timely manner.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov offwe-impector-gemral report-epas-fiscal-vears-2020-
and-2019-restated-financial-statements
Activity 6:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Fiscal Years 2021 and 2020 (Restated) Consolidated
Financial Statements 22-F-0007
Lead National
OCFO
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy
supported
Completion date
November 2021
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this audit in accordance with the
Government Management Reform Act of 1994, which requires the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General to audit the financial statements prepared by the
Agency each year.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
primary objectives were to determine whether:
• The EPA's consolidated financial statements were fairly stated in all material respects.
• The EPA's internal controls over financial reporting were in place.
• EPA management complied with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant
agreements.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG noted the
following significant deficiencies:
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• The EPA did not reconcile cash differences with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• The EPA did not recognize revenue for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of
2014 fee fund expenses.
• Accounts receivable source documentation was not provided in a timely manner by EPA
regions.
• The Office of the Chief Financial Officer needs to conduct periodic reviews of user s'
accounts within the EPA's Contract Payment System.
The OIG also noted the following instance of noncompliance with laws and regulations: the EPA
did not comply with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-136 form and content
requirements for the balance sheet.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made four
recommendations to OCFO:
1. Timely reconcile EPA cash differences with the U. S. Department of the Treasury.
2. Update the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act accounting model to
properly recognize earned revenue and unearned revenue as fee fund expenses are
incurred. OCFO/ OC Concur.
3. Reclassify unearned revenue to earned revenue for Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act fee fund expenses incurred during fiscal years 2021 and 2020.
4. Record the three receivables totaling approximately $8.1 million in the fiscal year 2021
financial statements.
OCFO concurred with the recommendations and has completed the corrective actions.
Link for findings: hups: ww w.epa.xov system files documents 2021-11 epaoia 20211115-
22-f-0007.pdf
Activity 7:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Has Not Performed Agencywide Risk Assessments,
Increasing the Risk of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement - 22-
E-0011
Lead National
OCFO
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy supported
Completion date
December 2021
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Purpose and brief description: The OIG conducted this evaluation to determine whether the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of the Chief Financial Officer is conducting
agencywide entity-level risk assessments and implementing internal controls for annual and
supplemental appropriations that comply with federal and Agency requirements.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-123, Management's Responsibility for Enterprise
Risk Management and Internal Control, dated July 2016, requires federal agencies to integrate
internal control activities under the umbrella of an enterprise risk-management program through
a risk-assessment process. The U.S. Government Accountability Office's GAO-14-704G,
Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government, dated September 2014, provides the
overall framework for establishing and maintaining an effective internal control system. The
OIG assessed evidence to determine whether the Agency's actions were consistent with:
• FMFIA requirement to establish an internal control system that provides reasonable
assurance of achieving internal control objectives.
• OMB Circular A-123 requirement to integrate and coordinate risk management with other
internal control-related activities.
• Green Book framework to establish and maintain an effective internal control system.
• Resource Management Directives System Policy Manual 2520 requirement to manage funds
effectively and efficiently while following applicable rules, statutes, and regulations.
• 44 U.S.C. chapter 31, "Records Management by Federal Agencies," requirement to make and
maintain accurate and proper documentation of activities, decisions, policies, and procedures.
• EPA Records Schedule 1006, Administrative Management, requirement to retain
administrative management records for six years.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG determined
that the OCFO has not performed agencywide entity-level risk assessments over the EPA's
annual and supplemental appropriations. Specifically, the OCFO has not developed or
implemented an agencywide entity-level risk-assessment process—in which executive officials
are fully engaged in entity-level risk activities—to identify high-priority risks that cut across
individual Agency programs. In addition, the OCFO has not performed agencywide entity-level
risk assessments over the EPA's annual and supplemental appropriations.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made two
recommendations which the Agency accepted. Corrective actions have been completed.
1. Develop and communicate a strategy to implement, direct, and oversee agencywide
enterprise risk management, as required by the 2016 revision of Office of Management
and Budget Circular A-123.
2. After developing the strategy from Recommendation 1, establish agency policies and
procedures, including updates to Resource Management Directives System 2520,
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Administrative Control of Appropriated and Other Funds, EPA Order 1000.24, and EPA
Delegation 1-16, to comply with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-123
requirements.
Link for findings: hups: innr. epa. gov sy stem files documents 2021-12 epcioig 20211215-
22-e-0011.pdf.
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP)
Activity 1:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Safer Choice Program Would Benefit from Formal
Goals and Additional Oversight
Lead National
OCSPP
Program
FY 2022-2026
Goal 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Strategic Goal
and Objective
Objective 7.2: Promote Pollution Prevention
supported
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this audit
to determine whether the Safer Choice program effectively meets its goals and whether the
program achieves quality standards through its product qualification, renewal, and required audit
processes.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Does the Safer Choice program effectively meet its goals?
Does the Safer Choice program achieve quality standards through its product qualification,
renewal, and required audit processes?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: OIG recommended that
the assistant administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention:
• Develop goals and performance measures that capture the impacts of the Safer Choice
program.
• Publish or otherwise notify Congress and the public of the goals and performance
measures for the EPA Safer Choice program, as well as the annual results of the
program.
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• Establish and implement procedures to conduct periodic oversight reviews of audits
conducted by the third-party profilers (TPP) to include physical oversight of the third-
party profilers' on-site audits.
• Amend memorandums of understanding with the third-party profilers, requiring that
EPA conduct performance reviews of third-party profilers. Recommendation 4 is
resolved with no corrective actions pending.
Collect and document all information that third-party profilers review in their audits in
the Safer Choice Community database.
EPA agreed with each of these recommendations and has implemented all promised corrective
actions as described below.
1. Develop goals and performance measures that capture the impacts of the Safer Choice
program. For Recommendation 1, EPA did not commit to state any goals for the
program. The performance measures currently tracked for the Safer Choice program -
including the number of products certified and the number of chemicals added to the
Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) - are good measures of the impact of the Safer
Choice program in voluntarily helping the marketplace adopt safer chemicals in cleaning
product formulations. To fulfill Recommendation la, on October 1, 2020, the Agency
implemented the following performance measures:
• Number of Products Certified by the Safer Choice Program
• Number of chemicals added to SCIL
Timeliness of EPA reviews of Safer Choice products
To fulfill Recommendation lb, on October 1, 2020, EPA began collecting the following
data from Safer Choice partner companies, and implemented the following performance
measures on October 1, 2021:
Total volume of Safer Choice-marketed products
Total volume of Safer Choice-marketed products, by category
• Reformulations Ultimately Qualifying for the Safer Choice Label
2. Publish or otherwise notify Congress and the public of the goals and performance
measures for the EPA Safer Choice program, as well as the annual results of the
program. To fulfill Recommendation 2, on January 21, 2021, the Agency published the
first set of performance measures from Corrective Action la on a new Safer Choice
webpage (https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-performance-measures). The
second set of performance measures from Corrective Action lb were incorporated into
this webpage on January 3, 2022.
3. Establish and implement procedures to conduct periodic oversight reviews of audits
conducted by the third-party profilers (TPP) to include physical oversight of the third-
party profilers' on-site audits. EPA agreed to conduct yearly oversight reviews of TPP
desk and on-site audits. To fulfill Recommendation 3, on November 10, 2020, the
Agency developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) to annually conduct oversight
-------
reviews of audits conducted by TPPs, including physical oversight of those audits. For
2021-2022, on-site-product-manufacturer audits were conducted remotely because of the
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. By December 2, 2021, Safer Choice conducted two desk
audits per TPP (NSF International and ToxServices LLC; note that new TPP Gradient
does not yet have clients at the audit stage).
4. Amend memorandums of understanding with the third-party profilers, requiring that
EPA conduct performance reviews of third-party profilers. To fulfill Recommendation 4,
on September 9, 2020, the Agency finalized amendments to the TPP Memorandums of
Understanding to indicate that EPA will conduct performance reviews for each of the
three TPPs: NSF International; ToxServices LLC; and Gradient.
5. Collect and document all information that third-party profilers review in their audits in
the Safer Choice Community database. EPA proposed to incorporate a checklist in the
data system that will confirm that TPPs collected and reviewed all audit documentation.
Documentation will then be available for EPA to conduct yearly oversight reviews of
TPP desk and on-site audits. To fulfill Recommendation 5, on December 2, 2020, the
Agency incorporated a checklist in the Safer Choice Community that TPPs will include
with each audit summary, confirming that the TPP has collected and reviewed all the
audit documentation required by the Safer Choice Standard. On June 13, 2021, the
Agency confirmed that the TPPs have incorporated the checklist into their submitted
audit summaries.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA used the findings of
the report to strengthen its oversight of TPPs and to re-establish a more transparent measures-
tracking system.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-epas-safer-choice-
program-would-benefit-formal-goals-and-additional
Activity 2:
Title
GAO Report: Persistent Chemicals
Lead National Program
OCSPP
FY 2022-2026 Strategic Goal and Objective
supported
Goal 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People
and the Environment
Objective 7.1: Ensure Chemical and Pesticide
Safety
Completion date
July 2022
Purpose and brief description: In Persistent Chemicals: Technologies forPFAS Assessment,
Detection, and Treatment (GAO-22-105088), GAO reported on technologies to detect and treat
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and assess its health effects. GAO
also offered policymakers additional actions to consider.
-------
PFAS are a large group of heat and stain resistant chemicals, first developed in the 1940s. PFAS
are used in a wide range of products, including carpet, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing,
and firefighting foam used at airports and military bases. PFAS can persist in the environment,
including in water, soil, and air, for decades or longer. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has found that most people in the U.S. have been exposed to two of the most widely
studied PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Both have
been linked to human health problems.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
GAO was asked to conduct a technology assessment on PFAS assessment, detection, and
treatment. This report examines (1) technologies for more efficient assessments of the adverse
health effects of PFAS and alternative substances; (2) the benefits and challenges of current and
emerging technologies for PFAS detection and treatment; and (3) policy options that could help
enhance benefits and mitigate challenges associated with these technologies.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: GAO identified three
challenges associated with PFAS assessment, detection, and treatment technologies:
• PFAS chemical structures are diverse and difficult to analyze for health risks, and
machine learning requires extensive training data that may not be available.
• Researchers lack analytical standards for many PFAS, limiting the development of
effective detection methods.
The effectiveness and availability of disposal and destruction options for PFAS are
uncertain because of a lack of data, monitoring, and guidance.
GAO developed the following three policy options that could help mitigate these challenges.
• Policymakers could support development of technologies and methods to more
efficiently research PFAS health risks.
• Policymakers could collaborate to improve access to standard reference samples of
PFAS, known as analytical standards and increase the pace of method and reference
sample development for PFAS detection.
• Policymakers could encourage the development and evaluation of full-scale
technologies and methods to dispose of or destroy PFAS.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The three policy options
provided in the report are not pertinent to OCSPP's work.
Link for findings: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105088
Activity 3:
-------
Title
OIG Report: EPA Needs to Improve the Transparency of Its Cancer-
Assessment Process for Pesticides
Lead National
Program
OCSPP
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Objective 7.1: Ensure Chemical and Pesticide Safety
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this evaluation to examine the extent to
which the EPA followed policies and procedures in developing the cancer assessment for the
1,3-Dichloropropene (1,3-D) pesticide registration-review decision to prevent unreasonable
adverse effects on human health. EPA initiated this evaluation based on multiple complaints
submitted to the Office of Inspector General Hotline.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act requires EPA to review every pesticide
registration no later than 15 years after the active ingredient's initial registration to determine
whether the pesticide continues to meet the statutory standard—that is, whether the pesticide
performs its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the
environment.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG found that EPA
did not adhere to all standard operating procedures and requirements for the 1,3-D pesticide
cancer-assessment process. OIG recommended that the Assistant Administrator for Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention:
• Issue guidances on when and how to conduct kinetically derived maximum (KMD)
approach and weight of evidence approach in cancer risk assessments for pesticides.
• Update the docket for 1,3-D to include all required materials, including meeting minutes
and list of participants for meetings between the EPA and the registrant related to the
1,3-Dichloropropene pesticide registration review and cancer assessment.
• Develop guidance to clarify when to docket meetings related to a registration review for
other related activities that occur concurrent to the pesticide registration review process.
Conduct an additional literature search that identifies all published scientific studies
concerning the potential carcinogenicity of 1,3-Dichloropropene, including a
methodology to reconcile inconsistencies in the scientific data, and publish the results of
the literature search and reconciliations.
• Develop procedures to ensure independence of Cancer Assessment Review Committee
(CARC) members from the work products they review, ensure appropriate expertise is
-------
represented on CARC and when to include ad hoc scientists, and regularly assess CARC
to ensure internal peer review standards are met.
Conduct an external peer review of the 1,3-D cancer risk assessment.
• Develop and implement specific criteria requiring external peer review of Office of
Pesticide Programs risk assessments that use scientifically or technically novel
approaches, or are likely to have precedent-setting influence, on future risk
assessments, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's 2005 Final
Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made nine
recommendations to improve the transparency of the 1,3-D cancer-assessment process and
restore the scientific credibility of the Agency's 1,3-D cancer classification. These
recommendations address the lack of guidance for EPA's use of the kinetically derived
maximum dose and weight-of-evidence approaches, an incomplete public docket, an incomplete
literature search, noncompliance with internal peer review standards, and the need for an external
peer review.
EPA has agreed to implement corrective actions for 8 of the 9 recommendations, and the OIG
has accepted Agency corrective actions. OIG and the Agency remain in discussions about
Recommendation 8 (peer review). To fulfill the OIG recommendations for the 8 agreed upon
corrective actions:
• EPA is currently working in conjunction with other international regulatory authorities
to develop guidance on the integration of kinetic information (i.e., KMD) in the Joint
FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) pesticide risk assessments.
• EPA has agreed to develop guidance on the use of weight of evidence approach in
cancer assessments for pesticides. Once developed, EPA will post a link to the guidance
on an EPA's pesticide website.
• EPA will complete its search of any available existing meeting materials and/or meeting
notes on the 1,3-D cancer assessment and add any additional materials found to thel,3- D
registration review docket.
EPA will develop and implement internal guidance to clarify when to docket meetings
related to pesticide registration review for the specific related activity of a cancer
assessment that occurs concurrent to the registration review process.
• EPA conducted an updated comprehensive literature search to inform the carcinogenic
potential of 1,3-D. The results of the search will be posted to the registration review
docket for 1,3-D.
The SOP for CARC will be updated to reflect the OIG recommendations specifically
addressing the independence of CARC members from the work products they review,
ensuring there is the appropriate expertise on the CARC for each meeting, including ad
hoc voting scientists when needed. EPA will continue to regularly assess CARC
processes and procedures and update the SOP as needed.
