Criminal enforcement underlines our commitment to pursuing the most serious pollution violations.  EPA's criminal enforcement program will focus on cases across all media that involve serious harm or injury; hazardous or toxic releases; ongoing, repetitive, or multiple releases; serious documented exposure to pollutants; and violators with significant repeat or chronic noncompliance or prior criminal conviction.  EPA's criminal enforcement program will continue to work collaboratively with its state and local law enforcement counterparts, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice.  Many successful and important EPA criminal investigations result from enhanced coordination among all levels of government.  An example is the prosecutions surrounding the Deepwater Horizon explosion, which led to the death of 11 people and was the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.  EPA's criminal enforcement program worked with multiple federal and state agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice which resulted in the single largest criminal resolution in the history of the U.S. as of 2013.

EPA shares accountability for environmental and human health protection with states and tribes.  We work together to target the most important pollution violations and ensure that companies that do the right thing and are responsible neighbors are not put at a competitive disadvantage.  The Agency also has a responsibility to oversee EPA-authorized state and tribal implementation of federal laws to ensure that the same level of protection for the environment and the public applies across the country.

Enforcement can help to promote environmental justice by tackling noncompliance problems that disproportionately impact low-income, minority, and tribal communities.  Ensuring compliance with environmental laws is particularly important in communities that are exposed to greater environmental health risks.  EPA fosters community involvement by making information about compliance and government action available to the public.

EPA's investment  in a new paradigm called "Next Generation Compliance"  will improve compliance and reduce pollution.  Next Generation Compliance will achieve better compliance results by taking advantage of new information and monitoring technologies. Advanced pollution monitoring technologies allow us to identify pollution issues, and can be used by both government and industry to find and fix pollution and violation problems.  Next Generation Compliance supports EPA's new E-Enterprise initiative by promoting electronic reporting, advanced monitoring, and transparency.  Electronic reporting allows for more accurate and timely information on pollution sources, as well as public access to pollution and compliance information.

EPA can also do more to design regulations and permits that are easier to implement and that will result in higher compliance and improved environmental outcomes.  Regulations and permits are easier for regulated entities and government alike to implement when they are clear and easily understood, and when they build in approaches that drive better compliance, such as improved monitoring, self- and third-party certifications, public disclosure/transparency, and easily monitored product designs or physical structures in facilities.  As part of Next Generation Compliance, EPA is building upon recent, measureable successes in innovative compliance approaches such as its "Drinking Water Targeting Tool," developed in 2009 to prioritize non-compliant public water systems for enforcement response based on the number and severity of violations those systems were experiencing.  Use of the tool resulted in a decrease of approximately 69 percent in the number of public water systems classified as "priority" between January 2010 and April 2013.  EPA is enhancing the Agency's ability to find and document violations through new targeting tools and data analysis to better identify, publicize, and respond to the most serious violations.

The Agency is also exploring innovative enforcement approaches such as providing electronic responses to electronically reported violations, and expanding the use of Next Generation Compliance tools in enforcement settlements.  Through these and other Next Generation Compliance efforts, EPA will design the compliance programs of the future and work to improve compliance even in a time of declining resources.  EPA, states, tribes, and other partner agencies are beginning to invest in this transformation together - and anticipate realizing both efficiencies and cost savings while protecting human health and the environment. The proposed NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule, as one example, will save money for states, tribes, and territories as well as EPA and NPDES permittees, while resulting in a more complete, accurate, and nationally-consistent set of data about the NPDES program.  Upon successful implementation, the proposed rule would provide states with regulatory relief from reporting associated with the Quarterly Noncompliance Report (QNCR), the Annual Noncompliance Report (ANCR), the Semi‐Annual Statistical Summary Report, and the biosolids information required to be submitted to EPA annually by states.

External Factors and Emerging Issues

Advanced monitoring technology and information technology are rapidly evolving fields.  Until recently, for example, air pollution measurement was primarily left to trained scientists and technicians employing sophisticated instruments and methodologies to evaluate data quality.  New breakthroughs in sensor technology, as well as advances in smart phone, GPS and other information technology, have made inexpensive, portable monitoring and measurement of air pollution possible today, not only for government regulators, but for the public as well. In promulgating rules, developing policies, and targeting compliance monitoring and enforcement, EPA has always welcomed and considered relevant data from all sources.  EPA will need to work closely with states, tribes, and the public to help interpret and provide context for data derived from such new technologies.

End Note:

[1] An FY 2011 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted the seriousness of underreporting SDWA data.  EPA followed up and will continue to take action to improve the quality of data reported by states.

                        Summary of Program Evaluation

The Administration is encouraging departments and agencies across the federal government to use a broad range of analytical and measurement tools ("an evidence infrastructure") to learn what works and what does not to improve performance results.[1]  Among the most important analytical tools is program evaluation, producing rigorous evidence about program effectiveness  as well as identifying lessons that may be helpful in shaping agency strategic planning in the future.  EPA has used program evaluation and applied research to inform its approach to meeting the strategic objectives in  the FY 2014-2018 EPA Strategic Plan.

Program evaluation results may affirm existing strategies or identify opportunities for improvement or may lead to changes in policy, resource decisions, or program implementation.  For example, EPA undertook an evaluation of how effectively the Agency is managing the human health and environmental risks of nanomaterials, substances smaller than one tenth of a micrometer because of their unique properties. The evaluation has led to a more concerted effort to promote research on nanomaterials and make more effective use of our regulatory authorities -- the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Toxics Substances Control Act -- to address these chemicals.  Nanomaterials increasingly are being used in a wide range of scientific, environmental, industrial, and medical applications, and there is growing concern about the lack of environmental and health and safety data about them.  Results from an Agency evaluation of the Superfund Green Remediation Strategy are being used to determine whether the program's 40 specific action items are adequately encouraging environmentally beneficial clean up and resource conservation at Superfund sites.  An assessment of the ENERGY STAR product labeling program has given us a better understanding of which products are delivering the greatest program savings and which product categories still have untapped potential for greater gains.  Other findings have helped the program revise or augment marketing and communication strategies to get the most impact from public recognition of the ENERGY STAR label and consumer buying patterns and habits.

We also look to the results of planned upcoming program evaluations projects to inform our program strategies in the future.  Three of these planned evaluations include:  (1) a mid-point assessment of the progress toward meeting and maintaining reduced nutrient and sediment pollution loads in the Chesapeake Bay as part of the 2025 goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership; (2) an examination of third-party inspection and clean-up programs in the underground storage tank program to identify key components of successful programs that can be shared with state partners and used as models for state adoption; and, (3) research under the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), which will continue the work done in 2005, to identify and prioritize air toxics, types of emission sources, and geographic locations that pose the greatest potential risk to the population and to serve as a basis for determining further steps toward reduction of emissions, as necessary.

EPA has included in the goal chapters some illustrative examples of how the results of program evaluations and applied research have informed Agency strategies in this Strategic Plan.  Additional information about recently completed program evaluations and research that informed the EPA Strategic Plan and a preliminary list of future program evaluations is available at the EPA Strategic Plan website.[2]

End Notes:

[1]  Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, Analytical Perspectives, Performance and Management Section, Chapter 7 "Delivering High Performance Government" and Chapter 8, "Program Evaluation and Data Analysis."  http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Analytical_Perspectives

[2] Information is available at [insert web site]. [Reserved for final]

                     Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies

Introduction

Since EPA's inception over 40 years ago, we have focused not only on our mission to achieve environmental and human health results, but also on how we work to accomplish those results.  Achievement of each of these goals and objectives is shared across EPA.  Through this Plan, EPA is placing an increased focus on how we work to achieve those results.

We have developed a set of cross-cutting strategies that stem from the Agency's priorities and are designed to fundamentally change how we work, both internally and externally, to achieve the mission outcomes articulated under our five strategic goals and core values of science, transparency, and the rule of law.  This Plan describes the vision and operating principles for each of the cross-cutting strategies:

   *    Working toward a sustainable future;
   *    Working to make a visible difference in communities;
   *    Launching a new era of state, tribal, local, and international partnerships; and,
   *    Embracing EPA as a high-performing organization.

For each of these strategies, the Agency will develop annual action plans with commitments that align with existing planning, budget, and accountability processes, and that support EPA's research and development agenda as appropriate.  In implementing these strategies through annual action plans, we are committing to a focused effort to undertake tangible, measurable actions to transform the way we deliver environmental and human health protection.

                      Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy:
                      Working Toward a Sustainable Future

Advance sustainable environmental outcomes and optimize economic and social outcomes through Agency decisions and actions, which include expanding the conversation on environmentalism and engaging a broad range of stakeholders.

EPA will consider and apply sustainability principles to its work on a regular basis, collaborating closely with stakeholders.  Our traditional approaches to risk reduction and pollution control can only go so far to deliver the long-term and broad environmental quality we seek.  The interplay between different environmental statutes and programs also requires renewed attention to improve "synergy" and long-term solutions.  To this end, EPA will also embrace a commitment to focused innovation to support solutions that will advance sustainable outcomes.  This Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy advances the Administrator's theme of Working Toward a Sustainable Future, and the national goal established in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and repeated in President Obama's Executive Order 13514 (2009), to create and maintain "conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations."

To integrate sustainability into the Agency's day-to-day operations, all headquarters and regional offices will routinely consider the following principles in their decisions and actions, as appropriate:

1. Conserve, protect, restore, and improve the supply and quality of natural resources and environmental media (energy, water, materials, ecosystems, land, and air) over the long term;
2. Align and integrate programs, tools, incentives, and indicators to achieve as many positive outcomes as possible in environmental, economic, and social systems; and,
3. Consider the full life cycles of multiple natural resources, processes, and pollutants in order to prevent pollution, reduce waste, and create a sustainable future.

