EPA Strategic Plan

8/4/2019 EPA Strategic Plan

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U . S . E N V I R O N M E N T A L P R O T E C T I O N A G E N C Y

AchievingOur Vision

EPA Strategic PlanFY 20112015


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EPAs Mission:To Protect Human Health and the Environment

Strategic Goals

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

Goal 2: Protecting Americas Waters

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable

Development

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies

Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism

Working for Environmental Justice and Childrens Health

Advancing Science, Research, and Technological Innovation

Strengthening State, Tribal, and International Partnerships

Strengthening EPAs Workforce and Capabilities

Core Values:

Science, Transparency, Rule of Law


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Fiscal Year 20112015

EPA Strategic Plan

Achieving Our Vision

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

September 30, 2010


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Table of Contents

Message from the Administrator ............................................................................... 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4

Strategic Goals .......................................................................................................... 6

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality ....................................6

Goal 2: Protecting Americas Waters .................................................................................11

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development ....................15

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution....................................19

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws ..............................................................................23

External Factors and Emerging Issues ...............................................................................25

Summary of Program Evaluation .......................................................................................27

Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies ................................................................... 28

Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism ............................................................29

Working for Environmental Justice and Childrens Health ...................................................30

Advancing Science, Research, and Technological Innovation ............................................32

Strengthening State, Tribal, and International Partnerships ................................................34

Strengthening EPAs Workforce and Capabilities ................................................................36

Strategic Measurement Framework ........................................................................ 37

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality ..................................43

Goal 2: Protecting Americas Waters .................................................................................46

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development. ...................49

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution....................................52

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws. .............................................................................54


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The EPAs FY 20112015 Strategic Plan provides a blueprint or accomplishing our priorities or the next fveyears. Tis plan presents fve strategic goals or advancing our environmental and human-health mission out-comes, accompanied by fve cross-cutting undamental strategies that seek to ocus the EPAs work to meetthe growing environmental protection needs o the day. o ollow the Administrations ocus on strengthen-

ing programs and achieving results, the EPA is implementing near-term Priority Goals that serve as key indicators oprogress toward our fve strategic goals. We will continue to arm the core values o science, transparency and the

rule o law in addressing these priorities. Tese are the most urgent issues we must conront through 2015.

As we prepared this strategic plan, we also were responding to one o the nations worst environmental disas-ters, the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill, which seriously aected the ecological and economic health o theGul Coasts communities. A sustained, eective recovery and restoration eort will require signifcant commit-ments o resources, scientifc and technical expertise and coordination with a range o partners in the monthsand years ahead. Tis strategic plan oers a solid oundation or the EPAs long-term response to the impactso the BP oil spill. As President Obama has said, our government will do everything in our power to protectour natural resources, compensate those who have been harmed, rebuild what has been damaged, and helpthis region persevere like it has done so many times beore. Te EPA will work tirelessly to address the environ-mental and human-health eects and set the Gul Coast on the path to recovery.

The EPAs Strategic GoalsTaking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality: Americas communities ace serious healthand environmental challenges rom air pollution and the growing eects o climate change. During my frst yearas Administrator, the EPA fnalized an endangerment fnding on greenhouse gases, proposed the frst nationalrules to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions under the Clean Air Act and initiated a national reporting system or greenhouse-gas emissions. All o these advances signaled historic progress in the fght against climate change.Climate change must be considered and integrated into all aspects o our work. While the EPA stands ready tohelp Congress crat strong, science-based climate legislation that addresses the spectrum o issues, we will assessand develop regulatory tools as warranted under law using the authority o the Clean Air Act.

Message from

the AdministratorSince beginning my tenure as Administrator o the U.S. Environ-

mental Protection Agency, I have been challenged by the difcult

issues we ace and inspired by the talent and dedication o our

extraordinary work orce. Tere is no doubt the EPA is on the job.

We have made exceptional progress in protecting the environ-

ment o Americas communities and restoring the trust o the American people. And we have made

a number o historic environmental advances along the way. Te year 2010 marks the EPAs 40th

anniversary. It is a moment o celebration but also a time when we ace some o the most complex

and ar-reaching environmental challenges in the history o the EPA, our nation and our planet. It is

critical that we work harder and look urther ahead.
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We have strengthened the ambient air-quality standards or nitrogen dioxide and sulur dioxide and proposedstronger standards or ozone, which will help millions o Americans breathe easier and lead healthier lives.We also are developing a comprehensive strategy or a cleaner and more ecient power sector, with strongand achievable emission-reduction goals or sulur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and other air toxics.Strengthening the ambient air-quality standards consistent with the latest scientifc inormation and gaining

additional reductions in air toxics rom a range o industrial acilities will signifcantly improve air quality andreduce risks to communities across the country. Improved monitoring, timely and thorough permitting andvigorous enorcement are our key tools or air-quality improvement.

Protecting Americas Waters: Despite considerable progress, Americas waters remain imperiled. Fromnutrient loadings and stormwater runo to invasive species and drinking-water contaminants, water qualityand enorcement programs ace complex challenges that demand both traditional and innovative strategies.We will work hand-in-hand with states and tribes to develop nutrient limits and intensiy our work to restoreand protect the quality o the nations streams, rivers, lakes, bays, oceans and aquiers. Te EPA also will use itsauthority to protect and restore threatened natural treasures such as the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay andthe Gul o Mexico; to address our neglected urban rivers; to ensure sae drinking water; and to reduce pollu-tion rom nonpoint and industrial dischargers. We will initiate measures to address post-construction runo,

water-quality impairments rom surace mining and drinking-water contamination.

Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development: Using all the tools at our disposal,including targeted enorcement and compliance eorts, the EPA will continue to make our communities saerand healthier. We are accelerating these eorts through our Superund program to conront signifcant local envi-ronmental challenges. Te collapse o a coal-ash impoundment in Kingston, enn., ocused the EPAs attention onhow these disposal acilities are managed nationwide. In response, the EPA proposed options or the nations frstrules to address the risks rom the disposal o coal ash generated by coal-fred power plants. By maximizing thepotential o our brownfelds program to spur environmental cleanups and by ostering stronger partnerships withstakeholders aected by our cleanups, we are moving toward our goal o building sustainable, healthy, economi-cally vibrant communities. And by strengthening our work with tribal communities, we are advancing our eortsto build environmental-management capacity and program implementation in Indian country.

Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution: One o our highest priorities is ensuring thesaety o the chemicals that make up the building blocks o modern society. Increasingly, the chemicals usedto make our products, build our homes and support our way o lie end up in the environment and in ourbodies. Last year, the Administration announced principles or modernizing the more than 30-year-old oxic Substances Control Act, under which we assess and regulate chemicals. o move orward and to make long-overdue progress, we are shiting our ocus to flling in critical missing inormation on the chemicals most widelyproduced and used in commerce and addressing chemicals that pose unreasonable risk to the environment orhuman health. Pending legislative action by Congress, the EPA is strengthening its chemical saety program bycoordinating with appropriate ederal agencies to maximize use o current SCA authorities, supported by thebest available science, to aggressively assess and manage the risks o chemicals used in consumer products, theworkplace and the environment. Additionally, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the

EPA and the states register or license pesticides or use in the U.S. Te EPA also is taking steps to increase trans-parency and public access to SCA-related chemical inormation, committing to review and, where appropriate,to challenge and declassiy Confdential Business Inormation claims or hundreds o annual new submissionsand more than 20,000 previous submissions through FY 2015. By encouraging pollution prevention, we willpromote the use o saer chemical alternatives, implement conservation techniques, promote ecient reuse omaterials and better align the chemical-production processes with the principles o green chemistry.