-------
OCSPP will develop a Standard Operating Procedure to determine when an external
peer review is required for assessments using scientifically or technically novel
approaches or likely to have precedent-setting influence. This guidance will be used to
ensure consistency in the external peer review process across OSCPP.
The implementation of the 8 OIG recommendations will help to improve transparency and
consistency in the review process to conduct cancer assessments for pesticides.
Link for findings: httys://www.eya.gov offwe-imyector-gemral reyort-eya-meds-imyrove-
Iransparencv-ils-cancer-assessmenl-process
Activity 4:
Title
OIG Report: Long-Chain PFAS Rule
Lead National
Program
OCSPP
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment
Objective 7.1: Ensure Chemical and Pesticide Safety
Completion date
July 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA's Office of Inspector General conducted this assessment to
determine the extent to which EPA followed applicable policies, procedures, and guidance for
changes made to the Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate
Chemical Substances Significant New Use Rule (LCPFAC SNUR) after signature by the EPA
Administrator.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: Did
EPA follow all applicable policies, procedures, and guidance when making changes to the
LCPFAC SNUR between the EPA Administrator's signing of the final rule on June 22, 2020,
and publication of the final rule in the Federal Register on July 27, 2020?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: EPA did not follow all
applicable policies, procedures, and guidance when making changes to the LCPFAC SNUR
after signature by the EPA Administrator and before publication in the Federal Register. In
accordance with the procedure outlined in the "Changes to Rule Documents Prepared for the
Administrator's Signature" memorandum, the Agency developed a post-signature change
memorandum identifying the changes, but EPA did not docket that memorandum as stipulated
by the Docketing FAQs. OIG could not determine whether EPA complied with the transparency
provisions of E.O. 12866. EPA followed the Office of the Federal Register's Document Drafting
Handbook guidance for requesting changes to the final rule.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: OIG made three
recommendations in its audit, which EPA has agreed with and have completed out as described
below:
-------
1. The Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention should update
the docket for the Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate
Chemical Substances Significant New Use Rule by posting the decision memorandum,
Corrections to the Final Rule for Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate and
Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate Chemical Substances; Significant New Use Rule (Tier 3; SAN
5684; RIN 2070-AJ99; FRL- 10010-44; EPA-HQ-OPPT-20 13-0225) - DECISION
MEMORANDUM, which outlines the changes 8 22-E-0052 made to the final rule after
the EPA administrator signed it but before it was published in the Federal Register. EPA
agreed with and completed this recommendation. EPA added to the final rule docket a
copy of the EPA Administrator memorandum signed on July 13, 2020, with
accompanying attachments.
2. The Associate Administrator for Policy should update Creating and Managing Dockets:
Frequently Asked Questions for EPA Action Developers (Docketing FAQs), dated
October 2011, and other applicable policies, procedures, and guidance as needed to
require the docketing of any decision memorandum that outlines substantive changes
made to a final rule after the EPA Administrator signs it, but before it is published in the
Federal Register. EPA agreed to revise the 2011 Docketing FAQs, the 2006 EPA
memorandum Changes to Rule Documents Prepared for the Administrator's Signature,
and the ADP Guidance to clarify expectations regarding the docketing of final post
signature change memos that have been signed by the Administrator.
3. The Associate Administrator for Policy should update applicable policies, procedures,
and guidance as needed to require that—when EPA makes changes to a regulatory action
as a result of a suggestion or recommendation received from the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs between the time the action is submitted to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs for review and the time the action is published in the
Federal Register— EPA identify those changes for the public, consistent with Executive
Order 12866 section 6(a)(3)(E)(iii). EPA agreed to address this recommendation by
March 21, 2023, by updating the introductory Action Development Process training for
EPA senior leadership to explicitly address post-signature changes to regulatory
documents, the importance of documenting any verbal decisions and instructions that
occur post-signature, and the need for adequate documentation and records management
consistent with Executive Order 12866.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-epa-was-not-
transparent-about-changes-made-long-chain-pfas-rule
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
Activity 1:
Title
Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Integrity Screening Project
-------
Lead National
Program
OECA
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Objective 3.1: Hold Environmental Violators and Responsible Parties
Accountable
Completion date
Preliminary Results: March 2022. Update to come.
Purpose and brief description: Provide a brief summary of the activity.
Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Integrity Screening is an Enforcement and Compliance
History Online (ECHO) search tool that uses statistical filters to look for signs of possible
misreporting in NPDES DMRs. Facilities with high scores may be candidates for further review
and possible on-site investigation, compliance assistance, or civil or criminal enforcement.
OECA piloted the application with eight states that agreed to test the tool and report back on
their use and findings.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
The results from the pilot will help to improve the tool and gather information about what
methods are effective at finding misreporting. This effort will support the goal of reducing
significant non-compliance (SNC) in the NPDES program.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
The pilot concluded in 2021. Initial results from two states (AR, MD) indicated that they used
the tool to help target inspections or inform inspections that were already planned. One finding at
a specific facility seemed likely to result in civil or criminal enforcement for intentional
misreporting.
As of March 2022, the analysis concluded that notifications increased the timeliness of
submission but did not make a notable impact on moving submissions from the category of late
to on time. Permittees who had a record of submitting on time began submitting earlier, but
permittees with a record of submitting late continued to do so. EPA's analysis showed a larger
effect from notifications including information about potential penalties for non-submission.
Researchers plan to assess additional factors like municipal budget data or depopulation that
may show correlation to chronic non-submission. A formal conclusions paper is underway, and
an expected completion date is November 2022.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
-------
EPA plans to use the results of this pilot to make improvements to the tool. The tool itself will
help EPA identify misreporting in NPDES DMRs and investigate the cause of misreporting as
needed.
Link for findings:
Information on the pilot and tool can be found on the ECHO website (DMR Integrity Screening
ECHO I US EPA), with restricted access sign on needed.
Activity 2:
Title
OIG Report: "Total National Reported Clean Air Act Compliance-
Monitoring Activities Decreased Slightly During Coronavirus Pandemic,
but State Activities Varied Widely"
Lead National
Program
OECA
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Objective 3.2: Detect Violations and Promote Compliance
Completion date
November 2021
Purpose and brief description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated this
assessment to assess how the coronavirus pandemic—that is, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and
resultant COVID-19 disease— has impacted air compliance-monitoring activities undertaken by
EPA-delegated state and local agencies to confirm that facilities that emit air pollution are
complying with the Clean Air Act, or CAA, and federal air regulations.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
The EPA OIG conducted this assessment to:
• Assess the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the number and type of compliance-
monitoring activities taken by state and local agencies at facilities that emit air pollution.
• Determine what guidance the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided to state and
local agencies to target or prioritize compliance-monitoring activities at facilities and how
agencies conducted those tasks during the pandemic. EPA's Clean Air Act Stationary Source
Compliance Monitoring Strategy recommends the frequency and type of activities to be
conducted by delegated state and local agencies, which then report those activities to EPA; OIG
relied on those reported activities for its findings and recommendations.
-------
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
The OIG report stated the following:
The coronavirus pandemic marginally impacted the total number of nationwide
compliance monitoring activities at facilities that emit air pollution. However, activities
varied widely among states and territories, with reported changes in activities at high-
emitting sources in fiscal year 2020 ranging from an 88-percent decline to a 234-percent
increase. Substantially lower levels of compliance monitoring limit the deterrent effect
that consistent monitoring can have on facilities' noncompliance and increase the risk
that noncompliance could go undetected at facilities.
State and local agencies shifted some types of compliance-monitoring activities from
on-site to off-site. This shift is in accordance with guidance EPA issued in July 2020,
which provided some flexibility to state and local agencies to count off-site compliance-
monitoring activities toward the Clean Air Act Stationary Source Compliance
Monitoring Strategy (CAA CMS) commitments for full compliance evaluations. EPA,
however, has not yet assessed the impact of this flexibility on the use of off-site full-
compliance evaluations to ensure that evaluations are consistent with the CAA CMS. In
addition, while EPA convened a workgroup to explore using remote video to conduct
off-site partial-compliance evaluations, the Agency has not yet determined the conditions
under which remote video is technically, legally, and programmatically feasible and has
not finalized its draft standard operating procedures.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
The EPA OIG recommended that EPA address the needs of agencies that had significant declines
in compliance-monitoring activities. They also recommended internal controls to strengthen
EPA's oversight of off-site compliance-monitoring activities. EPA provided corrective actions
and planned completion dates for the six recommendations, which were agreed to by the OIG.
All recommendations have planned completion dates of 12/30/22, with the exception of one
which has a planned completion date of 9/30/23 (see table, below).
Rec No.
Page No.
Subject
Action Official
Planned
Completio
n Date
1
18
In coordination with the EPA
regional offices, evaluate the
needs of the state and local
agencies in states and
territories that had significant
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
9/30/23
-------
declines, as determined by the
EPA, in their total compliance-
monitoring activities for fiscal
year 2020 to determine whether
technical assistance is needed
and provide it as appropriate.
Compliance
Assurance
2
18
Assess a portion of off-site full-
compliance evaluations
reported by state and local
agencies during the coronavirus
pandemic to determine whether
they meet the requirements of a
full compliance evaluation
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
12/30/22
3
18
After assessing a portion of the
off-site full-compliance
evaluations reported by state
and local agencies during the
coronavirus pandemic,
determine whether additional
guidance on what constitutes
an off-site full-compliance
evaluation, the types of
facilities where an off-site full-
compliance evaluation is
appropriate, and when a
remote visual component is
necessary. If such a
determination is made, issue
updated guidance on off-site
full-compliance evaluations.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
12/30/22
4
18
Determine and document the
conditions or parameters under
which the use of remote video
to conduct off-site partial
compliance evaluations is
feasible from a legal, technical,
and programmatic perspective.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
12/30/22
-------
5
18
Finalize the Remote Video
Partial Compliance Evaluation
workgroup's standard
operating procedures.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
12/30/22
6
18
Determine whether and how
remote video can be used in
conjunction with a document
review to qualify as a full
compliance evaluation for
purposes of the Clean Air Act
Stationary Source Compliance
Monitoring Strategy and
provide instruction to state and
local agencies.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
12/30/22
Link for findings: Link
Activity 3:
Title
OIG Report: "Additional Internal Controls Would Improve EPA's System
for Electronic Disclosure of Environmental Violations"
Lead National
OECA
Program
FY 2022-2026
Goal 3: Enforce Environmental Laws and Ensure Compliance
Strategic Goal
and
Objective 3.1: Hold Environmental Violators and Responsible Parties
Objective
Accountable
supported
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated this
assessment to determine whether EPA's process for screening regulated entities' self-disclosed
environmental violations reported through the eDisclosure system is effective and ensures that
significant concerns, such as criminal conduct and potential imminent hazards, are addressed by
the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, or OECA.
-------
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
The goal of the eDisclosure system is to provide an efficient mechanism for regulated entities to
self-disclose—that is, voluntarily discover, report, and correct—violations of federal
environmental laws and regulations. Self-disclosed violations are automatically processed under
EPA's audit policies. EPA subsequently screens certain eDisclosure submissions to ensure that
significant concerns, such as criminal conduct and potential imminent hazards, are properly
addressed.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
The OIG report stated the following:
• EPA's Audit Policy Program does not have adequate internal controls to ensure that the
screening process for eDisclosure submissions is effective and that significant concerns
are identified and addressed by the regions and OECA. While EPA has committed to
screening submissions, there is no formal, written national guidance or training on how
staff should conduct this screening. As a result, some regional staff are not screening
eDisclosure submissions or are screening them inconsistently. Additionally, EPA has not
conducted any monitoring or established any performance measures to determine
whether the eDisclosure system and screening procedures are being consistently and
effectively implemented. The eDisclosure system could also be improved to offer real-
time notifications of new eDisclosure data and robust data analyses. By implementing
these internal controls, EPA can reduce the risk that significant concerns are not being
addressed while also enhancing the impacts of the eDisclosure system.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
EPA OIG recommend that the assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance develop national guidance that includes a process for screening eDisclosure
submissions for significant concerns; provide eDisclosure-specific training to EPA headquarters
and regions to clarify expectations, establish staff responsibilities, and communicate best
practices; develop performance measures for the eDisclosure system, as well as a monitoring
plan to track its effectiveness; and assess eDisclosure system functionality to identify and
implement improvements.
Rec No.
Page No.
Subject
Action Official
Planned
Completio
n Date
1
10
Develop national guidance that
includes a process for screening
eDisclosure submissions for
significant concerns, such as
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
9/30/23
-------
criminal conduct and potential
imminent hazards.
and
Compliance
Assurance
2
10
Provide eDisclosure-specific
training to EPA Headquarters
and regions to clarify
expectations, establish staff
responsibilities, and
communicate best practices.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
9/30/23
3
10
Develop performance
measures for the eDisclosure
system and a monitoring plan
to track its effectiveness.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
9/30/23
4
10
In coordination with EPA
regions, assess eDisclosure
system functionality to identify
and implement improvements.
Assistant
Administrator
for
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Assurance
9/30/23
OECA agreed with all four recommendations and corrective actions and estimated completion
dates agreed to by the OIG. All recommendations have planned completion dates of 9/30/23
(see table, below). EPA OIG revised the report based on technical comments provided by OECA.
Link for findings; https://www.epa.aov/svstem/files/documents/2022-06/ epaoig 20220630-
22-E-0051.pdf
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
Activity 1:
Title
OLEM Population Analysis
Lead National
Program
OLEM
-------
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and
Healthy Communities
Completion date
July 2022
Purpose and brief description: This is a descriptive study. The purpose is to conduct an annual
analysis to support evidence-based descriptions of who benefits from EPA's cleanup and
prevention work, by collecting data on the population living within three and one mile(s) of a
Superfund site, Brownfields site, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective
Action (CA) facility, Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) site, and Underground
Storage Tank (UST) facility that exist in thousands of communities across the United States
ranging from remote to large urban settings. Many of them are located in economically
distressed communities.
