EPA Priorities and InitiativesCheryl SeagerDeputy Regional Counsel forEnforcement“Protecting human health and the environment.”Meeting the Challenges Ahead –EPA’s Themes•Making a Visible Difference in Communities across theCountry•Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality•Taking Action on Toxics and Chemical Safety•Protecting Water: A Precious, Limited Resource•Launching a New Era of State, Tribal and LocalPartnerships•Working Toward a Sustainable Future•Embracing EPA as a High Performing OrganizationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201428/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 632014-2016 National Enforcement Initiatives•Keeping Raw Sewage andContaminated StormwaterOut of Our Nation’s Waters•Preventing Animal Wastefrom Contaminating Surfaceand Ground Waters•Cutting Toxic Air Pollutionthat Affects Communities’Health8/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 642014-2016 National Enforcement Initiatives•Reducing Widespread AirPollution from the LargestSources, especially the Coalfired Utility, Cement, Glassand Acid Sectors•Reducing Pollution fromMineral ProcessingOperations•Assuring Energy ExtractionSector Compliance withEnvironmental LawsRegion 6 Priorities•Environmental Justice Communities•Government Partnerships‐Tribes/State/Local•Sustainable Industrial Growth–Oil & Gas Industry (Energy) Sector–Chemical SectorU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201458/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 662014 Regional Enforcement Priorities1. Protect Communities fromthe Risks of HazardousChemicals (RMP)2. Swiftly Address AccidentalReleases (GDC)3. Ensure Flares are OperatingEfficiently8/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 672014 Regional Enforcement Priorities4. Ensure Safe and ProperWaste Management5. Ensure everyone’sWater is Safe to Drink6. Address BacterialImpairment8/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 68Next Generation Compliance•More effective rules•Advanced monitoringtechnology•Electronic reporting•Increases transparency•Innovative enforcementEffectiveRulesAdvancedMonitoringElectronicReportingTransparencyInnovativeEnforcement8/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 69Recent Case Highlights– Shell Deer Park– CDentered– San Antonio Water Systems –CD entered– Cabot Corporation – CD entered– Flint Hills – CD lodged– Valero/Port Arthur Health Clinic -CD Modification– Baton Rouge – CD Modification– New Orleans – CD ModificationClean Power Plan• EPA’s Clean Power Plan for existing power plantswas announced on June 3• Currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels• With the Clean Power Plan, EPA is proposingguidelines that build on trends already underway instates and the power sector to cut carbon pollutionfrom existing power plants, making them moreefficient and less pollutingU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201410Clean Power Plan• Shaped by public input, present trends, proventechnologies, and common sense, our Plan aims tocut energy waste and leverage cleaner energysources by doing two things– Setting achievable, enforceable state goals to cutcarbonpollution per megawatt hour of electricity generated.– Laying out a national framework that gives statestheflexibility to chart their own, customized path tomeet theirgoals.• •.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201411Clean Power Plan• By 2030, the steps EPA is taking :– Cut carbon emissions from the power sector by 30%nationwide below the 2005 levels, which is equal totheemissions from powering more than half the homes intheUS for one year– Cut particle pollution, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide bymore than 25% as a co-benefitU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201412Clean Energy Plan• In addition, by taking this step, we will:– Avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, up to150,000 asthma attacks on children, and up to490,000 missed work or school days – providingup to $93 billion in climate and public healthbenefits– Shrink electricity bills roughly 8% by increasingenergy efficiency and reducing demand in theelectricity systemU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201413Clean Energy Plan• Each state will have different emission reductiongoals because each state has different energy mixes• In addition to different energy mixes, states havedifferent and unique ways in addressing their ownissues. Therefore, the Plan gives states the flexibilityto develop their own plans to meet the standards.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 2014148/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 615• States can choose from a variety of options to meetthe goal such as:– Demand-side energy efficiency programs– Renewable energy standards– Efficiency improvements at plants– Co-firing or switching to natural gas– Transmission efficiency improvements– Energy storage technology– Retirements– Expanding renewables or nuclear– Market-based trading programs– Energy conservation programsClean Energy Plan• We’re proposing a two-part goal structure: an “interimgoal” that a state must meet on average over the 10year period from 2020-2029 and a “final goal” that astate must meet at the end of that period in 2030 andthereafter.• All states must submit initial or complete plans byJune 30, 2016, with the option to use a two-stepprocess for submitting final plans if more time isneeded.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 201416Clean Energy Plan• We’d like to receive more input. There’s a120 day comment period on the proposedClean Power Plan and I encourage everyoneto submit their comments so the best plan isenacted.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6June 2014178/1&2/2013U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 618QuestionsCheryl SeagerDeputy Regional Counsel for EnforcementOffice of Regional CounselEPA Region 6seager.cheryl@epa.gov(214) 665-3114