Enforcing Environmental Laws: Eective, consistent enorcement is critical to achieving the human-healthand environmental benefts expected rom our environmental laws. Te EPA, through the rule o law, will
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ensure compliance with environmental requirements and, as warranted, will employ vigorous and targetedcivil and criminal enorcement. We will achieve signifcant environmental results by ocusing our eorts on themost serious water, air and chemical hazards and by working closely with states and tribes. We will protect thepublic by criminally prosecuting willul, intentional and serious violations oederal environmental laws.

The EPAs Cross-Cutting Fundamental StrategiesAs a companion to our strategic goals, which chart the Agencys direction or achieving mission results duringthe next fve years, the EPAs fve cross-cutting undamental strategies set explicit expectations or changing theway we approach our work. Tese fve strategies will inorm the work o every program and regional oce andhelp us meet the challenges we ace today.

Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism: Every American has a stake in clean air and water,chemical saety, restoring contaminated industrial and mining sites and strong enorcement o environmentalstatutes. Every community must be part o the conversation. We will take broad steps to expand the conver-sation on environmentalism to communities across America, building capacity, increasing transparency andlistening to the public. We will engage citizens to hear all the voices that must be part o our nations dialogue

on environmental issues.Working for Environmental Justice and Childrens Health: We will work alongside entities that bearimportant responsibilities or the day-to-day mission o environmental protection and strengthen oversight toensure programs are consistently delivered nationwide. We will use a variety o approaches, including regula-tions, enorcement, research, community-based programs and outreach to protect children and low-income,minority and tribal populations disproportionately impacted by environmental and human-health hazards.

Advancing Science, Research and Technological Innovation: Te EPA will advance the scientifcresearch and technological innovation that is essential to enhancing our ability to protect human health andthe environment.

Strengthening State, Tribal and International Partnerships: We will strengthen partnerships with states,

tribes and the international community. Hand-in-hand with these partnership eorts and inclusive environ-mentalism, we will address pollution problems and protect human health.

Strengthening the EPAs Work Force and Capabilities: We will adopt improved, innovative and creativemanagement approaches and exempliy stewardship, transparency and accountability in addressing increas-ingly complex environmental and human-health challenges. We will oster a culture o excellence and providethe inrastructure, technology, training and tools to support a talented, diverse, and highly motivated workorce that supports the Administrations human capital and acquisition priorities.

Forty years ater the birth o the EPA, we have a rare opportunity to spark a new era o environmental andhuman-health protection. Te American people and countries around the world look to us or leadership. It isup to us to embrace this moment, so our children and grandchildren can have a cleaner, healthier uture. We

will ace new challenges, new opportunities and new possibilities or achieving our vision o a cleaner, greenerand more sustainable environment. I have tremendous confdence in the talent and spirit o our work orce,and I know we will meet our challenges head-on, as One EPA. Fueled by our energy, our ideas, and our passion,this strategic plan will help guide our path to success.

Lisa P. Jackson
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Recent events in the Gul Coast region and

elsewhere have brought to the oreront how

much we value our environment. Our homes,

our livelihoods, our health and that o our

children depend on clean water to drink,

clean air to breathe, and healthy ecosystems

that produce our ood and the raw materials

that support modern lie. Te U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its mission to protect

human health and the environment have never been more vital than they are today.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 20112015 EPA StrategicPlan responds to this increasing degree oenvironmental awareness and the challengesthat lie ahead.1 We have created a stream-

lined, executive-level Plan that sets the Agencysdirection, advances the Administrators priorities, andwill be used routinely by the Agencys senior leader-ship as a management tool. We have sharpenedour strategic goals and objectives and oer a moreocused set o strategic measures to better inorm

our understanding o progress and challenges alikein managing our programs. We intend to pursuethese goals and objectives as One EPA, throughmeaningul collaboration across the Agency. Our newcross-cutting undamental strategies are directed atreocusing and tangibly changing the way we carryout our work. We anticipate that this new approachwill oster a renewed commitment to accountability,transparency, and inclusion.

Our fve strategic goals represent a simplifed andmeaningul approach to our work and reect

the results we hope to achieve on behal o theAmerican people:

Goal 1: aking Action on Climate Change andImproving Air Quality

Goal 2: Protecting Americas Waters

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities andAdvancing Sustainable Development

Goal 4: Ensuring the Saety o Chemicals andPreventing Pollution

Goal 5: Enorcing Environmental Laws

o achieve the long-term goals and associatedobjectives and strategic measures set out in thisPlan, we will track progress through annual per-ormance measures, which are presented in EPAs

Annual Performance Plans and Budgets . We willreport on our perormance against these annual

measures in ourAnnual Performance Reports, anduse this perormance inormation as we establishpriorities, develop uture budget submissions, andmanage programs. Additionally, EPA reports on HighPriority Perormance Goals (Priority Goals), a newcomponent o this Administrations perormancemanagement ramework. Priority Goals are specifc,measurable, ambitious, near-term targets that alignwith our long-term strategic measures and annualmeasures. Te Priority Goals communicate the per-ormance improvements we will accomplish relative

to our priorities using existing legislative authorityand resources. Te Priority Goals constitute 18- to24-month operational targets the Agency will workto accomplish, distinguishing the Priority Goals romthe longer-term measures. Tis process will comeull circle as we evaluate these perormance data todevelop uture Strategic Plans.

Our measures or the FY 20112015 EPA StrategicPlan draw upon some o the indicators contained in

Introduction
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EPAs 2008 Report on the Environment

(ROE).2 Te indicators help us tomonitor trends in environmentalconditions and environmental inu-ences on human health. Our eorts

to develop the report and regularlyupdate the indicators have advancedour perormance measurement workby bringing together existing and newanalytical inormation on the environ-ment and human health.

During the fve-year horizon othis Plan, we know that we willace unanticipated challenges andopportunities that will aect ourability to achieve our objectives and

the specifc measurable results thatwe have described. In particular, werecognize that numerous entities vitalto our successederal3, state, tribal,and local governments, and cooperat-ing partners and stakeholdersareoperating under resource constraintsthat could impede our joint progress.Tis Plan provides the ramework toaddress these challenges and makenecessary adjustments.

Tis FY 20112015 EPA Strategic Plansets orth our vision and commitmentto preserve the environment or uturegenerations and to protect humanhealth in the places where people live,work, learn, and play. It is our hopethat you will join us as we undertakethe important work that lies ahead.

End Notes:

1 Te Fiscal Year 20112015 EPA Strategic Plan covers the timerame rom October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2015 unlessotherwise noted.

2 EPA electronic Report on the Environment is available at http://www.epa.gov/roe.

3 Federal entities with whom we expect continued cooperation or coordination or EPAs fve strategic goals include: Agriculture,Army Corps o Engineers, Commerce, Consumer Product Saety Commission, Deense, Education, Energy, Federal EmergencyManagement Agency, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and UrbanDevelopment, Interior, Justice, Labor, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, NuclearRegulatory Commission, Small Business Administration, State, ransportation, reasury, ennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Agencyor International Development, and U.S. rade Representative.

Consultation Efforts

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993directs all federal departments and agencies to consult

with parties interested in or likely to be affected by a stra-tegic plan. Consultation with EPAs federal, state, local, andtribal government partners and our many stakeholders isan integral part of the Agencys strategic planning process.To that end, EPA:

Engaged with key partners and co-regulators through-out the effort to develop the Draft Plan.

