Regional Administrator's 2014 Plan
Accomplishments ¦ Region 6



Looking back

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Administrator's Priorities

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1.	Addressing Climate Change

2.	Improving Air Quality

3.	Making a Visible Difference in Communities Across the
Country

4.	Taking Action on Toxics and Chemical Safety

5.	Protecting Water: A Precious, Limited Resource

6.	Working Toward a Sustainable Future, EJ and Environmentalism

7.	Launching a New Era of State, Tribal and Local Partnerships

8.	Embracing EPA as a High Performing Organization

Addressing Climate Change

Promote innovative energy projects to meet the nation's energy needs:

Enroll 3 new facilities in Federal Green Challenge

V	Exceeded. 4 new facilities enrolled in Federal Green Challenge
Work to ensure 30 current Federal Green Challenge participants submit
annual data

V	Exceeded. 45 participants submitted annual data
Conduct outreach and educational efforts on CAA 111(d)

V	Completed

Partner with TX A&M to develop and implement "Understanding the
WaterSense Labeled New Home"

V	Completed

Recruit additional 30 WaterSense Partners to promote climate adaption
activities relating to drought management

V	Completed 11 WaterSense Partners and 19 Irrigation Partners
Conduct 4 energy management workshops with wastewater and water
utilities

V	Exceeded. Conducted 5 energy management workshops
Complete the development of the region's first climate change
adaptation implementation plan

V	Completed

Partner with the Department of Transportation, federal, state and
local agencies to develop a climate change scenario planning tool for
Albuquerque, NM

V	Completed

Improving Air Quality

Ensure clean air for communities:

Propose action on the TX and OK regional haze plans

V	Completed

Ensure installation of mitigation measures at homes affected by vapor
intrusion with a groundwater plume from the RCRA regulated Delfasco
facility in Grand Prairie

V	Completed

Review stack test results of 12 incinerators, boilers and halogen acid
furnaces burning hazardous waste

V	Exceeded. 14 incinerators, boilers and furnaces burning hazardous
waste were reviewed

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"Thanks to each and every one of you for another successful
year! The challenges have been many, but your hard work and
perseverance resulted in even more successes. All of this together
makes our region a better place to live for our citizens. Just as you
remain committed to the great work you do, I remain committed to
you and I am so proud to join you in our pursuit of protecting human
health and the environment."

- Ron Curry

Train health care professionals on indoor environmental risks

V	Completed

Improve regional air quality by issuing grants for emission control
technologies that reduce diesel engine related emissions

V	Completed

Conduct 25 CAA compliance evaluations for facilities in or affecting
nonattainment areas

V	Exceeded. 35 compliance evaluations were conducted
Initiate 5 CAA enforcement actions at facilities in noncompliance or
affecting nonattainment areas

V	Exceeded. 6 enforcement actions and 4 enforcement actions
that required next generation compliance

Conduct 20 compliance evaluations at oil and gas section facilities

V	Exceeded. 46 inspections were conducted

Making a Visible Difference in Communities Across
the Country

Make land available for Reuse:

Coordinate review of documents and identification of cleanup
measures with TCEQ and LDEQ for former Exide site in TX and LA

V	Completed

Issue 2 Ready for Reuse determinations with State partners

V	Exceeded. 3 Ready to Reuse determinations were issued
Ensure Encycle Trustee completes remediation and site owner
completes site wide cleanup with community involvement

V	Completed

Issue 2 enforceable actions to advance RCRA corrective action at
high priority GPRA sites

V	Completed

Complete 1 leaking underground storage tank cleanup on Indian
land

V	Completed

Complete 13 Superfund lead removal action responses

V	Exceeded. 14 completed 14 removal actions
Complete 15 PRP lead removal action responses

V	Exceeded. 16 PRP lead removal action responses completed.
Complete 4 remedial action projects

V	Completed

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April 20,2015


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Regional Administrator's 2014 Plan
Accomplishments ¦ Region 6

This past year, we focused our energy,; talents and resources
to accomplish these priorities:

Complete ground water migration under control at one site

V	Completed

Make 5 Superfund sites ready for reuse

V	Completed

Reach settlement or take enforcement action before the start of remedial
action at 95% of Superfund sites with viable, liable PRPs

V	Exceeded. 100% of sites reached settlement/enforcement action
Conduct 80 Brownfield property assessments

V	Exceeded. 123 conducted Brownfield property assessments
Cleanup 7 Brownfield properties

