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Barriers to Innovation. Report From Breakout Sessions. Can tell folks have been listening while here Everyone also did their homework Lots of interest in reading the latest guidances A lot of fundamentals are working but still room for improvement. COMMUNICATION.
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Barriers to Innovation Report From Breakout Sessions
Can tell folks have been listening while here • Everyone also did their homework • Lots of interest in reading the latest guidances • A lot of fundamentals are working but still room for improvement
Sharing regulatory knowledge and planning • Within EPA– between and among HQ and regions • EPA to states/tribes/locals • All levels of government within an area (EPA, state, tribes, locals, MPOs, other state agencies)
“Marketing” to stakeholders • For innovative measures keep in mind that we are dealing with people, not scrubbers • Different aspects of the program as a message to different audiences– identify these benefits: • Health benefits • Economic benefits • Environmental benefits • Need champions/advocates- including within EPA
More education needed- • Why is air quality a problem, what must we do and how? • Open up the “black boxes” of modeling etc. • Discussion of all aspects of air quality improvement for elected officials • Public health • Quality of life • Regulatory requirements • Education of stakeholders • Different groups have different needs • Special issues for communities of concern
Transparency • Bring truth to stakeholders • Honesty • No surprises • Trust
$$ MONEY $$ • For projects • For planning and strategic analysis • For training
SIP Credit– The Only Goal? • Some projects won’t happen without SIP credit - And 3% (or even 9%) not enough • Some projects could still be done • Economics work anyway • other reasons • EPA focuses too much on numbers instead of something like Environmental Management Systems • Support needed for areas that don’t need SIPs but want cleaner air. • Maintenance plans.
Value from an innovative program– will it be worth it? • Burden • Cost • Effort
Risk Sharing • Who is on the hook if the project doesn’t work? • If the project has multi-pollutant or multi-media benefits or other benefits, can EPA accept more risk? • Discounted credit for “soft” measures • Different responses for different levels: • “traditional” innovative measures (i.e. diesel retrofits) • voluntary measures that can be quantified
Potential Solutions/Tools • Website/database of: • “Off the shelf” strategies complete with quantification • Strategies in general– where are they being tried? • List of mentors/speakers/experts • Peer-to-peer sharing important • Bulletin board or other way to share information MAKE THIS CONFERENCE ANNUAL!!!!
Rapid Response Team can help with: • Does a strategy pass the laugh test? • Achieving national consensus on quantification • Suggesting changes to guidance or new guidance