Signicantly expanded our outreach efforts for publicreview of the Draft FY 20112015 EPA Strategic Planto enhance transparency and inclusion. We issued,for the rst time, a news release in both English andSpanish and a Federal Register Notice and used

www.regulations.gov to encourage feedback on theDraft Plan.

Sent notication letters to over 800 organizations andindividuals to request input. These entities includedleaders of the Agencys Congressional authorizingand appropriations committees; states and stateassociations; all federally-recognized tribes; tribalorganizations; local government representatives; otherfederal agencies; public health organizations; environ-mental, public interest, and public policy groups; andrepresentatives of the regulated community.

Established an on-line discussion forum to engagewith the public on implementing the cross-cutting

fundamental strategies to tangibly change the waywe work. Comments received through the discus-sion forum can be viewed at https://blog.epa.gov/strategicplan.

Our efforts to signicantly expand our outreach for publicreview of the Draft Plan resulted in over 500 public com-ments, compared to approximately 50 public commentsfor prior Draft Strategic Plans.
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Climate change poses risks to humanhealth, the environment, culturalresources, the economy, and quality olie.1 Tese changes are expected to create

urther challenges to protecting human health andwelare. Many eects o climate change are alreadyevident and will persist into the uture regardless outure levels ogreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Potential climate change impacts may include, orexample, increased smog levels in many regions othe country, making it more dicult to attain or

maintain clean air. A rise in sea level or increasedprecipitation intensity may increase ooding,which would aect water quality, as large volumeso water can transport contaminants and overloadstorm and wastewater systems. In order to protecthuman health and the environment, EPA mustrecognize and consider the challenge a changingclimate poses to the environment.

Since passage o the Clean Air Act Amendments in1990, nationwide air quality has improved signif-cantly.2 Despite this progress, about 127 million

Americans lived in counties that did not meet airquality standards or at least one pollutant in 2008.Long-term exposure to air pollution can causecancer and damage to the immune, neurological,reproductive, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.3Because people spend much o their lives indoors, thequality o indoor air is also a major concern. wentypercent o the population spends the day indoors in

elementary and secondary schools, where problemswith leaky roos and with heating, ventilation, andair conditioning systems can trigger a host o healthproblems, including asthma and allergies. Exposure toindoor radon is responsible or an estimated 20,000premature lung cancer deaths each year.4

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop adaptation strategies

to address climate change, and protect and improve air quality.

Goal 1: Taking

Action on Climate

Change and

Improving Air Quality

Objectives:

Address Climate Change. Reduce thethreats posed by climate change byreducing greenhouse gas emissions andtaking actions that help communities andecosystems become more resilient to theeffects of climate change.

Improve Air Quality. Achieve and maintainhealth-based air pollution standards andreduce risk from toxic air pollutants andindoor air contaminants.

Restore the Ozone Layer. Restore theearths stratospheric ozone layer andprotect the public from the harmful effectsof ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Reduce Unnecessary Exposure to

Radiation. Minimize unnecessary releasesof radiation and be prepared to minimizeimpacts should unwanted releases occur.

Strategic Measures associated with this Goal

are on pages 43 through 45.
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Reduce GHG Emissions and

Develop Adaptation Strategies to

Address Climate Change

EPAs strategies to address climate change support the

Presidents GHG emissions reduction goals. EPA andits partners will reduce GHG emissions domesticallyand internationally through cost-eective, volun-tary programs while pursuing additional regulatoryactions as needed. Our eorts include:

Developing and implementing a national systemor reporting GHG emissions. (Implementingthe mandatory GHG reporting rule is one o theAgencys Priority Goals.)5

Issuing new standards to reduce emissions rom

cars and light-duty trucks or model years 2012through 2016, extending that program to modelyear 2017 and beyond, and creating a similarprogram to reduce GHGs rom medium- andheavy-duty trucks or model years 20142018.(Implementing the light-duty GHG rule is one othe Agencys Priority Goals.)6

Developing standards to reduce GHG emis-sions rom nonroad sources such as marine andaircrat and land-based nonroad equipment andlocomotives.

Implementing permittingrequirements oracilities that emit large amounts o GHGs toencourage design and construction o moreecient and advanced processes that will con-tribute to a clean energy economy.

Implementing reocused voluntary programsthat maximize GHG reductions through thegreater use o energy-ecient technologies,products, and practices, and promoting energyand transportation policies that beneft the

environment and human health.

Collaborating with state, local, and tribal gov-ernments on regulatory and policy initiatives,technical assistance, and voluntary programsrelated to climate change mitigation and adaption.

Collaborating with countries and other interna-tional partners to reduce methane emissions and

deliver clean energy to markets around the worldthrough the Global Methane Initiative.

Developing a comprehensive report to Congresson black carbon that will provide a oundation

or evaluating uture approaches to black carbonmitigation.

Pursuing a sustainable, lie-cycle approach tomanaging materials.

Identiying and assessing substitute chemical andozone-depleting substances and processes ortheir global-warming potential.

Educating the public about climate change andactions people can take to reduce GHG emissions.

Adaptation initiatives aim to increase the resilienceo communities and ecosystems to climate changeby increasing their ability to anticipate, prepareor, respond to, and recover rom the impacts oclimate change. Many o the outcomes EPA is work-ing to attain are sensitive to weather and climate.Consequently, every action EPA takes, including pro-mulgating regulations and implementing programs,should take these uctuations into consideration.For example, EPA models the ways in which weatheraects air quality when it develops air quality stan-dards, and cannot assume that climate is constant, an

assumption typically made in the rulemaking process.

EPA must adapt and plan or uture changes inclimate, work with state, tribal, and local partners, andcontinue to collaborate with the U.S. Global ChangeResearch Program and the Interagency ask Forceon Climate Change Adaptation.7 Te Agency mustincorporate the anticipated, unprecedented changesin climate into its programs and rules, drawing onthe critical inormation and tools provided by EPAresearchers, to continue to ulfll statutory, regulatory,and programmatic requirements.

Improve Air Quality

aking into account the most current health eectsresearch fndings8, EPA recently completed new, morehealth-protective standards or lead,sulur dioxide,and nitrogen dioxide. We are in the process oreviewing the ozone, particulate matter, and carbonmonoxide standards. Over the next fve years, we will
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-sets-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-target-federal-operationshttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.htmlhttp://www.goals.performance.gov/http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations.htm#1-1http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations.htm#1-2http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations.htm#1-2http://www.goals.performance.gov/http://www.epa.gov/nonroad/http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/permits/http://www.epa.gov/air/nsr/http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/http://www.epa.gov/highgwp/links.html#blackhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/vision.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/adaptation.htmlhttp://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/default.phphttp://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptationhttp://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/default.phphttp://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptationhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptationhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptationhttp://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/http://www.epa.gov/airquality/lead/http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxidehttp://www.epa.gov/airquality/nitrogenoxideshttp://www.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/co/http://www.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/co/http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/vision.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/air/nsr/http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/permits/http://www.epa.gov/nonroad/http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations.htm#1-1http://www.epa.gov/airquality/urbanair/co/http://www.epa.gov/pm/http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxidehttp://www.epa.gov/airquality/nitrogenoxideshttp://www.epa.gov/airquality/lead/http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptationhttp://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/default.phphttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/adaptation.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/highgwp/links.html#blackhttp://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/http://www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations.htm#1-2http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.htmlhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-sets-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-target-federal-operationshttp://www.goals.performance.gov/http://www.goals.performance.gov/


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work with states and tribes to develop and imple-ment plans to achieve and maintain these standards.Our research provides the tools and inormationnecessary or EPA, states, and tribes to implement airquality standards and controls.

