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National
Priorities
What is a National Priority? The enforcement and compliance
assurance program selects national program priorities by considering
patterns of noncompliance and environmental or public health risk
associated with regulated sectors, particular pollutants or specific
regulatory requirements. Priorities are usually national in scope
and must be appropriate for federal attention and response. EPA
regions support national priorities, although they may be exempted
if there is justification. EPA also recognizes the need for and
the importance of the establishment of regional and state priorities,
with the commitment to provide the resource flexibility necessary
to implement those priorities.
Federal Register Notice Requesting Stakeholder Comments Published
on December, 2003 This
Notice, which closed January 12, 2004, requested public comments and/or suggestions
for EPA's Preliminary National Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Priorities for Fiscal Years 2005, 2006 and 2007. View these comments and/or suggestions on EPA's eDocket Web site, and do a Quick Search for Docket ID OECA-2003-0154.
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer provides information on all of the EPA Program Priorities for FY05 - 07 and the Agency's Strategic Plan.
The Compliance Assurance Resources Compendium for the FY2005 - 2007 National Enforcement and Compliance Priorities (pdf 831 KB, 57 pages) links to over 400 compliance assistance, compliance monitoring and enforcement resources to help regions, states, tribes and the regulated community in implementing the performance-based strategies for each of the national enforcement and compliance priorities listed below.
Fiscal Year 2005 Priority
| Priority |
Nature of Concern |
| Petroleum Refinery Sector |
Reducing air emissions and eliminating un-permitted releases from an estimated 162 operable domestic refineries spread across the country.
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Fiscal Year 2005-2007 Priorities
| Priority |
Nature of Concern |
| Clean Water Act/Wet Weather |
Ensure compliance with Clean Water Act requirements addressing storm water runoff, overflows from combined and sanitary sewers, and concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) discharges. These discharges can contain bacteria, pathogens and other pollutants that may cause illnesses in humans, lead to water quality impairment, including beach and shellfish bed closures and harm our nation's water resources. |
| Clean Air Act(CAA)/New Source Review/Prevention Of Significant
Deterioration (NSR/PSD) |
Ensuring that New Source Review (NSR) and Prevention Of Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements of
the Clean Air Act (CAA) are implemented. Failure to comply
with NSR/PSD requirements may lead to the inadequate
control of emissions resulting in the release of thousands of
tons of pollution to the air each year, particularly
of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate
matter. |
| Clean Air Act(CAA)/Air Toxics |
Reduce public exposure to toxic air emissions by ensuring compliance through directed monitoring and enforcement with the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards. This is the second phase of this priority following four years of compliance assistance and the development of implementation tools. |
| Tribal |
In Indian country and tribal areas in Alaska, address significant human health and environmental problems associated with drinking water, hazardous waste management, and environmental risks in tribal schools (e.g., lead-paint). Ensure compliance within targeted areas and address adjacent noncomplying facilities impacting Indian country and tribal areas.
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| Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA)- Mineral Processing
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Evidence gathered in recent inspections indicates that mineral processing facilities are failing to obtain the necessary permits and adequately manage their wastes. EPA has found that the mishandling of mineral processing wastes has caused significant environmental damage and resulted in costly cleanups. These highly acidic wastes have caused fish kills and the arsenic and cadmium that these wastes often contain have been found in elevated levels in residential drinking water wells. |
| Financial Responsibility |
(To begin in FY’06) Strengthen compliance with financial responsibility requirements found under various environmental laws to ensure that individuals or companies handling hazardous waste, hazardous substances, toxic materials or pollutants have adequate funds to close their facilities, cleanup any releases, and compensate any parties affected by their actions.
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