This analysis also supports EPA's America's Children and the Environment Report, by
estimating the number of children and their socioeconomic/demographic characteristics who
live within one mile of a RCRA C A or Superfund site that may not have had all human health
protective measures in place at the time of the analysis.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Who benefits from EPA's cleanup and prevention work related to Superfund sites, Brownfields
sites, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action (CA) facility,
Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites, and Underground Storage Tank (UST)
facilities?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: To help describe who
benefits from our cleanup work, EPA collected data on the population living within three and
one mile(s) of these sites. Using census data, EPA found that approximately 207 million
people live within three miles of a Superfund remedial site, RCRA Corrective Action facility,
or
Brownfields site, roughly 63 percent of the U.S. population, including 64 percent of all children
in the U.S. under the age of five. While there is no single way to characterize communities
located near our sites and facilities, this population is more minority, low income, linguistically
isolated, and less likely to have a high school education than the U.S. population as a whole. As
a result, these communities may have fewer resources with which to address concerns about
their health and environment. OLEM also works with states, territories, tribes and industry to
protect the environment and human health from potential releases at Underground Storage Tank
(UST) facilities. The greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of
groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. Approximately 94
percent of the US population lives within 3 miles of an active UST facility, and 75 percent of the
US population lives within 3 miles of an open LUST release.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Results are included in
EPA's annual budget reviews with OMB, and in budget justifications for Congress. Results also
are used in general communications with press, other government agencies, and the public.
Results are also compared with previous years to identify whether there are any emerging or
changes
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in trends from year-to-year. Results also indicate populations sub-groups that are
disproportionately located near to our sites, which may indicate a need for intervention.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/office-land-and-emergencv-management-
olem-program-benefits#Programs
Activity 2:
Title
Redevelopment Economics at Remedial Sites (non-federal facility)
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and
Healthy Communities
Completion date
February 2022
Purpose and brief description: Cleaning up contaminated sites can serve as a catalyst for
economic growth and community revitalization. The Superfund Remedial Program facilitates
the redevelopment of sites across the country while protecting human health and the
environment. Collaborative efforts among state, local, and tribal partners, redevelopers and
other federal agency programs encourage restoration of sites. Since Superfund sites often
encompass buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, their effective and efficient cleanup and
reuse can play a pivotal role in a community's economic growth. EPA has initiated efforts to
collect economic data at a subset of Superfund sites. The analysis will provide current, reliable
business-related information for a subset of Superfund sites in reuse and continued use. These
uses can help economically revitalize communities near Superfund sites.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
What are the economic outcomes of reuse of non-federal Superfund remedial sites?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Over the last 11 years
(2011-2021) for Superfund sites in reuse where EPA has economic data, businesses have
generated at least $478 billion in sales, which is 27 times the $17.3 billion EPA has spent
cumulatively to clean up those sites. In 2022, data EPA collected at 650 sites in reuse indicate
these sites supported approximately 10,230 businesses. These businesses' ongoing operations
generate annual sales of $65.8 billion. They also employ more than 246,000 people who earned a
combined income of $18.6 billion.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Economic data are included
in budget justifications to Congress and are used in general communication, including the annual
Superfund Accomplishment Reports, with key stakeholders, state and local government, external
partners, and the public. Community development organizations, local government, developers
etc. can use this data to illustrate potential returns from Superfund site
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reuse. Internally, EPA considers these findings to be a key data point and results are also
compared with previous years to identify whether there are any emerging or changes in trends
from year-to-year.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/superfund-redevelopment/redevelopment-economics-
superfund-sites
Activity 3:
Title
Redevelopment Economics at Federal Facilities
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and
Healthy Communities
Completion date
January 2022
Purpose and brief description: Cleaning up contaminated sites at federal facilities can serve as
a catalyst for economic growth and community revitalization. The Superfund Federal Facilities
Program facilitates the redevelopment of federal facility sites across the country by assisting
other federal agencies (OFAs) to expedite activities related to CERCLA response actions, while
protecting human health and the environment. Collaborative efforts among OF As; developers;
and state, local, and tribal partners encourage restoration of sites. Since federal facility
Superfund sites often encompass thousands of acres with buildings, roads, and other
infrastructure, their effective and efficient cleanup and reuse can play a pivotal role in a
community's economic growth. EPA has initiated efforts to collect economic data at a subset of
federal facility Superfund sites which is outlined on the public webpage Redevelopment
Economics at Federal Facilities. The analysis will provide current, reliable business-related
information for a subset of federal facility Superfund sites in reuse and continued use. Some
innovative business owners and organizations reuse Superfund sites for a variety of purposes.
These uses can help economically revitalize communities near Superfund sites. EPA has initiated
efforts to collect economic data at a subset of federal facility Superfund sites.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
What are the economic outcomes of reuse of federal facility Superfund sites?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: An economic analysis of
50 Federal Facility Superfund Sites identified over 2,000 businesses that generated $17 billion
in annual sales, provided over 220,000 jobs and $19 billion in estimated annual employment
income. Readily available internet and database sources are utilized to create estimates of
national totals related to the beneficial effects of Superfund sites in reuse. Without more
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extensive research it is not always possible to identify all business names and addresses on site.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Economic data are
included in budget justifications to Congress and are used in general communication with other
Federal agencies and the public. Economic Data results are also be used to highlight projects
that demonstrate that the restoration of Superfund sites protects public health and serves as a
catalyst for community revitalization and economic growth. The highlighted projects can serve
as models for future redevelopment projects.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov/fedfac/redevelopment-federal-facilities
Activity 4:
Title
Analyses of Economic Benefits at RCRA Corrective Action Facilities,
After
Cleanup
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2018-2022
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and
Healthy Communities
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: Cleaning up contaminated sites serves as a catalyst for
economic growth and community revitalization and can help to preserve existing business
operations. The RCRA economic benefits study provides information on currently active
businesses now operating at former RCRA Corrective Action (C A) facilities that are now in
reuse or continued use after cleanup and remediation. Economic impacts associated with
facilities in reuse highlight how cleanup performed under RCRA C A can set the stage for a wide
range of new development. These developments can often attract new businesses and bolster
local economies. In some cases, reuse priorities are incorporated into the remedial design
process, resulting in cleanups that directly facilitate future reuse. Such facilities can serve as
models of what is possible when EPA and RCRA-authorized states, other state and local
entities, and facility stakeholders work together to address cleanup and consider reuse priorities
early in the cleanup process. Additionally, this study reveals how cleanup performed under
RCRA CA can also facilitate safe, continued operations of long-time facility businesses, while
also protecting human health and the environment through remediation.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
ongoing analysis of economic benefits provides current, reliable business-related information for
a subset of RCRA Corrective Action Facilities now in reuse or continued use after they have
been cleaned up. The study helps to highlight the significant economic benefits that can occur
when such facilities are remediated. The analyses furthermore help the RCRA cleanup program
characterize the many types of redevelopments that can occur at RCRA Corrective Action
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facilities. To leverage these economic findings, the program is also producing facility case
studies that showcase the cleanup and current uses so that they may be used as examples of what
may be replicable at other RCRA cleanups.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings: EPA's analyses of 79 RCRA cleanups revealed that
these cleaned up facilities support 1,028 on-site businesses, which provide economic benefits
including: $39 billion in annual sales revenue; over 82,000 jobs; and $7.9 billion in estimated
annual employment income. Additionally, the RCRA program also sought to further assess
potential environmental justice disparities as part of this study. These analyses revealed that
approximately 25% of the 79 study facilities are located within communities with potential
environmental justice concerns. With these facilities now having been cleaned up, more than
170 businesses are operating at these same locations, helping to generate 7,900 jobs and more
than $522 million in annual income for these communities.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings: Economic data are included in budget
justifications to Congress and are used in general communication with key stakeholders and the
public. The most recent results were released in an EPA Press Release, and a new webpage was
launched to make these findings and associated facility case studies broadly available to the
public (See link below). Going forward, these analyses are being expanded for additional
purposes. For example, the results are being used to assess environmental justice concerns and to
identify the economic impacts from cleanups located in disadvantaged communities. Further
utilization of the results will involve the assessment of Energy Production, GHG Mitigation, and
Climate Change Impacts at these facilities.
Links for findings: https: www.epa.isov hw redevelopment-economics-rcra-corrective-
action-facilities#method
Activity 5:
Title
Superfund Remedial Socioeconomic Business Utilization Improvement
Workgroup
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil
Rights
Objective 2.1: Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the
Federal, Tribal, State, and Local Levels
Objective 2.2: Embed Environmental Justice and Civil Rights into EPA's
Programs, Policies, and Activities
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description:
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The Remedial Acquisition Framework (RAF) has been successful with small businesses, but
limited in the number of procurements awarded to socioeconomic businesses, such as small-
disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), small businesses
located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), and service-disabled veteran
owned small businesses (SDVOSBs
With the influx of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and an increase in large
construction projects, the percentage of work going to socioeconomic businesses which equated
to 6% in FY21 may continue to decrease in future years. Without a strategic focus on increasing
opportunities to socioeconomic firms it is unlikely that the Superfund Remedial Program will
meet EPA's socioeconomic utilization targets.
This project involved developing a toolkit for the utilization under the Superfund RAF and the
best approaches to procuring remedial activities for socioeconomic businesses (i.e. using
targeted standalone contracts). To further support these efforts training materials were
developed that will familiarize the Regions with the use of the toolkit's resources. Additionally,
the Superfund Remedial program is tracking procurements to assess the changes in the use of
socioeconomic businesses.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
1. Is socioeconomic business utilization in the remedial program projected to
increase or decrease in the coming fiscal years?
2. What are the root causes of any potential decrease in utilization?
3. What can be done to increase socioeconomic business utilization in the remedial
program?
4. How can OSRTI leverage its partnerships (both internal to EPA and external
to other federal agencies) to increase socioeconomic business utilization?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings:
1. Socioeconomic business utilization in the remedial program is projected to
decrease without intervention due to the increased funding on preplaced contracts
that do not include socioeconomic businesses.
2. To increase socioeconomic business participation, the Superfund Remedial
program must focus on options within the RAF which includes standalone (site-
specific) contracts to socioeconomic businesses.
3. Socioeconomic business utilization can be promoted by providing training and
support to EPA regions.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings:
Based on our findings, we developed a toolkit to provide EPA regions with resources and best
practices that will enhance their ability to utilize socioeconomic businesses. We also developed
plans to implement recurring trainings/refreshers to ensure that both new and experienced
regional staff will have frequent chances to familiarize themselves with developments regarding
socioeconomic business utilization. We further developed our internal and external partnerships
with relevant groups (EPA-OSDBU and USACE), which allows all three groups to better assist
each other in our ongoing socioeconomic business utilization efforts.
-------
Link for findings:
https://work.epa.gov/small-business/toolkit-socioeconomic-business-utilization-under-
superfund-remedial-acquisitions
Activity 6:
Title
Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map
Lead
National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The national recycling sector lacks an accessible,
comprehensive resource for understanding opportunities related to material recovery. In
response to this, and in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and EPA's National
Recycling Goal of increasing the U.S. recycling rate from the current 32% to 50% by 2030, EPA
has developed the Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map. This interactive map
identifies and displays information on estimated generation, recycling and recycling potential by
zip code and material; locations of recycling infrastructure; potential primary and secondary end
markets for recycled materials; market factors such as landfill tipping fees and bottle bill deposit
prices; and MSW infrastructure such as landfills and transfer stations. Users can leverage this
tool to better understand the intersection of recycling and solid waste management, end market
opportunities, and environmental justice.
While several data visualization tools exist within the recycling industry, they are primarily
tailored to discrete regions or product sectors and provide limited use for understanding the
overall national recycling sector. EPA's Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map
uncovers opportunities for recycling infrastructure investment and recycling market
development by visually presenting data estimates from all phases of the recycling process,
including generation, collection, sortation, and end use. This aims to address the lack of an
accessible, comprehensive resource for understanding opportunities related to material recovery.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
How can we better understand the overall national recycling sector?
How can we comprehensively understand opportunities related to material
recovery?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: This interactive map
identifies and displays multiple layers of data on information such as estimated generation,
recycling and recycling potential by zip code and material; locations of recycling infrastructure;
potential primary and secondary end markets for recycled materials; market factors such as
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landfill tipping fees and bottle bill deposit prices; and MSW infrastructure such as landfills and
transfer stations.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The Recycling
Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
Assisting developers with recycling infrastructure site selection;
Visualizing the distribution of available recycled material generated by
geographic region to inform facility development and expansion sites, including
environmental justice considerations;
Identifying recycled material feedstocks for circular economy entrepreneurs;
Developing or expanding hub-and-spoke collection systems to help provide
economies of scale to rural recycling programs; and
Helping local governments design recycling programs by estimating gaps in
required recycling capacity.
Link for findings: To be released for public comment January 2023.
Activity 7:
Title
Drum Reconditioner Damage Case Report
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: On September 8, 2022, EPA published a drum reconditioner
report to improve Agency understanding of how the drum reconditioning industry operates and
document damage case incidents at facilities that have caused significant harm to human health
and the environment. The report also serves to inform domestic policymakers, enforcement
officials, and the public about the regulatory and waste issues surrounding drum reconditioning
facilities. EPA plans to use information gathered from this report to engage stakeholders on
approaches to address and mitigate these issues. This analysis examined the existing Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, particularly the empty container provision
found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations in section 261.7, which exempts from
regulation hazardous waste residues that remain in a drum or other container if certain conditions
are met. Both RCRA empty containers (that can still have small amounts of residues) and non-
empty containers are shipped to drum reconditioners creating compliance challenges. Even when
in compliance, drum reconditioners are receiving and managing large quantities of hazardous
waste residues. This report begins the process of examining this industry to see what further
Agency action, regulatory or otherwise, is needed to protect human health and the environment.
-------
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
What further Agency action, regulatory or otherwise, is needed in the drum reconditioning
industry to protect human health and the environment?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The report's findings
indicate an estimated national drum reconditioning universe of 181 facilities, of which 106 are
presumed to still be operating, with approximately 40 million total drums being processed each
year and 47.5 percent of all facilities having experienced one or more reported damage case.
This analysis helped identify common types of incidents within this industry and their
underlying causes, the populations most at risk to damage cases at these facilities, and the current
and future risks to human health and the environment.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: This report began the
process of examining the drum reconditioner industry to see what further Agency action,
regulatory or otherwise, is needed to protect human health and the environment by documenting
damage cases and releases into the environment. EPA will use this report and its evidence to
increase awareness of issues at drum reconditioners and serve as the first step in a larger data
gathering and formal engagement process to work towards mitigation of future damage to
human health and the environment from these facilities.
Link for findings: https: www.epa.isov hw dnim-reconditioner-damage-case-report
Activity 8:
Title
OIG Report: Authorized State Hazardous Waste Program Inspections and
Operations Were Impacted During Coronavirus Pandemic Report No. 22-E-
0009
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal
and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: The OIG conducted this review to determine the ability of
authorized state RCRA hazardous waste programs to continue operations during the coronavirus
pandemic. Under RCRA, states and territories may be authorized to implement the federal
hazardous waste program under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional oversight. EPA
has authorized the program in 48 states and two territories. States received EPA guidance to
assist in maintaining adequate regulatory oversight during the pandemic. Issues addressed
included holding virtual public meetings, adjusting state inspection commitments, and
conducting off-site compliance monitoring activities.
