NACEPT Report March 5, 2003 In September 2002, the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology published its report, " The Environmental Future: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities for EPA."

Purpose: This NACEPT report was prepared in response to a request from EPA's Administrator to play a more strategic and visionary advisory role. The report reviews EPA's current futures analysis capability and recommends that more be done to support environmental foresight programs. In addition, the report offers a framework to analyze the environmental implications of trends in world population and demographics, natural resources, science and technology, information management and access, economics and commerce, and politics and social evolution. The report concludes with general and specific recommendations for how EPA can best address these changing conditions. The discussion of water as a natural resource identifies four opportunities for EPA: 1) develop a holistic approach to water and the environment; 2) integrate water efficiency with environmental regulations; 3) support an effective market environment to minimize generating hazardous wastes; and 4) redouble efforts to effectively include non point sources in water management programs.

Holistic Approach: This recommendation includes the creation of a task force which can take a more holistic look at water policy and the environment. It focuses on the water shed level to identify areas for specific improvement. NACEPT recognizes the progress made to date in achieving a holistic approach. It also notes the difficulties to doing this that are presented by the existing statutory authorities and recognizes the Office of Water's progress in integrating its authorities under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Integrating Water Efficiency: This recommendation focuses on integrating water use efficiency and appropriate reuse into environmental regulations NACEPT notes that regulatory programs that are based on technical standards measured by concentration of pollutants per unit of water are not readily amenable to increased water efficiency goals.

Effective Market Environment: This recommendation focuses on identifying opportunities for pollution prevention and reprocessing/ reuse to eliminate the generation of hazardous waste. NACEPT suggests that EPA identify technical, regulatory, and economic barriers to pollution prevention and reuse, and that EPA encourage a market environment in which these beneficial practices become the preferred business option.

Include Non Point Sources: This recommendation identifies non point sources as a significant focus for water management programs. It includes suggestions that EPA enhance its capacity to monitor, model, and mitigate non point source contributions to water contamination. It also urges EPA to increase efforts to educate citizens and policy makers about the value of non point source mitigation. Contact: Gwen Whitt ( 202) 233 0079; Sonia Alteri ( 202) 233 0061 Short term Followup: Since none of these recommendations fall under the factors we are using at the screening level to identify potential concerns, there is no follow up needed. This report is not an appropriate tool for the 304( m) planning process.