News Briefs: (1) EPA Continues to Make Progress In Meeting Annual Performance Goals; (2) EPA Issues Secondary Containment Guidelines To Help Reduce Underground Storage Tank Releases
*News Briefs* * * If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer. For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006)** * * *(1) EPA Continues to Make Progress In Meeting Annual Performance Goals* *(2) EPA Issues Secondary Containment Guidelines To Help Reduce Underground Storage Tank Releases * * * *(1) EPA Continues to Make Progress In Meeting Annual Performance Goals* * * Contact: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355 / jones.enesta@epa.gov** * * EPA has made improvements across-the-board in protecting the American public from environmental risks over the past year, according to the agency's annual Performance and Accountability Report. The report highlights the agency's accomplishments under its five strategic goals: Clean Air and Global Climate Change; Clean and Safe Water; Land Preservation and Restoration; Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; and Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. For example, EPA: . Exceeded its Superfund target by controlling site contamination at an additional 31 sites and the spread of groundwater contamination at 18 other sites. . Leveraged more than $8.2 billion in private investment, more than 37,500 jobs, and more than 8,300 properties assessed for potential redevelopment by encouraging cleanup and redevelopment of America's abandoned and contaminated waste sites (brownfields). . Prevented the discharge of 31 billion pounds of pollutants through its water quality permits issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. . Produced more than 400,000 analyses of water, air, floodwater, and residual sediment samples, assessed more than 1,600 chemical facilities and refineries, and handled the disposal of more than 4 million containers of household hazardous waste to support recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. . Obtained commitments from industry, governments and other regulated entities to reduce pollution by nearly 900 million pounds. The report, which was delivered to the President on November 15, also provides a snapshot of the agency's financial position. For the seventh consecutive year, EPA received a clean audit opinion from the agency's Inspector General. The report meets the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and other management legislation. The 1993 GPRA requires federal agencies to report to Congress annually on the results of their activities during the fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2006 Performance and Accountability Report, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA-190-R-06-002): http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/finstatement/2006par/index.htm Printed copies will be available in January 2007 through EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at 1-800-490-9198 or by ordering on-line: http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ordering.htm *(2) EPA Issues Secondary Containment Guidelines To Help Reduce Underground Storage Tank Releases * * * Contact: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the final secondary containment grant guidelines for states, which will implement a key provision of the underground storage tank amendments of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Secondary containment provides a barrier between an underground storage tank and the environment by holding the leaking petroleum between the tank and the barrier so that the leak is detected. EPA provides funding to states through grants to regulate underground storage tanks. EPA worked with states and regional tank offices to develop the secondary containment grant guidelines. The secondary containment grant guidelines describe the minimum requirements states must meet in order to comply with the secondary containment provision contained in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The guidelines provide compliance requirements, detailed definitions, and examples for states choosing to implement the secondary containment provision. The guidelines do not require owners or operators to retrofit existing equipment. Instead, the guidelines only apply when owners or operators choose to replace existing equipment or install new equipment. By Feb. 8, 2007, states receiving federal funds under Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act must implement either these guidelines or the financial responsibility and certification grant guidelines EPA plans to issue in the next few months. To ensure the grant guidelines are implemented with minimal disruption, EPA is giving states considerable flexibility to establish their own secondary containment programs. EPA recognizes that the law's Feb. 8, 2007 deadline is only a few months away and that some states may find it a challenge to implement the secondary containment requirements by that date. For states demonstrating good faith efforts toward meeting the requirements, EPA has the flexibility to continue assisting those states as they implement their programs. Information on the secondary containment grant guidelines: http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/epact_05.htm#Final R315 You can update or cancel your subscription at any time [ https://service.govdelivery.com/service/user.html?code=USAEPA ]. You need only your e-mail address. This service is provided free of charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions or problems about this service, please contact help@govdelivery.com for assistance. 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