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Environmental Compliance

  

The Environmental Compliance Program Area encompasses compliance related issues such as auditing, sources of regulations, executive orders, and policies applicable to Federal Facilities.

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Regulations, Guidance, and Policy
 
Federal Regulations
A United States Government website produced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA). This site provides access to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), The Federal Register, the e-CFR (a prototype of a daily updated version of the CFR), the system where you can comment on proposed regulations, and a discussion on how the rulemaking process works
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
This site enables users to search and comment on EPA regulations and significant guidance documents, and to learn how environmental regulations are written. The site also includes new sections for finding regulations and related documents, plus regulatory history, statutory authority, supporting analyses, compliance information, and guidance for implementation. Searches for regulatory information can be conducted by environmental topics, such as water or air, or by business sectors, such as transportation or construction.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis.
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) is a prototype of a currently updated version of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The e-CFR prototype is a demonstration project. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR. The e-CFR prototype is authorized and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) Office of the Federal Register (OFR) and the Government Printing Office (GPO). The OFR updates the material in the e-CFR on a frequent basis with the most recent date of update displayed on the home page.
These are presidential documents which require Federal facilities to perform an action, participate in an activity, or develop and implement a policy.
Requiring Agencies to Purchase Energy Efficient Computer Equipment
21 April 1993
This EO directs the U.S. government to participate in the EPA Energy Star computer program by agreeing to buy energy-efficient computers, monitors, and printers. To the extent possible, Federal agencies must purchase only computer equipment that meets the EPA Energy Star requirements.
Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation at Federal Facilities
8 March 1994
This EO addresses agency goals and reporting requirements for energy and water efficiency at Federal facilities as well as suggestions on how to achieve those goals.
Memorandum by CEQ Chairman James L. Connaughton, dated March 28, 2007, to the heads of Executive Branch departments and agencies, announcing the release of the instructions and requirements for implementing the goals of Executive Order 13423 "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management."
In accordance with Section 4(b) of Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management", implementing instructions have been issued to Federal agencies to provide detail and direction to agencies as the work to fulfill the goals and requirement of the Executive Order. Section 8 of these instructions are specific to pollution prevention. These instructions are dated March 29, 2007.
This 1991 memo includes factors that DOJ considers important in evaluating whether to prosecute environmental violations. These factors include voluntary disclosure of the violation, cooperation, preventative measures and compliance programs, persuasiveness of non-compliance, internal disciplinary action, and subsequent compliance efforts. It was the intent of DOJ to encourage self-auditing, self-policing, and voluntary disclosure of environmental violations stating that these activities are considered mitigating factors in the Department’s environmental enforcement activities. The necessity of having a thorough environmental auditing program cannot be overemphasized. The priority that DOJ assigns to auditing and self-disclosure as critical mitigating factors in environmental criminal prosecutions is an indication of how important it is for federal facilities to develop and implement sound and thorough auditing programs.
In this memorandum dated 4 October 2001 Ms. Whitman states that “Federal agencies will be held accountable to the same high standards for environmental compliance as other members of the regulated community.”
EPA memorandum dated February 13, 2006, by Assistant Administrator Granta Y. Nakayama, reaffirming the existing Guidance on Calculating the Economic Benefit of Noncompliance by Federal Agencies issued on September 30, 1999.
This memorandum, dated 28 November 2005, encourages federal departmental and agency leadership to develop strategies to prevent or reduce environmental conflicts and generate opportunities for constructive collaboration problem solving. The Memorandum directs all Federal departments and agencies to document their ECR planning and implementation efforts in an annual report submitted to OMB and CEQ. Documentation includes an agency self-audit to analyze how ECR may be applied to environmental disputes when they occur, and to plan for increasing institutional capacity for ECR where appropriate.
In 2006 EPA signed a MOU with the Edison Electric Institute and five federal agencies to establish sound Integrated Vegetation Management practices in order to reduce adverse impacts to the environment and the public while ensuring reliable electrical service. The federal agencies involved in the MOU include the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service of the Department of the Interior. The MOU will support these federal agencies by providing practical, sustainable, and cost-effective policies, procedures, and practices that will reduce risks to the environment and the public, while ensuring safe, reliable, and uninterrupted electrical services to customers.
Released November 1, 2007, the Office of the Inspector Generals FY 2008 Plan identifies subject areas that the OIG intends to assess in the current fiscal year and any areas from the previous year for which it is continuing assessments. For example, one focus in FY 2008 will be on how EPA can improve air emissions data to set appropriate controls and improve its process for measuring the success of grant programs.
Guidance for the Clean Air Act (CAA)
EPA currently issues over 100 letters or memoranda per year on Clean Air Act (CAA) applicability or monitoring issues under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS, 40 CFR 60) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP, 40 CFR 61 and 63) programs. These written responses are broadly termed “applicability determinations”. The ADI also contains “regulatory interpretations” which are written responses that apply to the broad range of NSPS and NESHAP regulatory requirements as they pertain to a whole source category; and applicability determinations issued pursuant to the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) regulations, cited in 40 CFR 82. The ADI, a computerized database of such letters and memoranda, allows users to search by date, office of issuance, subpart, citation, control number, or string word searches.
Questions and answers concern how to prepare a RMP, submit a RMP, and accessing RMP information.