-------
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG found that the
pandemic impacted state RCRA program operations and resulted in a lower number of
inspections and violations. The OIG reports that a number of inspections from March 2020
through February 2021 for RCRA treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, known as TSDFs,
decreased by 34 percent and for large quantity generators, or LQGs, decreased by 47 percent
when compared to the prior year. The number of violations found per inspection also decreased.
After a sharp initial reduction in TSDF inspections in April 2020, states neared normal
inspection rates by July 2020, but the number of inspections decreased again in October 2020 and
remained below historical levels through February 2021. LQG inspections followed a similar
pattern except that the decrease in inspections was more significant from October 2020 through
February 2021. In addition, states did not consistently use EPA guidance on Off-site compliance
monitoring.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG issued five
recommendations to the agency. The OIG recommends that the Agency review inspection data
and determine why the rate of inspections and violations was reduced during the coronavirus
pandemic. The Agency should also support the ability of authorized state RCRA programs to
respond to future pandemic events and disasters. OLEM was responsible for two
recommendations and provided corrective actions which have been completed.
Link for findings: Authorized State Hazardous Waste Program Inspections and Operations
Were Impacted During Coronavirus Pandemic Report No. 22-E-0009
Activity 9:
Title
Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Cleanup Cost Study
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and
Healthy Communities
Completion date
March 2022
Purpose and brief description: There are approximately 544,000 underground storage takes
(USTs) nationwide and approximately 62,000 releases that are currently in cleanup. These
cleanups employ a number of technologies and, due to a wide range of factors, cleanup costs of
LUSTs vary substantially. Due to this variability, state LUST programs asked OUST for help in
calculating the lifecycle cost of different LUST cleanup technologies and approaches with the
goal of making better, more cost-effective cleanup decisions. This project's goals were to
establish ranges of costs for various cleanup phases and technologies used in LUST cleanups
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and to identify additional cost drivers by analyzing projection duration assessment versus total
costs.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Which LUST cleanup technology is the most cost effective? For example, is it better to employ
a technology that has larger upfront costs and a greater potential of attaining cleanup goals
quickly or a seemingly less expensive longer-term technology that may involve more O&M costs
over time?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Differences in cleanup
programs between the pilot states (Kansas, South Carolina, and Virginia) prevented detailed
comparisons of cleanup program costs and durations, although more detailed analysis was
possible within individual states. Within each state, the median phase and total costs were lower
than average costs, which suggests that a small number of the most expensive sites represent
major drivers of average total project costs. Specifically, total project costs averaged
$300,241, $135,636, and $88,274 in Kansas, South Carolina and Virginia, respectively,
compared to median costs of $265,883, $94,195, and $27,120. The higher costs reported for
Kansas can largely be attributed to our data for Kansas being limited to remedial action sites,
which means these total costs are not comparable to those in South Carolina and Virginia, whose
data included a large number of (less-expensive) non-remedial action sites. Across the states,
assessment costs were similar across projects of various sizes although, for sites that underwent
remedial action, typical project costs varied across the states. Site assessment in South Carolina,
Virginia, and Kansas made up 37, 44, and 52 percent of total projects costs, respectively for
projects costing over $100,000. At sites with costs totaling less than $100,000, site assessment
made up an average of 83 percent of the total in South Carolina and 87 percent in Virginia.
Finally, non-remedial sites were often closed very quickly, however, remedial site cleanups
lasted an average of more than five years. Ultimately, project duration was a significant driver of
remedial action costs and, therefore, overall site costs. A one day increase in project duration
corresponds with a $116 increase in total project cost.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Based on key findings from
this study, EPA was able to provide states with several factors to consider as they plan the future
direction of their LUST cleanup programs. A key finding from this study was that even states
with robust data still lack the granularity and connectedness across datasets to conduct a
comprehensive analysis of key cost drivers. A follow up study, "Best Practices for High
Resolution Site Characterization at Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Sites,' is
currently underway.
Link for findings: Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Cost Studv.pdf (epa.gov)
Activity 10:
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Title
OIG Report: Brownfields Program-Income Monitoring Deficiencies Persist
Because EPA Did Not Complete All Certified Corrective Actions Report No.
22-P-0033
Lead
National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal
and Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy
Communities
Completion date
March 2022
Purpose and brief description: The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this audit to
determine whether the corrective actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR), under the Office of Land and
Emergency Management, effectively addressed the program deficiencies identified in OIG
Report No,17-P- 0368. Improved Management of the Brownfields Revolving Loan Program Is
Required to Maximize Cleanups, issued August 23, 2017
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG determined that
OBLR continues to lack current, accurate, and complete data necessary for effective post-
closeout monitoring of program income. Without such data, the EPA is unable to determine
whether an estimated $46.6 million of program income under closed cooperative agreements was
used timely and for the purposes authorized under the closeout agreements, as required by
federal regulation, or whether actions are needed to address noncompliance with closeout
agreement terms and conditions.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: In its December 2021
response to the OIG's 2021 draft report, EPA addressed the 5 recommendations, which included
an explanation of how the Agency implemented their recommendations and limitations to
implementing them to the extent the OIG expected. In the time since the OIG's 2017
recommendations, the Agency determined that it needs to take a few additional actions on some
of the recommendations. EPA agreed with the report recommendations and provided corrective
actions and milestone dates. The OIG accepted the proposed corrective actions.
Link for findings: Brownfields Program-Income Monitoring Deficiencies Persist Because EPA
Did Not Complete All Certified Corrective Actions
Activity 11:
Title
OIG Report: The Coronavirus Pandemic Caused Schedule Delays, Human
Health Impacts, and Limited Oversight at Superfund National Priorities List
Sites Report No. 22-E-0049
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Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic
Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy
Communities
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: The OIG conducted this assessment to determine the impact of
the coronavirus pandemic on long-term cleanups at Superfund National Priorities List sites.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG found that
the coronavirus pandemic caused schedule delays and changed or extended exposure to human
health or ecological receptors at 31 Superfund National Priorities List, or NPL, sites. The OIG
reported that the pandemic also prolonged human health and environmental exposures and
disproportionate impacts on some communities.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommends that
EPA develop and implement guidance about how to use virtual technologies for community
involvement activities and how to conduct oversight for Superfund sites when travel or site
access is limited. The OIG also recommends that EPA develop and implement a policy to
provide the necessary tools—such as appropriate testing, vaccination, and supplies—to safely
deploy remedial project managers (RPMs) during a pandemic or other emergency. Multiple
offices share responsibility for the report recommendations. The Agency agreed with the
recommendations and provided corrective actions and milestone dates. The Agency is awaiting
the OIG Management Decision on the proposed corrective actions.
Link for findings: The Coronavirus Pandemic Caused Schedule Delays. Human Health
Impacts, and Limited Oversight at Superfund National Priorities List Sites
Activity 12:
Title
GAO Report: Household Hazardous Waste Removal: EPA Should
Develop a Formal Lessons Learned Process for Its Disaster Response
(GAO-22-
104726)
Lead
National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.3: Prepare for and Respond to Environmental Emergencies
Completion date
March 2022
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Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) began
their work for this engagement in May 2020 under the title: EPA Disaster Debris Removal
(104276) in response to a congressional mandate. GAO's key questions for review are: What
steps did EPA take to plan and carry out debris removal for the November 2018 wildfires in
California, including coordination with intergovernmental partners?; To what extent did EPA
oversee debris removal, including coordinating contractor activities, in response to the 2018
wildfires?; and, To what extent has EPA identified lessons learned from its response to the 2018
wildfires, and what steps, if any, has EPA taken to address lessons learned?
Region 9 was the lead for EPA due to GAO's focus of the 2018 and 2020 California wildfires.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: GAO believes EPA
plays a significant role in responding to wildfires under the National Response Framework as a
primary agency for helping to provide a coordinated federal response, including removing
household hazardous waste, to incidents involving hazardous materials. As a result, GAO
advised the Agency to develop a formal lessons learned process for disaster responses—similar
to EPA's lessons learned process following exercises—that incorporates the key practices of a
lessons learned process may enable EPA to be better prepared to respond to wildfires.
Specifically, a formal lessons learned process for disaster responses would provide EPA with a
consistent process to identify lessons learned and implement needed corrective actions following
actual events.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GAO made one
recommendation for EPA as follows: The Director of the Office of Emergency Management at
EPA should develop a formal lessons learned process with written guidelines for disaster
responses, including responses to Stafford Act disasters, that incorporates the key practices of a
lessons learned process. EPA agreed with the GAO recommendation and provided a corrective
action with a December 2022 completion date.
Link for findings: Household Hazardous Waste Removal: EPA Should Develop a Formal
Lessons Learned Process for Its Disaster Response (GAO-22-104276)
Activity 13:
Title
GAO Draft report: Chemical Accident Prevention: EPA Should Ensure
Regulated Facilities Consider Risks from Climate Change (GAO-22-
104494)
Lead
National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination
Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis
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Objective 1.2: Accelerate Resilience and Adaption to Climate Change
Completion date
February 2022
Purpose and brief description: Pursuant to its authority under 31U.S.C.717 and at the request
of Senator Tom Carper, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works; and Senator Cory Booker, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Management, and Regulatory Oversight, GAO was asked to review climate change risks at Risk
Management Plan (RMP) facilities.
This GAO report examines, among other things, (1) what available federal data indicate about
RMP facilities in areas with natural hazards that may be exacerbated by climate change; and 2)
challenges RMP facilities face in managing risks from natural hazards and climate change, and
opportunities for EPA to address these challenges. GAO analyzed federal data on RMP facilities
and four natural hazards (flooding, storm surge, wildfire, and sea level rise) that may be
exacerbated by climate change, reviewed Agency documents, and interviewed Agency officials
and stakeholders, such as industry representatives.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: GAO's position is RMP
facilities face several challenges, including insufficient information and direction, in managing
risks from natural hazards and climate change, according to some EPA officials and
stakeholders. By issuing regulations, guidance, or both to clarify requirements and provide
direction on how to incorporate these risks into risk management programs, EPA can better
ensure that facilities are managing risks from all relevant hazards. When developing any such
regulation, EPA should, pursuant to executive orders, conduct a cost-benefit analysis.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GAO made a total of six
(6) recommendations. OLEM bears partial or full responsibility for three of these, including that
EPA issue regulations, guidance, or both to clarify requirements and provide direction to
facilities on incorporating natural hazards and climate change into risk management programs.
EPA concurred with the recommendations and noted that these are long term actions that will
require a multi-year approach.
Link for findings: GAO Draft report: Chemical Accident Prevention: EPA Should Ensure
Regulated Facilities Consider Risks from Climate Change (GAO-22-104494)
Activity 14:
Title
GAO Report: Offshore Oil Spills: Additional Information Is Needed to
Better Understand the Environmental Tradeoffs of Using Chemical
Dispersants (project no. GAO-22-104153).
Lead National
Program
OLEM
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities
Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination
-------
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: In April 2010, an explosion onboard the Deepwater Horizon
drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in 11 deaths and the release of approximately 206
million gallons of oil. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, responders applied dispersants to
the oil slick at the ocean surface as well as at the wellhead more than 1,500 meters below the
surface. The subsurface use of dispersants was unprecedented and controversial.
GAO was asked to review what is known about the use of chemical dispersants. This report
examines, among other things, what is known about the effectiveness of dispersants, what is
known about the effects of chemically dispersed oil on the environment, and the extent to which
federal agencies have taken action to help ensure decision makers have quality information to
support decisions on dispersant use. GAO reviewed scientific studies, regulations, and policies.
GAO also interviewed Agency officials and stakeholders from academia and industry.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: GAO found that when
an oil spill occurs, responders have several options to manage the environmental impacts,
including using chemical dispersants (see figure). Chemical dispersants used on a surface oil
slick can be effective at breaking up floating oil, which can help prevent the oil from reaching
shore and harming sensitive ecosystems, according to studies GAO reviewed and stakeholders
GAO interviewed. However, the effectiveness of applying dispersants below the ocean
surface—such as when responding to an uncontrolled release of oil from a subsurface
wellhead—is not well understood. Various reasons account for this. For example, measurements
for assessing effectiveness of dispersants applied at the subsurface wellhead during the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill had limitations and were inconclusive. In addition, there are limited
experimental data on the effectiveness of subsurface dispersants that reflect conditions found in
the deep ocean.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GAO made four
recommendations, including that the Coast Guard and EPA assess the potential environmental
effects of the subsurface use of dispersants. EPA concurred with the recommendation issued to
the agency and corrective action activities are underway.
Link for findings: Offshore Oil Spills: Additional Information Is Needed to Better Understand the
Environmental Tradeoffs of Using Chemical Dispersants (project no. GAQ-22-104153).
Office of Mission Support (OMS)
Activity 1:
Title
EPA Learning Agenda: Workforce
-------
Lead National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion Date
September 2023
Purpose and brief description: EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment
requires a highly skilled and dedicated workforce. Almost forty percent of EPA's workforce is
or will be eligible for retirement within five years. This, along with changing workforce
demographics, will impact every region and program. EPA has a unique opportunity to
transform its human capital processes, including workforce planning, knowledge transfer and
succession management to prepare itself for the future of work. EPA is carrying out evidence-
building activities to address priority questions related to workforce planning, one of EPA's
Learning Agenda priority areas. The Agency will use the results to inform and develop policies
and approaches that equip employees with the needed competencies, knowledge and most up- to-
date tools to advance EPA's mission.
OMS assessed: 1) overall effectiveness of EPA's existing workforce planning tools (Workforce
Demographics Dashboard, Diversity Dashboard, Succession Management Guide and Workforce
Plan); 2) consistent use of the tools; 3) alignment of the tools with stakeholder needs; and 4)
effectiveness of EPA communications and training for these tools.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: To
what extent does EPA have access to the tools and strategies needed to analyze and understand
the Agency's near and long-term workforce needs?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: OMS administered a
workforce planning/succession management survey to the Human Resource Officer
(HRO)/Program Management Officer (PMO) Community. The survey captured current
workforce planning efforts and assessed respondent's knowledge and use of EPA's
corresponding resources and tools. OMS shared results from the survey with the HRO/PMO
community during a stakeholder call. Additionally, insights from the survey helped shape
guidance and educational and training material supporting organizations in their succession
management plan development in FY 2023.
OMS developed and administered a workforce planning-related survey to help organizations
prioritize immediate staffing needs for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) while
also considering long-term workforce goals. OMS shared results from the IIJA survey with the
HRO/PMO community during a stakeholder call. Survey results helped organizations assess
immediate needs in the context of shifting or new strategic priorities and facilitated more
accurate planning for the influx of recruitment designed to support new IIJA related activities
for EPA.