In 2011, we expect to complete and begin imple-menting a rule to replace the Clean Air InterstateRule that was remanded to us by the courts in 2008.Strengthening the standards and decreasing the emis-sions that contribute to interstate transport o airpollution will help many areas o the country attainthe standards and achieve signifcant improvementsin human health. As we implement the standards, wewill do so in a way that protects disproportionately-impacted low-income and minority communities.We are also

working withpartners andstakeholdersto improvethe overallair qualitymanagementsystem andto addressair qualitychallengesexpected overthe next 10 to20 years. Teseeorts includeimproving thestate imple-mentation planapproval process, implementing a national trainingstrategy, and developing eective air quality strategiesthat address multiple pollutants and consider theinterplay between air quality and actors such as landuse, energy, transportation, and climate.

We will address emissions rom vehicles, engines, anduels through an integrated strategy that combinesregulatory approaches that take advantage o tech-nological advances and cleaner uels with voluntaryprograms that reduce vehicle, engine, and equipmentactivity and emissions. We are working with refners,renewable uel producers, and others to implementregulations to increase the amount orenewable uel

blended into gasoline. Trough the National CleanDiesel Campaign, we support diesel emission reduc-tions that can be achieved through such actions asswitching to cleaner uels; engine retroft, repair, andreplacement; and idle reduction.

Air toxics are both widespread and community-specifc. Tey are emitted by large industry, smallbusinesses, motor vehicles, and many othercommon activities. While certain chemicals areubiquitous throughout the country, in some areaso concentrated industrial and/or mobile sourceactivity, concentrations may be signifcantly greater.EPA will continue to set and enorce controltechnology-based air toxics emissions standards and,where needed, amend those standards to address

residual risk

and technologyadvancements.

EPA is develop-ing a strategyaimed at reduc-ing toxic airpollutionrom station-ary sources ina way thattargets priority

categories osources, reducespollution incommunities,utilizes a morecost-eectivesector-based

approach, and provides tools to help communitiesand other stakeholders participate in rulemaking.Tese priority categories include petroleum refn-ing, iron and steel, chemical manuacturing, utilities,

non-utility boilers, oil and gas, and Portland cement.As part o this strategy, EPA will take advantage othe natural overlap o certain air toxics and criteriapollutant rules and coordinate the development andimplementation o Maximum Achievable Controlechnology (MAC) and New Source PerormanceStandards (NSPS) where it makes sense. Oten, thereare opportunities to control air toxic and criteriapollutants together. By coordinating MAC standard
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development or specifc source categories withother rulemaking eorts, EPA can substantially reducethe resources needed to develop standards; providemore certainty and lower cost or industry; simpliyimplementation or states, local, and tribal agencies;

and, enhance cost-eective regulatory approaches.

Along with these regulatory eorts, EPA has a widerange ovoluntary eorts to reduce emissions,including programs to reduce multi-media andcumulative risks. Trough data rom our nationaltoxics monitoring network and rom national andlocal assessments, we are able to better characterizerisks and assess priorities. We work with state andlocal agencies, tribes, schools, and community groupsto identiy communities where air toxics pollution isoccurring at unsae levels and aggressively take action

to reduce air toxics pollution within those areas.

Oten the people most exposed to air pollutants arethose most susceptible to the eectsthe young, theelderly, and the chronically ill. o improve indoor airquality, EPA deploys programs that educate the publicabout indoor air quality concerns, including radon, andpromotes public action to reduce potential risks inhomes, schools, and workplaces. EPA also collaborateswith state and tribal organizations, environmentaland public health ocials, housing and buildingorganizations, school personnel who manage school

environments, and health care providers, who treatchildren prone to or suering disproportionately romasthma. Te ocus o these eorts is to support com-munities eorts to address indoor air quality healthrisks. We also provide policy and technical supportand fnancially assist states and tribes in developingand implementing eective radon programs.

Restore the Ozone Layer

EPA will implement programs that reduce andcontrol ozone-depleting substances (ODS), enorce

rules on their production, import, and emission,and acilitate the transition to substitutes thatreduce GHG emissions and save energy. We willcontinue partnership programs that minimize therelease o ODS and programs that educate thepublic about the importance o protection romultra-violet radiation.

Reduce Unnecessary Exposure

to Radiation

Recognizing the potential hazards oradiation,Congress charged EPA with the primary responsibil-

ity or protecting people and the environment romharmul and avoidable exposures. In ulflling thisresponsibility, we will review and update our radia-tion protection regulations and guidance, operate thenational radiation monitoring system, maintain radio-logical emergency response capabilities, oversee thedisposal o radioactive waste at the Waste IsolationPilot Plant, inspect waste generator acilities, andevaluate compliance with applicable environmentallaws and regulations.

Applied Research

EPAs research eorts will ocus on a number o airquality and climate areas over the next several years.In particular, EPA will:

Conduct integrated science assessments ocriteria air pollutants and provide new data andapproaches or improving these assessments;

Improve inventory and risk inormation to betterinorm Agency actions relative to air toxics;

Promote resilience and adaptation by connectingair quality, water quality, and land use managerswith climate change inormation and decision-support tools;

Promote systems research and lie-cycle analy-sis in analyzing the health and environmentalimpacts o energy production and operation,including biouels; and,

Investigate the inuence o climate change onclean air, as well as the impacts o emissions romlow-carbon uels in transportation.
http://www.epa.gov/air/partnership.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/natamain/http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/natamain/http://www.epa.gov/iaqhttp://www.epa.gov/iaqhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/asthma/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvandhealth.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/basic/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/emergency-response-overview.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/emergency-response-overview.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/emergency-response-overview.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/basic/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/http://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radiation/rert/monitoring.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvandhealth.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/asthma/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/iaqhttp://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/natamain/http://www.epa.gov/air/partnership.html


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End Notes:

1 Tomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Tomas C. Peterson (eds.). 2009. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States (NewYork, New York: Cambridge University Press). Available at http://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pds/climate-impacts-report.pd.

2 U.S. EPA, 2010. Our Nations Air-Status and Trends through 2008. EPA-454/R-09-002. Available at http://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/index.html.

3 U.S. EPA, 2007. e Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act. EPA-456/K-07-001. Available at http://www.epa.gov/air/peg/peg.pd.

4 U.S. EPA, 2003. EPAs Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes. EPA 402-R-03-003. Available at http://www.epa.gov/radon/pds/402-r-03-003.pd

5 Implementing the mandatory GHG reporting rule is one o the Agencys Priority Goals: By June 15, 2011, EPA will make publiclyavailable 100 percent o acility-level GHG emissions data submitted to EPA in accordance with the GHG Reporting Rule, compli-ant with policies protecting confdential business inormation (CBI).

6 Implementing the light-duty GHG rule is one o the Agencys Priority Goals: In 2011, EPA, working with DO, will begin implemen-tation o regulations designed to reduce the GHG emissions rom light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. starting with model year 2012.

7 Te U.S. Global Change Research Program coordinates and integrates ederal research on changes in the global environment andtheir implications or society. It was mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act o 1990 (P.L. 101-606). In 2009,the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Oce o Science and echnology Policy, and the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation ask Force. When the President signed theExecutive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Perormance in October 2009, he called on theask Force to develop ederal recommendations or adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.

8 U.S. EPA, 2006.Air Quality Criteria for Lead (2006) Final Report. EPA/600/R-05/144aF-bF. Available at http://cpub.epa.gov/ncea/cm/recordisplay.cm?deid=158823 .