We will work within and across programs, use all available tools, and implement innovative approaches.  We will build on our wide range of existing sustainability-related activities, including community-based sustainability activities.  We will use incentive-based efforts to complement our foundation of regulations.  We will encourage technology-based innovation through challenges and partnerships.  We will review new and key existing regulations to examine sustainable enhancements.  We will integrate efforts with a new commitment to innovation and greater and more strategic ("high level") use of sustainability-related data and information.  This strategy specifically focuses on several actions to enhance EPA's sustainability work:

* Identify selected cross-program opportunities that maximize EPA's ability to advance sustainability objectives and take appropriate actions to:
      o       Incorporate sustainability principles into regulatory, enforcement, incentive-based, and partnership programs;
      o       Use available incentives, education, information, and disclosure to enhance the ability of markets to reward sustainability;
      o       Coordinate grants, contracts, and technical assistance to promote sustainable outcomes;
      o       Advance sustainability science, indicators[1], and tools;
      o       Promote new ways to encourage technology-focused innovation that supports Agency priorities for sustainability.  Use EPA's Technology Innovation Roadmap to guide EPA in stimulating and supporting technology innovation around key environmental challenges; and
      o       Use systems-based approaches that account for linkages between different environmental systems.

* Engage and empower EPA staff.  Build on staff knowledge of and experience with sustainability and innovation through multiple forms of in-reach, education, and guidance for incorporating sustainability principles into Agency work in a multi-disciplinary way.  Develop clear Agency leadership expectations for training at all levels to help equip employees with necessary data and tools to identify appropriate opportunities, network internally and externally, establish governance and accountability structures, provide everyday encouragement and recognition, and lead by example in our own operations.  These efforts will improve the ability of all staff to be effective environmental stewards and to help secure a healthy, just, and flourishing quality of life for current and future generations.

* Expand the conversation on environmentalism by engaging and empowering stakeholders, including groups with which EPA has not traditionally worked, using multiple forms of outreach, collaboration, and information.  Beginning with the priority program and cross-program opportunities identified, we will communicate and partner with key stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, small businesses, industry, non-governmental organizations, the research community, international organizations, communities with environmental justice concerns, citizens, and other partners, both urban and rural, including those who have been underrepresented, to achieve more innovative and sustainable outcomes.  In keeping with our objective to strengthen partnerships, EPA will emphasize transparency and clarity in its communications, including environmental education outreach.  Through collaboration and research, we will improve our ability to drive innovation and expand the conversation on environmentalism to address related social and economic issues, especially in communities with vulnerable populations or environmental justice concerns.

End Note:

[1] EPA has developed a Proposed FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goal for sustainability indicators:   Advance sustainability by collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders to select sustainability indicators that can be widely understood and that can help drive the diverse public and private actions that are essential for achieving the long-term environmental quality.  By September 30, 2015, EPA will collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to select a small set of sustainability indicators covering three initial topics -- energy use, water use, and materials use -- and prepare to pilot them within and across EPA programs.
Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy:
Working to Make a Visible Difference in Communities

Align community-based activities to provide seamless assistance to communities, both urban and rural, while maximizing efficiency and results.  Expand support of community efforts to build healthy, sustainable, green neighborhoods and reduce and prevent harmful exposures and health risks to children and underserved, overburdened communities.

EPA must work collaboratively across all programs and hand in hand with other federal agencies, states, tribes, and local communities to improve the health of all families and protect the environment.  EPA must expand the work we do to enhance the resiliency, health, and economic vitality of neighborhoods through increased analysis, better science, and enhanced community engagement while continuing to advance environmental justice and ensure the protection of basic fundamental rights.

Public health and environmental protection impacts most significantly affect us where we live -- at the community level.  Both urban and rural communities reap the benefits of a healthier environment in the form of safe drinking water, less polluted air, greater access to green space, and more environmentally-sustainable choices for daily living.  Community partnerships are integral to EPA efforts to, among other things, work for environmental justice, protect children's health, and reduce exposures and consider cumulative risks for vulnerable populations.  The benefits of these efforts and commitments lead to better results for all communities.

While EPA efforts have a direct, positive impact on the health and environmental quality of communities, EPA will place additional focus on changing the way we work so that communities can easily identify and achieve their full potential.  EPA believes environmental progress can be better supported, demonstrated, and measured in communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns, so that all are on an equal footing and receive the benefits of human health and environmental protection.  Millions of minority, low-income, tribal, and indigenous individuals are at risk of having poor health outcomes because they live in underserved, overburdened communities.   EPA can make a greater and more visible difference by embracing strategies that incorporate an Agency-wide focus on communities.  Specifically, EPA will rely on a variety of approaches, including improved meaningful outreach to communities, better internal alignment and coordination of resources across community-based programs, increased incorporation of EPA community-focused approaches and analyses within regulatory and enforcement actions, and expanded technical assistance and research.  Partnering with federal, state, and local governments, as well as other entities, is key to cultivating healthy and sustainable neighborhood solutions that reflect effective land use, green development, and social and economic growth.

To achieve this goal, EPA will proactively work to:

* Improve internal coordination, alignment, and accountability for EPA community-based activities, programs, and tools in order to advance environmental results for communities.  Incorporate community-based strategies as a fundamental, organizing principle in EPA core programs and policies by consistently sharing experience and expertise, adopting promising tools, and replicating relevant models (e.g., Promising Practices to Improve Community Performance and Sustainability[1], Plan EJ 2014, Urban Waters Initiative).   These models engage multiple partners in the community (local and federal government partners, nonprofits, local businesses, and residents) to identify issues and solutions across environmental media, and deliver funding and technical assistance to address the environmental risks, train the community, and share best practices.  Leverage EPA resources, increase awareness and understanding of community needs and risks and related solutions, invest in innovative research and science-based approaches, develop and use appropriate indicators, coordinate data, and track accomplishments.  An ongoing priority area will be to continue to advance the work on environmental justice and children's environmental health in rulemaking, permitting, enforcement and compliance, grants, and policy-making decisions (e.g., use potential supplemental environmental projects to address community needs and increase technical assistance efficiencies).
   *    Increase public access to EPA community-based resources, helping communities recognize their full engagement potential and problem-solving capacity.  Empower community dialogue, engagement, understanding, and action through effective information sharing, including outreach and environmental education that informs the public about policy choices and environmental stewardship to benefit current and future generations.  The sharing of critical, up-to-date information (such as skills and services, best practices and success stories, useful contacts, relevant grants and technical assistance, data, and multi-media strategies) supports effective community involvement.  Improved information sharing builds public capacity to engage in citizen science (e.g., contribute to environmental research, complement EPA science in support of state or local problem solving, and enhance environmental protection), and encourages environmental education and environmental justice activities.  Create mechanisms at the regional and program levels to better communicate the community-based benefits of EPA's work in terms of improved public health and the environment at the local level.

   *    Build on existing partnerships to create lasting, inclusive, collaborative community networks that include government and other public and private entities.  Work with federal agencies through existing partnerships (e.g., the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Department of Transportation-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities, Environmental Justice Interagency Workgroup), as well as with states, tribes, communities, and other stakeholders to leverage resources, funding opportunities, and technical expertise and assistance to support healthy, sustainable, and green neighborhood solutions.  Partner with research organizations and academic institutions to focus and advance basic research and create models and measures to expand the conversation on environmental and human health concerns to address priority-focused, locally based problems, specifically including environmental justice and children's environmental health issues.

End Note:

[1] Putting Community First:  A Promising Approach to Federal Collaboration for Environmental Improvement, A Report by a Panel of the National Academy of Public Administration for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  May 2009.
                      Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy:
  Launching a New Era of State, Tribal, Local, and International Partnerships

Strengthen partnerships with states, tribes, local governments, and the global community that are central to the success of the national environmental protection program through consultation, collaboration, and shared accountability.  Modernize the EPA-state relationship,  including revitalizing the National Environmental Performance Partnership System and jointly pursuing E-Enterprise, a transformative approach to make environmental information and data more accessible, efficient, and evidence-based through advances in monitoring, reporting, and information technology.

Good government, as well as the reality of scarcer resources, requires that EPA work in concert with our partners to improve coordination, promote innovation, and maximize efficiencies to ensure our continued success.  As we work together, our relationships must continue to be based on integrity, trust, and shared accountability to make the most effective use of our respective bodies of knowledge, our existing authorities, our resources, and our talents.

Successful partnerships will be based on four working principles:  consultation, collaboration, cooperation, and accountability.  By consulting, we will engage our partners in a timely fashion as we consider approaches to our environmental work so that each partner can make an early and meaningful contribution toward the final result.  By collaborating, we will not only share information, but we will actively work together with our partners to develop innovative approaches that use and leverage all available resources to achieve our environmental and human health goals.  As our work progresses, we will cooperate, viewing each other with respect as allies who must work successfully together if our goals are to be achieved.  Through shared accountability, we will ensure that environmental benefits are consistently delivered nationwide.  In carrying out these responsibilities, EPA will ensure that state, tribal, and federal implementation of federal laws achieves a consistent level of protection for the environment and human health.

With States

Under our federal environmental laws, EPA and the states share responsibility for protecting human health and the environment.  With this relationship as a key component of the nation's environmental protection system, EPA will:

*    Improve implementation of national environmental programs through closer consultation and collaboration to seek the most efficient use of resources, leverage all available opportunities to share work and expertise, develop and promote innovative solutions, and further our shared governance framework by revitalizing the National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS).[1]  We will strengthen joint EPA-state priority setting by better aligning NEPPS with EPA's national program manager guidances[2], focusing on flexible, innovative approaches to achieve results.
*    Work collaboratively with state partners to develop innovative strategies and modernize our environmental programs through the E-Enterprise Initiative[3], a 21[st] century approach that will support the nation's environmental protection responsibilities through enhanced information sharing, increased transparency, and reduced regulatory burden, supported by advanced monitoring tools and information technologies.
*    Consult with state governments on a routine basis to ensure that the development and implementation of rules is consistent with EPA's Action Development Process:  Guidance on Executive Order 13132 (Federalism), which recognizes the division of governmental responsibilities between the federal government and the states.
*    Strengthen state-EPA shared accountability by focusing oversight on the most significant and pressing state program performance challenges, using data and analysis to accelerate program improvements.
*    Ensure a level playing field across states to improve compliance and address the most serious violations.
*    Collaborate with state research organizations to share information on EPA's scientific and technical capabilities and solicit input to make our tools, models, and research useful and practical for the states in carrying out their environmental responsibilities.