This website, provided by the EPA Office of Enforcement, is a collection of current, active EPA policies and guidance in relation to CAA, including: stationary sources; New Source Performance Standards (NSPS); National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs); CAA Section 114 : Inspection, Entry and Monitoring; new source review (NSR); prevention of significant deterioration (PSD); mobile sources; and acid rain.
This newly released legislative and regulatory analyses compared several cap-and-trade approaches aimed at reducing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The legislative and regulatory analyses project potential costs and benefits for public health, air quality, and the power sector for the years 2010, 2015, and 2020.
This document seeks to clarify the impact of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Conformity Rules (Proposed) on federal facilities. It was written by Bill Frank from the U.S. EPA Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO).
The final interpretation is that the plain language and structure of certain sections of the operating permits regulations (40 CFR 70 and 71) do not provide an independent basis for requiring or authorizing review and enhancement of existing monitoring in title V permits. EPA believes that other rules establish a basis for such review and enhancement. The final rule interpretation is effective on 16 January 2007. POC is Peter Westlin, EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Mail code: D243-05, 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone: (919) 541-1058; fax number (919) 541-1039; e-mail address: westlin.peter@epa.gov (Federal Register: December 15, 2006 [Rules and Regulations] , Page 75422-75431)
This document (EPA420-F-07-053, August 2007) responds to questions EPA has received concerning the manner in which the EPA intends to implement and ensure compliance with the regulations in the Control of Hazardous Air Pollutants From Mobile Sources (“MSAT2”) rulemaking published on February 26, 2007 (72 FR 8428).
Dated 6 June 2005, the brief addresses issues pertinent to all Federal entities such as: vapor recovery requirements for gasoline dispensing systems; prohibitions related to misfueling; gasoline volatility requirements; limitations on diesel fuel sulfur content; requirements relating to reformulated gasoline; requirements for detergent additives; requirements for oxygenated gasoline; whether the CAA prohibits the use of leaded gasoline in motor vehicles; and whether Federal Agencies must offer to sell clean alternative fuels to the public.
Guidance for the Clean Water Act (CWA)
EPA discussion on aspects of 40 CFR 112, Animal and Vegetable Fats Applicability.
Starting on page 47058 of the attached file, a section by section, paragraph by paragraph discussion is recorded as to the intent of the regulation.
Published by EPA Region 9 in February 2004, this document lists common findings of noncompliance when local pretreatment programs are evaluated.
The memorandum addresses such topics as secondary containment for bulk storage facilities; deviations from rule requirements; fencing requirements; overfill prevention; integrity testing; use of tank trucks for storage; agreements with clean-up contractors; SPCC plan amendments; and other issues.
The Guidance describes priorities for the National Water Program for FY 2007, outlines the strategy for accomplishing specific environmental goals in the coming year, and identifies measures of progress to be used to assess progress. EPA Regions will use the Guidance in working with States and Tribes to develop workplans and related materials and will use "targets" for measures in the Guidance as a point of reference for making "commitments" under the measures.
This document details the steps to be taken in FY06 towards meeting the EPA water program’s strategic plan.
Updates and background information regarding the scope of term "Waters of the United States" protected under the CWA.
EPA 833-R-04-002A, July 2004
The Office of Wastewater Management of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Water prepared this guidance document to assist municipalities that own or operate publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) in developing and implementing local pretreatment programs. It discusses issues such as how to determine pollutants of concern, the data needed to develop local limits, and implementing local limits.
This document details the steps to be taken in FY06 towards meeting the EPA water program’s strategic plan.
EPA has published a new technical guidance that will help integrate National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits into watershed management plans. "Watershed-Based NPDES Permitting Technical Guidance" is a follow up to the 2003 implementation guidance and leads permitting interested parties through the analysis of watershed data and developing a framework for implementing an NPDES program.
Guidance on the following issues is presented here: federal enforcement in combined sewer overflows (CSO)/sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) cases; application of pesticides to the waters of the U.S.; concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); and management, operation, and maintenance programs for SSOs.
This memorandum, dated 8 May 2006, is from the EPA Office of Water Assistant Administrator to the Regional Directors, Water Division Directors, and Branch Chiefs. The memorandum urges the use of the “qualifying local program” provision for the management and oversight of stormwater runoff from construction activities. This provision offers the opportunity to increase administrative efficiencies in the stormwater program by formally recognizing local construction management programs that meet or exceed the provisions in EPA's construction general permit.
Issued on December 2, 2005, the guidance document is intended to assist regional inspectors in reviewing a facility's implementation of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule at 40 CFR part 112 and understanding the rule's applicability, and to help clarify the role of the inspector in the review and evaluation of the performance-based SPCC requirements. The guidance document is also available to owners and operators of facilities that may be subject to the requirements of the SPCC rule and the general public on how EPA intends the SPCC rule to be implemented. The document is designed to provide a consistent national policy on several SPCC-related issues.
This example SWPPP represents a hypothetical project for the construction of a postal and distribution center on less than 5 acres in New Hampshire. See attachments (2).
This guidance provides detailed information for submitting accurate discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) on time in order to reduce the occurrence of noncompliance findings due to incomplete or late DMR submittals.