U.S. EPA, 2008. Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Sulfur OxidesHealth Criteria (Final Report). EPA/600/R-08/047F. Available athttp://cpub.epa.gov/ncea/cm/recordisplay.cm?deid=198843 .

U.S. EPA, 2008. Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of NitrogenHealth Criteria (Final Report). EPA/600/R-08/071. Available athttp://cpub.epa.gov/ncea/cm/recordisplay.cm?deid=194645.
http://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdfhttp://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdfhttp://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/index.htmlhttp://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/air/peg/peg.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/402-r-03-003.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/402-r-03-003.pdfhttp://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=158823http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=158823http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=198843http://ttp//cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=194645http://ttp//cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=194645http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=198843http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=158823http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=158823http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/402-r-03-003.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/402-r-03-003.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/air/peg/peg.pdfhttp://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/index.htmlhttp://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/index.htmlhttp://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdfhttp://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdf


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The nations water resources are the lie-blood o our communities, supporting oureconomy and way o lie. Across most oour country, we enjoy and depend upon

reliable sources o clean and sae water. Severaldecades ago, however, many o our drinkingwater systems provided water to the tap withvery limited treatment. Drinking water was otenthe cause o illnesses linked to microbiologicaland other contaminants. Many o our surace

waters would not have met todays water qualitystandards. Some o the nations rivers were opensewers, posing health risks, and many waterbodieswere so polluted that sae swimming, fshing, andrecreation were not possible.

We have made signifcant progress since enactmento the landmark Clean Water Act and Sae DrinkingWater Act almost 40 years ago. oday, the enhancedquality o our surace waters and the greater saetyo our drinking water are testaments to decades oenvironmental protection and investment, but seri-

ous challenges remain. Small drinking water systemsare particularly challenged by the need to improveinrastructure and develop the capacity to meet newand existing standards. ens o thousands o homes,primarily in tribal and disadvantaged communitiesand the territories, still lack access to basic sanitationand drinking water. Te rate at which new waters arelisted or water quality impairments exceeds the paceat which restored waters are removed rom the list.

Pollution discharged rom industrial, municipal,agricultural, and stormwater sources continue to becauses o water quality problems, but other signif-cant contributors include loss o habitat and habitatragmentation, hydrologic alteration, the spread o

invasive species, and climate change. For many years,nonpoint source pollutionprincipally nitrogen,phosphorus, and sedimentshas been recognizedas the largest remaining impediment to improvingwater quality. Recent national surveys have ound thatour waters are stressed by nutrient pollution, excesssedimentation, and degradation o shoreline vegeta-tion, which aect upwards o 50 percent o our lakesand streams.1 Climate change will compound these

Objectives:

Protect Human Health. Reduce humanexposure to contaminants in drinkingwater, sh and shellsh, and recreationalwaters, including protecting sourcewaters.

Protect and Restore Watersheds and

Aquatic Ecosystems. Protect the qualityof rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlandson a watershed basis, and protect urban,coastal, and ocean waters.



Protect and restore our waters to ensure that drinking water

is sae, and that aquatic ecosystems sustain fsh, plants and

wildlie, and economic, recreational, and subsistence activities.

Goal 2: Protecting

Americas Waters
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/index.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/npshttp://www.epa.gov/npshttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html


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problems, highlighting the urgency to evaluate withour partners options or protecting inrastructure, con-serving water, reducing energy use, adopting greeninrastructure and watershed-based practices, andimproving the resilience o inrastructural and natural

systems, including utilities, watersheds, and estuaries.2

Over the next fve years, EPA will work with states,territories, and tribes to saeguard human health,make Americas water systems sustainable and secure,strengthen the protection o our aquatic ecosystems,improve watershed-based approaches, ocus eortsin key geographic areas3, and take action on climatechange. EPA has established two Priority Goals orthe revision o drinking water standards to strengthenpublic health protection4and the development o

state watershed implemen-tation plans in support othe Chesapeake Bay totalmaximum daily load calledor in the Chesapeake BayProtection and RestorationExecutive Order.5 Workingwith our partners, theAgencys eort to protectour waters is aimed at twoobjectivesprotectinghuman health and protectingand restoring watersheds andaquatic ecosystems.

Protect Human Health

Sustaining the quality and supply o our waterresources is essential to saeguarding human health.More than 290 million people living in the UnitedStates rely on the saety o tap water provided bypublic water systems that are subject to nationaldrinking water standards. Over the next fve years,EPA will help protect human health and makeAmericas water systems sustainable and secure by:

Financing public water system inrastructure toprotect and maintain drinking water quality;

Strengthening compliance with drinking waterstandards;

Continuing to protect sources o drinking waterrom contamination;

Developing new and revising existing drinkingwater standards; and,

Supporting states, tribes, territories, and localwater systems in implementing these standards.

While promoting sustainable management o drink-ing water inrastructure, we will provide neededoversight and technical assistance to states, territories,and tribes so that their water systems comply withor exceed existing standards and are able to complywith new standards. We will also promote the con-struction o inrastructure that brings sae drinkingwater into the homes o small, rural, and disadvan-taged communities and increase eorts to guard thenations critical drinking water inrastructure.

In addition, EPA is activelyworking Agency-wide andwith external partners andstakeholders to implement anew, multi-aceted drinkingwater strategy. It is designedto streamline decision mak-ing and expand protectionto meet the needs o rural,urban, and other communi-ties. Tis shit in approachseeks to address chemicals

and contaminants by group,as opposed to working on achemical-by-chemical basis;

ostering the development o new drinking watertreatment technologies; using the authority o multiplestatutes; and, encouraging collaboration with states andtribes to share more complete data rom monitoring atpublic water systems.

Science-based standards are essential to protect ourpublic water systems, groundwater and surace water-bodies, and recreational waters. Tese standards are

the oundation or tools to saeguard human healthsuch as advisories or beaches, fsh consumption,and drinking water. Over the next fve years, we willexpand that science to improve our understandingoemerging potential waterborne threats to humanhealth. We will also increase eorts to protect andimprove beach water quality or our communities,including the development onew criteria and test-ing methods that provide quicker results and enableaster action on beach saety.
http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://www.goals.performance.gov/http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl/http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/upload/2009_08_05_NPS_healthywatersheds_highquality_hwi.pdfhttp://water.epa.gov/drink/standardsriskmanagement.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/drink/standardsriskmanagement.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/dwsrf/index.cfmhttp://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/index.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/pdfs/Drinking_Water_Strategyfs.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/pdfs/Drinking_Water_Strategyfs.pdfhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/waterquality/standards/http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/advisories_index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/ppcp/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/waterquality/standards/criteria/health/recreation/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/waterquality/standards/criteria/health/recreation/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/ppcp/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/advisories_index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/waterquality/standards/http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/pdfs/Drinking_Water_Strategyfs.pdfhttp://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/index.cfmhttp://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/dwsrf/index.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/drink/standardsriskmanagement.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/upload/2009_08_05_NPS_healthywatersheds_highquality_hwi.pdfhttp://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl/http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://www.goals.performance.gov/


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Protect and Restore Watersheds

and Aquatic Ecosystems

People and the ecological integrity o aquatic systemsrely on healthy watersheds. EPA employs a suite o

programs to protect and improve water quality inthe nations watershedsrivers, lakes, wetlands, andstreamsas well as in our estuarine, coastal, andocean waters. In partnership with states, territories,local governments, and tribes, EPAs core waterprograms help:

Protect, restore, maintain, and improve waterquality by fnancing wastewater treatmentinrastructure;

Conduct monitoring and assessment;

Establish pollution reduction targets;

Update water quality standards;

Issue and enorce discharge permits; and,

Implement programs to prevent or reducenonpoint source pollution.