V	Completed

Award 2 cleanup grants to the City of Pine Bluff and Project United for
cleanup and repurposing old properties

V	Completed

Complete 42 remedial site assessments

V	Exceeded. 43 remedial site assessments were completed
Use RCRA authority to eliminate imminent and substantial endangerment
to communities from illegal storage of waste explosives near Minden, LA

V	Completed

Partner with TX Water Development Board to develop and implement
drinking water and wastewater infrastructure solutions for Nueces County
colonia residents addressing high levels of arsenic in drinking water at
Cindy Park II

V	Completed

Participate in activities for the White House Council of Strong
Communities supporting the Mayor of Brownsville's priorities

V	Completed

Continue progress on New Orleans Urban Waters priority areas

V	Ongoing.

Initiate Urban Waters pilot in San Antonio

V	Completed

Taking Action on Toxics and Chemical Safety

Prioritize decisions to maximize environmental benefits:

Ensure proper management of hazardous waste through reissuance of
18 state permits

V	Exceeded. Issued 22 hazardous waste permits
Control human exposure to toxins in 13 priority RCRA facilities

V	Exceeded. Toxins were controlled at 15 RCRA facilities
Complete 7 PCB evaluations

V	Completed

Review pesticide Notices of Arrival to ensure misbranded-unregistered
pesticides are not introduced into commerce

V	Completed

Provide Toxic Release Inventory workshops and webinars to the
regulated community

V	Completed

Hold a regional P2 Roundtable meeting in AR to promote expansion of
pollution prevention approaches

V	Completed

Conduct 90 risk management plan inspections

V	Exceeded. 99 risk management inspections were conducted
Conduct 32 Local Emergency Planning Committee workshops

V	Completed

Protecting children where they live, learn and play:

Educate farm workers and their families on the risk of take-home
pesticide exposure

V	Completed

Promote lead safe work practices and the use of trained professionals
conducting RRP in pre-1978 housing

V	Completed

Provide Healthy Homes and Healthy Schools training

V	Completed

Conduct or participate in 8 exercises to improve emergency
preparedness at federal, state and local levels

V	Completed

Issue TSCA enforcement actions to 2 companies to comply with lead-
based paint RRP Rule

V	Completed

Protecting Water: A Precious, Limited Resource

Ensure safe drinking water for communities:

Work with State partners to address/resolve 450 significant
noncompliance public water systems

V	Exceeded. 618 public water systems were addressed/resolved
Ensure 91 % community water system customers meet all health based
standards on a person-month basis

V	Exceeded. 95.6% community water system customers met all health
based standards

Investigate impact of nutrient loading on drinking water source quality
and associated treatment requirements

V	Completed

Host a workshop to garner input from states and industry on potential
impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, July 2014

V	Completed

Provide leadership to restore and protect watersheds and coastal waters:
Respond to oil spills impacting waters of the US that are evaluated to
meet the regional response criteria

V	Completed

Conduct 140 SPCC and 75 FRP inspections and response exercises at
OPA regulated facilities

V	Exceeded. Conducted 167 SPCC, 74 FRP and 7 government
initiated, unannounced exercises

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April 20,2015


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Regional Administrator's 2014 Plan
Accomplishments ¦ Region 6

This past year,; we focused our energy,; talents and resources
to accomplish these priorities:

Conduct 80% of the CAFO inspections in impaired watersheds,
sensitive water bodies, or in response to citizen complaints

V	Completed

Conduct 60% of the NPDES inspections in impaired watersheds or in
sensitive water bodies

V	Completed

Work with state and federal funding agencies on drinking water
requirements at public water supplies

V	Completed

Document 3 success stories for full or partial restoration of nonpoint
source impaired waters

V	Exceeded. 15 nonpoint success stories submitted by states for a
total of 23 segments

Assist states and tribes in completing 5 new watershed based plans
designed to restore nonpoint source impaired waters

V	Ongoing. 6 plans are near completion

Host meeting with states, tribes and other organizations to network on
development of numeric nutrient criteria

V	Completed

Participate in field collections for national rivers and streams survey

V	Completed

Conduct monitoring; collect region specific data for the development of
background tissue screening levels offshore Galveston for the suitability
evaluation of sediment for ocean disposal

V	Completed

Work with partners to protect, restore 3,000 acres of habitat within 3
National Estuary Program study areas