This is EPA's first "how-to" manual on designing and implementing water quality trading programs. The Toolkit helps NPDES permitting authorities incorporate trading provisions into permits. You can order a hardcopy of the document (#EPA-833-R-07-004) from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at 513-489-8190, 800-490-9198, or nscep@bps-lmit.com. Contact: Ginny Kibler, 202-564-0596, virginia.kibler@epa.gov
The intent of this document is to help integrate NPDES permits into watershed management plans. The guidance supports approaches to permitting that may help target your watershed's most pressing environmental needs, help achieve water quality-based effluent limitations based on water quality standards, and provide opportunities for cost reductions and improved efficiencies such as water quality trading. The guidance includes case studies describing how watershed approaches involving NPDES permitting have been implemented across the country. POC is Pat Bradley, 202-564-0729, bradley.patrick@epa.gov
Guidance for CERCLA
Policy and guidance documents to implement EPA's responsibilities in overseeing Superfund cleanups at Federal facilities.
This document, dated 21 July 2005 is intended to assist EPA Regions and other federal agencies improve the quality of Site Investigations (SIs) at federal facilities. The goal is to obtain sufficient information under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to meet the requirements outlined in the National Contingency Plan (NCP).
In this document, dated 1 December 2008, the Department of Justice, said that the Pentagon had no legal grounds to resist cleanup orders from the EPA.
Guidance for EPCRA
This website, provided by the EPA Office of Enforcement, is a collection of policy and guidance documents and strategies used in the enforcement of EPCRA. The listing is not inclusive of all policy and guidance document that may also be relied upon in developing enforcement actions.
Questions submitted to the EPA about EPCRA and their answers. These are up-to-date as of August 2005.
Guidance for FIFRA
This website, provided by the EPA Office of Enforcement, is a collection of policy and guidance documents and strategies used in the enforcement of FIFRA. The listing is not inclusive of all policy and guidance document that may also be relied upon in developing enforcement actions.
The new 2005 WPS How-to-Comply (HTC) Manual supersedes the 1993 version. This compliance assistance tool has been updated to reflect amendments to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), a regulation designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.
Guidance for RCRA
Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) to report to Congress every two years on the actions taken by Federal agencies to implement the statute. OFPP and OFEE have developed the attached survey to collect the information required to meet the reporting required by RCRA and E.O. 13101.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 require Federal agencies to establish affirmative procurement programs for purchasing EPA- and USDA-designated recycled content and biobased products, respectively. One required element of these programs is annual review and monitoring of the program (i.e., compliance monitoring) This document identifies compliance monitoring options already in use within the Federal government. These options are provided solely as examples.!
This document, dated 2 May 2007, includes hyper-link references to frequently asked questions, letters, memoranda, and guidance concerning hazardous waste.
This is a compilation of questions to the RCRA Call Center and the responses to the questions for the years 1991 – 2004.
This is a database is designed to enable users to locate documents, including publications and other outreach materials, that cover a wide range of RCRA issues and topics.
Maintained by EPA's RCRA Enforcement Division, this site contains the policy, guidance, and other documents that are currently used in RCRA Enforcement and the RCRA Enforcement Policy and Guidance Archives with the documents that are no longer used. Topics include, but are not limited to: groundwater, inspections, permitting, and USTs.
This site consolidates the answers to frequent questions about RCRA and provides a forum for the use to ask a question themselves.
Guidance for RCRA, Subtitle C
This September 7, 2005 memorandum from the head of the EPA's Office of Solid Waste to agency regional directors "reaffirms EPA's commitment to employing appropriate flexibility in the review of state programs" authorized under RCRA. The memorandum is a response to a workgroup established in April 2003 to examine potential improvements to the process by which EPA determines whether state hazardous waste programs are equivalent to the federal program.
This EPA Memorandum issued on October 4, 2006 to all Regional RCRA Waste Management Directors helps clarify what types of activities are considered as incidental processing and may be excluded from RCRA regulation under the use/reuse recycling provision of 40 CFR 261.2(e)(1) rather than being considered RCRA regulated reclamation activities under 40 CFR 261.2(c)(3).
This document describes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) hazardous waste listing regulations under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C and includes hyperlinks to information that EPA has generated over the years to explain the listing regulations. The objective of this document is to consolidate and streamline the information on listing regulations to help Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff, state staff, industrial facilities, and the public understand hazardous waste listing regulations.
This variance, effective November 2002, applies specifically to radioactively contaminated cadmium-, mercury-, and silver-containing waste batteries .The Regulatory Bulletin discusses the LDR treatment standard established for these mixed waste batteries, the DOE petition that requested the treatability variance, the rationale for granting the variance, and implementation at the State level.
Guidance for RCRA, Subtitle I
Questions and answers for some of the most common concerns related to 40 CFR 280.
EPA OUST/FFEO memo, dated 01 Feb 2006, providing guidance and assistance to Federal Agencies on their data reporting requirements of the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2005.
EPA memorandum dated October 17, 2006, by Cliff L. Rothenstein (Director), Office of Underground Storage Tanks, announcing to Federal Facility Environmental Executives that agency underground storage tank compliance reports will be posted on the EPA website and that specific UST information will be provided to the EPA Regions and States.
In Section 1528 of the Act all departments and federal agencies that own, operate, or manage one or more federally regulated USTs to report the compliance status of their USTs to EPA and Congress by August 8, 2006. In order to facilitate this reporting, the EPA is requesting that every Federal Agency Environmental Executive provide the name of one representative per department or agency with who the EPA can coordinate. The memorandum, dated 17 October 2005, was signed by the Director of the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST), Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) and the Director of the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO), Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA).