Over the next fve years, EPA will continue eorts torestore waterbodies that do not meet water qualitystandards, preserve and protect high quality aquatic

resources, and protect, restore, and improve wetlandacreage and quality. Te Agency will improve the wayexisting tools are used, explore how innovative toolscan be applied, and enhance eorts and cross-mediacollaboration to protect and prevent water qualityimpairment in healthy watersheds.

In partnership with states, tribes, and local communi-ties, EPA is developing a clean water strategy thatwill outline objectives or advancing the vision o theClean Water Act and actions EPA will take to achievethose objectives. Te Agency will explore ways to

improve the condition o the urban waterways thatmay have been overlooked or under-represented inlocal environmental problem solving. We will alsowork more aggressively to reduce and control pollut-ants that are discharged rom industrial, municipal,agricultural, and stormwater sources, and vessels,as well as to implement programs to prevent andreduce pollution that washes o the land duringrain events. By promoting green inrastructure and

sustainable landscape management, EPA will helprestore natural hydrologic systems and reduce pollu-tion rom stormwater events.6

EPA will also lead eorts to restore and protect

aquatic ecosystems and wetlands, particularly inkey geographic areas3, to address complex andcross-boundary challenges. EPA is heading up amulti-agency eort to restore and protect the GreatLakes, one o Americas great waters, through theGreat Lakes Restoration Initiative.7 In other partso the nation, we will ocus on nutrient pollution,which threatens the long-term health o importantecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay. Further,given the environmental catastrophe resulting romthe Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill, EPA will takenecessary actions to support eorts to remove oil

rom and restore the Gul o Mexico ecosystem. EPAwill provide assistance to other ederal, state, tribal,and local partners as they work to restore the water,wetlands, beaches, and surrounding communities othis vital area. We will also begin to identiy actionsto respond and adapt to the current and potentialimpacts o climate change on aquatic resources,including the current and potential impacts associ-ated with warming temperatures, changes in rainallamount and intensity, and sea level rise.8

Applied Research

EPAs research will help ensure that natural andengineered water systems have the capacity andresiliency to meet current and uture water needs orthe range o water-use and ecological requirements.Tese eorts will help position the Agency to meetthe uture needs in water resources management by:

Evaluating individual and groups o contami-nants or the protection o human health andthe environment;

Developing innovative tools, technologies, andstrategies or managing water resources (includ-ing stormwater); and,

Supporting a systems approach or protectingand restoring aquatic systems. Te developmento watershed-level data, tools, and approachesis crucial to our ability to provide adequate andsae water resources.
http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/index.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/http://www.epa.gov/healthywatershedshttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.htmlhttp://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://greatlakesrestoration.us/http://www.chesapeakebay.net/http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/http://www.chesapeakebay.net/http://greatlakesrestoration.us/http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/programs/large_aquatic.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/healthywatershedshttp://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/index.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/bpspill/


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End Notes:

1 U.S. EPA, 2006. Wadeable Streams Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nations Streams. EPA 841-B-06-002. Available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurvey. See also EPA, 2010. National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nations Lakes. EPA841-R-09-001. Available at http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pd/nla_chapter0.pd.

2 Resilience is the ability o a system to absorb change and disturbance and still retain its undamental unction and/or structure.

3 Key geographic areas in the national water program include the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, the Gul o Mexico, theU.S.Mexico Border region, the Pacifc Islands, the Long Island Sound, the South Florida Ecosystem, the Puget Sound Basin, theColumbia River Basin, and the San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary. For more inormation on these programs and their perormancemeasures, see the annual National Water Program Guidance, available at http://www.epa.gov/water/waterplan/index.html.

4 EPA has developed a Priority Goal as part o the drinking water strategy eorts: Over the next two years, EPA will initiate review/revision o at least our drinking water standards to strengthen public health protection.

5 EPA has developed a Priority Goal to support the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order: Chesapeake Bay watershed states (includingthe District o Columbia) will develop and submit Phase I watershed implementation plans by the end o CY 2010 and Phase IIplans by the end o CY 2011 in support o EPAs fnal Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load (MDL) and consistent with theexpectations and schedule described in EPAs letters o November 4 and December 29, 2009, and June 11, 2010. For more inorma-

tion, see http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net.

6 For inormation on managing wet weather with green inrastructure, see http://cpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cm?program_id=298.

7 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, inormation available at http://greatlakesrestoration.us/.

8 United States Global Change Research Program, inormation available at http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientifc-assessments/us-impacts.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurveyhttp://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurveyhttp://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pdf/nla_chapter0.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pdf/nla_chapter0.pdfhttp://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298http://greatlakesrestoration.us/http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impactshttp://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impactshttp://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impactshttp://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impactshttp://greatlakesrestoration.us/http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pdf/nla_chapter0.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/pdf/nla_chapter0.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurveyhttp://www.epa.gov/owow/streamsurvey


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Uncontrolled releases o waste andhazardous substances can contaminateour drinking water and threaten healthyecosystems. EPA leads eorts to preserve,

restore, and protect these precious resources sothey are available or both current and uturegenerations. Over the next several years, our high-est priorities under this goal are to prevent andreduce exposure to contaminants and acceleratethe pace o cleanups across the country. EPA

works collaboratively with international, state,and tribal partners to achieve these aims and withcommunities to ensure that they have a say inenvironmental decisions that aect them. Oureorts are guided by scientifc data, research, andtools that alert us to emerging issues and inormdecisions on managing materials and addressingcontaminated properties.

Promote Sustainable and

Livable Communities

EPA supports urban, suburban, and rural com-munity goals o improving environmental, humanhealth, and quality-o-lie outcomes throughpartnerships that also promote economicopportunities, energy eciency, and revitalizedneighborhoods. Sustainable communities bal-ance their economic and natural assets so thatthe diverse needs o local residents can be metnow and in the uture with limited environmental

Clean up communities, advance sustainable development, and protect

disproportionately impacted low-income, minority, and tribal communities. Prevent

releases o harmul substances and clean up and restore contaminated areas.

Goal 3: Cleaning Up

Communities and

Advancing Sustainable

Development

Objectives:

Promote Sustainable and Livable

Communities. Support sustainable, resil-ient, and livable communities by workingwith local, state, tribal, and federal partnersto promote smart growth, emergencypreparedness and recovery planning,browneld redevelopment, and the equi-table distribution of environmental benets.

Preserve Land. Conserve resources andprevent land contamination by reducingwaste generation, increasing recycling,and ensuring proper management ofwaste and petroleum products.

Restore Land. Prepare for and respondto accidental or intentional releases ofcontaminants and clean up and restorepolluted sites.

Strengthen Human Health and

Environmental Protection in Indian

Country. Support federally-recognizedtribes to build environmental managementcapacity, assess environmental condi-tions and measure results, and implementenvironmental programs in Indian country.


http://www.epa.gov/oswer/http://www.epa.gov/oswer/partners.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/partners.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/partners.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/international/io/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/


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impacts. EPA accomplishes these outcomes by work-ing with communities, other ederal agencies, states,and national experts to develop and encouragedevelopment strategies that have better outcomesor air quality, water quality, and land preservation

and revitalization.

Development and building construction practicesmay result in a broad range o impacts on humanhealth and the environment. EPA is working withother ederal, state, and local partners to develop bestpractices and guidance on aspects o sustainabilityrelated to how and where development occurs,including promoting smarter growth patterns andencouraging widespread adoption o green buildingtechnologies to support our strategic goals.