V	Exceeded. 6,631.91 were restored

Propose 5 Coastal Restoration Projects under CWPPRA in LA

V	Completed
Approve 100 TMDLs

V	Completed

Provide dispersion modeling support addressing oil and gas NPDES
permitting

V	Completed

Maintain NPDES Permit currency rate of greater than 90%

V	Exceeded. Permit currency rate was 98%

Finalize Middle Rio Grande MS4 watershed permit

V	Completed

Propose Biosolids general permits for LA and AR

V	Work in progress to electronically streamline NOI process. Expected
proposal by end of FY15

Propose NM small MS4 general permit

V	Pending. Proposed permit due mid FY15

Participate in Low Impact Development Design Competitions

V	Completed

Hold Regional MS4 conference for states and municipalities

V	Completed

Partner with federal, state, local law enforcement and communities to
collect 5,000 lbs of unused or expired medicine in North Texas

V	Exceeded. 617,150 pounds were collected

Promote WaterSense/water conservation at 5 TX environmental events

V	Completed

Promote Fix A Leak week activities with 10 WaterSense Partners

V	Exceeded. Collaborated with over 15 Partners in community events

Working Toward A Sustainable Future, Environmental
Justice and Environmentalism

Partner with vulnerable communities to address concerns related to
environmental justice priorities:

Promote environmental sustainability at sporting events and venues

V	Completed

Collaborate with Georgia-Pacific to implement H2S ambient air
monitoring in Crossett, AR

V	Completed

Reach 1,000 people at events to educate and work on sustainable
solutions on environmental problems

V	Completed

Co-lead water education exhibit for Advancement of Science Teaching
Conference and provide assistance with water education resources

V	Completed

Issue 5 CAA enforcement actions at facilities impacting communities

V	Exceeded. 10 enforcement actions were issued

Provide climate change, refinery rule and capacity-building workshop
training in Houston, TX

V	Completed

Review draft NEPA documents for potential impacts to EJ and tribal
communities

V	Exceeded. Reviewed 46 NEPA documents for potential impacts
Collaborate along with the Region, ADEQ and ADH to develop an
action plan for the community in Crossett, AR

V	Completed

Implement a Green Infrastructure Strategy in the Region

V	Completed

Co-host an EJ workshop in New Orleans for LA communities on
proposed updates to refineries' emission standards

V	Completed

Co-sponsor EJ training workshop in Houston, TX

V	Completed

Assist state in conducting a community workshop in Crossett, AR

V	Completed

Improving the environment along the US/Mexico Border

Partner with TX and scrap tire industry to develop and host a binational
scrap tire workshop increasing cross-border collaboration

V	Completed

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April 20,2015


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Regional Administrator's 2014 Plan
Accomplishments ¦ Region 6

This past year,; we focused our energy,; talents and resources
to accomplish these priorities:

Implement projects along the US-Mexico Border to change the
identity of scrap tires from waste to resource

V	Completed

Provide 910 additional homes with safe drinking water

V	Exceeded. 1,468 additional homes were provided safe drinking
water

Continue co-leadership with TCEQ on Lower Rio Grande Water
Quality Initiative in partnership with IBWC and Mexico

V	Completed

Provide 7,318 additional homes with adequate wastewater sanitation

V	Exceeded. 7,445 homes were provided wastewater sanitation
Provide Border infrastructure funding to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to
achieve 100% treatment coverage of wastewater generated in the
Juarez Valley region

V	Completed

Launching a New Era of State, Tribal and Local
Partnerships

Addressing State Priorities:

Facilitate regional State Sustainability Network calls to advance
RCRA sustainability programs

V	Completed

Hold an meeting with regional UST/LUST managers to increase
compliance, prevention, cleanup, address new releases and ensure
financial assurance

V	Completed

Hold a meeting/teleconference with Sustainable Material
Management managers

V	Completed

Hold Lead Paint meeting with State and Tribal partners

V	Completed

Participate in a regional meeting with pesticide program managers
from State Lead Agencies addressing current and emerging program,
enforcement and financial issues

V	Completed

Maintain and enhance relationships with IOGCC and state oil and
gas regulatory agencies

V	Completed

Resolve 1 Title V Operating Permit Petition

V	Completed

Remove 28 SIP revisions by end of September 2014

V	Exceeded. 44 SIP revisions were removed

Approve TX GHG PSD permitting program into SIP and update Title

V	program authorization to include GHGs

V	Completed

Issue GHG PSD permits for remaining permit applications not
transitioning to TCEQ that promote energy efficiency