With Tribes

The relationship between the United States government and federally-recognized tribes is unique; we work with tribes on a government-to-government basis on Agency decisions that may affect tribal interests.  Our responsibility to consult with tribal governments is distinct from the general consultations we have with states and nations outside the U.S. border; as such, our consultations with tribes are governed by the EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations, November 8, 1984, Executive Order 13175 and the Agency's Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes, May 4, 2011.   In strengthening this relationship with tribes, EPA will:

* Focus on increasing tribal capacity to establish and implement environmental programs while ensuring that our national programs are as effective in Indian country as they are throughout the rest of the nation.[4]
* Enhance our effort to work with tribes on a government-to-government basis, based upon the Constitution, treaties, laws, executive orders, and a long history of Supreme Court rulings.
* Strengthen our cross-cultural sensitivity with tribes, recognizing that tribes have cultural, jurisdictional, and legal features that must be considered when coordinating and implementing environmental programs in Indian country.

With Local Partners:

EPA has a unique relationship with local governments given that local governments can be both co-implementers and regulated entities under national and state environmental laws.  Recognizing that local governments vary considerably[5], are dealing with significant resource constraints as they work to build capacity (particularly in smaller communities), and often provide innovative leadership in environmental stewardship, EPA will:

* Maintain consistent and meaningful communications with local officials and optimize outreach efforts to improve environmental program implementation at the local level and receive recommendations on environmental issues that are important to local governments.
* Consult with local governments, as with states, on rules and policies that impact them, consistent with the principles of EPA's Action Development Process:  Guidance on Executive Order 13132 (Federalism).
* Promote and facilitate best practices among local officials to address pressing local environmental matters that advance shared priorities.

With International Partners

To achieve our domestic environmental and human health goals, international partnerships, including those with the business community and entrepreneurs, are essential.  Pollution is often carried by winds and water across national boundaries, posing risks to human health and ecosystems many hundreds and thousands of miles away.  Many concerns, like climate change, are universal and, to address these and other environmental challenges in the international arena, EPA will:

* Enhance sustainability principles through expanded partnership efforts in multilateral forums and in key bilateral relationships.
* Strengthen existing and build new international partnerships to encourage increased international commitment to sustainability goals and to promote a new era of global environmental stewardship based on common interests, shared values, and mutual respect.

End Notes:

 [1] NEPPS is an environmental performance system established in 1995 and designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state environmental programs and EPA-state partnerships.  It is a system of principles and tools to drive performance, efficiency, and flexibility in the EPA-state relationship.  It enables EPA and states to leverage their collective resources most efficiently and effectively by taking full advantage of the unique capacities and capabilities of each partner to achieve the maximum environmental and human health protection.  The primary tools for establishing priorities and deploying resources are Performance Partnership Agreements (PPAs) and Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs).  PPGs allow states to combine categorical grants for greater spending flexibility on state priorities.  PPAs are strategic negotiated plans that articulate joint goals and priorities, key activities, and roles and responsibilities.

[2] EPA's national program manager (NPM) guidances translate the Agency's budget decisions into operational program priorities, strategies, and performance measures. Issued by the five major environmental programs (air, water, waste, chemical safety and pollution prevention, and enforcement and compliance assurance), the NPM guidances inform the development of EPA work plans and grant agreements with states and tribes, including Performance Partnership Agreements, Performance Partnership Grants, and/or programmatic grants.

[3] EPA has developed a Proposed FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goal for E-Enterprise for the Environment:  Use advanced monitoring, information technologies, optimized business processes, and increased transparency to improve environmental outcomes and enhance service to the regulated community.  By September 30, 2015 reduce reporting burdens to EPA by one million hours through streamlined regulations, provide real-time environmental data to at least two communities, and establish a new portal to service the regulated community and public.

[4] EPA recently issued new guidance for the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program, "Guidance on the Award and Management of General Assistance Agreements for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia," May 15, 2013.  The General Assistance Program Guidance is designed to enhance the EPA-tribal partnership by establishing a framework for joint strategic planning, identification of mutual responsibilities, and targeting resources to build tribal environmental program capacities.  Additionally, it augments existing GAP Guidance with a Guidebook of program development indicators, providing "pathways" for capacity building and ways to measure development of programs over time.

[5] Local governments can include counties, cities, water districts, air districts, ports, municipal waste management associations, economic development councils, metropolitan councils of government, and other entities.

                      Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy:
                Embracing EPA as a High-Performing Organization

Maintain and attract EPA's diverse and engaged workforce of the future with a more collaborative work environment.  Modernize our business practices, including through E-Enterprise, and take advantage of new tools and technologies. Improve the way we work as a high performing Agency by ensuring we add value in every transaction with our workforce, our co-regulators, our partners, industry, and the people we serve.

As today's environmental problems continue to increase in complexity, EPA's ability to respond creatively, flexibly, and effectively will demand cross-Agency approaches to problem-solving and the use of new tools and technologies.  EPA will support these efforts by establishing a high-performing organization characterized by business practices that are modern, efficient, and cost-effective, as well as a work environment that supports staff growth and development, and is collaborative and results-driven.

EPA's compelling mission to protect human health and the environment attracts workers eager to make a difference.  EPA cultivates a highly skilled and diverse workforce, with employees energized by opportunities to learn and work collaboratively, and equipped to do their best work for the American people.  In building a high-performing organization, the Agency is working to provide employees with a modern, inclusive, and flexible work environment, enabled by advanced information technologies and tools that enhance communication, transparency, and cooperative problem solving across the Agency and with our partners.

E-Enterprise for the Environment is a major joint EPA and state initiative to modernize our business practices to increase accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness.  This effort will move us from using paper to electronic transactions, increase the use of advanced monitoring technologies to obtain better, more complete information on environmental conditions and pollution sources, and deliver data that is transparent, readily available, and understandable to EPA, the states, and the general public.  Through E-Enterprise, the entire environmental protection enterprise (federal, state, local, and tribal partners) will be able to regularly conduct two-way business electronically in an integrated way, reducing costs while enhancing environmental protection.

Consistent with E-Enterprise, EPA is also moving forward to adopt Next Generation Compliance tools and processes, which position us to take advantage of advances in research and pollutant monitoring and information technology to reduce pollution and improve results.  These tools, combined with a focus on designing rules and permits that are easier to implement, enable EPA, states, and tribes to focus on the most serious environmental problems and to better protect communities.
The Agency will focus on streamlining internal business processes and decision making at all levels.  To stay current, programs must be constantly reevaluated to ensure they are well focused and cutting edge.  Promulgated regulations should maximize environmental benefit while minimizing costs.  EPA is committed to process improvement through the application of Lean methodologies and other business practice improvement techniques, as well as the engagement of the expertise and insights of Agency employees to identify opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
By combining the strengths of a supportive work environment with a streamlined and collaborative business culture, EPA will establish itself as a high-performing organization known for advancing the talents, drive, and interests of employees, as well as the collaborative work in support of our common mission and the public we serve.  EPA will:

    Maintain and attract the workforce of the future to ensure that EPA's employees represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, are equipped with the most current technical skills, tools and knowledge, and are positioned to effectively accomplish the Agency's mission and meet evolving environmental and sustainability challenges.

    Cultivate a work environment that offers a high quality work life for all employees by engaging them in shaping Agency decisions and improving processes, and providing flexible work practices, fair and inclusive employee-friendly policies, and opportunities for continuous learning.  EPA will modernize the workplace and develop and promote collaboration tools to improve communication, cross-program integration, access to information, and transparency.

    Advance the E-Enterprise for the Environment initiative to improve environmental outcomes, enhance service to the regulated community and public, and reduce burden and improve collaborative management among EPA, states, tribes and others.  E-Enterprise will increase collaboration with the states as we modernize regulations to make e-reporting the "new normal" and use advanced monitoring to provide more complete and useful environmental data.  Key parts of E-Enterprise will be shared information technology services and tools that states and EPA programs use and, in collaboration with the states, the development of a regulatory portal that will help regulated entities electronically report to the states and EPA.  The development of E-Enterprise is one of EPA's Priority Goals.[1]

    Implement Next Generation Compliance by promoting the use of advanced monitoring and electronic reporting, designing rules that are easier to implement, expanding transparency, and using innovative enforcement approaches to increase compliance and reduce pollution.

    Streamline the Agency's internal business practices, core program processes, and decision making in areas such as acquisition and grants management, rulemaking, and permitting to ensure they are cutting edge, enhance collaboration, and improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness while maximizing environmental benefits.

    Practice outstanding financial resource stewardship to ensure that all Agency programs use resources efficiently, operate with fiscal responsibility and management integrity, are effectively and consistently delivered nationwide, and demonstrate results.

* Achieve or exceed federal sustainability targets.  These efforts, enhanced by sustainable workplace choices that can be routinely practiced by Agency employees, will continue to reduce EPA's environmental footprint by increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing water conservation, and reducing waste, and will provide lessons learned to share with other federal agencies.

End Note:

[1] See the Proposed FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goal for E-Enterprise for the Environment under the cross-cutting strategy entitled "Launching a New Era of State, Tribal, Local, and International Partnerships."

                        Strategic Measurement Framework

Introduction

The Strategic Plan provides the foundation for EPA's performance management system -- planning, budgeting, performance measurement, and accountability.  The Plan contains EPA's strategic measurement framework of long-term goals, objectives, and strategic measures, which describe the measurable human health and environmental results the Agency is working to achieve over the next four years.

