Major Milestones of the First 200 Days

1. Applied the most protective ground-level ozone standards in our nation’s history. In total, 474 counties or partial counties nationwide were designated in non-attainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. Other Agency actions such as the Clean Air Interstate Rule provide national tools for the vast majority of counties to come into attainment during the next decade.

2. Signed the proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule which will dramatically reduce power plant emissions in the country. The rule proposes a model cap-and-trade approach in 29 eastern states and the District of Columbia to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 65 percent below current levels by 2015 and sulfur dioxide emissions by 70 percent below current levels when fully implemented. EPA continues to analyze this proposed rule and is on track to finalize before the end of the year.

3. Signed the nation’s first-ever proposed rule to regulate mercury from coal-burning power plants. The proposed Clean Air Mercury Rule applies market forces to cut mercury emissions by nearly 70% when fully implemented. EPA continues to analyze this proposed rule and is on track to finalize in Spring 2005.

4. Finished the last step in America’s Clean Diesel Suite by signing the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule. A generation from now it will be rare to see that black puff of diesel smoke coming from a truck, train, tugboat, bull dozer, tractor, school bus, or generator. Just like we took the lead out of gasoline, we are removing 99% of the sulfur from diesel so Americans will live longer, healthier and more productive lives.

5. Awarded grants to retrofit over 240 school buses under the Clean School Bus USA program. These school buses will have state-of-the-art emission control systems to reduce air pollution and protect children ’s health. President Bush has proposed $65 million for FY 2005 to accelerate our efforts to replace or retrofit every school bus in the nation.

6. Helped implement a new national goal to achieve an overall increase of wetlands each year. The Bush Administration has moved beyond a policy of no net loss of wetlands and will now restore, improve and protect at least three million additional acres of wetlands over the next five years.

7. Restored life to communities with the largest round ever of Brownfields revitalization grants. Communities in 42 states and Puerto Rico will benefit from more than $75 million to help revitalize abandoned and polluted industrial and commercial sites. The renewal of these blighted properties will return life to neighborhoods and provide jobs for thousands of people.

8. Inventoried and analyzed successful collaborations involving EPA. EPA’s Innovation Action Council and a network of staff experts prepared a discussion paper to show how collaborative problem solving can be used to accelerate environmental progress throughout the Agency.

9. Led the U.S. delegation to the Earth Observation Summit in Japan and signed the Framework Document for the 10-Year Implementation Plan. The U.S., along with 46 international partners, will track, predict and address pervasive threats facing the health of the planet and humankind through a Global Earth Observation System-of-Systems (GEOSS).

10. Met with 75 senior international environmental officials, including 20 environmental ministers, and participate in 20 bilateral meetings. Administrator Leavitt represented the U.S. in Paris at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development’s Environmental Ministerial and in Tokyo at the Earth Observation Summit. Sustainability efforts and GEOSS will remain an ongoing focus in coming months.

11. Initiated the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration of National Significance to develop a collaborative strategy to protect the Great Lakes. Administrator Leavitt is implementing President Bush’s Executive Order to work with states, local governments, federal agencies, tribal nations, Canadian governments and other important stakeholders to protect this national treasure. The Administrator has met with governors, local officials and stakeholders to learn what is necessary to organize a voluntary effort to clean up the Great Lakes. A conveners’ meeting is being organized for late summer.

12. Achieved the highest scorecard rating (green status) for the Financial Performance initiative of the President’s Management Agenda. Green status signifies that all the standards of success have been met. EPA is one of only four of the 26 major federal departments and agencies to achieve green status. EPA’s next focus will be on improving the E-government scorecard rating.