[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16450-16452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8338]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6320-2]
Notice of Process Improvements Under Project XL
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; clarification and streamlining of the process used for
developing XL projects.
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SUMMARY:
What is Project XL?
Project XL, which stands for eXcellence and Leadership, is a
national initiative that tests innovative ways of achieving better and
more cost-effective public health and environmental protection. XL
pilot projects must meet certain criteria (see Supplementary
Information section of this Notice), but are built around three key
elements: (1) Stronger environmental performance; (2) meaningful
stakeholder involvement; and (3) flexibility in EPA regulations,
policies, or procedures. Project XL challenges the regulated
community--facilities, business sectors, government agencies, and
communities--to find cleaner, cheaper and smarter ways of protecting
the environment. As of February 1999, ten projects are being
implemented and over 20 more are in development. Project sponsors have
already achieved a number of significant benefits by participating in
Project XL, including increased environmental protection, substantial
cost savings, improved operational flexibility, and better stakeholder
relations.
What Is the Purpose of This Notice?
EPA is announcing new operating guidance for XL's project
development process. Project XL is an evolving program where EPA
applies ``lessons learned'' in a timely way. Comments are always
welcome. This guidance will not be ``finalized'' through additional
notices, but will be revised, when necessary, based on comments and
input. This Notice provides a very brief description of the new
guidance and announces the availability of three specific documents
that describe the key changes in greater detail. These documents are
available on Project XL's website: www.epa.gov/ProjectXL as well as
from XL's information line at 202-260-5754.
Why Is This New XL Guidance Needed?
When Project XL was launched in 1995, there were no models to draw
upon for such an innovative effort. Since that time, EPA has learned a
great deal about how to carry out cross-media, cross-Agency experiments
and can now be more specific on what a quality proposal should contain,
how decisions should be made, and what a stakeholder process should
entail. Building on that practical experience, EPA has worked hard with
representatives from industry, environmental organizations, states, and
other interested groups over the last several months to improve how XL
pilot projects are developed and implemented. These improvements have
already led to reductions in the ``transaction costs'' of all
participants in projects where they have been utilized.
How Has the New Process Produced Better Results?
After a step-by-step evaluation of the old process, the ``re-
engineering'' work group created a new process that is faster and
clearer, and spells out the roles and responsibilities not only for
EPA, but also project sponsors and stakeholders. Improvements have been
seen in several XL projects currently under development where these
changes have been utilized. For example, in one recent project several
of the new techniques were applied resulting in a quality proposal that
will have an agreement signed nine months after initial discussions
began.
What Changes Have Been Made?
The old process needed--
--Greater clarity in determining what makes a good proposal and how
to involve and assist stakeholders more effectively;
--Better management of proposal development activities and
decision-making in EPA, the states, and other regulators outside of
EPA; and
--More commitment to an expeditious process by all parties at all
levels.
The new process is now--
--clearer, more predictable, and faster and is described in detail
in the following documents:
(1) A Best Practices Guide for Proposal Development
This guide is designed to help project sponsors submit Project XL
proposals that will go through the review process as quickly and
smoothly as possible. The guide is intended to: (a) let project
sponsors know in clear terms what information to put into a proposal;
(b) help sponsors understand why EPA needs this information from
project sponsors; and (c) give sponsors some initial sense of whether
their idea is a likely candidate for Project XL.
[[Page 16451]]
(2) A Stakeholder Involvement Guide
Surveys of project sponsors have indicated that the stakeholder
involvement process has been very beneficial to them, but that the
process could benefit from clear guidance on how to do it and what's
involved. This XL-specific guide to stakeholder involvement is designed
to clarify the roles and responsibilities of sponsors and stakeholders,
enumerate guiding principles, and provide ideas and tools to help
develop, negotiate, and implement successful XL projects.
(3) Manual for EPA XL Project Teams
XL projects require expeditious coordination among several
organizations within EPA. This manual guides the internal EPA process,
and improves the Agency's ability to make decisions quickly and move XL
projects effectively through the development process. It consists of
two parts: (a) Ground Rules for EPA XL Teams, outlining ground rules
found to be essential for EPA project teams to perform effectively; and
(b) The XL Process Steps for EPA's XL Teams, which provides a step-by-
step breakdown of the process and delineates internal responsibilities
for each step.
