Priorities at the US Environmental Protection Agency

1. Priorities at the US Environmental Protection Agency ACEC/NC Federal Forum Raleigh, NC May 1, 2012 Linda Rimer. Ph.D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Liaison to North/South Carolina

2. Topics to Cover • EPA Priorities • Budget • Selected Programmatic Priorities • Environmental Justice • Partnerships

3. EPA FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan Goal 1: Taking action on climate change and improving air quality; Goal 2: Protecting America’s waters; Goal 3: Cleaning up Communities & advancing sustainable development Goal 4: Ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution; Goal 5: Enforcing environmental laws

4. Cross-Cutting Fundamental Strategies • Expanding the conversation on environmentalism; • Working for environmental justice and children’s health; • Advancing science, research, & technological innovation; • Strengthening state, tribal, and international partnerships; • Strengthening EPA’s workforce and capabilities.

5. EPA’s FY 2013 Budget by Goal Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources

6. EPA’s FY 2013 Budget by Appropriation Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources

7. Selected Programmatic Priorities Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources Water Protection Division • Ensuring children’s health through safe drinking water; • Energy and water efficiency; • Improving environmental performance of surface coal mines; • Reducing nutrient pollution.

8. Selected Programmatic Priorities Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources Air, Pesticides& Toxics • Ensuring all children have a safe and healthy environment in homes, schools, and communities; • Stakeholder involvement in the designation process; • Environmental justice in the permitting process; • Greenhouse gases.

9. Selected Programmatic Priorities Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources RCRA and Superfund • Promoting the sustainable use of materials • Cleaning up contaminated sites and promoting reuse • Promoting Brownfields grant efficiencies • Expanding job training opportunities in the environmental field

10. Environmental Justice Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources • September, 2011 EPA published • “Plan EJ2014 • Roadmap to integrate EJ into EPA • programs and policies; • Not a rule or regulation. • Plan EJ2014 seeks to: • Protect environment and health in • overburdened communities; • Empower communities to take action to • Improve their health and environment; • Establish partnerships with local, state, • Tribal, and federal governments and • organizations to achieve healthy and • sustainable communities.

11. Partnerships Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources • Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning & Sustainability (SERPPAS) • Southeast Natural Resources • Leadership Group (SENRLG) • Partnership for Sustainable • Communities (EPA/DOT/HUD) • FEMA/EPA & Resilient Communities • Governors South Atlantic Alliance

12. Relevance for Engineers…… Update on National Rulemakings for Emissions Reductions from Stationary Sources • Funds from EPA are likely to be reduced; • Water conservation, water reuse, water • efficiency are important; • Energy conservation and energy efficiency are important; • Green buildings are important; • Green infrastructure is important; • The design, construction and ‘O&M’ of • places where children live, learn and play • are important; • Engineering work done in collaboration • with community/stakeholders is important; • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is • Important; • Planning that reduces the risk of future climate impacts and increases the resilience of communities is important.

13. Adapting to a Changing Climate

14. Questions? United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Liaison to NC/SC Linda Rimer 919-541-0785 Rimer.linda@epa.gov