To achieve the long-term goals, objectives, and strategic measures set out in this Plan, EPA designs annual performance measures which are presented in EPA's Annual Performance Plans and Budgets.  The Agency reports on our performance against these annual measures in Annual Performance Reports, and uses this performance information to help establish priorities and develop future budget submissions.  The Agency also uses this performance data to evaluate our progress and develop future Strategic Plans.

EPA's strategic planning and decision making benefits from other sources of information including program evaluations and environmental indicators.  A number of the strategic measures in this Strategic Plan are closely related to indicators in EPA's Report on the Environment (ROE).  The ROE identifies a set of peer-reviewed human health and environmental indicators that track trends in environmental conditions and environmental influences on human health.  This information also helps us better articulate and improve the strategic measurement framework in EPA's Strategic Plan.  EPA's updated ROE will provide web-based access to explore, display, and analyze the underlying data for 85 indicators for air, water, land, human exposure and health, and ecological conditions along with several new sustainability indicators.

The Agency continues to look for new data and information sources to better characterize the environmental conditions targeted by our programs to improve our understanding of the integrated and complex relationships involved in protecting human health and the environment.

Planned Changes in the Strategic Measurement Framework

Using the FY 2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan as a foundation, we have continued our focus on creating the smallest, most meaningful set of strategic measures that the Agency leadership can  use as a management tool.  We have also updated the strategic measures to reflect targets and baselines appropriate for the FY 2014-2018 time horizon.

  We will continue over the next several years to make further revisions in key areas.  Our anticipated future efforts are described below.

Tribal Capacity Building

The Agency will begin to revise how it measures and reports on the progress tribes have made in developing and implementing environmental protection programs in Indian country.  This effort will build on the new Indian General Assistance Program (GAP) guidance[1] designed to improve  tribal capacity development milestones beyond the current indicator, which shows the percent of tribes implementing federal regulatory programs.

For example, while some tribes may not seek primacy, authorization, approval, or delegation of federal programs, they nonetheless remain important partners in ensuring environmental protection.  In other cases, a tribal government works with EPA to assist with the implementation of federal environmental programs in Indian country.  The Agency will establish effective measures that capture the capacity development progress of tribes seeking to establish and implement programs in these two areas while also continuing to measure and report on tribes that EPA treats in a manner similar to a state.[2]

New measures to reflect the progress EPA is making in building tribal capacity will be derived from a multi-year effort.  As a first step, the Agency recently completed the development of a suite of environmental protection program capacity-building indicators and published them in the new GAP guidance.   Tribes will use these indicators as they develop specific program capacities under the GAP.  These indicators reflect examples of the range of program capacities that tribes develop, up to the program implementation phase.  EPA will collect baseline data in FY 2014 to help inform the development of appropriate measures and targets in FY 2015 for reporting in FY 2016-FY 2018.

Water Quality

EPA is evaluating and seeking comment on a new approach for measuring local improvements in water quality.  This new approach would use the National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus) to calculate watershed area for priority areas where waters that had not previously been attaining water quality standards are now attaining standards.  To complete the picture on water quality, EPA will continue to encourage the use of state-wide indicators for water quality for areas beyond the focus of state priority areas.  State survey results contribute information to help set future priorities and to communicate with the public on state-wide water quality status and trends as a supplement to reporting on waters within priority areas.

EPA is also evaluating this new NHDPlus approach as a means for tracking water quality improvements using the watershed approach.  This new calculation would be used for tracking incremental improvements in water quality conditions for watershed boundaries established at the "12-digit" scale by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

New measures developed through this effort would replace existing strategic measures for attaining water quality standards and for improving water quality conditions in impaired waterbodies.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

The FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan provides an opportunity to re-assess the usefulness of our current performance measures and to consider new ones.  Historically, the enforcement program's measures in the Strategic Plan have focused on counting our level of activity (e.g., numbers of inspections) and also case specific results for enforcement cases (e.g.,  pounds of pollutants reduced) to communicate the environmental benefits of our enforcement actions.  These measures provide information about how the Agency is actively and consistently performing the activities necessary to find polluters, take appropriate action, and monitor defendants' compliance with settled enforcement cases, targeting these activities toward the most serious human health and environmental problems across a variety of regulatory programs.

These metrics tell only part of the story.  An effective program should target the biggest problems first.  Under this approach, the environmental outcomes for many conventional performance measures should continually decrease over time.  For example, as EPA addresses the worst pollution first in identified sectors, the pounds of pollution reduced in that sector as a result of enforcement actions should decrease over time. Our historic enforcement measures also treat all pollution the same, even though different pollutants pose different risks.  We recognize that preventing problems is both cheaper and more effective than taking action after they happen; however, our traditional metrics do not adequately account for work to prevent pollution.  By focusing only on enforcement actions the measures can have the inadvertent effect of discouraging innovative approaches that could improve compliance, and undervalue strong work by states to improve compliance.

These challenges in our performance measures have led us to think about new ways to measure the effectiveness of our work.  Fortunately, advances in both pollution monitoring and information technologies may help to provide answers.  These advances are at the heart of our new paradigm called Next Generation Compliance.

Next Generation Compliance is focused on the following five areas:

1. Designing regulations and permits that are easier to implement, with a goal of improved compliance and environmental outcomes.
2. Using and promoting advanced emissions/pollutant detection technology so that regulated entities, the government, and the public can more easily see quantified pollutant discharges, environmental conditions, and noncompliance.
3. Shifting toward electronic reporting by regulated entities so that we have more accurate, complete, and timely information on pollution sources, pollution, and compliance, saving time and money while improving effectiveness and public transparency.
4. Expanding transparency by making the information we have today more accessible, and making new information obtained from advanced emissions monitoring and electronic reporting more readily available to the public.
5. Developing and using innovative enforcement approaches (e.g., data analytics and targeting) to achieve more widespread compliance.

Progress toward Next Generation Compliance should eventually make new measures of effectiveness possible.  For example, if we and our state and tribal partners were able through electronic reporting to more reliably measure compliance across the universe of a regulated sector, something that cannot be done for most sectors today, we could have a measure that is closer to a compliance "rate."  Such a measure would credit innovative work to avoid violations, include state, tribal, and federal work toward this shared objective, and allow us to promote prevention as well as pollution reductions.  If we and the states were able through advanced monitoring technologies to more reliably measure actual pollution, and rely less on estimates as is done today, we could have a measure that accounted for the amount of pollution over permitted limits, allowing us to know what kinds of violations matter the most to real pollution problems.  Next Generation approaches will also support our ability and that of the states to adopt more evidence-based approaches, as measurement of effectiveness becomes easier, faster, and cheaper.

While these new strategies should allow us to improve our measures in the future, we are not there yet.  We are working with states and tribes to increase electronic reporting, but it will take years to fully implement this transition.  Advanced monitoring is being used increasingly in government and by industry, but is far from widespread.  Rather than wait, and continue to rely exclusively on measures that tell an incomplete and sometimes misleading story, we plan to experiment with interim measures.  These interim measures do not reflect where we want to end up, but they help to shine a light on the path ahead, and draw attention to our investment in these new approaches.  We expect that these ideas will lead in the future to both better results and stronger metrics to measure our success and the success of our state and tribal partners. Through this Strategic Plan we are hoping to begin a dialogue with states, tribes, and the public on these new directions.

Table 1 sets out a few examples of new measures that illustrate the kind of metrics that may be discussed as part of the national dialogue we expect to have on this issue.  The measures in italics are not currently part of our suite of measures.  We are keenly aware of the need to avoid increasing reporting burden, so after the dialogue with states and the public, we expect to select only a  limited number of new interim measures.  Of course, for any new interim measures, we will need to define what they mean and how they will be counted.  We are also reassessing the usefulness of current measures (i.e., measures in the first two columns of Table 1).

            Table 1:  Strategic Enforcement and Compliance Measures

                         Enforcement Presence Measures
                 Compliance, Deterrence, and Outcome Measures
                      Next Generation Compliance Measures

EPA is initiating a discussion with states and the public about ways to incorporate Next Gen approaches into our measures.  Below are a few examples of the types of measures that may be discussed.

 Inspections & evaluations
 Initiated & concluded civil judicial & administrative enforcement cases
 Compliance status of open, non-Superfund consent decrees
 Address cost recovery statute of limitations cases with total past costs above $500,000
 Reaching settlement with potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
 Criminal cases with charges filed
 Criminal cases with defendants convicted

 Air, water, hazardous waste, toxic, and pesticide pollutants reduced as a result of enforcement actions
 Contaminated media reduced through enforcement actions
 Criminal cases with most significant impacts
 Criminal cases with individual defendants

  Number of enforcement settlements that resulted from or that incorporate advanced monitoring technologies

 Regulated sources using advanced monitoring to measure their own emissions

 Percent of facilities electronically reporting Clean Water Act NPDES data to  authorized states and tribes and EPA

  Public use of compliance transparency tools (ECHO, pollutant loading tool, etc.)

 Sectors for which measureable compliance rate strategies adopted

EPA's Proposed FY 2014-2015 Priority Goals (Agency Priority Goals)

As part of this Plan revision, we are identifying new FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goals (APGs), our third round of APGs.  In addition to our long-term strategic measures, these Agency Priority Goals, which have 18- to 24-month operational targets, advance our strategic goals and serve as key indicators of our near-term work.  EPA will report progress on the FY 2014-2015 APGs in the Annual Plan and Budget and results will be available quarterly via www.Performance.gov [3].  A complete list of the proposed FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goals can be found in the Appendix.

End Notes:

[1] Final guidance on EPA's Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) with indicators was published May 15, 2013 and is available at www.epa.gov/tribal.

[2] For more information on TAS, please see http://www.epa.gov/tp/laws/tas.htm.

