298 



A. 48: The Clinton Administration's deficit reduction strategy is a long-term plan 

 which will be implemented over a five year period, from fiscal year 1993-1998. In 

 the short-term, EPA has taken its share of reductions equally across the board. In 

 fiscal year 1994, EPA has limited spending in some areas, while focusing valuable 

 resources toward critical environmental programs. Through these efforts, EPA will 

 be able to attain the savings necessary for sound economic growth while securing a 

 safe and healthy environment for future generations. In addition, EPA is currently 

 in the early stages of planning a base program review of EPA activities. This review 

 will help us compare resource expenditures with national environmental priorities, 

 as a basis for future budgeting efforts. 



Q. 27: Our Committee has scheduled a hearing on pollution liabilities and char- 

 acterization problems throughout the Federal government. We are just beginning 

 to learn the magnitude of the unknown universe of problems in every Federal 

 agency. The Department of Interior, for example, has one of the largest environ- 

 mental problems in terms of characterization and likely cost of cleanup in its 

 Bureau of Land Management. The Department of Energy's environmental prob- 

 lems continue and grow in complexity and cost. What is EPA's and the new De- 

 partment's role in helping other Federal agencies identify and begin efforts to re- 

 mediate these problems? 



A. 27: In order to assist Federal agencies in identifying environmental liabilities, 

 and ensure a compliant and effective response to environmental problems, the 

 Office of Federal Facilities Enforcement has begun building the Federal agency/ 

 EPA environmental partnership through a variety of both formal and informal 

 mechanisms. These mechanisms provide Federal agencies with an opportunity to 

 identify high priority environmental needs as well as an opportunity to demonstrate 

 leadership among the regulated community. 



Formal mechanisms include EPA's participation in a Memorandum of Under- 

 standing (MOU) with DOE, DOD and DOI and the Western Governors Association 

 to establish a more cooperative approach to develop technical solutions to environ- 

 mental remediation and waste management problems shared by states, commercial 

 entities, and the Federal Government. The regional approach serves as a demonstra- 

 tion of principles and practices which may be adopted nationally. 



Through informal mechanisms such as the Civilian Federal Agency Task Force, 

 The Experts Work Group, and the Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable, 

 the Office of Federal Facilities Enforcement is working with Federal agencies in 

 identifying deficiencies in Federal environmental management programs and clean- 

 up efforts and forming workgroups consisting of EPA and Federal agency represent- 

 atives to solve problems and meet high priority needs. In addition, EPA's OFFE con- 

 venes a monthly Federal Facility Policy Roundtable to brief Federal agencies and 

 provide copies of new and imminent regulatory developments or other pertinent ini- 

 tiatives and programs that enhance agency compliance programs (e.g., environmen- 

 tal auditing and pollution prevention). EPA is £dso partnering with EKDD and DOE 

 on joint planning goals and to test innovative approaches to expedite cleanups in- 

 cluding streamlining review of documents, test different decision msiking models, 

 and test innovative technologies. 



Future initiatives include the "Green Government" program intended to promote 

 voluntary programs to improve environmental compliance through pollution pre- 

 vention and encourage total quality environmental ("beyond compliance") manage- 

 ment at Federal agencies. The Department of the Environment is the mandated 

 agency to monitor and respond to Federal Agency environmental compliance activi- 

 ties and needs. 



Q. 28: Last year the Congress finally enacted the Federal Facility Compliance 

 Act (FFCA), which should strengthen EPA's hand in dealing with other agencies 

 violations of RCRA and other environmental statutes. Could you comment on 

 what the EPA is currently doing to implement this law and what future plans you 

 have? 



A. 28: The FFCA became law on October 6, 1992. This new Act only amends the 

 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). There are several new authorities 

 that will make RCRA Federal facility enforcement actions more consistent with ac- 

 tions currently used in the private sector. 



The FFCA also requires the Administrator to imdertsike inspections at all Federal 

 facilities that treat, store, and dispose of hazardous waste. EPA is determining the 

 appropriate interpretation for this provision. On March 17, 1993 EPA sent out guid- 

 ance regarding implementation of the new RCRA inspection requirements to the 

 EPA Regions. In addition, EPA is also working on the appropriate mechanism for 

 reimbursement of EPA by the Federal agencies for the cost of performing inspec- 