-------
Several organizations within OMS completed a workforce planning pilot in FY 2022. The pilot
walked organizations through EPA's process and templates for each of the five steps on OPM's
workforce planning model: 1) Set strategic direction; 2) Analyze workforce, identify skill gaps
and conduct workforce analysis; 3) Develop action plan; 4) Implement action plan; and 5)
Monitor, evaluate and revise. Each organization will use the information gathered to monitor
and track actions designed to close perceived competency gaps.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The data collected through
the workforce planning/succession management baseline survey, IIJA survey, and workforce
planning informs EPA's current succession management initiative. The survey and pilot data
served as starting points in understanding office perceptions of and experience with workforce
planning. The information also helped improve support material and guidance for the tools
facilitating succession management plan development. All EPA first-level offices have been
asked to complete a succession management plan by the end of FY 2023. Templates and
training materials from the workforce planning pilot have been modified as needed for the
current (FY 2023) succession management initiative.
Activity 2:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Should Consistently Track Coronavirus Pandemic-
Related Grant Flexibilities and Implement Plan for Electronic Grant
File Storage (22-P-0018)
Lead National
OMS
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational
Cross-Agency
Excellence and Workforce Equity
Strategy supported
Estimated
December 2023
Completion Date
Purpose and brief description: The OIG is conducting this audit to determine the extent to
which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has implemented the coronavirus
pandemic-related grant flexibilities permitted by the Office of Management and Budget.
Specifically, OIG is assessing the extent to which EPA modified work plans, adjusted
budgets, and extended periods of performance for grants; granted administrative relief or
continued to compensate grant recipients whose work had been interrupted; and provided
regulatory exceptions on a case-by-case basis. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the
Office of Management and Budget issued several memorandums that provided temporary
administrative, financial management, and audit requirement flexibilities for grants. EPA
manages over $20 billion in cumulative grant awards annually.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
The activity is intended to address efficiency and effectiveness, and a top EPA management
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challenge - managing infrastructure funding and business operations. Specific questions
include:
To what extent has EPA implemented the coronavirus pandemic-related grant
flexibilities permitted by the Office of Management and Budget?
To what extent has EPA modified work plans, adjusted budgets, and extended periods
of performance for grants; granted administrative relief or continued to compensate
grant recipients whose work has been interrupted; and provided regulatory exceptions
on a case-by-case basis?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG states that
EPA Office of Grants and Debarment does not know the full extent to which program offices
and regions have implemented grant flexibilities and exceptions permitted by the Office of
Management and Budget due to the coronavirus pandemic—that is, the SARS-CoV-2 virus
and resultant COVID-19 disease.
The OIG states that EPA risks mismanaging over $20 billion in cumulative grant funds by
inconsistently tracking grants that were modified during the coronavirus pandemic and
lacking an electronic data storage plan.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommends that
the assistant administrator for Mission Support develop a standard operating procedure that
instructs program offices and regions on tracking and documenting grant flexibilities and
exceptions for unanticipated events to ensure consistency in the information needed to manage
grants, as well as develop a plan to implement, by December 2022, a uniform electronic
record-keeping system for grants to meet the Office of Management and Budget's direction that
all federal records be created, retained, and managed in electronic formats.
EPA and the OIG reached agreement on corrective actions for all three recommendations.
Link for findings: httys://www.eya.gov system files documents 2022-
02/ epcioig 20220222-22-p-0018.pdf
Activity 3:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Needs to Complete Implementation of Religious
Compensatory Time Training for Supervisors and Employees (22-P-
0019)
Lead National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational
Excellence and Workforce Equity
-------
Completion date
June 2023
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General conducted this follow-up audit to determine whether EPA's corrective
actions effectively addressed the weaknesses identified in EPA OIG Report No. 16-P-0333,
Enhanced Controls Needed to Prevent Further Abuse of Religious Compensatory Time, issued
September 27, 2016. The purpose of this report is to follow up recommendations from the
previous report. The activity is intended to address efficiency and effectiveness, as well as
address a top EPA management challenge - managing infrastructure funding and business
operations.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
The activity addresses the following question: To what extent have EPA's corrective actions
addressed the weaknesses identified in EPA OIG Report No.l6-P-0333, Enhanced Controls
Needed to Prevent Further Abuse of Religious Compensatory Time?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Report No. 16-P-0333
contained four recommendations: x Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 were issued to the assistant
administrator for Administration and Resources Management. The Office of Administration
and Resources Management was merged into the Office of Mission Support in November
2018. x Recommendation 4, which was issued to the chief financial officer, is no longer
applicable due to regulatory changes and is, therefore, not addressed in this follow-up report.
EPA's Office of Human Resources, within the Office of Mission Support, took corrective
actions to address Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 issued in OIG Report No. 16-P- 0333. The
Agency completed corrective actions for Recommendations 1 and 2 that met the intent of
those recommendations. However, although the Agency agreed with Recommendation 3, the
related corrective action that the Agency certified as complete did not fully implement the
recommendation. Specifically, training was provided to EPA's human resources community,
but it was not provided to all employees who use Religious Compensatory Time and all
supervisors who approve such time.
Providing training on religious compensatory time to all EPA supervisors and employees
would decrease the potential for employee misuse, as well as the Agency's monetary liability.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommend that
EPA train all employees and supervisors who earn, use, or approve Religious Compensatory
Time on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's current regulatory requirements for, and
EPA's current policy and procedures related to, Religious Compensatory Time. EPA and OIG
reached agreement on the corrective actions for the three applicable recommendations,
Link for findings: httys://www.eya.gov system files documents 2022-
03/ evaois 20220307-22-v-0019.vdf
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Activity 4:
Title
OIG Report: Considerations from Single Audits Reports for EPA's
Administration of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Funds (22-
N-0057)
Lead National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational
Excellence and Workforce Equity
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this review to highlight findings
identified in single audit reports that are relevant to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's administration of programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The
review covered fiscal years 2019 through 2021. The project number for this review was OA-
FY22- 0099. OIG performed this review to help EPA prepare to administer an additional $60
billion in funds pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA.
The activity is intended to address compliance with the law, partnering with states and other
stakeholders, operating efficiency and effectiveness, and addressing a top management
challenge - managing infrastructure funding and business operations.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions addressed include:
• Which areas of noncompliance with applicable federal laws, regulations and program
requirements were most frequently noted in single audit reports conducted from FY
2019 through FY 2021?
• Which programs have the most instances of noncompliance noted in single audit
reports conducted from FY 2019 through FY 2021?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: During the review of
single audit findings from fiscal years 2019 through 2021, the OIG identified 364 instances of
noncompliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, and program requirements by
nonfederal entities expending EPA grant dollars. OIG found that most instances of
noncompliance were associated with two programs: the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
(CWSRF) program and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: N/A (No
recommendations received)
-------
Link for findings: Imps: mnr.epa.gov system files tioaiinents 2022-
09/ evaois 20220914-22-N-0057.vdf
Activity 5:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Lacks Documented Procedures for Detecting and
Removing Unapproved Software on the Agency's Network (22-E-
0028)
Lead National
OMS
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational
Cross-
Excellence and Workforce Equity
Agency
Strategy
supported
Estimated
January 2023
completion date
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this assessment to assess the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's compliance with the FY 2021 Inspector General Federal
Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) Reporting Metrics and determine
whether EPA followed its processes to investigate and remove unapproved software from the
network. The activity is intended to address compliance with the law, operating effectively and
efficiently, as well as address a top EPA management challenge - protecting information
technology and systems against cyberthreats.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
activity addresses the following question:
• To what extent is EPA in compliance with FISMA reporting metrics?
To what extend has EPA followed FISMA processes to investigate and
remove unapproved software from the network?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG concluded that
EPA achieved an overall maturity level of Level 3 (Consistently Implemented) for the five
security functions and nine domains outlined in the FY 2021 Inspector General Federal
Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) Reporting Metrics. This means that
EPA consistently implemented its information security policies and procedures, but quantitative
and qualitative effectiveness measures are lacking. The OIG identified that EPA has deficiencies
in documenting software management procedures on the detection and removal of nonbase
software, which is software that is not part of the standard Agency package.
-------
Without documented procedures governing software management and vulnerability remediation
processes, EPA continues to be at risk of outsiders gaining access to compromise and exploit
Agency systems and data.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The Agency developed a
software triage team in response to an August 2019 chief information officer memorandum to
senior information officers asking them to certify software on EPA network. The software triage
team maintains an agencywide dashboard available to all information management officers that
shows all software loaded on program office and regional computers. The team meets regularly
to discuss the justification for unapproved software discovered on the network or the
information management officers' plans for software removal and updates the dashboard
accordingly.
Link for findings: hups: uw w.epa.xov system files documents 2022-03 eyaoig 20220330-
22-e-0028.vdf
Activity 6:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Established a Web Management Program, but
Improvements Are Needed in Deploying Web Analytics (22-P-0013)
Lead National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion date
March 2022
Purpose and brief description: The OIG conducted this audit to determine whether the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's public websites and digital services complied with federal
laws and policies, as outlined in Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-17-06,
Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services. The activity is intended to
address efficiency and effectiveness, as well as a top EPA management challenge - integrating
and leading environmental justice, including communicating risks.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
activity addresses the following question:
• Do EPA public websites and digital services comply with federal laws and policies?
-------
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG concluded that
EPA has established a program to manage its public websites and digital services in accordance
with federal laws and policies outlined in Office of Management and Budget M-17-06. EPA has
developed a digital strategy, governance structure, Web Council, and policy, as well as
procedures and standards, but it has not deployed the required web analytics tracking code for 14
of the 308 public websites that provide essential environmental information to communities.
The required code captures website traffic data, such as the number of visitors, the type of web
browser used, the length of time visitors remains on each webpage, the documents downloaded
from a webpage, and the visitors' locations.
Without fully implementing web analytics, EPA could be without vital usage information to
meet the needs of the public, regulatory agencies, industries, and other stakeholders when
conveying environmental issues.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: During the audit, the OIG
identified broken links in six of the ten websites reviewed. The OIG notified the Agency of these
issues, and Agency personnel indicated that actions were taken to fix the broken links. The OIG
revisited the websites and verified that the Agency fixed the links.
Link for findings: hups: innr. epa. gov sy stem files documents 2021-12 epcioig 20211220-
22-p-0013.pdf
Activity 7:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Generally Adheres to Information Technology Audit
Follow-Up Processes, but Management Oversight Should Be Improved
(22-P-0010)
Lead National
OMS, OCSPP
Programs
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy
supported
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: The Office of Inspector General conducted this audit to
determine whether the (1) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completed corrective actions
for agreed-to cybersecurity audit recommendations in OIG reports issued from fiscal year 2017
through fiscal year 2020 and (2) corrective actions effectively resolved the weaknesses
identified. The OIG has identified Enhancing Information Technology Security to Combat
Cyberthreats as a key management challenge confronting EPA. The activity is intended to
address efficiency and effectiveness, as well as top EPA management challenges - enhancing
information technology security and complying with key internal control requirements (data
quality; policies and procedures).
-------
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
activity addressed the following questions:
To what extent has EPA completed corrective actions for agreed-to cybersecurity audit
recommendations in OIG reports issued from FY 2017 through FY 2020?
To what extent have corrective actions effectively resolved weaknesses identified?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG concluded that
EPA completed the 13 corrective actions for cybersecurity audit recommendations in the OIG
reports that were reviewed as part of this audit. However, for one of the 13 corrective actions,
EPA inaccurately reported its timely completion. For two of the 13 corrective actions, EPA
lacked management oversight to effectively resolve identified weaknesses. EPA's goal to
provide its workforce and the public with accurate information is undermined when the Agency
does not correct deficiencies in a timely manner, which weakens the integrity of its systems and
data.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommended
that the assistant administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention develop a strategy
to validate that corrective actions are completed before closing them in the Agency's audit
tracking system and implement controls to comply with federal and Agency required time
frames to install patches. In addition, the OIG recommended that the assistant administrator for
Mission Support develop and implement processes for storing certifications collected for annual
role-based training requirements in a centralized restricted location. EPA agreed with all four
audit recommendations; completed corrective actions for two of them; and provided corrective
actions and estimated milestone dates for the remaining two, which are consider resolved with
corrective actions pending.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.sov/system/files/documents/2021-12. epaois 20211208-
22-v-0010.vdf
Activity 8:
Title
OIG Report: Considerations For EPA'S Implementation of Grants
Awarded Pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (22-
N-0055)
Lead National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion date
August 2022
-------
Purpose and brief description: The OIG performed this review to highlight findings from prior
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General and U.S. Government
Accountability Office audit reports that are relevant to EPA's administration and oversight of
grant awards pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project number for this
review was OA-FY22-0080. The activity is intended to address efficiency and effectiveness, as
well as address a top EPA management challenge - managing infrastructure funding and
business operations.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
activity addresses the following question:
• What are key areas for EPA to consider as it prepares to administer and oversee IIJA
grants, based on findings from prior OIG and GAO audit reports?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG concluded that
prior OIG and GAO findings of deficiencies in EPA's grant administration and oversight can be
grouped into three broad areas for improvement for EPA to consider as it prepares to administer
and oversee IIJA grants: Enhancing the grants oversight workforce and strengthening
monitoring and reporting, Establishing and implementing comprehensive guidance and detailed
work plans, as well as improving communications, and acquiring adequate documentation to
support grant payments.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: N/A (No recommendations
given)
Link for findings: hups: www.epa.gov system files documents 2022-08 epcioig 20220811-
22-N-0055.pdf
Activity 9:
Title
OIG Report: The Coronavirus Pandemic Caused Schedule Delays,
Human Health Impacts, and Limited Oversight at Superfund National
Priorities List Sites (22-E-0049)
Lead National
OMS
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-
and Workforce Equity
Agency
Strategy
supported
Estimated
April 2023
completion date
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General conducted this assessment to determine the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic—that
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is, the SARS-CoV-2 vims and resultant COVID-19 disease—on long-term cleanups at
Superfund National Priorities List sites. The activity is intended to address EPA mission-related
efforts to clean up and revitalize land, as well as address a top EPA management challenge -
integrating and leading environmental justice, including communicating risks.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, informally called
Superfund, authorizes EPA to oversee the cleanup of contaminated sites. The National Priorities
List identifies the worst hazardous waste sites that warrant further investigation and cleanup.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
audit addresses the following question:
• What impact did the coronavirus pandemic have on long-term cleanups at Superfund
National Priorities list sites?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: OIG sent surveys to 457
remedial project managers in February 2021 and received 279 responses, a 61-percent response
rate. OIG also interviewed EPA regional Superfund and Emergency Management Division
directors, as well as directors from EPA headquarters. The coronavirus pandemic caused
schedule delays and changed or extended the exposure of human health and ecological receptors
to hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants at 31 Superfund National Priorities List, or
NPL, sites. The pandemic also prolonged such human health and environmental exposures, as
well as contributed to disproportionate impacts on some communities. Furthermore, some
communities that do not use or cannot access electronic communications were unable to
participate in community-involvement activities. Conversely, the pandemic did steer some
positive changes, such as improved health and safety protocols, increased community
participation in virtual meetings, and reduced EPA travel costs. Also, as of February 2021, there
were no known impacts to cleanup costs at a large majority of Superfund NPL sites.