[3] The EPA also participates in one mission-focused and several management Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) Goals.  The EPA directly contributes to the Energy Efficiency CAP goal through work currently conducted under the Agency's Energy Star and Transportation and Air Quality programs.  The EPA also provides data via existing mechanisms (e.g., databases used for other reporting requirements such as the Federal Information Security Management Act) toward the achievement of the following management goals:  Cybersecurity, Sustainability, Real Property, Improper Payments, Data Center Consolidation, and Closing Skills Gaps.  Per the GPRA Modernization Act requirement to address CAP Goals in the Agency Strategic Plan, the Annual Performance Plan, and the Annual Performance Report, please refer to www.Performance.gov for the Agency's contributions to these goals and progress, where applicable.

Strategic Measurement Framework

Goal 1:  Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop adaptation strategies to address climate change, and protect and improve air quality.

Objective 1.1:  Address Climate Change.  Minimize the threats posed by climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking actions that help to protect human health and help communities and ecosystems become more sustainable and resilient to the effects of climate change.

Strategic Measures:

Address Climate Change

* By the end of 2018, implementation of the EPA and NHTSA national program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel economy from light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles will achieve a cumulative reduction of 460 MMTCO2Eq.  (Baseline 2011: 0 MMTCO2Eq.)

* By 2018, additional programs from across EPA will promote practices to help Americans save energy and conserve resources, leading to expected greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 1,095.5 MMTCO2Eq. from a baseline without adoption of efficient practices.

      Building Programs                                                         215.5 MMTCO2Eq.
      Industrial Programs[1]                                                   651.4 MMTCO2Eq.
      Smartway Transportation Partnership                           48 MMTCO2Eq.
      Pollution Prevention Programs                                      40 MMTCO2Eq.
      Sustainable Materials Management Programs[2]         117.4 MMTCO2Eq.
      WaterSense Program                                                     23 MMTCO2Eq.
      Executive Order 13514[3] GHG Reduction Program   0.21 MMTCO2Eq.

   This reduction compares to 616.8 MMTCO2Eq. reduced in 2011.  Baseline FY 2011:

      Building Programs                                                       189.0 MMTCO2Eq.
      Industrial Programs[1]                                                  357.9  MMTCO2Eq.
      Smartway Transportation Partnership                          23.6 MMTCO2Eq.
      Pollution Prevention Programs                                     17 MMTCO2Eq.
      Sustainable Materials Management Programs[2]         22.1 MMTCO2Eq.
      WaterSense Program                                                    7 MMTCO2Eq.
      Executive Order 13514[3] GHG Reduction Program  0.18 MMTCO2Eq.

* By 2018, 240 state, tribal, and community partners will integrate climate change data, models, information, and other decision support tools developed by EPA for climate change adaptation into their planning processes. [Baseline to be developed.][4][5]
* By 2018, 240 state, tribal, and community partners will incorporate climate change adaptation into the implementation of their environmental programs supported by major EPA financial mechanisms (grants, loans, contracts, and technical assistance agreements).  [Baseline to be developed.] [5]

* By 2018, 6 existing or new EPA-developed training programs will incorporate climate change adaptation planning for EPA staff, state, tribal, and community partners (includes programmatic and cross-programmatic trainings).  [Baseline to be developed.] [5]

Objective 1.2:  Improve Air Quality.  Achieve and maintain health and welfare based air pollution standards and reduce risk from toxic air pollutants and indoor air contaminants.

Strategic Measures:

Reduce Criteria Pollutants and Regional Haze

* By 2018, the population-weighted average concentrations of ozone (smog) in all monitored counties will decrease to 0.072 ppm compared to the average of 0.076 ppm in 2011, a reduction of 5%.

* By 2018, the population-weighted average concentrations of inhalable fine particles in all monitored counties will decrease to 9.5 ug/m³ compared to the average of 10.4 ug/m³ in 2011, a reduction of 9%.

* Through 2018, maintain emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from electric power generation sources to 5.0 million tons per year compared to the 2009 level of 5.7 million tons emitted.  (In 2011, these sources emitted 4.5 million tons.)  (Rationale for baseline year: 2009 is the year immediately preceding the first year of SO2 compliance under the Clean Air Interstate Rule [CAIR] and full implementation of Acid Rain's permanent cap on utility SO2 emissions.)

   *    By 2018, visibility in scenic parks and wilderness areas will improve by 15 percent in the East and 5 percent in the West, on the 20 percent worst visibility days, as compared to visibility on the 20 percent worst days during the 2000-2004 baseline.

   *    By 2018, with EPA support including training, policy, and administrative and technical assistance, tribes will receive 15 additional approvals to implement the Clean Air Act in Indian country (as demonstrated by successful completion of an eligibility determination under the Tribal Authority Rule). The cumulative total will be 62 approved eligibility determinations, from the 2012 baseline of 47.

Reduce Air Toxics

* Through 2018, maintain air toxics (toxicity-weighted for cancer) emissions reductions to 4.2 million tons from the 1993 toxicity-weighted baseline of 7.2 million tons. [6]

Reduce the Adverse Ecological Effects of Acid Deposition

* Through 2018, maintain improvements to approximately 10 percent of the chronically-acidic lakes and stream reaches in the east identified in the 2001 baseline survey of stream and lake measurements conducted in the 1990s and maintain associated ecosystem health gains in acid-sensitive regions of the northern and eastern United States.

Reduce Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants

* By 2018, the number of future premature lung cancer deaths prevented annually through lowered radon exposure will increase to 1,056 from the 2008 baseline of 756 future premature lung cancer deaths prevented.  The 2011 benchmark is 905 future premature lung cancer deaths prevented.

* By 2018, the number of people taking all essential actions to reduce exposure to indoor environmental asthma triggers in homes and schools will increase to 9 million from the 2003 baseline of 3.0 million.  EPA will place special emphasis on reducing racial and ethnic asthma disparities among children.  The 2012 benchmark is 6.5 million people taking all essential actions to reduce exposure to indoor environmental asthma triggers.

Objective 1.3:  Restore and Protect the Ozone Layer.  Restore and protect the earth's stratospheric ozone layer and protect the public from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Strategic Measure:

Reduce Consumption of Ozone-Depleting Substances

* By 2015, U.S. consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chemicals that deplete the Earth's protective ozone layer, will be less than 1,520 tons per year of ozone depletion potential from the 2009 baseline of 9,900 tons per year.  By this time, as a result of worldwide reduction in ozone-depleting substances, the level of "equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine" (EESC) in the atmosphere will have peaked at 3.185 parts per billion (ppb) of air by volume and begun its gradual decline to less than 1.800 ppb (1980 level).
   [Note:  This strategic measure will not be adjusted at this time because the baseline dates and milestones are set through the international treaty, the Montreal Protocol.]

Objective 1.4:  Minimize Exposure to Radiation.  Minimize releases of radioactive material and be prepared to minimize exposure through response and recovery actions should unavoidable releases occur.

Strategic Measure:

Prepare for Radiological Emergencies

* Through 2018, EPA will maintain a 93 percent level of readiness of radiation emergency response program personnel and assets that meet functional requirements necessary to support federal radiological emergency response and recovery operations. (The 2012 readiness baseline is 91.5 percent. The level of readiness measure is based on the Agency's Core National Approach to Response assessment process.[7])

End Notes:

[1] Industrial Programs include ENERGY STAR for Industry, Natural Gas STAR, Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP), Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), Green Power Partnership, Combined Heat and Power Partnership (CHP), Voluntary Aluminum Industry Partnership (VAIP), HFC-23 Emission Reduction Partnerships, Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership (MAC), Environmental Stewardship Initiative, Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP), Responsible Appliance Disposal Program (RAD), GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, and Landfill Rule.

[2] For this Plan, Sustainable Materials Management Programs include 10% National Recycling Tonnage and 100% Electronics Challenge Participant, Federal Green Challenge Participant, and Food Recovery Challenge Participant Results.

[3] The Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance Executive Order was signed on October 5, 2009.  The Executive Order sets sustainability goals for federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy, and economic performance.

[4] EPA maintains strong partnerships with other federal agencies by working closely with them to develop decision-support tools for climate adaptation.  EPA often uses data, models, and tools from other agencies as it develops new decision-support tools focused specifically on integrating adaptation planning into its programs and policies.  For example, EPA's Water Erosion Prediction Project Climate Assessment Tool (WEPPCAT) provides users with a capability to assess the potential impacts of climate change on sediment loading to streams using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model.  Similarly, EPA shares decision tools that it develops, such as the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT), with other federal agencies.  EPA actively pursues these collaborative efforts through the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Agency Adaptation Working Group, through the U.S. Global Change Research Program's Adaptation Science Work Group, and through project-based collaborations.

[5] This measure reflects outcomes from the cumulative efforts across all of the Agency's media programs (air, water, waste, and toxics and pesticides programs) and regional offices.

[6] The 2018 target is an estimate based on the 2008 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) released in 2011.

[7-6] The level of readiness measure is based on the Agency's Core-NAR (National Approach to Response) assessment process.  Core-NAR is an Agency-wide process that provides a comprehensive numerical assessment of each aspect of the Agency's emergency response programs, including the Radiological Emergency Response Team and supporting radiation emergency response program.

Goal 2:  Protecting America's Waters.  Protect and restore waters to ensure that drinking water is safe and sustainably managed, and that aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, plants, wildlife, and other biota, as well as economic, recreational, and subsistence activities.

Objective 2.1:  Protect Human Health.  Achieve and maintain standards and guidelines protective of human health in drinking water supplies, fish, shellfish, and recreational waters, and protect and sustainably manage drinking water resources.

Strategic Measures:

Water Safe to Drink

* By 2018, 92 percent of community water systems will provide drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards through approaches including effective treatment and source water protection. (2005 baseline:  89 percent.  FY 2012 universe: 300.7 million people served by community water systems.  Status as of FY 2012:  91 percent.)

* By 2018, 88 percent of the population in Indian country served by community water systems will receive drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards. (2005 baseline:  86 percent.  FY 2012 universe: 984,236 people in Indian county served by community water systems.  Status as of FY 2012:  84 percent.)

