EPA's Air State Implementation Plan Program Consolidated Report

EPA Office of Inspector General

EPA's Air State Implementation Plan Program Consolidated Report

#6400100

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regions (1) had adequate procedures in place for obtaining, reviewing, and approving State Implementation Plans (SIP), (2) established a good working relationship with Headquarters and states, and (3) worked up front with states to get SIPs submitted on time. For example, the regions designated a coordinator for each state so there would be one primary contact person in the region for the state to deal with. The regions conducted monthly conference calls with Headquarters and states to resolve issues. Also, they held conference calls every six weeks to discuss new guidance and SIPs. On a national level, the Office of Air and Radiation created the SIP Improvement Workgroup (Workgroup), that recommended many changes to SIP processing.

Parts of the SIP program could be improved on a national basis. For example, EPA could improve its relations with states by establishing a forum to allow state officials to address their concerns of inequities in the SIP program. EPA could also increase the timeliness of SIP submission and processing by resolving the causes of the delays. Finally, future SIP guidance should be organized and issued timely, to help states meet SIP deadlines.

AGENCY COMMENTS AND ACTIONS

The Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation concurred with the recommendations in our report, including to:

1. Establish a forum to allow states to address concerns of inequities in EPA's treatment of states. This may include working with already established state organizations.

2. Request that Regional Air Directors coordinate early those SIPs that span regional or state lines.

3. Build in extra time for developing and reviewing complex SIPs, when EPA has some authority in setting deadlines.

4. Develop a centralized numbering system for all SIP guidance and, as recommended by the Workgroup, develop a computerized listing of specific types of SIPs, with cross references to guidance, policies, and regulations.

Additional recommendations are included at the end of each chapter, beginning with chapter 2. For details on the purpose and background of the report, see page 1.

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