Developing Environmental Indicators with Our States

EPA Region 3/State Indicators and Outcomes Initiative

EPA/State Indicators & Outcomes Initiative

Overview of process Overview of process

Where we areWhere we are

Where we are goingWhere we are going

ObservationsObservations

Planning for Environmental Results:Planning for Environmental Results:EPA/State Indicators and Outcomes Workgroup EPA/State Indicators and Outcomes Workgroup

The Charge:The Charge: Create a handful (5-7) of outcome Create a handful (5-7) of outcome

measures/indicators for public displaymeasures/indicators for public display Develop outcome and efficiencyDevelop outcome and efficiency measures for all key programsmeasures for all key programs Within our programs, use best Within our programs, use best available data and tools to prioritizeavailable data and tools to prioritize and target areas for implementationand target areas for implementation Use best available data and tools to ID high Use best available data and tools to ID high

priority/high vulnerability areas to target priority/high vulnerability areas to target multiple programmultiple program

Look forward – where should we be in the future?Look forward – where should we be in the future?

A Vision forEnvironmental 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

ConditionHow are

We Doing?

StressorsAction

Causes

What WeValue

Public Interest/Appeal

Condition

Stressors

What We Value

Chesapeake Bay Living ResourcesTrends in Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

Spawning Female Index

Average

Source: Chesapeake Bay

Chart shows trends on abundance of mature female crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. Data was provided by the Chesapeake Bay ProgramTrends in Blue Crabs

Habitat Nutrients

Farms

Etc.

Development Point Sources

NonPoint Source

Permits Fish Advisory

Enforcement404/stateWetland

State/EPA Programs

$’s Spent, FTE Monitoring Program

EffectivenessEfficiency

Water Clarity

Causes

How areWe

Doing?

Action Pub

lic

Int e

res t

/App

e al

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 IndicatorsState/EPA Region 3 Combined Indicators

Percent of population in counties attaining the ambient ozone standardPercent of population living in attainment & nonattainment areas for common air pollutantsPopulation exposed to PM2.5; Air Quality Index

Decrease in air pollutant concentration levels

Number of exceedences of Ozone, PM, CO, NO2, SO2 standards

Number of days within ozone standard

Sensitive populations (children & elderly) living in areas exceeding ozone standard

Ozone Action Days

Tons of hazardous air pollutants emitted

Total amount of emissions/decrease in emissionsTotal amount of HAPs emitted/decrease in emissionsTons of emissions avoided by pollution prevention activities

Change in emissions by source category

Criteria Air Pollutants

Toxic Air Releases

Percent population at risk from Air Toxics

Quantity of emission reductions

Monitored improvements in ambient air qualityAmount of emissions reduced from regulatory/voluntary programs SIP revisions

Amount of calculated reductions in electricity consumption and GhG emissions

Amount of energy conserved & emissions prevented

Waste Minimization

Percent Population Breathing Clean Air

Reduction in Energy/GhG Emissions/

Percent waters attaining wq standards for swimming, health aquatic life

Acres of watersheds w/ nutrient TMDLs

Percentage reduction in nitrogen loadings in Chesapeaek, Delaware Bay & Inland Bay watershedsCumulative miles of assessed stream attaining water uses

Waters meeting designated uses

D.O. in Chesapeake Bay, MD Coastal and DE Bays

Low D.O. & water quality impairment

Increased restored miles in surface water

Restore swimming use in at least 5% of impaired streams miles/ lake acresIncrease identified impaired miles relative to projected statewide impairmentListed surface waters by category, water segment by PS & NPSPounds of nutrients discharged from point & NPS into Bay and tribs.

Pollutant load reductions in water segments by point and non-point source controls

Streams supporting desingated uses

Surface waters meeting designated uses by miles

Major causes of impairment

Major sources of impairment

Toxic releases to water

Sanitary sewer service - % population

Nitrogen loads

Phosphorous loads

Pounds of pollutants reduced

Annual miles of stream buffers installed/improved

Stream restoration projects

Miles of streams degraded by abandoned mine drainage

Miles of stream/waterway improved

Pesticide reductions in waterMiles of streambank & shoreline restored (Chesapeake Bay)Reductions in N/P/sediment loads in Chesapeake Bay

Improvement in Living

Resources Index in the Chesapeake & Delaware Bays

Acres of Wetlands Restored/Improved/Protected

Acres of wetlands restored/improved

Wetland progress toward 60,000 acre goal

Wetland trends (tidal & non-tidal)

Acres lost/replaced through acres mitigated

Acres of wetlands restored/enhanced

Number of acres of coastal & freshwater wetland habitats on controlled for invasive species