November 15, 2006 memorandum announcing issuance of final document that implements a key provision of the underground storage tank amendments of the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the secondary containment grant guidelines.
There are multiple grant guidelines issued by the EPA for the management and inspection of USTs, including the following titles: Inspection (24 April 2007); State Compliance Reports On Government Underground Storage Tanks (24 April 2007); Public Record (22 January 2007); Financial Responsibility And Installer Certification (22 January 2007); Secondary Containment (15 November 2006); Delivery Prohibition (7 August 2006); Tribal Strategy (7 August 2006). States will not receive RCRA Subtitle I funding unless these guidelines are met.
A database that will allow any user to search for RCRA information from a comprehensive set of FAQs or submit their own question or comment on a variety of RCRA issues and topics.
This database is designed to enable users to locate documents, including publications, OSW memos, and other outreach materials, that cover a wide range of RCRA issues and topics.
Maintained by EPA's RCRA Enforcement Division, this site contains the policy, guidance, and other documents that are currently used in RCRA Enforcement and the RCRA Enforcement Policy and Guidance Archives with the documents that are no longer used. Topics include, but are not limited to: groundwater, inspections, permitting, and USTs.
Links to the state POCs with RCRA expertise. Particularly valuable for states with RCRA primacy.
Guidance for the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
This guide is designed to help systems understand and achieve compliance with the Arsenic rule. The guide provides sample worksheets to help systems organize data, and provides guidance for small systems on their selection of appropriate compliance options. This is EPA document EPA 816-R-02-008A.
EPA is highlighting eleven Arsenic Rule Compliance Success Stories, a series of case studies highlighting public water system experiences in meeting the revised drinking water standard. These community and non-residential water systems utilized innovative or lower cost approaches to meeting the revised 10 ppb maximum contaminant level for arsenic.
Developed by EPA, this guidance manual discusses the issues that systems will face as they evaluate and implement changes necessary to comply with the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproduct Rule and the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, while still being required to comply with earlier rules such as the Total Coliform Rule and Lead and Copper Rule. This manual builds on a similar manual developed for the Stage 1 DBP rule, incorporating new research and case studies, and is presented in a more user-friendly manner. EPA developed this guidance manual to provide systems and states with information on operational and capital changes and approaches to enable systems to evaluate different compliance strategies and technologies.
This guide, EPA 816-B-05-004, applies to small systems adding any chemical disinfectant and was published March 2006. The intent of the guide is to aid systems in complying with the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 1DBPR) published on December 16, 1998 under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
This supplement, EPA 816-B-05-005, applies to small systems adding chlorine dioxide or ozone and was published March 2006. This document supplements EPA 816-B-05-004. This supplement is intended to aid you in complying with the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 1 DBPR) published on December 16, 1998, under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
This supplement, EPA 816-B-05-006, applies to small subpart H systems using conventional filtration treatment and was published March 2006. This document supplements EPA 816-B-05-004. This supplement is intended to aid you in complying with the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 1 DBPR) published on December 16, 1998, under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
An EPA learning portal designed to help water systems, especially small water systems, comply with EPA's Arsenic Rule which is effective 23 January 2006. The portal enables the user to work through a decision tree and educate themselves about treatment options before committing to any given treatment.
The Guidance describes priorities for the National Water Program for FY 2007, outlines the strategy for accomplishing specific environmental goals in the coming year, and identifies measures of progress to be used to assess progress. EPA Regions will use the Guidance in working with States and Tribes to develop workplans and related materials and will use "targets" for measures in the Guidance as a point of reference for making "commitments" under the measures.
This document details the steps to be taken in FY06 towards meeting the EPA water program’s strategic plan.
This memorandum, dated 15 November 2006, clarifies EPA's expectations concerning the appropriate time increment used to express "total maximum daily loads" (TMDLs).
This document details the steps to be taken in FY06 towards meeting the EPA water program’s strategic plan.
EPA has released three documents to aid public water systems in complying with the new Ground Water Rule for which compliance begins in December 2009. “Complying with the Ground Water Rule: Small Entity Compliance Guide,” provides a step-by-step guide to the GWR requirements and how they apply to small public water systems. “The Consecutive System Guide for the Ground Water Rule” describes the specific responsibilities of both wholesale providers and consecutive systems which purchase water from wholesalers and provides recommendations to help them meet those responsibilities. “The Ground Water Rule Source Water Monitoring Methods Guidance Manual” includes information about the basis for ground water monitoring, how to determine the appropriate fecal indicator for monitoring, and how the different analytical methods work.
Developed by EPA, this is a best practices guide that helps public water systems communicate with the public about drinking water risks. Chronic contaminants are those that can cause health effects after continuous long-term exposure. This fact sheet discusses the importance of communicating with the public about chronic contaminants - both regulated and unregulated - and describe effective strategies for getting the message out.
Guidance for TSCA
EPA answers to questions on how to manage asbestos in renovation and demolition operations.
This clarification presents correct information with regard to the status of asbestos products that are banned by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as of 18 May 1999, as well as categories of asbestos-containing products that are NOT subject to a ban.
Memorandum issued on 14 August 2003 stating the Agency will not consider the transfer of ownership of real property that is contaminated with PCBs as a prohibited distribution in commerce of PCBs.