For example, EPA has joined with the U.S.Department o Housing and Urban Development(HUD) and the U.S. Department o ransportation(DO) to minimize the environmental impacts odevelopment, which may include improved access toaordable housing, more transportation options, andlower transportation costs.1 Trough a set o guidinglivability principles and a partnership agreementthat will guide the agencies eorts, this partnershipis coordinating ederal housing, transportation, water,and other inrastructure investments to protect theenvironment, promote equitable development, and

help to address the challenges o climate change.

EPA is committed to ensuring environmental justiceregardless o race, color, national origin, or income.Recognizing that minority and/or low-income com-munities may ace disproportionate environmentalrisks, we work to protect these communities romadverse health and environmental eects and toensure they are given the opportunity to participatemeaningully in environmental cleanup decisions.

EPAs brownfelds program emphasizes environmen-

tal and human health protection in a manner thatstimulates economic development and job creationby awarding competitive grants to assess and cleanup brownfeld properties and providing job trainingopportunities, particularly in underserved com-munities.2 We also provide outreach and technicalassistance to communities, including area-wideplanning approaches, to identiy: viable end useso a single, large property or groups o brownfeld

properties; associated air and water inrastructureinvestments; and, environmental improvements inthe surrounding area to revitalize the community.Under EPAs brownfelds Priority Goal, area-wideplanning will be conducted with the participation o

other ederal agencies, states, tribes, and local govern-ments and communities to identiy resources andapprovals necessary to carry out actions identifed inarea-wide plans.3 Tis new approach diers rom theway EPA brownfelds resources have traditionally beenused, recognizing that approaching the assessmentand cleanup needs o a brownfelds-impacted areacan be more eective than ocusing on individualsites in isolation o the adjacent or surrounding area.

Preserve Land

EPA and authorized states issue and enorce permitsor the treatment, storage, or disposal o hazardouswastes to ensure that acilities subject to ResourceConservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulationsoperate saely. o prevent uture environmentalcontamination and to protect the health o theestimated three million people living within a mile ohazardous waste management acilities4, EPA and itsstate partners continue their eorts to issue, update,or maintain RCRA permits or approximately 10,000hazardous waste units (such as incinerators andlandflls) at these acilities.

EPA is increasing emphasis on lie-cycle basedmaterials management. In order to respond to RCRAsmandate to conserve resources and energy, EPAwill ocus on strategies that emphasize sustainablematerials management by identiying and reducing orminimizing waste at all lie-cycle stages, rom extrac-tion o raw materials through end o lie.5 Troughthis approach, EPA will ocus on improving resourceuse through evaluating the environmental impactso lie-cycle stages o a material, product, or service,including identiying GHG benefts. EPA will developnational strategies that consider using less environ-mentally intensive and toxic materials and continue topromote downstream solutions, like reuse and recy-cling, to conserve our resources or uture generations.

o reduce the risk posed by underground storagetanks (USs) located at nearly a quarter o a millionacilities throughout the country, EPA and states areworking to ensure that every US system is inspected
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/policy/greenbld.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/policy/greenbld.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/index.htmhttp://www.goals.performance.gov/http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/rcra.htmlhttp://epa.gov/wastes/hazard/tsd/permit/prmtguid.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/vision.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/vision.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oust/wheruliv.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oust/wheruliv.htmhttp://epa.gov/wastes/hazard/tsd/permit/prmtguid.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oust/wheruliv.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/vision.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/index.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/policy/greenbld.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/http://www.goals.performance.gov/


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at least once every three years. As uel types change,US systems must be equipped to saely store thenew uels. EPA is working to ensure biouels are storedin compatible US systems.

Restore LandChallenging and complex environmental problems,such as contaminated soil, sediment, and ground-water that can cause human health concerns, persistat many contaminated properties. EPAs Superund,RCRA corrective action, leaking underground stor-age tank, and brownfelds cleanup programs, andoxic Substances Control Act (SCA) cleanups opolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), reduce risks tohuman health and the envi-ronment by assessing and

cleaning up these sites tomaintain or put them backinto productive use.

In an eort to improve theaccountability, transpar-ency, and eectiveness oEPAs cleanup programs, EPAhas initiated the IntegratedCleanup Initiative (ICI), amulti-year eort to better usethe most appropriate assess-

ment and cleanup authoritiesto address a greater numbero sites, accelerate cleanups,and put sites back intoproductive use while pro-tecting human health andthe environment. By usingthe relevant tools available in each o the cleanupprograms, including enorcement, EPA will betterleverage the resources available to address needs atindividual sites. EPA will examine all aspects o thecleanup programs, identiying key process improve-ments and enhanced eciencies. As part o the ICI,EPA will develop a new suite o perormance mea-sures that will support comprehensive managemento the cleanup lie cycle by addressing three criticalpoints in the cleanup processstarting, advancing,and completing site cleanup.

EPA is continuing to improve its readiness to respondto releases o harmul substances, including oil spills,

by clariying authorities, training personnel, andproviding proper equipment. Given the DeepwaterHorizon BP oil spill and the eorts to clean up andrestore the Gul o Mexico, EPA will review its currentrules, guidelines and procedures on oil spills. EPA will

ensure that it has the appropriate tools to prevent,prepare or, respond to, and recover rom such inci-dents within its jurisdiction.6

National preparedness is essential to ensure thatemergency responders are able to address multiple,large-scale emergencies, including those that mayinvolve chemicals, oil, biological agents, radiation, orweapons o mass destruction. Consistent with thegovernment-wide National Response Framework,

EPA prepares or the possibil-ity o multiple, simultaneous,

nationally signifcant inci-dents across several regionsand provides guidance andtechnical assistance to stateand local planning andresponse organizations.

EPAs hazardous wasteprograms are working toreduce the energy use andenvironmental ootprintduring the investigation and

remediation o sites. As parto this eort, EPAs Superundprogram will implement itsgreen remediation strategyto reduce the energy, water,and materials used during sitecleanups while ensuring that

protective remedies are implemented.7

EPA is also implementing its CommunityEngagement Initiative designed to enhance ourinvolvement with local communities and stakehold-

ers so that they may meaningully participate indecisions on land cleanup, emergency response, andmanagement o hazardous substances and waste.Te goals o this initiative are to ensure transparent-and accessible decision-making processes, to deliverinormation that communities can use to partici-pate meaningully, to improve EPA responsivenessto community perspectives, and to ensure timelycleanup decisions.
http://www.epa.gov/superfundhttp://www.epa.gov/swerust1/http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/tsca.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/integratedcleanup.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/integratedcleanup.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/bpspill/http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/http://epa.gov/oilspill/http://epa.gov/oilspill/http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/web/content/nrs/nrp.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/superfundhttp://www.epa.gov/superfundhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/greencleanups/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/oswer/greencleanups/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/superfundhttp://www.epa.gov/swercepp/web/content/nrs/nrp.htmhttp://epa.gov/oilspill/http://www.epa.gov/oswer/integratedcleanup.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/tsca.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/swerust1/http://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/superfundhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/correctiveaction/index.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/bpspill/


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Strengthen Human Health and

Environmental Protection in

Indian Country

Under ederal environmental statutes, EPA is respon-

sible or protecting human health and the environmentin Indian country. EPAs commitment to tribal envi-ronmental and human health protection, through therecognition o tribal sovereignty and sel-determination,has been steadast or over 25 years, as ormallyestablished in the Agencys 1984 Indian Policy.8 EPAworks with over 500 ederally-recognized tribes locatedacross the United States to improve environmental andhuman health outcomes. Indian country totals morethan 70 million acres with reservations ranging rom lessthan 10 acres to more than 14 million acres. Dicult

environmental and health challenges remain in manyo these areas, including lack o access to sae drinkingwater, sanitation, adequate waste acilities, and otherenvironmental saeguards taken or granted elsewhere.

