EPA 305-F-08-001 

Over 3 Million Entities Reached with 

Compliance Assistance 

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, EPA reached 

a record high of over 3 million regulated 

entities and assistance providers, with 

compliance assistance (CA) designed to 

increase understanding of environmental 

requirements, improve environmental 

management practices and reduce pollution.1 

Entities Reached in FY 2007

 (in millions) 

EPA

 1.28 

Centers

 1.87 

How did the Agency reach over 3 million 

entities with assistance? EPA–led CA activities 

reached more than 1.28 million entities, an 

increase of 47% compared to FY 2006. EPA 

reached 80% of these entities through targeted 

outreach such as the distribution of sectorspecific or regulation-specific compliance 

guides and brochures. 

Also, fifteen (15) EPA-sponsored, web-based 

Compliance Assistance Centers (Centers) 

hosted more than 1.87 million user sessions. 

These Centers represent unique partnerships 

between EPA, industry and other stakeholders; 

they provide compliance information tailored to 

the needs of industries, such as auto recyclers, 

construction, health care, and groups such as 

local governments and Indian Tribes. 

(http://www.assistancecenters.net/). 

In addition, EPA provided CA to regulated 

facilities during 13,516 on-site compliance 

inspections/evaluations in FY 2007. 

How did EPA and the Centers measure the 

impact of CA provided? The primary method 

used by EPA and the Centers was to survey 

recipients or users by asking whether, 

as a result of CA provided, the regulated entity 

increased their understanding of regulatory 

requirements, improved environmental 

management practices (EMPs), or reduced/ 

eliminated/treated pollution. Their responses 

depended in part on the goal(s) of the CA 

activity and the problem being addressed.2 

Did recipients of CA increase their understanding of environmental requirements? 

More than 80% of those who responded to 

Centers’ surveys answered “Yes” to this 

question. The percentage that answered 

“Yes” in EPA’s surveys was even higher. 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of Survey

Respondents 

EPA-led 

Activities 

Centers 

Increased Understanding in FY 2007 

Did regulated entities take action to improve 

their environmental management practices? 

The percentages of “Yes” responses to the 

survey question about “improved EMPs” were 

also high. 

95%

83%

91% 81%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of Survey

Respondents 

EPA-led 

Activities 

Centers 

Improved EMPs in FY 2007 
. 

For more information about the OECA national 

priorities for FY 2005 through FY 2007, see 

http://epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/da 

ta/planning/npmguidance2005.pdf 

Are there other end-of-year results for CA? 

For additional highlights about EPA’s assistance 

to Tribes, Federal Facilities and selected 

Regional initiatives, refer to the activities 

described in Compliance and Enforcement 

Annual Results: FY 2007 Compliance Assistance 

Activities Highlights, (November 15, 2007): 

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/repo 

rts/endofyear/eoy2007/2007cahighlights.html 

For more information, contact: Ms. Rebecca A. (Becky) 

Barclay, Program Analyst, U.S. EPA, Office of Enforcement 

and Compliance Assurance (OECA), Office of Compliance 

(OC), 202 564-7063, barclay.rebecca@epa.gov. 

1 What is “compliance assistance?” EPA’s compliance 

assistance includes activities, tools or technical assistance 

that provides clear and consistent information to help 

regulated entities understand and meet their obligations under 

Examples of improved EMPs included getting 

a permit, performing an environmental selfaudit, or changing a process or practice. 

What other benefits resulted from EPA 

assistance? At least half of all survey 

respondents reported that they reduced, 

eliminated or treated pollution as a result of 

the CA provided. 

50% 53%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of Survey 

Respondents 

EPA-led 

Activities 

Centers 

Reduced Pollution in FY 2007 

How did CA support national priorities for 

enforcement and compliance assurance? 

In FY 2007, EPA’s Office of Enforcement and 

Compliance Assurance (OECA) focused on ten 

national priorities that targeted significant 

environmental risks and noncompliance 

patterns. About 12% of all reported CA 

(4,279 activities) addressed these priorities. 

CA was a specific component of some but not 

all OECA priorities. The priorities with the 

most CA reported were Tribal (including 

Drinking Water, Schools, and Solid Waste); 

Stormwater under the Clean Water Act; and 

New Source Review/Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration under the Clean Air Act. 

environmental regulations; or to help compliance assistance 

providers aid the regulated community in complying with 

environmental regulations. EPA’s compliance assistance 

may also help regulated entities find cost effective ways to 

comply with regulations and/or go “beyond compliance” 

through the use of pollution prevention, environmental 

management practices, and innovative technologies, thus 

improving their environmental performance. To be counted 

as a compliance assistance project or activity, at least one 

objective must be related to achieving or advancing 

regulatory compliance. 

2 Who responded to surveys? EPA did not collect these 

outcome data from a representative sample of the regulated 

entity universe. Rather, the percentages are based, in part on 

the number of regulated entities or Centers’ users that 

answered “Yes” to these questions on voluntary surveys. 

The percentages do not account for the number of survey 

2,155

942

545

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

# of CA Activities 

Tribal Stormwater NSR/PSD 

Top 3 OECA National Priorities with CA respondents who either chose not to answer these questions 

or did not respond to the survey.