Implementing the EPA Strategic Plan 

and Remarks on How NACEPT Comments were Considered 

during Plan Development 

2011 NACEPT Spring Meeting

May 19, 2011

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Presentation Overview

• The FY 2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan

– Overview of Plan

– How NACEPT comments were considered in Plan 

Development 

• Implementing EPA’s Strategic Plan 

– Refocusing EPA’s Performance Management 

Framework

• Update on Technology Innovation

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Goals for EPA Strategic Plan Revision

• Create a simplified and meaningful Strategic Plan that:

- Advances the Administrator’s priorities and reflects EPA’s core 

values

- Sets Agency direction

- Is used by senior leadership to manage
The Foundation

Administrator Priorities

 Taking Action on Climate Change

 Improving Air Quality

 Assuring the Safety of Chemicals

 Cleaning Up our Communities

 Protecting America’s Waters

 Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism 

and Working for Environmental Justice

 Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships

Core Values

Science, Transparency, Rule of Law

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The Blueprint: FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan

Strategic Goals

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

Goal 2: Protecting America’s 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 Children’s Health

Advancing Science, Research, and Technological Innovation

Strengthening State, Tribal, and International Partnerships

Strengthening EPA's Workforce and Capabilities 

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Public Comment: Key Component of Plan

• Received nearly 500 sets of comments through 

www.regulations.gov.

– About 150 provided comprehensive comments (e.g., cross-goal, state 

burden, climate)

– Distinct set of single-issue comments (e.g., radon, and population 

growth)

• Wide range of commenters.

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– States/organizations

– Tribes/organizations

– Local governments/organizations

– Environmental/public interest groups

– Business/industry 

– Federal agencies

– Academia

– Individuals
Specific Request to NACEPT for Comments on Draft Plan

• EPA posed two questions to guide response:

1. Do the draft Strategic Plan’s goals effectively advance 

achieving the Administrator’s Priorities and the EPA’s 

statutory mission outcomes?

2. Do the Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies improve 

the way that EPA carries out its mission? 

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Examples of NACEPT Areas of Comment

• Addressing the challenge of State budget crises.

• Articulating means for achieving Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy visions and 

principles. 

• Expanding scope of Goal 3 – Cleaning up our Communities.

• Integrating Climate Change.

• Integrating environmental justice and children’s health in achieving EPA goals.

• Utilizing environmental education as tool.

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Refocusing Performance Management

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Strategic Planning

Annual Planning and 

Budgeting

Results Measurement, 

Reporting, and 

Accountability

• FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan

• Futures Work

•Report on the Environment

Operations and Execution

• Annual Performance Report

• Program Evaluations

• NPM Update Meetings

• NPM Guidance

• Regional Performance Commitments

• State Grant Work Plans

•Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy Action Plans

• FY 2012 Annual Plan and Budget

• Priority Goals
Implementing EPA’s Strategic Plan

Administrator Priorities

FY 2011 – 2015 EPA Strategic Plan

Programmatic Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies (XCFS)

Strategic Goals Strategies

Objectives

Strategic Measures

Principles 

Annual Measures 

- External (Budget Measures)

- Operational (NPM Guidance Measures)

Annual Action Plan Activities

L

o

n

g

er Term

A

n

n

u

al

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Strategic Goal: Protecting America’s Waters

Objective: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems

Strategic Measure: By 2015, attain water quality standards for all pollutants and impairments in 

L

identified water bodies.

O

N

G

E

R

T

E

R

M

(Strate

gic

Pla

n)

A

N

N

U

A

L

Annual Budget Measure: Number of TMDLs established or approved by EPA.

Internal Operational Measure (from NPM Guidance): Captures Captures regional regional and state contributions state contributions to 

number, of TMDLs established or approved by EPA.

P

R

O

G

R

E

S

S

Programmatic - Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems

Examples of Activities Discussed at Senior-Level NPM and Regional Update 

Meetings: 

•Number of TMDLs approved; 

•Backlogs and challenges; 

•Stakeholder input; 

•Specific geographic water body issues

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Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategy: Working for Environmental Justice and Children’s Health

Principle: In our work on safe management of pesticides and industrial chemicals, take into account 

disproportionately impacted, overburdened populations and vulnerable age groups and encourage the 

use of “green chemistry’ to spur the development of safer chemicals and production processes. L

O

N

G

E

R

T

E

R

M

(Strate

gic

Pla

n)

A

N

N

U

A

L

Milestone identified in the FY 2011 Action Plan: Use children’s health protection as a factor for 

prioritizing/targeting Agency work related to safe chemicals management. 

Agency Activity: Using children’s health indicators and the latest children’s health research findings, EPA will 

identify 5-10 priority chemical hazards for children’s health for EPA to target through all Agency mechanisms, 

including regulations, enforcement, research, and voluntary programs.

P

R

O

G

R

E

S

S

XCFS - Working for Environmental Justice and Children’s Health

Examples of Activities Discussed at Senior-Level NPM and Regional Update 

•Opportunities and challenges

Examples of Activities Discussed at Senior-Level NPM and Regional Update 

Meetings: 

•Status of effort to identify chemical hazards for focus; 

•Cross-Agency efforts to target through Agency mechanisms, including 

regulations, enforcement, research, and voluntary programs.

•Opportunities and challenges

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Technology Update

• Technology innovation is key element of EPA’s regulatory 

strategy (E.O. 13563)

– Retrospective – new opportunities in existing rules

– Prospective – expanding the playing field for new 

regulatory frameworks and decisions.

• EPA is working with federal partners to accelerate 

environmental technology clusters

– i6 Green with DOC-EDA, DOE, NSF, and USDA

– Water Technology Innovation Cluster with SBA

• Working to broaden the conversation on environmental 

technology innovation as part of the solution

– Water technology workshop, May 23
Questions and Next Steps

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