In collaboration with our tribal partners and ulfllingour government-to-government responsibilities, EPA

will engage in a two-part strategy or strengtheninghuman health and environmental protection in Indiancountry. First, EPA will provide the opportunity orederally-recognized tribes to create an eective andresults-oriented environmental capacity-building

presence. Second, EPA will ensure that its programsare implemented in Indian country either by EPA orthrough opportunities or implementation o environ-mental programs by tribes themselves.

Applied Research

In the area o cleaning up communities, research will allowEPA to identiy and apply approaches that better inormand guide environmentally sustainable behavior, protecthuman health and ecosystems, and provide the productsand services needed or mitigation, management, reme-

diation, and long-term stewardship o contaminated sites.It will also provide state, tribal, and local decision makerswith the knowledge needed to make smart, systems-based decisions that will inorm a balanced approach totheir cleanup and development needs.

End Notes:

1 Our Built and Natural Environments: A echnical Review o the Interactions between Land Use, ransportation, andEnvironmental Quality. Inormation available at http://www.epa.gov/dced/built.htm.

2 For more inormation about EPAs brownfelds program, see http://www.epa.gov/brownfelds.

3 EPA has developed a Priority Goal or brownfelds: By 2012, EPA will have initiated 20 enhanced brownfelds community levelprojects that will include a new area-wide planning eort to beneft under-served and economically disadvantaged communities.Tis will allow those communities to assess and address a single large or multiple brownfelds sites within their boundaries, therebyadvancing area-wide planning to enable redevelopment o brownfelds properties on a broader scale. EPA will provide technicalassistance, coordinate its enorcement, water, and air quality programs, and work with other ederal agencies, states, tribes, and localgovernments to implement associated targeted environmental improvements identifed in each communitys area-wide plan.

4 Tis reers to the total estimated number o people that live within a mile o each o the RCRA hazardous waste acilities thathave approved controls in place. Site-specifc data can be queried rom the Enorcement and Compliance History On-linedatabase, which provides ast, integrated searches o EPA and state data or regulated acilities (see http://www.epa-otis.gov/echo/compliance_report_rcra.html). Population data included in the database is rom the 2000 U.S. Census.

5 For more inormation on sustainable materials management, see Sustainable Materials Management: e Road Ahead .EPA 530R-09-009. Available at http://www.epa.gov/osw/inoresources/pubs/vision2.pd

6 Several ederal agencies have jurisdiction and authority or oil spill preparedness, response, and recovery in the U.S. in addition toEPA, including the Department o ransportation and the Coast Guard. EPAs eorts will ocus on those aspects o the national oilspill program or which they have authority and responsibility, primarily the inland area and fxed acilities, as well as sharing bestpractices, pertinent research, and lessons learned with its ederal partners.

7 More inormation about Superund and green remediation at EPA is available at http://www.epa.gov/superund/greenremediation.

8 Te 1984 EPA Policy or the Administration o Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations is available at http://www.epa.gov/tribal/pd/indian-policy-84.pd.
http://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/dced/built.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa-otis.gov/echo/compliance_report_rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa-otis.gov/echo/compliance_report_rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/pubs/vision2.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/superfund/greenremediationhttp://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/tribal/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/superfund/greenremediationhttp://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/pubs/vision2.pdfhttp://www.epa-otis.gov/echo/compliance_report_rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa-otis.gov/echo/compliance_report_rcra.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/dced/built.htm


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Chemicals are involved in the production

o everything rom our homes and carsto the cell phones we carry and the oodwe eat. Tousands o chemicals have

become ubiquitous in our everyday lives andeveryday products, as well as in our environmentand our bodies. Chemicals are oten released intothe environment as a result o their manuacture,processing, use, and disposal. Research shows thatchildren receive greater exposures to chemicalsbecause they inhale or ingest more air, ood, orwater on a body-weight basis than adults do.1Other vulnerable groups, including low-income,minority, and indigenous populations, are also dis-proportionately impacted by, and thus particularlyat risk rom, chemicals.

In 2009, the Administration announced principlesor modernizing the oxic Substances Control Act(SCA) to help inorm eorts underway in Congressto reauthorize and signifcantly strengthen EPAs abilityto assess the saety o industrial chemicals and ade-quately protect against unreasonable environmentalor public health risks.2SCA is outdated and should

be revised to provide stronger and clearer authorityor EPA to collect and act upon critical data regard-ing chemical risks. While SCA does provide someauthority to EPA to collect chemical inormation andmandate industry to conduct testing, there remainlarge, troubling gaps in the available data and stateo knowledge on many widely used chemicals in com-merce. EPAs authority to require development andsubmission o inormation and testing data is limited

by legal hurdles and procedural requirements. As welook to the uture, it is important to work togetherwith Congress and stakeholders to modernize andstrengthen the tools available under SCA to preventharmul chemicals rom entering the marketplaceand to increase confdence that those chemicals thatremain are sae and do not endanger the environment

or human health, especially or consumers, workers,and sensitive subpopulations like children.

Te 1990 Pollution Prevention Act established pre-venting pollution beore it is generated as nationalenvironmental policy. EPA is enhancing cross-cuttingeorts to advance sustainable practices, saer chemicals,greener processes and practices, and saer products.

Objectives:

Ensure Chemical Safety. Reduce the riskof chemicals that enter our products, ourenvironment, and our bodies.

Promote Pollution Prevention. Conserveand protect natural resources by promot-ing pollution prevention and the adoptionof other stewardship practices by com-panies, communities, governmentalorganizations, and individuals.

Strategic Measures associated with this Goalare on pages 52 through 53.

Reduce the risk and increase the saety o chemicals and prevent pollution at the source.

Goal 4: Ensuring

the Safety of

Chemicals and

Preventing Pollution
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/p2policy/act1990.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/p2policy/act1990.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.html


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Ensure Chemical Safety

Chemical saety is one o EPAs highest priorities. EPAsapproach to chemical risk management leveragesexpertise, inormation, and resources by collaborating

with other countries, ederal agencies, states, tribes,and the public to improve chemical saety.3 Childrenand other disproportionately exposed and aectedgroups, including low-income, minority, and indige-nous populations, require more explicit considerationin EPAs chemical risk assessments and managementactions, in accordance with the Executive Ordersand guidance on childrens health and environmentaljustice.4

EPA employs a variety o strategies under several stat-utes to ensure the saety o chemicals. Tese include:

Controlling the risks o new chemicals beorethey are introduced or reintroduced intocommerce;

Evaluating chemicals already in use;

Developing and implementing regulatory andother actions to eliminate or reduce identifedchemical risks; and,

Making public the data necessary to assesschemical saety to the extent allowed by law.5, 6

EPA has enhanced its work to ensure the saety oexisting chemicals by taking action to restrict theproduction and use o chemicals posing unreason-able risks and better assess chemicals that may poseenvironmental or public health concerns. Tis willquicken the Agencys pace in characterizing thehazards posed by the highest volume chemicals,maximize use o existing SCA authorities to increasethe availability o chemical inormation, and acceler-ate work to identiy saer alternatives.

Over the next fve years, the Agency will implementrisk management actions or chemicals that poseunreasonable risk to the environment or humanhealth, careully considering how the most vul

Documents

EPA Strategic Plan