The Centers at 10 The Centers at 10 Years: Where Do we Years: Where Do we

Go From Here?Go From Here?An EPA PerspectiveAn EPA Perspective

Jim Edward, Director Jim Edward, Director Compliance Assistance Compliance Assistance

Division/OECADivision/OECAUS EPAUS EPA

A Brief History of the Centers A Brief History of the Centers Program:Program:

When Past is PrologueWhen Past is Prologue• First Centers in 1996: automotive service & First Centers in 1996: automotive service &

repair, metal finishing, printingrepair, metal finishing, printing• Result of Congressional Add-onResult of Congressional Add-on

– Developed compliance assistance centers for Developed compliance assistance centers for several sectorsseveral sectors

• Ten Centers launched in first 5 years; 4 more Ten Centers launched in first 5 years; 4 more over next 5 years; 4 more in early 2000’s.over next 5 years; 4 more in early 2000’s.

• The coming of the Centers Platform; The coming of the Centers Platform; bringing new Centers on-line cost effectively bringing new Centers on-line cost effectively and efficiently. and efficiently.

Evolution of Centers’ Evolution of Centers’ Features:Features:

From Links to Streaming VideosFrom Links to Streaming Videos• Center features; evolving over time:Center features; evolving over time:

– Virtual Plant ToursVirtual Plant Tours– On-line TrainingOn-line Training– WebinarsWebinars– Emissions CalculatorsEmissions Calculators– Selected Compliance & Environmental Selected Compliance & Environmental

NewsNews– On-Line Discussion GroupsOn-Line Discussion Groups– On-Line Ask the ExpertOn-Line Ask the Expert– Email Update ServiceEmail Update Service

Evolution of Centers’ Evolution of Centers’ Features:Features:

From Links to Streaming VideosFrom Links to Streaming Videos• What features or technical advances What features or technical advances

does the future hold for the centers? does the future hold for the centers?

• What tools/resources could be developed What tools/resources could be developed and made available through the Center and made available through the Center Platform for use by other providers?Platform for use by other providers?

• What are your needs?What are your needs?

Measuring Success of the Measuring Success of the Centers:Centers:

The Need to Show Environmental The Need to Show Environmental ResultsResults• In FY 2005: In FY 2005:

– Centers were visited over Centers were visited over 1,443,000 times1,443,000 times by their target audiences, assistance by their target audiences, assistance providers, government and the publicproviders, government and the public

– Centers received requests for over Centers received requests for over 3 3 million web pagesmillion web pages and targeted and targeted compliance documentscompliance documents

• Since 1998, the Centers have realized Since 1998, the Centers have realized over 5 million user sessionsover 5 million user sessions

Building On ResultsBuilding On Results

131582259406

406972501790

673272869904

11640001,443,000

0200,000400,000600,000800,000

1,000,0001,200,0001,400,0001,600,000

Visi

ts P

er Y

ear

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Fiscal Year

Compliance Assistance Center Activity Trend

Measuring Success of the Measuring Success of the Centers:Centers:

The Need to Show Environmental The Need to Show Environmental ResultsResults• 84% of the regulated community respondents 84% of the regulated community respondents

agreed that the Centers helped them agreed that the Centers helped them understand applicable environmental understand applicable environmental requirements. requirements.

• 77% of the regulated entity respondents 77% of the regulated entity respondents improved their environmental management improved their environmental management practices as a result of Center use. practices as a result of Center use.

• 46% of the regulated entity respondents 46% of the regulated entity respondents reported that they reduced, treated, or reported that they reduced, treated, or eliminated pollution as a result of Center use.eliminated pollution as a result of Center use.

FY 05 Improved Management FY 05 Improved Management Practices:Practices:

Regulated CommunityRegulated Community

39.8%

34.7%

22.3%22.1%

17.7% 17.5%

6.1%

Obtained a permit orcertificationTook another action

Changed the handling ofwaste or emissionContacted a vendor

Contacted a regulatoryagencyPerformed self-audit

Changed process or practice

FY 05 Environmental Benefits:FY 05 Environmental Benefits:Regulated CommunityRegulated Community

20.40%

15.80%

28.60%

Reduced oreliminated airemissions

Reduced oreliminatedpollutnatemissions(wastewater)Reduced oreliminatedwaste

Measuring Success of the Measuring Success of the Centers:Centers:

The Need to Show Environmental The Need to Show Environmental ResultsResults• What more can we do to measure results?What more can we do to measure results?

– Case studiesCase studies– TestimonialsTestimonials

• How can we better reach the target How can we better reach the target audience to get results?audience to get results?