EPA Q&A manuals, guidance manuals, and policy statements.
This document/website provides describes EPA's current and planned actions to ensure a coordinated Agency-wide approach to identify, evaluate and reduce the risks to people from asbestos exposure. The plan focuses on improving the state of the science for asbestos; identifying and addressing exposure and seeking risk reduction opportunities associated with asbestos in products, schools and buildings; and better understanding and minimizing asbestos exposures through assessment and cleanup.
This website, provided by the EPA Office of Enforcement, is a collection of policy and guidance documents and strategies used in the enforcement of the TSCA. The listing is not inclusive of all policy and guidance document that may also be relied upon in developing enforcement actions.
Guidance for EPA Programs
The plan was released by the Administrator on March 13 and is titled “Action Plan: Principles to Accelerate the Pace of Environmental Protection” The intent of the plan is to document the Administrators approach to meet a charge by President Bush to accelerate the pace of environmental protection while maintaining economic competitiveness, according to EPA. The three principles outlined in the plan are to achieve results while maintaining accountability, to foster innovation and collaboration, and to use the best available science in developing regulations and agency policy documents. The five priorities in the plan are cleaner air and affordable energy, clean and safe water, healthy communities and ecosystems, the global environment, and a stronger EPA.
State Regulations
EnvCAP has prepared state resource locators for a wide range of topics to help you find important environmental compliance information specifically for your state. The topics include: stormwater, hazardous waste, asbestos, endangered species, wetlands, universal waste, air pollution, construction and demolition debris, lead-based paint, mercury, OSHA.
This provides a link to the state environmental regulatory agencies.
The Environmental Compliance Assistance Platform's state regulations locator tool.
Regulations, Guidance, and Policy Bottom Border
 
Supporting Information and Tools
 
Databases/Software Tools
This Models Knowledge Base is an inventory of EPA's environmental models. It contains information about model use (What are the requirements?, How can it be obtained?, and How is it used?) and model science (What is the scientific basis for the model?, How was the model developed?, and Was the model evaluated?).
A pilot program allowing regulated entities nationwide to electronically self-report violations of the Environmental Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Facilities located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas will be able to disclose violations of all environmental laws electronically. EPA said it would consider expanding that program nationwide pending the results of the pilot project.
A Web-based tool that provides public access to compliance and enforcement information for approximately 800,000 EPA-regulated facilities. ECHO allows users to find permit, inspection, violation, enforcement action, and penalty information covering the past two years. The site includes facilities regulated as Clean Air Act stationary sources, Clean Water Act direct dischargers, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste generators/handlers. The data in ECHO are updated monthly.
CDX is the point of entry on the Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange Network) for environmental data submissions to the Agency. Its use is supported by the Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) which provides the legal framework for electronic reporting under all of EPA's environmental regulations.
The site is used to report alleged violations of environmental law. Any member of the public can report an alleged violation. The site guides the user through the process and asks questions in a way that allows the person reporting a potential violation to clarify exactly what he or she is reporting. Once a tip is filed online, it is reviewed by the criminal enforcement program at EPA headquarters, within 48 hours if possible.
FedCenter.gov's Facility Regulatory Tour is an activity-based guide designed to help Federal facility environmental managers meet their regulatory requirements. It also provides information on green products, P2 opportunities and best practices related to a particular facility activity.
Enables users to determine the federal monitoring requirements for public drinking water systems. It provides a comprehensive list of all of the federal monitoring requirements for a general category of systems.
This interactive CD-Rom and web site is part of EPA’s ongoing public drinking water sustainable infrastructure efforts. The purpose of this guide is to help drinking water system owners and operators better understand the general procedures involved in collecting Safe Drinking Water Act compliance samples. Additional sample shipping suggestions, sample tips, and sample requirements are made available within the body of this interactive guide.
The FedCenter's My Community / My Facility page provides access to the numerous data systems which contain information about issues such as: your compliance record, the permits you have, the wastes generated by your facility and your neighbors, the status of your watersheds, air monitoring data, spills your facility has reported, and population statistics.
The roster search and referral system is accessible to anyone contemplating the use of consensus building and dispute resolution services where environmental, natural resources, or public lands issues are involved.
OTIS enables EPA staff, state/local/tribal governments, and federal agencies to access a wide range of data relating to enforcement and compliance with respect to their facilities, including:
  • Location or Map
  • Company Name
  • Toxic Releases
  • Environmental Justice
  • Time Since Last Inspection
  • Violation Status/Frequency
  • Enforcement Actions
  • Statistical Criteria/Trends
OTIS is a web application that sends queries to the Integrated Data for Enforcement Analysis (IDEA) system. Only State and Federal agencies have access to the OTIS data system.

The EPA has just modernized this national database which is designed and implemented by EPA to meet its needs in the oversight and management of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). SDWIS is EPA's national database for collecting reports of violations of drinking water standards set for microbial, chemical, and radiological contaminants; water treatment techniques; and monitoring and reporting requirements. Data from SDWIS/ODS will be extracted and posted to the EPA Drinking Water Data Warehouse quarterly, and will be available through standard reports in the SDWIS/Reporting Services application
Operated by the University of Massachusetts. This is a searchable database containing validated performance data and technical information on innovative stormwater treatment technologies.