Coronavirus pandemic restrictions delayed work and limited on-site oversight, with
disproportionate impacts to some communities.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG made three
recommendations to improve community involvement, Superfund site oversight, and safe
deployment of RPMs during a pandemic or other emergency. Based on additional information
provided by EPA gave to the OIG in its response to the draft report, Recommendation 1 was
revised. The OIG agreed with the Agency's proposed corrective action for Recommendation 3,
which is resolved. Recommendations 1 and 2 are unresolved with resolution efforts underway.
The report was updates as appropriate based on EPA's technical comments.
Link for findings: https:/fwww. eya. gov sy stem files documents 2022-06 eyaoig 20220623-
22-E-0049.vdf
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Activity 10:
Title
OIG Report: EPA's Reporting of Its Financial and Award Data in
Accordance with the Digital Accountability And Transparency Act
(DATA ACT) Of 2014 (22-P-0001)
Lead
National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026
Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Estimated
completion date
September 2023
Purpose and brief description: The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014
requires the inspector general to review a statistically valid sample of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's spending data submitted under the Act to assess the completeness,
accuracy, timeliness, and quality of the data sampled, as well as EPA's implementation and use
of the data standards established by the Office of Management and Budget and U.S. Department
of the Treasury. To satisfy this requirement, the OIG performed this audit on fiscal year 2020
fourth-quarter financial and award data submitted to the Department of the Treasury by EPA's
Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The activity is intended to address compliance with the
law, and effectiveness and efficiency, as well as address top EPA management challenges -
complying with key internal control requirements (data quality) and fulfilling mandated
reporting requirements.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:. The
activity addresses the following question:
To what extent is EPA in compliance with the requirements of the Digital Accountability
and Transparency Act of 2014?
To what is extent is EPA spending data complete, accurate, and timely?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG found that EPA
substantially complied with the requirements of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act
of 2014 and submitted financial and award data to the Department of the Treasury's DATA Act
Broker on time. The OIG's nonstatistical and statistical tests of EPA's DATA Act submissions—
including those tests that assessed the data attributes of completeness, accuracy, and timeliness—
determined that EPA's fiscal year 2020 fourth-quarter financial and award data were of "higher"
quality, as defined by the CIGIE FAEC Inspectors General Guide to Compliance under the
DATA Act, dated December 4, 2020.
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How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommended
that the assistant administrator for Mission Support update EPA's policies and procedures to
address the errors identified in this audit, as well as update EPA's grants management system to
align with the DATA Act data standards and provide training to improve the consistency of data
entry. EPA agreed with the six recommendations and provided acceptable planned corrective
actions and estimated completion dates. The recommendations are considered resolved with
corrective actions pending.
Link for findings: hups: uw w.epa.xov system files documents 2021-11 eyaoig 20211108-
22-v-0001.vdf
Activity 11:
Title
OIG Report: EPA Did Not Follow Agency Policies in Managing the
Northbridge Contract and Potentially Violated Appropriations Law (22-
E-0027)
Lead
National
Program
OMS
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
and Workforce Equity
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of
Inspector General conducted this assessment of EPA Contract EP-C-16-001, awarded to
Northbridge, to follow up on funding and invoice irregularities in Region 9 for the States of
Hawaii and California identified in OIG Report No. 20-P-0331. The purpose of this assessment
was to determine whether (1) EPA properly approved, paid for, and accounted for charges
submitted by Northbridge for work in Region 9 for the States of Hawaii and California under
EPA Contract EP-C-16-001 and (2) Northbridge provided acceptable deliverables, as specified
in EPA Contract EP-C-16-001 and the associated work plans. This contract provided support
services to states for their municipal drinking water and wastewater programs.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Specific questions the activity addressed include:
• Did EPA properly approve, pay for and account for charges submitted by Northbridge for
work in Region 9 for the States of Hawaii and California under EPA Contract EP-C-16-
001?
• Did Northbridge provide acceptable deliverables, as specified in EPA Contract EP-
C-16001?
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Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The OIG found that the
Agency did not follow estimated split-funding policy when allocating $6.8 million for the entire
contract during the period analyzed. Staff did not follow protocols nor obtain proper approvals
when paying invoices for the contract according to EPA's Administrative Control of
Appropriated Funds, Release 3.2, known as the 2008 Funds Control Manual, and EPA
Acquisition Guide. These issues occurred because management in the Office of Water and in the
Office of Acquisition Solutions, within the Office of Mission Support, did not ensure that EPA's
contract staff understood and adhered to EPA accounting policies. By not following these
policies, the staff increased the risk of expending appropriated funds in ways that were
inconsistent with the funds' purposes and beyond the amounts available, which could have
violated 31 U.S.C. § 1301(a), known as the Purpose Statute, and increased the likelihood of the
Agency violating the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(A).
Because key accounting policies were not adhered to, EPA cannot ensure that $6.8 million in
appropriated dollars went toward their intended purposes, potentially violating laws.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The OIG recommended
that the assistant administrators for Water and for Mission Support, in coordination with the
general counsel and chief financial officer, (1) assess whether and to what extent EPA staff
failed to comply with 31 U.S.C. §§ 1301(a) and 1341(a)(1)(A); (2) annually train staff on
requirements applicable to funding contract activity using multiple appropriations; (3) review
and update internal controls to ensure the segregation of duties between staff, as well as the
proper review and tracking of the completion of contractor deliverables. EPA and the OIG
reached agreement on corrective actions for the three recommendations.
Link for findings: hups: www.epa.gov system files documents 2022-03 epcioig 20220331-
22-e-0027.pdf
Office of Research and Development (ORD)
Activity 1:
Title
Assessing End User Satisfaction of ORD's Research Products
Lead National
Program
ORD
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Decision Making
Completion date
August 2022
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Purpose and brief description: To measure ORD's progress on its Long-Term Performance
Goal of the percentage of research products that meet partner's needs, ORD distributed 273
surveys to research product users in EPA Program Offices, Regions, other federal and non-
federal partners to solicit feedback on the products. This survey seeks to gather input from
partners to address any potential quality, usability, and/or timeliness issues that may have been
experienced with ORD product use and delivery. The activity is meant to be a catalyst to
identify and improve operational inefficiencies during research product development and
provide data to further the continuous improvement of ORD research.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
This survey seeks to gather input from partners to address any potential quality, usability, and/or
timeliness issues that may have been experienced with ORD product use and delivery. The
activity is meant to be a catalyst to identify and improve operational inefficiencies during
research product development and provide data to further the continuous improvement of ORD
research. The results from this survey have highlighted the need for consistent engagement with
ORD partners throughout the product life cycle and the importance of communicating products
to the partner once it has been delivered.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: ORD found that 94% of
ORD's research products assessed in FY 2022 had met partner needs.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The survey data collected
provided important insights into ORD's contributions to its partners' missions and the data was
used to support research planning and engagement activities. The data collected will inform
staff-level and management discussions with ORD's partners ranging from technical
improvements to the quality, usability, and timeliness of ORD's research products to broader
improvements to ORD's relationship with its product user base. This measure has also provided
an additional mechanism for managers to ensure that peer review and clearance processes are
strictly adhered to for each product prior to its delivery.
Link for findings: Results are published in the Annual Performance Report.
Activity 2:
Title
GAO Report: Small Business Research Programs: Agencies Should
Further Improve Award Timeliness
Lead National
ORD
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Cross-Agency
Decision Making
Strategy
supported
Completion date
October 2021
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Purpose and brief description: This engagement occurs on an annual basis to ensure agency-
wide timely issuance of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) awards. Timely issuance can affect the speed with which small
businesses receive funds and begin work. Participating agencies have awarded over $3 billion to
small businesses to develop and commercialize new technologies.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
GAO's audit examines: (1) agencies' timeliness in notification and issuance, (2) the extent to
which agencies have addressed risks to award timeliness, and (3) the extent to which DOD
established a pilot program to improve timeliness.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: GAO found that less
than 30 percent of awards have been issued on time during the 5-year review periods. However,
EPA commented that GAO's report lacks acknowledgment that efforts have been undertaken
resulting in progress not covered during this audit review period. For example, EPA
implemented new procedures to substantially improve identified timeliness issues for the current
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Request for Application (RFS) cycle. EPA expects
further improvements following the full implementation of these procedures. In October 2022,
the GAO released a timeliness report that stated the following, "After evaluating the impact of
previous steps taken to improve timeliness, EPA is formalizing a structure for establishing,
tracking, and reviewing significant milestones in the SBIR award process in order to meet SBA
time frames^
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GAO issued one
recommendation: EPA (ORD) should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR
award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps to consistently meet SBA award
timeliness guidelines. EPA agreed with the recommendation and during the engagement, steps
were taken to assess best practices, leading to the discovery that a formalized plan will further
enhance EPA's ability to improve SBIR award timeliness. This comprehensive plan will create
a structure for establishing, tracking, and reviewing significant milestones in the SBIR process
to determine compliance with timeliness goals. In October 2022, the GAO released their most
recent report and stated, "Other civilian agencies—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USD A) and
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in particular—have shown timeliness
improvements over the last few years." ORD submitted the completed timeliness plan to the
GAO in July 2022. The GAO will assess EPA's timeliness data for the current and subsequent
fiscal years' award timeliness data to determine whether the efforts outlined in the plan led to
"consistently meet SBA award timelines guidelines" as called for by the recommendation
before closing out the recommendation as implemented.
Link for findings: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104677.pd/'
Activity 3:
-------
Title
GAO Report: Persistent Chemicals: Technologies for PFAS Assessment,
Detection, and Treatment
Lead National
ORD
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Strategy
Decision Making
supported
Completion date
July 2022
Purpose and brief description: This engagement was initiated as a technology assessment on
the Federal Government's capabilities concerning PFAS assessment, detection, and treatment.
The technology assessment examined technologies for more efficient assessments of the adverse
health effects of PFAS and alternative substances; the benefits and challenges of the current and
emerging technologies for PFAS detection and treatment, and policy options that could help
enhance benefits and mitigate challenges associated with these technologies.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
GAO did not audit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or its programs, but rather
conducted a review and assessment of PFAS detection and removal technologies and the
assessment of PFAS alternatives under GAO's Technology Assessment product line.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The GAO found that
current and promising technologies and methods could accelerate the assessment of human
health effects caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and improve the detection
and treatment of PFAS in the environment. The GAO identified three policy options that could
help to mitigate issues caused by PFAS. GAO states that policymakers can promote research,
expand method development, and support full-scale treatment to help mitigate challenges
associated with PFAS assessment, detection, and treatment technologies. These policy options
did not constitute recommendations.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Recommendations are not
issued as part of a technology assessment.
Link for findings: https: www.sao.sov assets sao-22-105088-hishlishts.pdf
Activity 4:
Title
GAO Report: Offshore Oil Spills: Additional Information Is Needed to
Better Understand the Environmental Tradeoffs of Using Chemical
Dispersants
Lead National
Program
ORD
-------
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Decision Making
Completion date
December 2021
Purpose and brief description: In 2020, the GAO initiated an engagement to understand the
use and effectiveness of chemical dispersants. In April 2010, an explosion onboard the
Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in eleven deaths and the release of
approximately 206 million gallons of oil. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, responders
applied dispersants to the oil slick at the ocean surface as well as at the wellhead more than
1,500 meters below the surface. The subsurface use of dispersants was unprecedented and
controversial due to the unknown effects of dispersants below sea-level.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
This audit examined the following: (1) what is known about the effectiveness of dispersants, (2)
what is known about the effects of chemically dispersed oil on the environment, (3) what is
known about the effects of dispersants on human health, and (4) the extent to which federal
agencies have taken action to help ensure decision makers have quality information to support
decisions about the use of chemical dispersants.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The GAO found that
while agencies have supported research, there is limited quality information about the
effectiveness of subsurface dispersants and the toxicity and biodegradation of chemically
dispersed oil. This is due to a variety of factors, including a wide variation in modeling results,
inconsistent test designs, and experiments that may not reflect ocean conditions. The GAO
concluded that by assessing the potential environmental efforts of the subsurface use of
dispersants, the Coast Guard and EPA could help ensure that decision makers are fully equipped
with information about the environmental tradeoffs.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GAO issued one
recommendation to EPA (the Office of Research and Development and the Office of Land and
Emergency Management). EPA should work with the Coast Guard and other agencies to
conduct assessments—such as biological assessments or ecological risk assessments—
examining the potential effects of the subsurface use of dispersants on ocean ecosystems in
regions where this is considered a viable response option. EPA agrees with this
recommendation, understanding it provides flexibility for conducting these assessments as part
of contingency planning in regions where subsurface dispersant is considered amongst the viable
response options. EPA will support the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in identifying assessment
methodologies to examine potential environmental and ecological effects of subsurface use of
dispersants on ocean systems for select regions, and, as appropriate, coordinate with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies. EPA anticipates
completing this recommendation in 2026.
