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Program Planning in Action. Creating the Right Culture for Planning, Goal Setting, Evaluation and a Focus on Outcomes. EPA New England’s Context. History of Independence Close Relations with States Focus on Local Issues/Problem Solving Public Communication a Priority. 3 Illustrations.
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Program Planning in Action Creating the Right Culture for Planning, Goal Setting, Evaluation and a Focus on Outcomes
EPA New England’s Context • History of Independence • Close Relations with States • Focus on Local Issues/Problem Solving • Public Communication a Priority
3 Illustrations • Clean Charles 2005 • the Problem Solving Identification Team (PSIT) • Source Water Protection, Site Clean Up and Tanks
Clean Charles 2005 • First big foray into goal setting • Launched in 95 “Swimmable and Fishable by 2005 • Driven by RA • Desire to prove effectiveness of independent approach • Heavy Initial Resistance • Fear of not making goal
What Happened? • Fell just short of reaching goal • Leveraged Local Resources • Substantially Increased Capacity of Local Organizations to Maintain Water Quality Gains • Significant Quantifiable Improvements • Allows EPA to focus on Next Phase
PSIT-How it Began • Part of EPA NE’s Compliance and Assistance Office • Inspired by Malcolm Sparrow • “Pick Important Problems and Solve Them” • Desire to Prove Effectiveness of “Carrots and Sticks” approach • Simple Desire to make more Rational & Informed Decisions
What Does PSIT do? • Identifies Potential Priority Sectors • Identify Environmental Challenges for Candidate Sectors • Examine Potential for Effectiveness • Perform Basic Risk Analysis • Can Accommodate Political & Economic Factors
Tanks and Drinking Water • Convened Under Annual Water Goal Team Meeting • Recognized that Tank and Site Clean-up Programs did not use SWPAs in setting Priorities • After-Sites in SWPAs got Higher Priority • Staff Independently Developed GIS system
Challenges • Layering-on • Analysis vs. Product • When Analysis is ineffective; Planning is the Culprit • When Analysis is Effective-its smart Program Management or Common Sense • “If we do our jobs well, no one will know.”
Rays of Hope • All levels of Government now under Pressure to Prove Effectiveness • Logic of the Model is very Appealing • Growing Realization that Problems need to be solved locally as well as nationally • Data and Analytical Tools are getting Better • Leadership Support