This is a secure, online database for contaminants of concern to water security is designed to assist users in planning for and responding to threats and incidents of drinking water contamination. WCIT access will be granted to drinking water and wastewater utilities, state drinking water and wastewater programs, drinking water and wastewater associations, and federal officials (including government laboratory personnel).
This is a data transfer system which now allows states, tribes and other organizations to share their biological and habitat monitoring results. All data shared using the WQX framework can be accessed on-line in the STORET Data Warehouse, EPA's repository for water quality data.
This national database provides access to EPA and state water quality standards (WQS) information in text, tables, and maps. You can access WQS reports with information about designated uses, waterbody names, state numeric water quality criteria, and EPA recommended numeric water quality criteria. Using standard reports, you can compare WQS information across the nation.
Directories/Catalogs/Newsletters
EPA's newsletter for compliance assistance (CA) providers. Each edition is designed to focus on a theme or topic of interest to the compliance assistance provider community.
Developed by the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Compendium allows EPA, Inspectors General, GAO, OMB, and other stakeholders interested in environmental programs to use the Compendium database to view data on specific environmental activities. The Compendium 2005 Update combines the benefit of EPA's efforts with those undertaken by other federal agencies and departments. The Compendium identifies how various federal agencies share achievement of environmental goals by listing the number of air, water, land preservation and restoration, and healthy communities and ecosystems activities identified through EPA-OIG research.
Libraries/Repositories
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis.
Organizations
This is a network of university-based programs funded by EPA to provide information on how to finance environmental facilities and services at the local level. The EFCs educate State and Local officials and small businesses on ways to lower costs of compliance and pollution prevention, increase investments in environmental protection, encourage full cost pricing of environmental services, and identify financing tools and options.
A professional organization dedicated to the development and professional practice of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) auditing. Its mission is to enhance the practice of EHS auditing by creating a national forum and organization to advance ideas, procedures and member interaction.
NEIC is the only environmental forensic center accredited for environmental data measurement activities. The Center conducts applied research to solve problems raised in the implementation of EPA rules and regulations and leads in developing innovative techniques, practices and procedures. NEIC promotes the transfer of new and/or applied technology, and works cooperatively with others who have environmental enforcement responsibilities or who work in the field of environmental science.
Supporting Information and Tools Bottom Border
 
Lessons Learned
 
General
This annual report profiles the federal government's compliance with various environmental laws based on the most recent reporting data compiled by EPA's Federal Facilities Enforcement Office. The Report provides environmental compliance information back to 1993 so that compliance trends may be observed.
This report contains information on federal government agencies regarding compliance with federal environmental laws, cleanup enforcement, administrative enforcement, inspections and compliance assistance. Environmental compliance information from 1993 to 2007 is presented so trends can be observed, but this report does not attempt to analyze the underlying causes of noncompliance. Progress of EPA's federal facilities enforcement and compliance programs from 2005 to 2007 is also presented.
An online interactive forum where you can discuss a wide range of environmental and human health issues with EPA's senior officials. Archives will be maintained of all forums.
At the end of each fiscal year, EPA announces the results of compliance assurance and enforcement activities. Annual results of the compliance and enforcement program and highlights of specific accomplishments are available below. Another presentation of the program's results can be found in the compliance assurance and enforcement Accomplishment Reports.
In 2002, EPA and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) signed a Commitment Statement (PDF, 766.9 KB) committing their organizations to work together to improve environmental compliance of VHA facilities.
GAO report GAO-08-74, November 2007. This report describes (1) DOD's procedures for selecting hazardous waste transporters and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and ensuring that they properly dispose of hazardous waste; (2) the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies in ensuring hazardous waste is disposed of safely and in accordance with laws and regulations; and (3) the information that facilities and regulators must publicly report regarding a release of hazardous waste and the enforcement actions taken against facilities found in violation of the applicable laws and regulations.
Combined Sewer Overflows Treatment, Stormwater, Disinfection, Biological Treatment (Secondary and Advanced), Decentralized Systems Technology, Collection Systems O&M, Biosolids, and Wastewater. Each fact sheet includes the following information: environmental, Public, and consumer benefits; a description of the technology; limitations; consumer tips; costs and references for additional information.
Compliance Auditing
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist addresses asbestos requirements related to construction.
This guide is an organized collection of information and series of options for industry, regulators, auditors, consultants and the public, intended to measure compliance with environmental performance standards against established benchmarks. It focuses on compliance with air, water, waste prevention, waste management, and toxic reduction standards for facilities in the United States. While the guide does not recommend a specific course of action, it establishes a tiered framework of essential components, beginning with those standards where a deviation presents the greatest potential public health, environmental, and business risks.
NOTE: This Guide must be purchased from ASTM.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist addresses information related to dredge and fill (Section 404) environmental requirements for construction projects.
The 9 July 1986 EPA audit policy stated that “it is EPA policy to encourage the use of environmental auditing by regulated industries to help achieve and maintain compliance with environmental laws and regulation, as well as to help identify and correct unregulated environmental hazards.” The policy also specifically endorsed environmental auditing at federal facilities.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist addresses emergency planning and notification requirements along with related clean-up issues.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist reviews the requirements for generators of hazardous waste.
Once a violation has been discovered, a company has 21 days from the time of that discovery to disclose the violation to EPA. Companies should make the disclosure to the EPA Regional Office where the affected facility is located.
