Developing Environmental Indicators with Our States EPA Region 3/State Indicators and Outcomes Initiative

EPA/State Indicators & Outcomes Initiative  Overview of process  Where we are  Where we are going  Observations

Planning for Environmental Results: EPA/State Indicators and Outcomes Workgroup The Charge:  Create a handful (5-7) of outcome measures/indicators for public display  Develop outcome and efficiency measures for all key programs measures for all key programs  Within our programs, use best available data and tools to prioritize available data and tools to prioritize and target areas for implementation and target areas for implementation  Use best available data and tools to ID high priority/high vulnerability areas to target multiple program  Look forward – where should we be in the future?

A Vision for Environmental Success: Focus on measurable, real outcomes (move beyond outputs – Level 3 and above) Use analytical science-based targeting tools with best available data. Establish joint State/Regional indicators-based management strategy. Provide Web access to measures and data

Guiding Management Questions: What are the environmental and human health results of our work? Where can we target the programmatic tools we have to achieve the greatest environmental and human health results? Where are the greatest environmental and public health risks AND opportunities? What does the future look like?

Collaborative Indicators-Based Decision Process Public Interest/ Appeal

Condition Stressors What We Value Trends in Blue Crabs Habitat Nutrients Farms Etc. Development Point Sources NonPoint Source Permits Fish Advisory Enforcement 404/state Wetland State/EPA Programs $’s Spent, FTEMonitoring Program EffectivenessEfficiency Water Clarity Causes How are We Doing? Action Public Interest/Appeal

Number of Population Protected from Exposure to Environmental Hazards Acres Cleaned- Up (SF/Solid Waste/ Brownfields) Percent of Population Breathing Clean Air Reduction in Energy/ GhG Emissions Improvement in Living Resources Index in the Chesapeake & Delaware Bays Acres of Wetlands Restored/ Improved/Protected Percent of Population Drinking Safe Water Percent Assessed Waters Meeting Designated Uses State/EPA Region 3 Combined Indicators

Percent Population Breathing Clean Air Reduction in Energy/ GhG Emissions/ Improvement in Living Resources Index in the Chesapeake & Delaware Bays Acres of Wetlands Restored/ Improved/Protected Acres Cleaned- Up (SF/Solid Waste/ Brownfields) Number of Population Protected from Exposure to Environmental Hazards % People Drinking Safe Water Percent Assessed Waters Meeting Designated Uses State-EPA Combined Indicators

Initial Phase Targeting Results Final Ranking: High Restoration = 11 – 14 Medium Restoration = 8 – 10 Low Restoration = 5 – 7

Potential Wetland Restoration Sites Approximately 3.2% of Monocacy Watershed Restoration Potential AcresLow Medium High TOTAL

Where Are We ?  Combined list of indicators  Pilot demonstration projects  Initial list of key programs and outcomes; developing and outcomes; developing targeting strategies for FY07 targeting strategies for FY07  Communications strategy

Where Are We Going?  Integrate outcomes and document partnership in grants and agreements  Begin Region-wide assessments for integrated State/EPA program implementation: –Assess the current environmental condition in Region III –Determine environmentally vulnerable areas (future) –Determine “environmental drivers/stressors” and indicators –Create a Regional Environmental Index

Looking Forward Looking Forward on Targeting

Predicting the Future Current ConditionFuture Condition Areas We Need To Work In worse same

Observations  This is not easy to do – support from on high is crucial on high is crucial  Report to upper level management often  Don’t reinvent – build on what exists (data, indicators, outcomes)  Must deal with opposing forces: competition vs minimizing change  Make the process and results relevant to staff – show how what they do connects to the big picture  Make public information (indicators, outcomes) relevant, understandable, important – tell a story; change behavior?  Look toward the future, but don’t ignore the past  Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate – esp. with States: –Do they want to make sausage with you, or taste-test when it’s done? –Involvement: How, who and when? –What’s in it for them?