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Link for findings; https://www.gao.aov/assets/aao-22-104153.pdf
Activity 5:
Title
ORD External Webinar Series Planning Process
Lead National
Program
ORD
FY 2022-2026 Cross-
Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-
Based Decision Making
Completion date
August 2022
Purpose and brief description: ORD establishes an annual external webinar series schedule to
track webinar dates, series, topics, presenters, and other relevant information for the upcoming
year. A draft process has been developed in an effort to standardize the process, however, not all
relevant stakeholders have been involved. The current process requires repetitive topic gathering
and submission of information for review.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
This kaizen event served as a catalyst to develop a process of selecting and approving annual
topics for each of ORD's established external webinar series.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: ORD identified issues
with the current selection process and created process steps to identify and select potential
webinar topics, and schedule and coordinate approval. ORD found that developing a
standardized process eliminated the burden when selecting topics and improved engagement
with management and branding/messaging both internally and externally.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: ORD developed a
centralized process to select webinar topics and series which
Link for findings: N/A
Activity 6:
Title
Research Area: Assessment and Management of Harmful Algal Blooms
Lead National
Program
ORD
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency
Strategy
supported
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Decision Making
Completion date
February 2022
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Purpose and brief description: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing in
intensity, and geographic range. Potential impacts from blooms and associated toxins include
health risks to humans, pets, livestock, wildlife, and other biotas; restricted recreational
activities; increased treatment costs and decreased economic revenue. HABs are complex
ecological processes that are affected by various conditions (i.e., physical-chemical, biological,
hydrological, and meteorological) and therefore are difficult to predict. This research area
focuses on toxicity and impacts to humans and biota, mitigation of blooms and their effects in
source and drinking waters, and the characterization of bloom-impacted environments.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
EPA, states, and tribes need tools to predict toxic bloom occurrence, characterize bloom
development, increase the effectiveness of cyanotoxin monitoring techniques, and understand
the impacts of shifting temperature patterns and hydrologic regimes on blooms. This research
informed best management practices to mitigate HABs including but not limited to refining
Drinking Water Health advisories and informing Recreational Criteria for cyanotoxin exposures.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: This research area, under
EPA's Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research program (SSWR), supported planned
activities in the FY19-23 Strategic Research Action Plan (StRAP) and expanded the state of
scientific understanding and best management approaches for nutrient/harmful algae bloom
reduction. ORD developed predictive and forecasting models that may identify the top drivers
that promote or deter cyanobacteria bloom development in lakes and reservoirs. The tools will be
used to predict toxic bloom occurrence, characterize bloom development, and increase the
effectiveness of cyanotoxin monitoring techniques.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA publications such as
the Cyanobacteria in Lakes indicator in the Report on the Environment, produced data to
estimate cyanobacteria concentrations in water to describe trends in detectable cyanobacteria in
more than 2,000 lakes and reservoirs across the U.S.
Link for findings: https://www.epa.gov water-researchcyanobacteria-assessment-network-
cycm; https://www.ncbi.yilmMih.gov/iymc/articles/PMC8843926/
Activity 7:
Title
Research Area: Waste Recovery and Beneficial Use
Lead National
ORD
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 1: Ensure Scientific Integrity and Science-Based
Cross-Agency
Decision Making
Strategy
supported
Completion date
May 2022
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potentially be reused, recycled, or reprocessed to reduce the consumption of natural resources,
decrease waste generation, and reduce the volume of materials disposed into hazardous and
nonhazardous landfills. This project provided methodologies that can be used to determine
whether the potential for adverse impacts to human health and the environment from a proposed
beneficial use is comparable to or lower than that posed by an analogous product, or at or below
relevant health-based and regulatory benchmarks.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
This research enhanced scientific understanding of material recycling, waste remediation, and
the potential for adverse human health and environmental impacts of beneficial material reuse.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: This research area,
under EPA's Sustainable and Healthy Communities research program (SHC), supported the
planned activities in the FY 2019-22 StRAP, and identified potential for recycling materials and
quantified the risks and associated adverse impacts of beneficial reuse of materials. FY 2022
specific topic areas include studying advanced separation technologies for recovery and reuse of
industrial-use solvents, engineering soil amendments for remediation of lead and other
contaminants, remediation of industrial by-products, and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Recycling Processes Research into the PET reclamation and converting steps found that the
amounts of materials represent opportunities for recycling, with a fraction of PET bottles
collected and almost no non-bottle PET collected. While 29.0% of PET bottles are collected for
recycling, collected material is processed for conversion to products at a 65.5% efficiency.
Mismanaged waste represents 2.66% of PET that would go to disposal, totaling 183 million
pounds.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: This research area
produced numerous tools, models, and peer-reviewed journal articles. These outputs and products
used a variety of data, tools, and method/analytical approaches including, but not limited to:
• Evaluation and characterization of emerging technologies, policies, sorting, and
identification trends in reuse, recycling, and demolition activities.
Collection and analysis of data from ORD colleagues, existing data, and/or review of new
literature to address issues related to leaching of organics into groundwater
• LEAF methods and software (i.e., LeachXS-Lite) to measure organic and
inorganic Constituents of Potential Concern (COPCs) 745
• In situ laboratory experiments on soil amendments, including implementation of
screening tools and engineered soil amendment mixtures
Link for findings: https: www.epa.isov smm sustainable-manage me nt-industr ial-non-
hazardous-secondary-materials; httys://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. govfpmc articles PMC906503 7/
Activity 8:
Title
Leadership for Inclusion (L4I) Survey
Lead National
ORD
Program
FY 2022-2026
Cross-Agency Strategy 3: Advance EPA's Organizational Excellence
Cross-Agency
and Workforce Equity
Strategy supported
Completion date
August 22
-------
Purpose and brief description: Ensuring a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible
environment within the workplace is one the Agency's, and ORD's top priorities. ORD is
continually looking for innovative ways to improve its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Accessibility (DEIA) program. ORD is partnering with the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) to administer the Leadership for Inclusion (L4I) Survey. This survey is designed to help
agencies develop a climate of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
survey seeks input from all staff, with the results informing leadership on the DEIA climate
across ORD. The survey focuses on the measurement of five categories of leadership behaviors
that result in a positive DEIA climate:
Openness
Team Stewardship
• Individual Support
Consistency
• Advocacy
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: OPM administered the
survey and sent results to Managers in September 2022.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Feedback received
improves ORD and provides leaders with insights into what they are doing well and where they
should improve upon on in our DEIA efforts. This survey allowed ORD employees to provide
anonymous feedback on ORD leadership, their efforts toward inclusion, and areas they may
improve upon. There was a 48% response rate (737 of 1530 employees responded). 90% of
ORD employees are proud to be a part of their team, 87% of employees are satisfied with their
time, and 85% felt integral to their team.
Link for findings: N/A
Office of Water (OW)
Activity 1:
Title
EPA's Annual Assessment of the Jurisdictions' Progress toward
Meeting the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL)
Lead
National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
June 2022
Purpose and brief description: Through the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the
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Chesapeake Bay Program has committed to having 100% of pollution-reducing practices in
place that would achieve all of the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions necessary to
meet the goals outlined in the Bay TMDL by 2025. These estimates are generated by the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model and are derived from land use data, implementation and
effectiveness of best management practices and the most up-to-date water quality monitoring
data. The Chesapeake Bay Program assesses water quality by the amount of dissolved oxygen
in the Bay, chlorophyll a (a measure of algae growth) and water clarity (using underwater grass
acreage).
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
seven watershed jurisdictions, in coordination with local governments, businesses, non-
governmental organizations and individuals have installed pollution-reducing best management
practices to lower the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering tributaries of the
Chesapeake Bay. The conservation practices reported by the seven watershed jurisdictions,
along with land use, manure and fertilizer information, are entered into a sophisticated suite of
modeling tools to estimate the progress that each jurisdiction is making in meeting their
individual nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment goals as outlined in the Bay TMDL. By
incorporating the best available data into the computer simulations and pollution load estimates,
EPA can more accurately track the jurisdictions' progress toward their pollution- reducing goals.
Assessing the progress that each jurisdiction is making toward reducing nitrogen, phosphorus
and sediment pollution entering not only the Chesapeake Bay, but also their local waterways,
gives EPA and the larger partnership a more holistic view of how conservation practice
installation and improved management actions are helping to improve Bay water quality.
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Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: As of 2021, the best
management practices in place to reduce pollution are estimated to achieve 49% of the nitrogen
reductions, 64% of the phosphorus reductions and 100% of the sediment reductions needed to
attain applicable water quality standards when compared to 2009 levels. The jurisdictions are off
track for nitrogen and phosphorus since BMPs are not in place to achieve the 2021 target for
nitrogen and phosphorus. The 2021 target is essentially 80% of the needed nitrogen, phosphorus,
and sediment pollution load reductions to attain water quality standards (the difference between
the 2009 pollution load and the 2025 pollution load). While BMPs are in place to achieve 80%
of the needed sediment load reductions, marking the sediment goal complete, the pollution
control measures are not in place to achieve the 2021 target for nitrogen and phosphorus loads.
Over the past year, it was determined that 77% of nitrogen reductions came from the agricultural
sector. Declines in phosphorus and sediment pollution came primarily from the natural (forests,
scrub and brush, stream beds and banks, wetlands and shorelines) and agricultural sectors. While
historically, nitrogen and phosphorus reductions have come from the wastewater sector, in 2021,
nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Bay actually increased in the wastewater sector, mainly
due to permit violations at select Maryland wastewater facilities.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA uses these estimates to
evaluate whether jurisdictions are on track to meet the reduction goals as reflected in the Bay
TMDL, the Watershed Implementation Plans, and two-year milestones, and whether increased
levels of oversight are needed in order to assist the jurisdictions in meeting their water quality
goals. In addition, funding and technical assistance is greater targeted towards those sectors
(e.g., agriculture or stormwater) that may be off track.
Link for findings: https://www.chesapeakeprogress.com/clean-water/watershed-
implementation-plans and
https://dl81evlok51eia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebav/documents/2021-2022-Bav-
Barometer 2022-10-10-202922 hdrd.pdf
Activity 2:
Title
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Reviews
Lead
National
Program
OW
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities.
Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water
Infrastructure.
Estimated
Completion Date
September 2023
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Purpose and brief Description: EPA completes annual reviews of each Clean Water State
Revolving Fund Program (CWSRF).
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
These reviews will help assess if states are effectively implementing the CWSRF Categorical
Grant Program by increasing the amount of non-federal dollars leveraged. The reviews will also
be used to encourage states to direct funding to projects that address climate resiliency and
equity.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: EPA CWSRF review
results are reported out in 51 State specific Performance Evaluation Reports annually. The
reports function similarly to base line monitoring reports for grant programs. Because reports are
state specific, there is not a national report of overall program evaluation. Examples of items
included in the review include:
Are states effectively implementing the CWSRF Categorical Grant Program
by leveraging non-federal funds?
• Are the states complying with the EPA's State and Tribal Assistance Grant
Program requirements?
• What steps are the states taking to promote climate resiliency and equity through
CWSRF funding?
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA makes publicly
available an annual report on the status of the national CWSRF program. EPA also shares
project and financial data at the national and state level.
Link for findings: The findings from the annual state reviews are documented in Program
Evaluation Reports, which are provided to EPA Headquarters by the regional offices. EPA
Headquarters periodically updates our guidance based on these findings. Revised guidance is
made available to states and stakeholders through EPA's CWSRF website.
Activity 3:
Title
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Environmental Accomplishments in
the Great Lakes (EAGL2) Data System Audit Procedures and Results
Lead
National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
September 2022
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Purpose and brief description: Annual review of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
Action Plan III reported results through an audit of information reported to EPA through the
Environmental Accomplishments in the Great Lakes 2 (EAGL 2) data system.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
annual system-wide audit of the EAGL 2 data system is conducted to assess the accuracy,
completeness, consistency, and currency (respective to the Data Call for which the results were
submitted) of reported results for audited Measures of Progress. The audit identifies sources of
error so EPA and Regional Working Group (RWG) agencies may implement systematic and
procedural changes to improve the data quality of future reporting. The system-wide audit,
unlike internal audits conducted by individual RWG agencies, reviews data entered in the EAGL
2 system by all RWG agencies.
The EAGL 2 system-wide audit assesses whether stored records and documentation, uploaded to
EAGL 2, support results entered in the system, and whether the reported results meet GLRI
Action Plan III Measure of Progress definitions.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Findings of the most
recent audit continue to indicate improvements to the quality of GLRI project data and results in
EAGL2. Inconsistencies were found in 3-6% of audited projects in FY 2021 and FY 2022 vs
27% in FY 2020. Improvements have been made through implementation of additional agency
reviews, data entry improvements, and training. All instances where the results did not match
supporting documentation were examined and corrective actions were taken.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: To further improve data
collection, EPA has continued to make improvements to the EAGL2 Information System: the
system is a more robust database system than the previous spreadsheet-based system, providing
improved control over data, better verification and documentation, and help in maintaining and
enhancing the reliability of reported results in line with GAO recommendations in its July 2015
Report (GAO-15-526). As a result of audit findings, EPA is improving the EAGL2 Information
System by: (i) using the system to enforce a requirement for all agencies to include supporting
documentation when entering results and (ii) improving the workflow to ensure reviewers can
more quickly and easily verify results, make changes, or send a request for changes to the project
officer who did data entry.
Link for findings: N/A
Activity 4:
Title
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Report to Congress
Lead National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
-------
Objective
supported
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
December 2022
Purpose and brief description: The EPA Administrator is required by Clean Water Act Section
118 (c)(7)(H)(iii) to provide annually the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Report to
Congress (RTC) to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate. The RTC is
to provide a detailed description of the progress of the GLRI and amounts transferred to
participating Federal departments and agencies. To satisfy these requirements, the RTC provides
examples of progress within each of the five GLRI focus areas (Toxic Substances and Areas of
Concern; Invasive Species; Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; Habitats
and Species; and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions) and provides details on annual
results for each of the 23 measures of progress pertaining to the focus areas. The RTC also
identifies annual funding to participating Federal departments and agencies over time.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
• What progress has been made under each of five focus areas and their associated
measures and annual targets?
• What resources have been transferred to participating Federal departments and
agencies over a five-year period?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Since its inception in
2010, the GLRI has greatly accelerated efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes - the
largest system of fresh surface water in the world. The GLRI continues to address the most
persistent and challenging environmental problems facing this vital ecosystem. Under EPA's
leadership, the GLRI has been a catalyst for unparalleled coordination among the federal
agencies and departments that make up the GLRI Interagency Task Force and the GLRI
Regional Working Group. This unprecedented coordination has produced unprecedented results.
Through March of 2022, GLRI has funded over 6,800 projects focused on the most important
Great Lakes environmental issues, including cleaning up highly contaminated Areas of Concern
(AOCs), protecting, and restoring native habitat and species, and preventing and controlling
invasive species. In FY 2022 all management actions were completed at the Buffalo River AOC;
16 U.S. AOCs (out of 31) now have either been delisted or have achieved "all management
actions complete" status.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA is using results to
influence outyear planning and funding decisions. Results are informing development of a new
GLRI Action Plan IV, covering FY 2025 - FY 2029. For example, assuming continued use of
an invasive species measure regarding the reported amount of acreage on which invasive
species is controlled, the result from that measure will be used to establish ambitious, yet
achievable, targets for that measure from FY 2025 - FY 2029. Reported results would be
similarly used to establish ambitious, yet achievable targets for the corresponding measures for
pounds of
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phosphorus reductions from conservation practices, gallons of untreated stormwater runoff
captured or treated, and habitat acreage protected or restored.