• Can we administer a statistically valid Can we administer a statistically valid survey to assess Center use?survey to assess Center use?– Target audience?Target audience?

Sectors Addressed by the Sectors Addressed by the Centers:Centers:

Who’s Next or Are There Enough?Who’s Next or Are There Enough? ServicesServices

Border CenterBorder Center

Automotive Service and RepairAutomotive Service and Repair

Automotive RecyclingAutomotive Recycling

Health CareHealth Care

Paints and CoatingsPaints and Coatings

PrintingPrinting

TransportationTransportation

Education Sector (pending)Education Sector (pending)

ManufacturingManufacturing AgricultureAgriculture

Metal FinishingMetal Finishing

Printed Wiring BoardPrinted Wiring Board

ConstructionConstruction

Chemical ManufacturingChemical Manufacturing

GovernmentGovernment

Local GovernmentLocal Government

Federal FacilitiesFederal Facilities

Sectors Addressed by the Sectors Addressed by the Centers:Centers:

Who’s Next or Are There Enough?Who’s Next or Are There Enough?• Center Candidate Evaluation Criteria:

– impacts on human health & environment– prevalence of national problem– patterns of noncompliance– impacts of new regulations– subject to multiple regulations /statutes– impacts to small businesses– lack of comprehensive compliance assistance

program– determination that compliance assistance is an

appropriate “tool” to address the problem

• Center Candidate Suggestions ???

Future Funding for the Future Funding for the Centers:Centers:

Proven Results But at What Cost?Proven Results But at What Cost?• Over $21 million in funding for Over $21 million in funding for

Centers Program since 1996.Centers Program since 1996.

• Centers Funding Strategy developed Centers Funding Strategy developed in 2001; Implemented in FY02-06. in 2001; Implemented in FY02-06. – Gradual reduction in funding for existing Gradual reduction in funding for existing

Centers to a base level funding amount. Centers to a base level funding amount. – Dollars “freed up” to fund new CentersDollars “freed up” to fund new Centers

Future Funding for the Future Funding for the Centers:Centers:

Proven Results But at What Cost?Proven Results But at What Cost?• Centers will soon reach their base-level

funding identified in the 2001 funding strategy. – minimal (if any) savings will be available to

reinvest in new Center development.

• To ensure that the Centers program remains strong while allowing for expansion, EPA needs to adjust its Centers funding strategy.

The Centers and Other The Centers and Other Online ToolsOnline Tools

Is it Time for a New Relationship?Is it Time for a New Relationship?• EPA's CA Clearinghouse primarily directed to other EPA's CA Clearinghouse primarily directed to other

CA providers CA providers www.epa.goc/clearinghousewww.epa.goc/clearinghouse

• Linking the P2Rx & Compliance Assistance CentersLinking the P2Rx & Compliance Assistance Centers– Content SharingContent Sharing– News SharingNews Sharing– More to do!More to do!

• Business Gateway e-gov InitiativeBusiness Gateway e-gov Initiative

• So may resources – can we seamlessly integrate So may resources – can we seamlessly integrate this information for the business sector? this information for the business sector?

Recent and Upcoming Recent and Upcoming Developments:Developments:

Continuing to Move ForwardContinuing to Move Forward• Developing new Center for the Education Developing new Center for the Education

SectorSector

• Expanding Border Center to Canada and Expanding Border Center to Canada and launching “Waste Watcher” toollaunching “Waste Watcher” tool

• Creating new entry page for the 14 State Creating new entry page for the 14 State Resource LocatorsResource Locators

• Identifying new Center candidates in Fall 2006Identifying new Center candidates in Fall 2006

Border Center……Border Center……

Closing Thoughts From Closing Thoughts From EPA:EPA:

More Questions than Answers…More Questions than Answers…• Centers have demonstrated positive Centers have demonstrated positive

environmental results over the last 10 environmental results over the last 10 years! years! BUT…BUT…

• Are they still meeting the needs of their Are they still meeting the needs of their clients?clients?

• Have they continued to keep pace with new Have they continued to keep pace with new technologies and software developments?technologies and software developments?

• Are the Centers reaching their target Are the Centers reaching their target audiences?audiences?

Closing Thoughts From Closing Thoughts From EPA:EPA:

More Questions than Answers…More Questions than Answers…• Can we afford to keep funding new Can we afford to keep funding new

Centers under the current approach?Centers under the current approach?• How can the Centers improve their How can the Centers improve their

measurement of real environmental measurement of real environmental outcomes?outcomes?

• Do we develop more traditional Centers Do we develop more traditional Centers or design new Centers that are more or design new Centers that are more fluid and changing?fluid and changing?C’mon….Lets Talk!!!C’mon….Lets Talk!!!