U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Enforcement and Next Generation
Compliance
David Cozad, Regional Counsel
US EPA Region 7
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Compliance Challenges
Pollution
Noncompliance
Information gaps
Larger universe
Budgets declining
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The World is Changing
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Technology Paradigm Change
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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EPA Region 7’s KCWaterBug
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Mobile app providing real-time water quality data in the Kansas City area
using USGS innovative approach for estimating bacteria concentrations
based on basic water quality parameters.
Technology Opportunities
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Advances in information and monitoring technologies:
“make the invisible visible”
inform industry, government, and the public
enhance ability to prevent, reduce, treat or avoid pollution
drive compliance through transparency and accountability
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Next Gen Compliance Tools
Advanced monitoring
E-reporting
Transparency
Third party verification
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Advanced Monitoring Technologies
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Real-time monitoring – knowing about pollution as it’s happening
Facility feedback loops – preventing pollution before it happens
Fenceline monitoring
Community monitoring
Remote sensing
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Monitoring buoy in Charles River collects and transmits data
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Advanced Water Monitoring: E-Flow
E-flow monitors
Flow detection/notification
Flow height
Flow depth/velocity
Examples:
City of Seattle NPDES Permit
City of Harrisburg CSO Consent Decree
Washington DC CSO Consent Decree
St Louis CSO/SSO Consent Decree
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Advanced Monitoring: Real-time Ambient WQ Monitoring
Mostly screening level/indicator technology to date
Rapid advances and emerging technology
Well developed technology exists for continuous, real time monitoring for BOD, TSS,
temperature, pH
Microbial Source Tracking
Examples:
Logan Airport NPDES Permit: Real-time, continouos monitoring required during winter (deicing runoff)
Middle Rio MS4 Permit: Continuous monitoring for DO, temp at select locations; endangered species concerns
San Antonio Consent Decree: microbial source monitoring required
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Real-time Monitoring
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Advanced Monitoring
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An example from flaring enforcement
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Electronic reporting 14
Ohio NPDES e-
reporting success
story
NPDES e-
reporting rule
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Reporting Month
NPDES DMR Compliance in Ohio FY 2009 - 7/08-6/09
% eDMR usage
Per
mit
Vio
lati
on
s
Faci
litie
s u
sin
g eD
MR
Increased Transparency
Evidence that effective
transparency drives
performance
SDWA Consumer
Confidence Reports
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Study on effect of mailing compliance reports
Transparency Examples
Web posting of data and documents:
Logan Airport NPDES Permit
Middle Rio Grande MS4 permit
St Louis Consent Decree
City of Seattle NPDES Permit
CSO email/text alerts:
New York Sewage Pollution Right-to-Know Act
Chicago NPDES Permits (notification of CSO diversion to Lake Michigan)
City of Cambridge NPDES Permit
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Next Gen in Civil Settlements
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Since January 2015, EPA civil enforcement staff must consider Next Generation Compliance tools in all cases and include them in settlements when appropriate
Next Gen in Settlementss: Region 7 Examples
St Louis/MSD: E-flow monitoring, web posting
Coastal Energy: Leak detection monitoring/remote notification
Doe Run: Third Party Verification
Roquette: Third Party Verification
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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EPA Proposed Rule for Petroleum Refineries
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Refineries must conduct
ambient fenceline
monitoring
Data available to public
Action level exceedances
require corrective
measures
U.S. Environmental Protection Agen
Coal Ash Rule
Transparency
Third Party Certifications
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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