Link for findings: https://www.glri.us/documents. Results under Action Plan III measures are
also tracked at https://www.glri.us/results.
Activity 5:
Title
Review of Great Lakes Long-Term Monitoring Programs
Lead National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) annually
monitors Great Lakes water quality, aquatic life, sediments, air, and coastal wetlands.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Monitoring results are used to help determine the overall health of the Great Lakes ecosystem
and fulfill some of the requirements of Clean Water Act Section 118 and the obligations under
the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. GLNPO uses a variety of internal and external
mechanisms to maintain the integrity of these long-term programs and ensure the timely and
accurate reporting on the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Quality documentation and
standard operating procedures are frequently reviewed and updated as necessary. Datasets
undergo a vigorous validation and verification process before they are reported and shared
publicly. Further, GLNPO intermittently reviews the sampling and analytical frameworks for
each monitoring activity using external technical experts.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Monitoring datasets
continue to be uploaded to the Great Lakes Environmental Database portal on EPA's Central
Data Exchange. Data continues to be reported for monitored Great Lakes water quality, aquatic
life, sediments, air, and coastal wetlands. Data from the EPA long-term monitoring surveys have
played a major role in tracking Great Lakes ecosystem health and emerging threats to Great
Lakes water quality. As a result of these monitoring programs, EPA is able to assess and report
on lake-wide and basin-wide ecological improvements and on potential ecosystem threats that
could require management attention. Examples of the results from these programs include the
following:
• A 50+ year dataset of Poly chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Lake Trout collected by the
EPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program reveal significant decreases
in PCBs in Lake Michigan Lake Trout since the late 1970s when PCB manufacture and
use
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was phased out. These data have supported model forecasts by EPA Office of Research
and Development that predict continued declines in PCB concentrations in Lake Trout as
a result of long-term decreases of PCB s in other media including air, water and sediment
as a result of management actions.
• Long term monitoring of the Great Lakes phytoplankton and zooplankton community
through EPA's Great Lakes Biology Monitoring program has documented changes in
taxa, biomass and depth distributions due to environmental stressors associated with
invasive species introductions and changes in climate. Actions taken by environmental
managers are informed by the results of the program such as identification of a major
shift in the Lake Huron zooplankton community structure that impacted forage fish and
the recreational fishery. The Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program also searches for
new aquatic non-native species, helping to identify newly introduced species even when
they are at low abundances.
GLNPO's Great Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Program includes monitoring of Spring
Total Phosphorus (TP) concentrations in Lake Erie open waters since 1983 that allows
EPA to assess whether those concentrations meet Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
objectives. Program monitoring indicates that exceedances of TP concentration
objectives in the three Lake Erie basins have been particularly evident since the early
2000s, and most consistently so in the western and central basins.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA is using results to
report on the health of Great Lakes ecosystem and identify the current and emerging challenges
impacting the health of the ecosystem. Results also influence outyear planning and funding
decisions.
Link for findings: Great Lakes Monitoring I US EPA.
Activity 6:
Title
Gulf of Mexico Performance Metrics
Lead National
Office of Water/Region 4
Program
and Region
FY 2022-2026
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Strategic Goal and
Objective
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
supported
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) quarterly monitors Gulf of
Mexico water quality, habitat restoration, community resilience, and environmental education.
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Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
Environmental results (water quality, habitat restoration, community resilience, and
environmental education), are used to help determine the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico
ecosystem and to improve resiliency levels and environmental education of communities
throughout the Gulf of Mexico watershed to fulfill requirements of Clean Water Act 104B3.
GMD uses a variety of internal and external mechanisms to maintain the integrity of
environmental results and ensure the timely and accurate reporting on the health of the Gulf of
Mexico ecosystem. Quality documentation and standard operating procedures are frequently
reviewed and updated as necessary.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The GMD has a target
for each metric mentioned above and uses these to assess performance and to identify
possible ways to focus resources. During this fiscal year, GMD exceeded its annual target for all
metrics:
Measure
Target
Actual
Unit of Measure
Habitat Restoration
350
253,195
Acres Restored,
Enhanced, or
Protected
Environmental
Education
10,000
31,199
Individuals Reached
Community Resilience
40
155
Communities
Impacted
Water Quality
6
70
Segments Improved
It should be noted the actual numbers could change due to the two-month quality assurance and
control period. Final FY 2022 metrics will be reported in December 2022.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: GMD reviews quarterly
and final reports from recipients of assistance agreements to determine project effectiveness and
to narrow foci of Federal Funding Opportunities. These data aid innovation and highlight
geographically prone contributors of issues impacting the Gulf of Mexico. We used data from
quarterly reports and our engagement with partners to expand GMD's nutrient reduction efforts
that concentrated mostly on agricultural environmental degradation to work on non- agricultural
rural and urban communities. This allows for a broader focus on improving habitat to reduce
nutrient pollution (projects to enhance or restore riparian and near coastal areas in rural, urban,
and suburban communities) and managing urban runoff (projects to capture, store, filter, and
treat runoff to reduce nutrient loads and improve water quality consistent with a broader strategy
for watershed protection or restoration).
To ensure Federal Funding Opportunities address stakeholders needs and concerns, GMD
hosted virtual and in-person listening sessions to collect input on activities or projects. GMD
also assessed partnership opportunities and identified gaps in our outreach and engagement with
Minority Serving Institutions. As a result, we specifically reached out to institutions of higher
learning in Mississippi and will be expanding engagement to academia across the Gulf of
Mexico.
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Link for findings: N/A
Activity 7:
Title
GAO Report: Long Island Sound Restoration: Improved Reporting and
Cost Estimates Could Help Guide Future Efforts
Region
EPA Region 1 and Region 2
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Completion date
November 2021
Purpose and brief description: In 2017 the GAO conducted a review of the Long Island Sound
Study (LISS) as part of a larger review that GAO was conducting of EPA's National Estuary
Program (NEP). GAO reviewed a total of four NEPs, including Puget Sound, Columbia River,
San Francisco Bay, and the LISS. The LISS final report was issued on July 12, 2018.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
objectives for this GAO review were to assess:
• What roles the federal, state, and other groups play in restoring the Long Island Sound;
• What federal funds have been spent to date;
• What progress has been made in restoring the Long Island Sound; and,
• What remains to be done.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: In July 2018, GAO
issued the final report Improved Reporting and Cost Estimates Could Help Guide Future Efforts,
which included three recommendations for the program:
The Director should ensure that as the Study finalizes its reporting format, it fully
incorporates leading practices of performance reporting. (Recommendation 1)
The Director should develop cost estimates that include analyses of uncertainties for
each of the targets in the 2015 plan. (Recommendation 2)
The Director should estimate the range of potential costs for all implementation actions
and include the estimates in future supplements to the 2015 plan. (Recommendation 3)
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The EPA Long Island
Sound Office (LISO - Region 2 and Region 1) worked to fully implement all GAO
recommendations and updated the GAO tracking system in November 2021 to confirm that the
Agency considered all recommendations to be fully implemented.
Recommendation #1: The Long Island Sound Study's online reporting and tracking system is
completed and in full use by the Study. Data has been added to the online tracking and reporting
system to show progress in implementing the 2020-2024 implementation actions.
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Data will be added to the tracking and reporting system approximately every six months to allow
the Study to evaluate progress toward goal implementation. As reported previously, the Study
has already implemented two leading practices into its reporting format. The Study website
shows the past condition and progress over time toward ecosystem targets compared to the
recovery plan. The online reporting and tracking system addresses the leading practice of
reporting recommended by the GAO, which is to evaluate actions for unmet goals. By tracking
the 2020-2024 implementation actions, the Study will be able to explain why goals are not being
met and create plans and schedules to achieve the goals. With the online tracking system in
place, the Study has fully incorporated the three leading practices of performance reporting and
considers this recommendation to be fully implemented.
Recommendation #2: In June 2020, the Study hired a contractor to develop a report that
included the estimated cost (with a high and low range) needed to attain each of the targets in
the 2015 plan. The contractor estimated costs for each ecosystem target by adding up the
existing cost ranges for each of the implementation actions in the 2015 plan. The report is
posted and accessible to the public on the Long Island Sound Study website
(https://longislandsoundstudv.net/2019/ll/addressing-gaos-recommendations-liss- performance-
reporting-and-cost-estimating/). The report contained recommendations for the Study to
continue estimating costs in future reports. In September 2020, EPA stated that the cost ranges
for the implementation actions would be updated as the Study updated the CCMP
implementation actions for the period 2020-2024. This information was developed and
contained in the CCMP supplemental documents completed in 2020.
Recommendation #3: In June 2020, the Study said that the Plan 2020-2024 implementation
action update would include a range of costs for implementation actions. The Study received
concurrence from the EPA Regional Administrators (Region 1 and Region 2) and EPA Office
of Water on the 2020-2024 CCMP Update. In January 2021, the CCMP Update was completed
and posted on the LISS website, including the Technical Supporting Documents that indicate
the range of cost estimates for each Implementation Action. See:
https://longislandsoundstudv.net/2021/01/ccmp-implementation-actions-supplemental-
documents/ to view the CCMP Update and associated Technical Supporting Documents.
Link for findings: The public version of the LISS online reporting and tracking system is
available at: https://longislandsoundstudv.net/program-implementation-and-progress/
Activity 8:
Title
Long Island Sound Study 2022 Report to Congress "Returning the
Urban Sea to Abundance"
Region
EPA Region 1 and Region 2
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective Supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds
Estimated
completion date
January 2023
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Purpose and brief description: The purpose of the Long Island Sound Study Report to
Congress is to meet the statutory requirement under the Clean Water Act Section 119 for the
Long Island Sound Office to issue biennial reports to Congress summarizing the progress made
in implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), any
modifications to the CCMP, and recommendations concerning the CCMP. To accomplish this,
the program will use grant progress report data that is entered into an internal EPA SharePoint
site. That data is used to compare intended to actual performance in accomplishing the targets
and actions in the CCMP
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: The
objectives for this review were to assess:
• Progress made toward meeting the goals, actions, and schedules of the CCMP.
Overview on the status of the Ecosystem Targets.
• Demonstrate investments in Implementation Actions.
Feature success stories in New York and Connecticut highlighting progress towards
goals under each CCMP theme.
Overview of the FY 2020 and FY 2021 investments by budget categories.
• Areas of focus in the near future under each CCMP theme.
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: The report provides a
summary of the progress made toward achieving the goals in each of the CCMP themes.
Program Results: Program investments have allowed the LISS partners to better characterize
the health of the Long Island Sound watershed and waterbody. Water quality monitoring has
expanded from the open sound to embayments (bays and harbors). Researchers have been able
to document water quality improvements due to decreased nitrogen loading from wastewater
treatment facilities despite the increasing climate change impacts that make it harder to maintain
water quality standards. The program continues to support wildlife and fish by investing in the
protection of open space habitat; this led to 1,007 habitat acres preserved from 2020 to 2021.
Public involvement and education activities, such as the International Coastal Cleanup events,
enhance the sustainability and resiliency of the watershed by reducing the amount of marine
debris that flows into the waterbody. These activities collectively contribute to the overall health
of Long Island Sound.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: The EPA Long Island
Sound Office will use the assessment of Implementation Action investments to target
implementation actions where further progress needs to be made. The assessment of the status of
ecosystem targets will also be used to focus efforts on program activities and projects to bring
ecosystem
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targets on track or keep them on schedule. The sections focused on future areas of investment
will help guide program priorities.
Link for findings: A link will be provided once the report is made final.
Activity 9:
Title
Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program Reviews & Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund State Reviews
Lead National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water
Infrastructure
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA annually conducts reviews of agencies with Public Water
System Supervision (PWSS) primacy (55 reviews) and reviews of each state Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund program (51 reviews).
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address:
These reviews evaluate if primacy entities are effectively implementing the PWSS program to
oversee community water system compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and evaluate if
states are effectively implementing the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program to
facilitate public water system compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Questions addressed include:
Are primacy entities effectively implementing the range of activities in the PWSS program to
oversee community water system compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act?
Are states effectively implementing the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program to
facilitate public water system compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, addressing public
health protection and affordability, and complying with the EPA's State and Tribal Assistance
Grant program requirements?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: EPA DWSRF review
results are reported out in 51 State specific Performance Evaluation Reports annually. The
reports function similarly to base line monitoring reports for grant programs. Because reports are
state specific, there is not a national report of overall program evaluation. Examples of items
included in the review include
The results of reviews of state program files for system compliance with DWSRF
rules and cross cutting requirements
The results of regional transaction testing for federal cash draws
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State performance in key DWSRF program metrics
Success (or lack of success) in addressing past issues raised
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: EPA's regional offices
engage and share results with primacy agencies under their purview. EPA shares PWSS
information on water system compliance rates across and within states. EPA makes publicly
available an annual report on the status of the national DWSRF program. EPA also shares
project and financial data at the national and state level.
Link for findings: For the most recent annual report, 2019 DWSRF annual report, is available
here: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-
10/documents/2019 annual report final 508compliant.pdf
Activity 10:
Title
Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) National Community
Water System Non-Compliance Review
Lead National
Program
OW
FY 2022-2026
Strategic Goal and
Objective
supported
Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities
Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water
Infrastructure
Completion date
September 2022
Purpose and brief description: EPA conducts a review quarterly of the Safe Drinking Water
Information System (SDWIS) National Community Water System (CWS) health-based non-
compliance data.
Policy, programmatic, and/or operational questions the activity is intended to address: This
review evaluates the trends and causes of non-compliance to information technical, managerial
and financial state and public water system capacity building training or future drinking water
regulation needs, in support regulatory drinking water compliance. The question addressed was:
What are the barriers and challenges of CWS systems maintaining compliance with health- based
drinking water standards?
Brief list of results/conclusions/findings including interim findings: Annual Program
Reviews provide a management level review of each SDWA primacy agency's (55 total)
accomplishments and challenges. Some notable accomplishments include efforts to reduce the
number of health-based violations especially those for the Stage 2 DBPR, state programs to
require asset management plans for their PWS, and programs that states have developed for
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lead testing in schools. Challenges often include documenting programs with resources
constraints, for example programs with a significant number of vacancies, that impact
performance on key implementation actions, such as timely completion of sanitary surveys.
How EPA used the results/conclusions/findings/interim findings: Data are provided from the
EPA's SDWIS database. There is a non-compliance review of CWS systems with health-based
violations by regulation type, geographical distribution, and system source type.
Link for findings: The findings from the program reviews will be publicly shared. Quarterly
data reports are shared publicly via the SDWIS FED Data Warehouse1.
1 httvs://ofiiwub.eva.sov/avex/sfchv/f?v=108%3A200%3A%3A%3A%3A%3A%3A.
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