Transcript EPA`s 7 Themes

EPA Themes for a
Sustainable Future
Michael Kenyon
Acting Deputy Regional Administrator
AWMA Conference
October 25, 2013
Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator
Sworn in on July 19, 2013.
Appointed by President Obama in 2009 as Assistant
Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
McCarthy previously served as the Commissioner of the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
During her career, which spans over 30 years, she has worked
at both the state and local levels on critical environmental
issues and helped coordinate policies on economic growth,
energy, transportation and the environment.
EPA’s 7 Themes
Making a Visible Difference in Communities Across the Country
Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality
Taking Action on Toxics and Chemical Safety
Protecting Water: A Precious, Limited Resource
Launching a New Era of State, Tribal and Local Partnerships
Embracing EPA as a High Performing Organization
Working Toward a Sustainable Future
1. Making a Visible Difference in Communities
EPA must work each and every day
to improve the health of American
families and protect the environment
one community at a time, all across
the country.
2. Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality
We will work to mitigate this threat by reducing carbon
pollution and other greenhouse gas emissions from the
transportation and energy sectors. We will use innovation
to help consumers save money with EPA programs such
as Energy Star, SmartWay, WaterSense, the Electronic
Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), and the
Economy, Energy and Environment (E3) program, as well
as partnerships with business and manufacturing.
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Pollution Includes:
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Reducing Carbon Pollution from Power Plants
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Climate Adaptation: Understanding Regional Impacts
Climate Adaptation: Increased Temps in New England
Climate Adaptation: Provide Tools for Climate Resilience
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3. Taking Action on Toxics and Chemical Safety
•EPA must implement the existing Toxic Substances
Control Act to the maximum extent possible in the
near term, while providing technical assistance in
support of a bipartisan effort to modernize the law.
•EPA must continue to oversee the introduction of new
pesticides and of chemical storage and manufacturing.
•EPA must also enhance the tracking and management
of hazardous waste through modern e-Manifest
tracking systems.
New England Green Chemistry Challenge (NEGCC)
To broaden the understanding and adoption of green chemistry
practices and principles in business, education, government,
health care and society as a catalyst to grow a sustainable
economy in New England.
4. Protecting Waters: A Precious and Limited Resource
•Take action to reduce uncertainties about the scope of
the Clean Water Act, to employ green infrastructure and
other locally driven solutions that restore degraded
waterways and revitalize communities and focus resources
to decrease pollution to our waters and protect high
quality waters, we can achieve real, cost-effective
solutions to our nation's water quality challenges.
•Simultaneously, our efforts will protect drinking water
from known and emerging contaminants that endanger
public health.
Challenges Addressed Through New Collaborations
Students are working with EPA staff on projects
examining legal obstacles implementing Green
Infrastructure and analyzing regional water quality
trading programs.
5/6. New Era of State, Tribal & Local Partnerships and
Embracing EPA as a High Performing Organization
•Work must be shared, roles must be refined, and stronger,
more efficient and cost-effective partnerships must be built
to ensure our continued joint success. EPA must work with
our co-regulators as well as the regulated community and the
people we serve, to build new tools and strategies that enhance
coordination, establish joint priorities, manage resources
effectively, and share information through E-Enterprise.
•To meet our mission, EPA must maintain and attract the
workforce of the future, modernize our business practices
and take advantage of new tools and technologies.
E-Enterprise: Interoperability of Partner Systems and
Partner Use of EPA Systems
• Public and
regulatory portals
• Two-way
transactions between
agencies & regulated
entities
• Better service and
reduced burden
• User-friendly “smart”
functionality
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Modernizing and Streamlining Programs & Regulations
e-Manifest required regulatory reform to change
typical hazardous waste manifest inefficiency.
Replace regulatory requirements
for paper with electronic manifests
on digital platform.
Projected $75 million cost savings
(to regulated entities and regulators)
and reduction in potentially
400,000-700,000 FTE hours.
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7. Working Towards a Sustainable Future
•Incentive-based efforts to complement our base
of solid regulations and a review of new and key
existing regulations to examine sustainable
enhancements are important actions.
•Integrating efforts with a new commitment
to innovation, the high-level use of data and
information, partnerships, incentives, new and
expanded constituencies, and environmental
education will build momentum.
Sustainable Future: Chicopee, MA video
Sustainability Programs Making Visible
Differences in Communities
EPA’s 7 Themes