* By 2018 in coordination with other federal agencies, provide access to safe drinking water for 148,100 American Indian and Alaska Native homes.  (FY 2012 Baseline:  104,000 homes, Universe:  406,000 homes.)
Fish and Shellfish Safe to Eat

* By 2018, reduce the percentage of women of childbearing age having mercury levels in blood above the level of concern to 2.1 percent. (2012 baseline (2009-2010 data):  2.3 percent of women of childbearing age have mercury blood levels above levels of concern identified by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).)
Water Safe for Swimming

* By 2018, maintain the percentage of days of the beach season that coastal and Great Lakes beaches monitored by state beach safety programs are open and safe for swimming at 95 percent. (2012 baseline (2011 data):  Beaches open 95 percent of the 694,191 days of the beach season (beach season days are equal to 3,650 monitored beaches multiplied by variable number of days of beach season at each beach).  Status as of FY 2012:  95 percent.)
Objective 2.2:  Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems.  Protect, restore, and sustain the quality of rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands on a watershed basis, and sustainably manage and protect coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems.

Strategic Measures:

Improve Water Quality on a Watershed Basis

* [Under Development] EPA is evaluating and seeking comment on a new approach for measuring local improvements in water quality. This new approach would use the National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus) to calculate watershed area for priority areas where waters that had not previously been attaining water quality standards are now attaining standards. As part of this effort, EPA will continue to encourage states to identify priority waters for assessment, protection, and restoration and to keep track of conditions statewide using statistical surveys.[1]

* [Under Development] EPA is also evaluating this new NHDPlus approach as a means for tracking water quality improvements using the watershed approach. This new calculation would be used for tracking incremental improvements in water quality conditions for watershed boundaries established at the "12-digit" scale by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).[1]

* Through 2018, ensure that the condition of the Nation's rivers and streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal water does not degrade (i.e., there is no statistically significant increase in the percent rated "poor" and no statistically significant decrease rated "good.")  (2006 baseline for streams:  28 percent in good condition; 25 percent in fair condition; 42 percent in poor condition.  2010 baseline for lakes:  56 percent in good condition; 21 percent in fair condition; 22 percent in poor condition; 2014 baseline for wetlands TBD.  2014 baseline for coastal:  TBD.)

* By 2018, improve water quality in Indian country at 50 or more baseline monitoring stations in tribal waters (cumulative) (i.e., show improvement in one or more of seven key parameters: dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, pathogen indicators, and turbidity) and identify monitoring stations on tribal lands that are showing no degradation in water quality (meaning the waters are meeting uses).  (2006 baseline:  185 monitoring stations on tribal waters located where water quality has been depressed and activities are underway or planned to improve water quality, out of an estimated 2,037 stations operated by tribes.)

* By 2018, in coordination with other federal agencies, provide access to basic sanitation for 91,900 American Indian and Alaska Native homes.  (FY 2012 baseline:  63,000 homes. Universe:  406,000 homes.)
Improve Coastal and Ocean Waters

* By 2018, improve regional coastal aquatic ecosystem health, as measured on the "good/fair/poor" scale of the National Coastal Condition Report.  (FY 2012 baseline:  National rating of "fair" or 3.0 where the rating is based on a 4-point system ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 in which 1 is poor and 5 is good using the National Coastal Condition Report indicators for water and sediment, coastal habitat, benthic index, and fish contamination.)

* By 2018, 95 percent of active dredged material ocean dumping sites, as determined by 3-year average, will have achieved environmentally acceptable conditions (as reflected in each site's management plan and measured through onsite monitoring programs).  (2012 baseline: 97 percent. FY 2012 universe is 67.)  (Due to variability in the universe of sites, results vary from year to year (e.g., between 85 percent and 99 percent).  While this much variability is not expected every year, the results are expected to have some change each year.)

* By 2018, working with partners, protect or restore an additional (i.e., measuring from 2012 forward) 600,000 acres of habitat within the study areas for the 28 estuaries that are part of the National Estuary Program.  (2012 baseline:  1,167,733 acres of habitat protected or restored, cumulative from 2002-2012.  In FY 2012, 114,579 acres were protected or restored.)
Increase Wetlands

* By 2018, working with partners, achieve a net increase of wetlands nationwide, with additional focus on coastal wetlands, and biological and functional measures and assessment of wetland condition.  (2012 baseline:  110.1 million acres of wetlands in the conterminous United States, and 62,300 wetland acres were lost over 2004-2009.)
Great Lakes

* By 2018, implement all management actions necessary for later delisting at 12 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes (cumulative).  (2012 baseline:  2)[2]

* By 2018, implement and evaluate actions necessary to protect, restore, or enhance 20 percent of U.S. Great Lakes coastal wetlands greater than 10 acres.  (2012 baseline:  0)[3]
Chesapeake Bay

* By 2018, achieve 45 percent attainment of water quality standards for dissolved oxygen, water clarity/underwater grasses, and chlorophyll a in Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries.  (2011 Baseline:  40 percent)[4]
Gulf of Mexico

* By 2018, support best management practices and projects to reduce releases of nutrients throughout the Mississippi River Basin to aid in the reduction of the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico to less than 5,000 km², as measured by the 5-year running average of the size of the zone.  (Baseline: 2005-2009 running average size is 15,670 km².)[5]
Long Island Sound

* By 2018, reduce the maximum area of hypoxia in Long Island Sound by 15 percent from the pre-TMDL average of 208 square miles as measured by the 5-year running average size of the zone.  (Baseline: Pre-total maximum daily load (TMDL) average conditions based on 1987-1999 data is 208 square miles.  Post-TMDL includes years 2000-2017.  Universe:  The total surface area of Long Island Sound is approximately 1,268 square miles; the potential for the maximum area of hypoxia would be 1,268 square miles.)
Puget Sound Basin

* By 2018, improve water quality and enable the lifting of harvest restrictions in 6,000 acres of shellfish bed growing areas impacted by degraded or declining water quality in the Puget Sound. (2012 baseline:  2,489 acres of shellfish beds with harvest restrictions in 2006 had their restrictions lifted.  Universe:  30,000 acres of commercial shellfish beds with harvest restrictions in 2006.)
U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Health

* By 2018, provide access to safe drinking water and adequate wastewater sanitation to 75 percent and 90 percent, respectively, of the homes in the U.S.-Mexico Border area that lacked access to either service in 2003.  (2003 Universe:  98,515 homes lacked drinking water and 690,723 homes lacked adequate wastewater sanitation based on a 2003 assessment of homes in the U.S.-Mexico Border area.  2018 target:  73,886 homes provided with access to safe drinking water and 621,651 homes with adequate wastewater sanitation.

End Notes:

[1] The two new measures under development will substitute for the following two measures:

       By 2018, attain water quality standards for all pollutants and impairments in more than 5,000 water bodies identified in 2002 as not attaining standards (cumulative). (2002 universe:  39,798 water bodies identified by states and tribes as not meeting water quality standards.  Water bodies where mercury is among multiple pollutants causing impairment may be counted toward this target when all pollutants but mercury attain standards, but must be identified as still needing restoration for mercury; 1,703 impaired water bodies are impaired by multiple pollutants including mercury, and 6,501 are impaired by mercury alone.  Status as of FY 2012:  3,527 water bodies attained standards.)

       By 2018, improve water quality conditions in 620 impaired watersheds nationwide using the watershed approach (cumulative).  (2002 baseline:  Zero watersheds improved of an estimated 4,800 impaired watersheds of focus having one or more water bodies impaired.  The watershed boundaries for this measure are those established at the "12-digit" scale by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  Watersheds at this scale average 22 square miles in size. "Improved" means that one or more of the impairment causes identified in 2002 are removed for at least 40 percent of the impaired water bodies or impaired miles/acres, or there is significant watershed-wide improvement, as demonstrated by valid scientific information, in one or more water quality parameters associated with the impairments.  Status as of FY 2012:  332 improved watersheds.)

[2] "Great Lakes management actions necessary for later delisting" are the identified local, state, and federal actions that are believed to be necessary to remove the beneficial use impairments of the Area of Concern.  Once taken, these actions are expected to allow environmental conditions to improve over time which will lead to eventual delisting of the Area of Concern.

[3] Only about 600 coastal wetlands greater than 10 acres in size remain on the roughly 5,500 miles of Great Lakes shoreline in the U.S.  Coastal wetlands are immensely important ecologically and economically.  The proposed actions will demonstrate quantitative and qualitative results from strategic efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the coastal wetlands assessed under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

[4] Achievement of the 2018 target will be evaluated using monitoring data from 2015, 2016, and 2017 to assess attainment of applicable water quality standards in each of the Bay's 291 designated-use segments.  The 2011 baseline reflects monitoring data from 2008, 2009, and 2010.

[5] The size of hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is influenced by multiple factors, including releases of nutrients.  The reduction of nutrient releases from the Mississippi River Basin is influenced by action, practices, and resources from the collaboration of federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders.

Goal 3:  Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development.  Clean up communities, advance sustainable development, and protect disproportionately impacted low-income and minority communities.  Prevent releases of harmful substances and clean up and restore contaminated areas.

Objective 3.1:  Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities.  Support sustainable, resilient, and livable communities by working with local, state, tribal, and federal partners to promote smart growth, emergency preparedness and recovery planning, redevelopment and reuse of contaminated and formerly contaminated sites, and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits.

Strategic Measures:

Promote Sustainable Communities

* By 2018, reduce the air, water, land, and human health impacts of new growth and development through the use of smart growth and sustainable development strategies in 600 (cumulative) communities, which includes tribal governments, local municipalities, regional entities, and state governments, through activities resulting from EPA and federal partner actions.  (Baseline:  In FY 2013, an estimated 102 communities will be assisted.)[1]

Assess and Clean Up Brownfields

* By 2018, conduct environmental assessments at 26,350 (cumulative) brownfield properties.  (Baseline:  As of the end of FY 2012, EPA assessed 19,154 properties.)