Wetlands protected

Wetlands increase

Aquatic habitat restored: acres of wetlands; miles of riparian buffer; acres of oyster beds; acres of SAV (Chesapeake Bay)Locations at Risk for meeting Critical Aquatic Habitat Restoration Goals (SAV & Wetlands) (Chesapeake Bay

Acres Cleaned- Up(SF/Solid Waste/

Brownfields)

Tons of municipal solid waste generated/capita

Tons of solid waste generated/capita

Percentage of waste disposed in each category

Tons of municipal solid waste recycled

Hazardous waste generated annually

Solid waste generation annually

Increase acres cleaned up/require no further action (SF & Solid Waste)

Number of Population Protected

from Exposure to Environmental

Hazards

Percent of children exceeding lead poison standard

Children with elevated blood lead levels

Reduced number of individuals in minority and elderly communities exposed to environmental hazardsReduction of high risk pesticides used on crops consumed by infants & children

Problems at abandoned mine sites

Acres of abandoned mile land reclaimed

Trends in waste minimization for priority chemicals - 50% reduction

Reduction of high risk pesticides

Risk reduction of asbestos exposure

Children protected from asbestos

Acres property remediated (PCBs)Number of individuals making behavioral/physical changes to effect their environment based on outreach effortsNumbers of people protected from exposure to dangerous levels of hazardous substances.Numbers of acres assessed or cleaned-up & available for reuse. (Remedial & Brownfields Programs)Amount of taxpayer dollars saved via polluters paying for cleanups at hazardous waste sites

% People Drinking Safe Water

Percent population served by water supply systems meeting health-based standardsPercent of CWS w/ source water protection strategies

Percent served by safe water

Number of PWSS exceeding standards

95% of population served by water that meets health-based standards

Acres of estuarine/watershed habitat restoredFish consumption advisories/shellfish closures

Shad population

Shad in Schuylkill, Susquehanna & Delaware Rivers

Acres of SAV in Chesapeake BayAquatic habitat restored: acres of wetlands; miles of riparian buffer; acres of oyster beds; acres of SAV (Chesapeake Bay)

Percent Assessed Waters

Meeting Designated Uses

State-EPA Combined IndicatorsState-EPA Combined Indicators

Cleanups completed at sites contaminated with hazardous substances

Approved Brownfield/Federal Facilities

Number of jobs created through Brownfieds activitiesPercent of children exceeding lead poison standard

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 Restoration PotentialPotential AcresAcres

LowLow 240.40240.40

MediumMedium15303.315303.3

22

HighHigh 4296.804296.80

TOTALTOTAL19840.519840.5

22

Where Are We ?Where Are We ?

Combined list of indicatorsCombined list of indicators Pilot demonstration projectsPilot demonstration projects Initial list of key programsInitial list of key programs

and outcomes; developingand outcomes; developing

targeting strategies for FY07targeting strategies for FY07 Communications strategyCommunications strategy

Where Are We Going?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 Assess the currentcurrent environmental condition in Region environmental condition in Region IIIIII

– Determine environmentally vulnerable areas (Determine environmentally vulnerable areas (futurefuture))– Determine “environmental drivers/stressors” and Determine “environmental drivers/stressors” and

indicatorsindicators– Create a Regional Environmental IndexCreate a Regional Environmental Index

Looking ForwardLooking Forward on Targeting

Predicting the FutureCurrent Condition Future Condition

Areas We Need To Work In

worse

same

ObservationsObservations

This is not easy to do – support from This is not easy to do – support from on high is crucialon high is crucial Report to upper level management oftenReport to upper level management often Don’t reinvent – build on what exists (data, indicators, Don’t reinvent – build on what exists (data, indicators,

outcomes)outcomes) Must deal with opposing forces: competition Must deal with opposing forces: competition vsvs minimizing minimizing

changechange Make the process and results relevant to staff – show how Make the process and results relevant to staff – show how

what they do connects to the big picturewhat they do connects to the big picture Make public information (indicators, outcomes) relevant, Make public information (indicators, outcomes) relevant,

understandable, important – tell a story; change behavior?understandable, important – tell a story; change behavior? Look toward the future, but don’t ignore the pastLook toward the future, but don’t ignore the past Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate – esp. with States:Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate – esp. with States:

– Do they want to make sausage with you, or taste-test Do they want to make sausage with you, or taste-test when it’s done?when it’s done?

– Involvement: How, who and when?Involvement: How, who and when?– What’s in it for them?What’s in it for them?