U S Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Draft National Program Guidance, for External Review - April 2, 2013 U S Environmental Protection Agency

Publisher Marketing: This National Program Manager Guidance applies to the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), all U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional enforcement programs, and states and federally-recognized Indian tribes (tribes) implementing EPA-approved inspection and enforcement programs.1 OECA coordinates with the regions, states and local agencies and consults with tribal governments as it designs, develops, implements and oversees national compliance and enforcement programs. Regional offices also work with states and local agencies and consult with tribes to implement and review these programs.2 OECA's National Program Manager (NPM) Guidance provides clear direction for fiscal year (FY) 2014. It identifies the national compliance and enforcement priorities for FY 2014, discusses national direction for all compliance assurance programs, identifies activities to be carried out by authorized programs, and describes how the EPA should work with states and tribes to ensure compliance with environmental laws. Once implemented, the priorities and activities described in the NPM Guidance serve to protect the Nation's environment and public health and provide a level playing field for responsible businesses. Most of the work in the NPM Guidance is accomplished under the agency's Goal 5 - "Enforcing Environmental Laws" in the FY 2011- 2015 EPA Strategic Plan.