The 22 December 1995 EPA audit policy offered major incentives for entities (including federal facilities) to discover, disclose and correct environmental violations. Under the 1995 policy, EPA would not seek gravity-based penalties or recommend that criminal charges be brought for violations that are discovered through an “environmental audit” (as defined in the 1986 audit policy) or a management system reflecting “due diligence” and that are promptly disclosed and corrected, provided that other important safeguards are met.
In the 11 April 2000 revised policy, the incentives that EPA makes available for those who meet the terms of the Audit Policy include the elimination or substantial reduction of the gravity component of civil penalties and a determination not to recommend criminal prosecution of the disclosing entity. The Policy also restates EPA's long-standing practice of not requesting copies of regulated entities’ voluntary audit reports to trigger Federal enforcement investigations and reflects EPA’s continuing commitment to encouraging voluntary self-policing while preserving fair and effective enforcement. It lengthens the prompt disclosure period to 21 days, clarifies that the independent discovery condition does not automatically preclude Audit Policy credit in the multi-facility context, and clarifies how the prompt disclosure and repeat violations conditions apply in the acquisitions context.
OCONUS Compliance Assessment Protocols (OCAP manuals) are environmental compliance assessment manuals intended for use by Department of Defense (DOD) installations that are located outside the Continental United States (i.e., OCONUS). The OCAP manuals are based on Final Governing Standards (FGS) developed specifically for use in countries that host larger DOD installations. The manuals enable users to: identify applicable environmental regulations, document instances of environmental noncompliance, develop action plans to eliminate the noncompliance, and prevent future noncompliance. Service-specific supplements to the FGS-based OCAP manuals are available for use by the U.S. Air Force and by the U.S. Army. The FGS-based manuals are updated as necessary; the service-specific supplements for use OCONUS are updated quarterly as necessary. FedCenter.gov membership is also required for access to these documents.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist planning, handling, storage, and training requirements related to the use and storage of petroleum products.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist addresses requirements for PCB processing and use prohibitions for construction activities.
A part of EPA/305-B-04-003, Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development, April 2005, this checklist addresses Construction General Permit (CGP) requirements including planning and control measures.
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Guide is a compliance assessment manual based on U.S. OSHA regulations. It consolidates requirements from the General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910) and the Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926), and it also includes those for Federal OSH programs and reporting (29 CFR 1904 and 1960). The OSH Guide may be used in self-audits, external audits, and as a reference tool. The manual enables users to: identify applicable regulations, document instances of noncompliance, develop action plans to eliminate the noncompliance, and prevent future noncompliance. Agency-specific supplements to the OSH Guide are available for the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard. Also in this series are manuals based on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements found in 10 CFR 20 and 10 CFR 31. The manuals are updated quarterly as necessary. Access is restricted to FedCenter.gov members and Federal Agency sponsorship.
Between 1997 and 2001 the EPA issued 11 audit protocols that provide coverage of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Clean Water Act (CWA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). In addition, there is a "how to" manual on designing and implementing environmental compliance auditing programs for Federal agencies and facilities. NONE OF THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEIR ORIGINAL PUBLICATION.
For up-to-date regulatory information and audit process development, multiple Federal agencies use the U.S. TEAM Guide and the State Supplement to TEAM. These audit protocols/checklists address Federal and state/territory regulations in the following subject areas: air emissions; cultural resources, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, natural resources, NEPA, EMS, environmental noise, cleanup sites, pollution prevention, petroleum storage, pesticides use and storage, storage tanks, toxic substances (PCBs, asbestos, radon, lead-based paint), wastewater, and drinking water. These audit protocols/checklists are available to personnel from department/agency TEAM partners via FedCenter.gov membership. If your Department/Agency is not a TEAM partner, or for more information about TEAM, please view the fact sheet.
The Environmental Compliance Assessment System (ECAS) program was developed and implemented by HQDA in 1991-92 in response to the recommendation made by EPA in 1986. Active army installations are assessed for compliance performance approximately every three years.
Enforcement
The US EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) has developed this Compliance Assurance Resources Compendium which contains over 400 Web links to various types of resources - policies, guidance training, guidebooks, Web sites, fact sheets, etc. to help Regions, states and tribes in implementing the performance-based strategies for each of the national enforcement and compliance priorities for FY2005-2007.
This memorandum, dated 7 July 2008, clarifies EPA's position regarding the relationship between EO requirements and proposed Federal Agency SEPs. The document explains those situations where a proposal that is similar in nature to directives of an EO may otherwise be acceptable under the SEP policy regarding acceptance of proposals "that may not have otherwise occurred" without the settlement.
The EPA’s Civil Enforcement at Federal Facilities website provides compliance policy and guidance for federal facilities across the following enforcement topics: CAA, CERCLA, Cross-Media, CWA, EPCRA, FIFRA, RCRA, SDWA, and TSCA.
The EPA policy and guidance documents provided below relate to EPA's Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) Policy that are currently in use.
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Training, Presentations, and Briefings
This course is sponsored by APTI and is intended primarily for new employees in governmental air pollution control agencies. It may also be useful to people who are seeking basic knowledge about air pollution. Each module in the course is composed of units that include introductory materials, graphics, and a quick quiz for review. After completing the course, the student must pass the final test with a score of 90% or better to earn a certificate.