V	Completed

Develop capacity with OK to conduct Superfund remedial construction
projects at the Tulsa Fuel site and OK Refining site

V	Completed

Utilizing advance state match funds, complete innovative remedial action
project at the McGaffey and Main Superfund site

V	Completed

Continue collaborative efforts with AR to resolve issues on 303(d) lists of
impaired waters and associated assessment methodology

V	Ongoing

Assist states with dissolved oxygen modeling for NPDES permit
issuance and provide modeling training

V	Completed

Develop programmatic resolution on TPDES permit objections to pH and
Temperature

V	Completed

Work with AR to resolve State Act 954 impact on NPDES permits

V	Completed

Participate in Regional Pretreatment workshop for states and
municipalities

V	Completed

Work with Wetland Program Plan states to enhance their programs with
targeted development and assist states without a program plan

V	Ongoing

Conduct a State Review Framework with NMED

V	Completed

Review and approve OK water quality standards revision

V	Completed

Work with LA and TX to conduct outreach events with agricultural
communities on Waters of the United States

V	Completed

Award grants and work with local urban communities to implement Urban
Waters Federal Partnership activities

V	Completed

Assist ODEQ with development of water reuse guidelines

V	Completed

Safeguarding our Trust responsibilities:

Promote state and tribal pesticide program coordination and
communication

V	Completed

Conduct UST inspections and compliance assistance in Indian Country

V	Completed

Conduct solid waste workshops regarding solid waste management
plans on Indian Land and preparing competitive grant applications

V	Completed

Hold Radon Stakeholders meeting

V	Completed

Approve Treatment as a State status under CAA for Peoria Tribe, OK

V	Completed

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April 20,2015


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Regional Administrator's 2014 Plan
Accomplishments ¦ Region 6

This past year, we focused our energy,; talents and resources
to accomplish these priorities:

Develop capacity with the Quawpaw Tribe of OK to conduct
Superfund remedial construction projects on both trust and private
lands

V	Completed

Assist tribes with their priority needs on monitoring, assessment,
nonpoint source, water quality standards and 401 certification

V	Completed

Participate in Government to Government Consultation on EPA
permitting actions

V	Completed

Provide training on stream restoration and wetland delineation
training

V	Completed

Assist tribes with the development of a Wetland Program Plan

V	Completed

Participate in 3 RTOC meetings with elected tribal caucus

V	Completed

Participate in the Annual Tribal Environmental Summit

V	Completed

Conduct stakeholder engagement process for the Osage Operators
Environmental Reference Manual

V	Completed

Conduct 2 GAP Guidebook Indicators training for tribes

V	Completed

Conduct 4 onsite GAP advance programmatic monitoring meetings

V	Completed

Host RTOC meeting in Albuquerque, NM to discuss and advance
environmental issues

V	Completed

Embracing EPA as a High Performing Organization

Developing our People:

Conduct 2 Lean projects to improve efficiency

V	Completed

Provide staff necessary education and tools to perform duties with
consideration to resource constraints

V	Completed

Provide hydrologic and water quality modeling training opportunities
for TMDL staff to increase competency and new skills

V	Completed

Implement information tools that support collaboration and
transparency

V	Completed

Provide 14 Employee Assistance Program Trainings

V	Ongoing

Provide GS 7-12 Leadership Development Program to 22 employees

V	Completed

Provide 1 Executive Leadership Team workshop

V	Completed

Revitalize and provide mentoring to 25-30 employees

V	Completed

Rollout the revised Job Swap program FY15

V	Completed

Conduct 360 Survey for Managers

V	Ongoing

Ensure integrity of our financial management:

Award and manage grants and cooperative agreements to States

V	Completed

Ensure financial activities comply with FMFIA and internal controls

V	Completed

Review 100% of recorded ULOs; de-obligate unneeded funds

V	Completed

Work with tribal partners to enhance financial and administrative
grant management

V	Completed

Advancing science, research, and technological innovation:

Pilot the use of SharePoint in assisting States in implementing the
Public Water System Supervision program

V	Completed

Finalize the Region 6 work on Induced Seismicity Report to OW

V	Completed

Complete development of new analytical method for analyzing
Dinitrotoluene

V	Completed

Initiate the revision of an existing ASTM ionic analysis method to
monitor water quality samples

V	Ongoing

Questions?

Please talk with your supervisor about
our goals

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Our 2014 Accomplishments Report is
available at
www.epa.gov/region6

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April 20, 2015

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