EPA CWA Action Plan

On July 2, 2009, Administrator Lisa Jackson asked me, as the head of EPA’s enforcement and compliance program, to examine our water enforcement program.  We’re concerned that water quality goals for rivers, lakes and coastal waters are not being met and that there are too many violations in too many places. She asked me to report back in ninety days with recommendations to improve information transparency, strengthen clean water enforcement performance, and expand our use of technology to increase efficiency and to provide useful information to the public. Our recommended enforcement action plan needs to focus on improving compliance and address the worst water quality.

To help us achieve the Administrator’s goals, we invite you to share your ideas on this discussion forum.  Your ideas will be considered for recommendations to the EPA Administrator about the future direction for EPA’s water enforcement. In all our discussions, EPA will be mindful of the need to focus on the most important work for protecting water quality and improving compliance with the Clean Water Act, given resource constraints that require us to place a premium on innovation and efficiency.

This discussion is open until August 28, 2009.  After that you’ll be able to read the posted ideas and suggestions, but you will not be able to leave any additional comments.

Cynthia Giles is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Giles has been involved in environmental law issues during most of her 30 year career.

An informed public is our best ally in pressing for better compliance with federal regulations.  Our Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) provides information on facilities such as inspection history, compliance status, enforcement actions taken, and demographic profile.  ECHO identifies whether a facility is discharging into a river, lake or coastal water that fails to meet the water quality standards set by a state, territory or tribe.  It also notes whether a facility has the potential to contribute to the impairment of such a water body.

Questions to Consider:

Is there additional compliance, enforcement or water quality information about facilities that discharge pollutants into our waterways that you would like to see on EPA’s Website? Leave a Comment on this Question

Is there related data on other Web sites or systems that EPA should consider making accessible through EPA’s Website?  Leave a Comment on this Question

How can EPA make its public information easier to understand and use?  Leave a Comment on this Question

Do you have suggestions for better integration of EPA’s compliance and enforcement information with water quality information?  Leave a Comment on this Question