This computer-based course is designed to meet the training requirements for inspectors under EPA Order 3500.1. The course parallels the 2003 NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual and includes basic topics such as an overview of the NPDES program, types of NPDES inspection procedures, sampling and flow measurement, and recordkeeping and reporting. Advanced modules include inspections for storm water, sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), combined sewer overflows (CSOs), pretreatment compliance, and biosolids, as well as toxicity, pollution prevention, and wetlands. The course takes approximately 10 hours to complete.
Addresses inventorying chemicals, emergency planning, emergency releases, and community right-to-know.
Developed by EPA’s Office of Water, this is a training tool to help water and wastewater systems improve their emergency response capabilities. The exercises include roles for water suppliers, health officials, laboratories, fire, police, emergency medical services, local, state, and federal officials.
This computer-based course uses text, narration, graphics, animation and video to cover the basic provisions and enforcement authorities of seven environmental statutes (RCRA, CERCLA, CAA, CWA, EPCRA, TSCA, and FIFRA). The course is intended for environmental personnel who may be familiar with one statute, but need to gain an overall understanding of other statutes.
This 3.5-hour Web-based course, designed for inspectors in the FIFRA program, prepares students to perform FIFRA inspections and conduct fieldwork. Topics include lessons about jurisdiction and authority, the inspector's role, evidence gathering, types of inspections, inspection procedures, and report writing. Lesson quizzes and a comprehensive knowledge check reinforce learning.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to describe the following: general principles of quality assurance; general quality assurance considerations for the acquisition, installation, and operation of air quality monitoring systems; quality control programs and data quality assessment for SLAMS and PSD air monitoring; and audit criteria and procedures for air quality monitoring networks.
This course is designed to provide an introductory view of all major practical aspects of air pollution control.
This course introduces terms used in ambient air monitoring and presents practical information about the monitoring process. Theoretical monitoring concepts are also described.
The goal of this course is to familiarize air pollution inspectors with the principles of baseline inspection techniques, to present basic descriptions of fan and ventilation system operations and specific air pollution control devices, and to present the applicable Level 1 and 2 inspection steps for these control devices. The course also presents general considerations for all facility inspections, including safety procedures.
This one hour web-based course makes available consistent, high quality environmental justice training to Federal personnel across the country.
This APTI course is designed to introduce students to the terms and concepts associated with Title V requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The level of information is such that the course will provide an overview for technical, nontechnical, management, and other personnel needing to understand the fundamentals of the Title V permit process.
The purpose of this course is to orient new employees, provide refresher training, and supplement annual training for the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) program. Topics include preparation for field inspections, on-site equipment inspections, compliance records review, purpose and goals of the UST program, history of the UST program, financial responsibility requirements, and the federal UST regulations.
A series of PDF presentations by the EPA Drinking Water Academy on the arsenic rule, groundwater rule, backwash rule, and the lead and copper rule to name a few.
These proceedings are from the April 2005 conference at which participants from over sixty developing and developed countries from governments, international, and non-governmental organizations gathered in Marrakech, Morocco, to affirm the role of environmental compliance and enforcement in supporting the rule of law, strengthening good governance, and securing progress towards sustainable development.
Course is designed for federal, state, local, and tribal environmental inspectors in the RCRA program with 6-18 months experience. It provides an overview of the key RCRA regulations and the RCRA program, including the identification of solid and hazardous waste, waste minimization/pollution prevention activities, and the Land Disposal Restrictions program. It also provides an overview of conducting an inspection and the associated legal issues. The student interacts with numerous scenarios simulating realistic cases. An exam/review for this course is available in the NETI Online CLASSROOM at www.netionline.com.
Training on RCRA that was presented over a 3-day period by DOE. Training is in PDF files.
Contains information about Federal and state guidelines for the disposal of mercury-containing lamps.
This course has been designed to cover the impact that air toxins have on the body and to discuss how principles of risk management can be applied to help reduce emissions.
A series of PDF presentations by the EPA Drinking Water Academy with an overview of the SDWA.
Discussion of the EPA Audit Policy and how it works. Presentation given at the Federal Environmental Symposium – East, June 2008 by Jose J. Jimenez of EPA Region 3.
3-h Web-based course (not CD-ROM) is designed to orient new employees, provide refresher training, and supplement annual training for the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program. Topics include the function of each class of well, variations of well types within a class (when applicable), mechanical integrity testing (MIT) of each well class, and plugging and abandonment of each class of well.
A series of PDF presentations by the EPA Drinking Water Academy on Class V wells.
DOE's UST workshop addressing leak detection, reporting, and response. Training is in PDF files.
Presentation by Cliff Rothenstein, EPA OUST, on September 7, 2005, at the ECOS Federal Facilities forum on the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2005.
The UST-LUST Virtual Classroom – currently consisting of two modules – provides cost effective, core-curriculum training to state and EPA UST inspectors and staff, as well as others interested in learning about USTs. The first module, Introduction To The Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Program, provides an explanation of the UST regulations; identifies the differences between the UST and leaking UST programs; discusses financial responsibility; and orients new users to the components of an UST system. The second module, Basic UST Inspector Training, describes how inspectors can prepare for and conduct compliance inspections at typical UST sites.
This computer-based training course is designed for state and federal compliance inspectors and teaches proper wastewater sampling techniques
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Last Updated: December 08, 2008