* By 2018, make an additional 16,800 acres of brownfield properties ready for reuse from the 2012 baseline.  (Baseline:  As of the end of FY 2012, EPA made 25,408 acres ready for reuse.)

Reduce Chemical Risks at Facilities and in Communities

 By 2018, conduct 2,300 inspections at risk management plan (RMP) facilities. (Baseline: Between FY 2000 and FY 2012, more than 7,400 RMP inspections were completed.)

Objective 3.2:  Preserve Land.  Conserve resources and prevent land contamination by reducing waste generation and toxicity, promoting proper management of waste and petroleum products, and increasing sustainable materials management.

Strategic Measures:

Waste Generation and Recycling

* By 2018, increase by 500,000 tons the amount of virgin materials that were offset by the reuse or recycling of waste products through the use of sustainable materials management. (Baseline:  In FY 2013, an estimated 8,500,000 tons of waste products will be reused or recycled through sustainable materials management practices.)

* By 2018, increase by 50 the number of tribes covered by an integrated waste management plan compared to FY 2013.  (Baseline:  As of March 2013, 160 of 574 federally recognized tribes were covered by an integrated waste management plan.)[2]

Minimize Releases of Hazardous Waste and Petroleum Products

 By 2018, prevent releases at 500 additional hazardous waste management facilities by issuing initial approved controls or updated controls resulting in the protection of an estimated 20 million people living within a mile of all facilities with controls.[3]  (Baseline:  At the end of FY 2013, an estimated 1,220 facilities will require these controls out of the universe of 6,600 facilities, with over 20,000 process units.)

* By 2018, prevent exposures at polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) sites by issuing 750 approvals for PCB cleanup, storage, and disposal activities.

* Each year through 2018, increase the percentage of underground storage tank (UST) facilities that are in significant operational compliance (SOC) with both release detection and release prevention requirements by 0.5 percent over the previous year's target.  (Baseline:  This means an increase of facilities in SOC from an estimated 70 percent in 2014 to 72 percent in 2018.)

* Each year through 2018, reduce the number of confirmed releases at UST facilities to 5 percent fewer than the prior year's target.  (Baseline:  Between FY 2008 and FY 2012, confirmed UST releases averaged 6,500.)

Objective 3.3:  Restore Land.  Prepare for and respond to accidental or intentional releases of contaminants and clean up and restore polluted sites for reuse.

Strategic Measures:

Emergency Preparedness and Response

* By 2018, achieve and maintain at least 85 percent of the maximum score on the Core National Approach to Response (NAR) evaluation criteria.  (Baseline:  In FY 2012, the average Core NAR Score was 76 percent for EPA headquarters, regions, and special teams prepared for responding to emergencies.)[4]

* By 2018, complete an additional 1,700 Superfund removals.(Baseline:  In FY 2012, there were 428 Superfund removal actions completed.)

* By 2018, bring into compliance 60 percent of FRP inspected facilities found to be non-compliant.  (Baseline: In FY2010, 268 FRP facilities were inspected and 121 were found to be non-compliant, an initial compliance rate of 55 percent.)

* By 2018, bring into compliance 60 percent of SPCC inspected facilities found to be non-compliant.  (Baseline: In FY2010, 781 SPCC facilities were inspected and 456 were found to be non-compliant, an initial compliance rate of 42 percent.)

Clean Up Contaminated Land

* By 2018, complete 95,500 assessments at potential hazardous waste sites to determine if they warrant Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remedial response or other cleanup activities.  (Baseline: As of 2012, the cumulative total number of assessments completed was 91,300.)

* By 2018, increase to 92 percent the number of Superfund sites and RCRA facilities where human exposures to toxins from contaminated sites are under control.  (Baseline:  As of October 2013, an estimated 83 percent of Superfund sites and 85 percent of RCRA facilities will have human exposures under control out of a combined universe of 5,451.)[5]

* By 2018, increase to 86 percent the number of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities with migration of contaminated groundwater under control.  (Baseline: At the end of FY 2013, the migration of contaminated groundwater will be controlled at an estimated 73 percent of all 3,779 facilities needing corrective action.)

* By 2018, increase to 73 percent the number of RCRA facilities with final remedies constructed.  (Baseline:  At the end of FY 2013, all cleanup remedies will be constructed at an estimated 51 percent of all 3,779 facilities needing corrective action.)

* By 2018, increase to 25 percent the number of RCRA facilities with corrective action performance standards attained (Baseline: At the end of FY 2013, performance standards will be attained at an estimated 20 percent of all 3,779 RCRA facilities requiring corrective action.) [6]

* Each year through 2018, reduce the backlog of LUST cleanups (confirmed releases that have yet to be cleaned up) that do not meet risk-based standards for human exposure and groundwater migration by 1 percent.  This means a decrease from 16 percent in 2012 to 10 percent in 2018.  (At the end of FY 2012, there were 82,903 releases not yet cleaned up.)

* Each year through 2018, reduce the backlog of LUST cleanups (confirmed releases that have yet to be cleaned up) in Indian country that do not meet applicable risk-based standards for human exposure and groundwater migration by 1 percent.  This means a decrease from 23 percent in 2012 to 17 percent in 2018.

* By 2018, ensure that 946 Superfund sites are "sitewide ready for anticipated use." (Baseline:  As of October 2012, 606 Superfund sites had achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated use" out of a universe of 1,742 sites.)[7]

Objective 3.4:  Strengthen Human Health and Environmental Protection in Indian Country.  Directly implement federal environmental programs in Indian country and support federal program delegation to tribes.  Provide tribes with technical assistance and support capacity development for the establishment and implementation of sustainable environmental programs in Indian country.

Strategic Measures:

Improve Human Health and the Environment in Indian Country

* By 2015, increase the percent of tribes implementing federal regulatory environmental programs in Indian country to 25 percent.  (FY 2009 baseline:  22 percent of 572 tribes.)

* By 2015, increase the percent of tribes conducting EPA-approved environmental monitoring and assessment activities in Indian country to 58 percent. (FY 2012 baseline:  54 percent of 572 tribes)

End Notes:

[1] Included in the cumulative number are communities receiving assistance from:  (1) direct EPA technical assistance programs; (2) EPA-funded grants and cooperative agreements to non-governmental organizations; and (3) in a limited number of communities (i.e., 6 of the total 34 communities in the FY 2010 baseline), technical assistance done in collaboration with other EPA programs (such as EPA's brownfields program) and other federal agencies (such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development).

[2] The number of inspections may change based on higher priorities coming from the Executive Order on Chemical Plant Safety and Security.

[3] EPA is discontinuing the tribal open dump closure and clean up measure in this Strategic Plan to focus on EPA's main tribal solid waste priority, which is the promotion of sustainable tribal waste management programs through the development and implementation of Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs).

[4] Estimate drawn from OSWER Near Site Population Database, an internal EPA database that merges facility size and location information from RCRAInfo with population data, at the block and block group levels, from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 Census.  The demographics were captured around the total number of facilities that have approved controls in place that result in the protection of this population (20 million people).

[5] Consistent with the government-wide National Response Framework (NRF), EPA will work to fully implement the priorities under its internal NAR so that the agency is prepared to respond to multiple nationally significant incidents.  Core NAR builds upon the core emergency response concept while integrating the priority elements of EPA's NAR Preparedness Plan, and the Homeland Security Priority Workplan, to reflect an agency-wide assessment of progress.

[6] Superfund sites include sites placed on or deleted from the Final National Priorities List (NPL) and sites addressed under the Superfund Alternative Approach process.  EPA is currently revising its dioxin risk assessment which may affect the targets and baselines for the human exposures under control and sitewide ready for anticipated use measures.

[7] Attaining performance standards is the final cleanup step for a corrective action facility (e.g., soil cleanup standards met, groundwater cleanup levels achieved).  Other measures for controlling human exposures and groundwater migration and for completing remedy construction identify critical interim steps in the cleanup process.

[8] Superfund sites include sites placed on or deleted from the Final National Priorities List (NPL) and sites addressed under the Superfund Alternative Approach process.

Goal 4:  Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution.  Reduce the risk and increase the safety of chemicals and prevent pollution at the source.

Objective 4.1:  Ensure Chemical Safety.  Reduce the risk and increase the safety of chemicals that enter our products, our environment and our bodies.

Strategic Measures:

Protect Human Health from Chemical Risks

* By 2018, reduce by 30 percent the number of moderate to severe exposure incidents associated with organophosphates and carbamate insecticides in the general population.(Baseline for moderate to severe exposure incidents reported during 2011 is 274, as reported in the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poisoning Data System (NPDS) for organophosphates and carbamate pesticides.)

* Through 2018, work to ensure that the percentage of children with blood lead levels above 5 ug/dl does not rise above the 1.0 percent target for FY 2014 and work to make further reductions in blood lead levels.  (Baseline is 2.6 percent of children ages 1-5 had elevated blood lead levels (5 ug/dl or greater) in the 2007-2010 sampling period according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey (NHANES).)

* By 2018, reduce the percent difference in the geometric mean blood lead level in low-income children 1-5 years old as compared to the geometric mean for non-low income children 1-5 years old to 10.0 percent.  (Baseline is 28.4 percent difference in the geometric mean blood lead level in low-income children ages 1-5 years old as compared to the geometric mean for non-low income children 1-5 years old in 2007-2010 sampling period according to CDC National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey (NHANES).)

* By 2018, reduce the concentration of perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) in blood serum in the general population by 20 percent. (PFOA baseline is based on 2009-2010 geometric mean data in serum (3.07 ug/L) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).)

* By 2018, complete Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) decisions for 100 percent of chemicals for which complete EDSP data is expected to be available by the end of 2017.  (Baseline is 15 decisions have been completed through 2012 for any of the chemicals for which complete EDSP information is anticipated to be available by the end of 2017.  EDSP decisions for a chemical can range from determining potential to interact with the estrogen, androgen, or thyroid hormone systems to otherwise determining whether further endocrine related testing is necessary.)