EPA has developed additional tools and techniques to assist during
proposal development:
--Project management schedules with milestones are now developed
and tracked for every project;
--EPA senior management participate early during proposal
development;
--The roles and responsibilities for all participants are now
clearer;
--Training is available for new EPA XL project teams;
--Assistance is available through an EPA contractor to project
sponsors who would like to use an impartial facilitator to help get the
stakeholder involvement process off to an open, well-organized, and
productive start.
--Task-specific technical assistance can also be provided for
stakeholder groups under certain conditions through the Institute for
Conservation Leadership (telephone number 301-270-2900).
How Fast is ``Faster''?
The revised XL process is divided into shorter, more focused
project phases, with estimated time frames of six months to a year,
compared to 18 months or more for the old process.
The New Phases of the XL Proposal Process
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Estimated
Phase number of Description
days*
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Pre-Proposal 20-30 Informal discussions between EPA, State(s), and
potential sponsors.
Proposal Development 50-75 EPA and the relevant State(s) help the sponsor develop
proposal concepts into complete proposal package.
EPA & State Proposal Review 40-60 States and EPA decide whether the project is
acceptable for developing a Final Project Agreement
(FPA).
Final Project Agreement Development, and a 90-180 EPA, the sponsor, the State(s), and the stakeholders
Federal Register Notice to solicit work to develop the Final Project Agreement (FPA).
comments, with the appropriate legal
mechanism, where necessary (such as a
permit or site specific rule)
Total: 200-345*
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Provided the project sponsor and the State agree with the proposed schedules.
DATES: April 5, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (1) For XL projects: Contact
Christopher Knopes, Office of Reinvention Programs, United States
Environmental Protection Agency, Room 1029, 401 M Street SW, Mail Code
1802, Washington, DC 20460. The telephone number for the Office is
(202) 260-5754; the facsimile number is (202) 401-6637.
(2) For general information, including documents referenced in this
document, other EPA policy documents related to Project XL, EPA
regional contacts, application information, and descriptions of
existing XL projects and proposals, please turn to Project XL's
website--http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL for private and federal
facilities, states, and business sectors; and for communities, turn to
http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXLC.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How are XL Projects Selected?
Much information on Project XL has been provided in previous
Federal Register documents. In Project XL's first Federal Register
Notice on May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282), EPA described Project XL as a
program that offers a balanced set of benefits to the environment, the
regulated community and the public, and issued a general solicitation
for proposals. In that Notice, EPA also defined the eight criteria by
which proposals are selected for participation. In addition to these
criteria, a project sponsor must have a solid record of compliance.
The criteria help evaluate whether the project can:
(1) Produce superior environmental results;
(2) Produce benefits such as cost savings, paperwork reduction, and
operational flexibility;
(3) Garner stakeholder involvement and support;
(4) Achieve innovation and multi-media pollution prevention;
(5) Be transferable to other facilities, sectors, communities,
etc.;
(6) Be feasible (technically and administratively);
(7) Identify monitoring, reporting, accountability, and evaluation
methods; and
(8) Avoid shifting of risk burden.
In addition to these criteria, there are three criteria that are
specific to community-sponsored XL projects:
(9) Build capacity for community participation;
(10) Create economic opportunity; and
(11) Promote community planning.
How Can You Get More Information?
For more detailed definitions of the XL criteria, please refer to
the Federal Register documents of May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282) and April
23, 1997 (62 FR19872), which provide further guidance and
clarification. Additional information on XL (program policy, projects,
project ideas, publications, and legal questions) can be obtained from
the Federal Register document of June 23, 1998, from Project XL's
websites http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL and http://www.epa.gov/
ProjectXLC, and by calling 202-260-5754.
[[Page 16452]]
Dated: March 23, 1999.
Jay Benforado,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Reinvention.
[FR Doc. 99-8338 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P