* By 2018, reduce rodenticide exposure incidents by 75 percent in children ages 1-6. (The baseline total number of confirmed and likely rodenticide exposures to children ages 1-6 in 2011 is 10,259 according to data by the Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System.)

* By 2018, EPA will have issued draft risk assessments for all currently identified TSCA Work Plan Chemicals.  (Baseline is zero risk assessments finalized for the 83 initially identified TSCA Work Plan Chemicals through 2012.)

Protect Ecosystems from Chemical Risks

* By 2018, no watersheds will exceed aquatic life benchmarks for targeted pesticides. (Data for 2012 provides the most recent percent of agricultural watersheds sampled by the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program that exceeds the National Pesticide Program aquatic life benchmarks for azinphos-methyl (7 percent) and chlorpyrifos (7 percent). Urban watersheds sampled by the NAWQA program that exceeds the National Pesticide Program aquatic life benchmarks for diazinon (0 percent), chlorpyrifos (0 percent), and carbaryl (9 percent).)

Objective 4.2:  Promote Pollution Prevention.  Conserve and protect natural resources by promoting pollution prevention and the adoption of other sustainability practices by companies, communities, governmental organizations, and individuals.

Strategic Measures:

* By 2018, reduce 17 billion pounds of hazardous materials cumulatively through pollution prevention.  (Baseline is 9 billion pounds reduced through 2011.)

* By 2018, reduce 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2Eq.) cumulatively through pollution prevention. (Baseline is 17.7 MMTCO2Eq. reduced through 2011.  The data from this measure are also calculated into the Agency's overall GHG measure under Goal 1.)

* By 2018, reduce 297 billion gallons of water use cumulatively through pollution prevention. (Baseline is 141 billion gallons reduced through 2011.)

* By 2018, save $ 10 billion in business, institutional, and government costs cumulatively through pollution prevention improvements.  (Baseline is $ 6 billion saved through 2011.)

* By 2018, increase the use of safer chemicals cumulatively by 30 percent.  (Baseline: 770 million pounds of safer chemicals used in 2012 as reported to be in commerce by Design for the Environment program.)

Goal 5:  Protecting Human Health and the Environment by Enforcing  Laws and Assuring Compliance.  Protect human health and the environment through vigorous and targeted civil and criminal enforcement.  Use Next Generation Compliance strategies and tools to improve compliance with environmental laws.

Objective 5.1:  Enforce Environmental Laws to Achieve Compliance.  Pursue vigorous civil and criminal enforcement that targets the most serious water, air, and chemical hazards in communities to achieve compliance.  Assure strong, consistent, and effective enforcement of federal environmental laws nationwide.  Use Next Generation Compliance strategies and tools to  improve compliance and reduce pollution.

Strategic Measures:

Note:  The enforcement measures in this Plan reflect:  (1) the enforcement presence and level-of-effort measures that reflect the Agency's continued and strong investment in enforcement work; and, (2) the reductions in pollution achieved through enforcement cases (i.e., case-specific outcome indicators) which are dominated by the very largest cases and will typically vary widely over time depending on the pollution problems being addressed.  In this Plan, EPA also notes that it is beginning to solicit comments on measures that would focus on the Next Generation Compliance approach in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Agency's enforcement and compliance program.

Maintain Enforcement Presence

   *    By 2018, conduct 70,000 federal inspections and evaluations (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2009 baseline:  21,000 annually.  Status for FY 2012:  20,000.)

   *    By 2018, initiate 11,600 civil judicial and administrative enforcement cases (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2009 baseline:  3,900 annually.  Status as of FY 2012:  3,000.)

   *    By 2018, conclude 10,000 civil judicial and administrative enforcement cases (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2009 baseline:  3,800 annually.  Status as of FY 2012:  3,000.)

   *    By 2018, maintain review of the overall compliance status of 100 percent of the open consent decrees.  (Baseline 2009:  100 percent.  Status as of FY 2012:  91 percent.)

   *    Each year through 2018, support clean ups and save federal dollars for sites where there are no alternatives by:  (1) reaching a settlement or taking an enforcement action before the start of a remedial action at 99 percent of Superfund sites having viable responsible parties other than the federal government; and, (2) addressing all cost recovery statute of limitation cases with total past costs greater than or equal to $500,000.  ((1) FY 2007-2009 annual average baseline:  99 percent of sites reaching a settlement or EPA taking an enforcement action.  (Status as of FY 2012:  100 percent); (2) FY 2009 baseline:  100 percent cost recovery statute of limitation cases addressed.  (Status as of FY 2012:  100 percent.))

Support Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

   *    By 2018, reduce, treat, or eliminate 1,360 million estimated pounds of air pollutants as a result of concluded enforcement actions (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2008 baseline:  480 million pounds, annual average over the period.  Status as of FY 2012:  250 million pounds.)

Support Protecting America's Waters

   *    By 2018, reduce, treat, or eliminate 1,100 million estimated pounds of water pollutants as a result of concluded enforcement actions (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2008 baseline:  320 million pounds, annual average over the period.  Status as of FY 2012: .500 million pounds.)

Support Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

   *    By 2018, treat, minimize, or properly dispose of 9,200 million estimated pounds of hazardous waste as a result of concluded enforcement actions (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2008 baseline:  6,500 million pounds.  Status as of FY 2012:  4,400 million pounds.)

   *    By 2018, obtain commitments to clean up 905 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and groundwater media [1] as a result of concluded CERCLA and RCRA corrective action enforcement actions (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2007-2009 baseline:  300 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and groundwater media, annual average over the period.  Status as of FY 2012:  400 million cubic yards.)

Support Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution

   *    By 2018, reduce, treat, or eliminate 11 million estimated pounds of toxic and pesticide pollutants as a result of concluded enforcement actions (5-year cumulative).  (FY 2005-2008 baseline:  3.8 million pounds, annual average over the period.  Status as of FY 2012:  1,400 million pounds.)

Enhance Strategic Deterrence through Criminal Enforcement

   *    By 2018, increase the percentage of criminal cases having the most significant health, environmental, and deterrence impacts to 45 percent.  (FY 2010 baseline:  36 percent.  Status as of FY 2012:  45 percent.)[2]

   * By 2018, maintain 75 percent of criminal cases with an individual defendant.  (FY 2006-2008 baseline:  75 percent.  Status as of FY 2012:  70 percent.)

   * By 2018, increase the percentage of criminal cases with charges filed to 45 percent.  (FY 2006-2010 baseline:  36 percent.  Status as of FY 2012:  44 percent.)

   * By 2018, maintain an 85 percent conviction rate for criminal defendants.  (FY 2006-2010 baseline:  85 percent.  Status as of FY 2012:  95 percent.)

End Notes:
[1] Contaminated groundwater media, as defined for the Superfund and RCRA corrective action programs, is the volume of physical aquifer (both soil and water) that will be addressed by the response action.  All numbers used throughout the measures section are rounded.
[2] EPA collects data on a variety of case attributes to describe the range, complexity, and quality of our criminal enforcement national docket.  Cases are tiered depending on factors such as the human health (death, injury) and environmental impacts, the nature of the pollutant and the its release  into the environment, and the characteristics of the subject(s).  This measure reflects the percentage of cases in the upper tiers.

          Appendix:  EPA Proposed FY 2014-2015 Agency Priority Goals

Goal 1:  Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality *Continues FY 2012-2013 APG

   Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and trucks.  Through September 30, 2015, EPA, in coordination with Department of Transportations' fuel economy standards program, will be implementing vehicle and truck greenhouse gas standards that are projected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 6 billion metric tons and reduce oil consumption by about 12 billion barrels over the lifetime of the affected vehicles and trucks.

Goal 2:  Protecting America's Waters *Continues FY 2012-13 APGs

   Improve public health protection for persons served by small drinking water systems, which account for more than 97 percent of public water systems in the U.S., by strengthening the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of those systems.  By September 30, 2015, EPA will engage with an additional ten states (for a total of 30 states) and three tribes to improve small drinking water system capability to provide safe drinking water, an invaluable resource.

   Improve, restore, and maintain water quality by enhancing nonpoint source program leveraging, accountability, and on-the-ground effectiveness to address the nation's largest sources of pollution.  By September 30, 2015, 100 percent of the states will have updated nonpoint source management programs that comport with the new Section 319 grant guidelines that will result in better targeting of resources through prioritization and increased coordination with USDA.

Goal 3:  Cleaning up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development *Continues FY 2012-13 APG

   Clean up contaminated sites to enhance the livability and economic vitality of communities.  By 2015, an additional 18,970 sites will be made ready for anticipated use, protecting Americans and the environment one community at a time.

Goal 4:  Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution *New APG

   Assess and reduce risks posed by chemicals and promote the use of safer chemicals in commerce.  By September 30, 2015, EPA will have completed more than 250 assessments of pesticides and other commercially available chemicals to evaluate risks they may pose to human health and the environment, including the potential for some of these chemicals to disrupt endocrine systems.  These assessments are essential in determining whether products containing these chemicals can be used safely for commercial, agricultural, and/or industrial uses.

Cross-Program:  E-Enterprise *Continues/expands FY 2012-13 APG on e-Reporting

   Use advanced monitoring, information technologies, optimized business processes, and increased transparency to improve environmental outcomes and enhance service to the regulated community.  By September 30, 2015 reduce reporting burdens to EPA by one million hours through streamlined regulations, provide real-time environmental data to at least two communities, and establish a new portal to service the regulated community and public.

Cross-Program:  Sustainability *New APG

   Advance sustainability by collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders to select sustainability indicators that can be widely understood and that can help drive the diverse public and private actions that are essential for achieving the long-term environmental quality.  By September 30, 2015, EPA will collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to select a small set of sustainability indicators covering three initial topics --  energy use, water use, and materials use -- and prepare to pilot them within and across EPA programs.