[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11313-11314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5043]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6546-4]


Agency Compliance Assistance Activity Plan: Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Draft Annual 
Compliance Assistance Activity Plan (Plan) reflects EPA's commitment to 
help entities comply with regulatory requirements and improve 
environmental performance through compliance assistance. In this draft 
Plan, EPA catalogues compliance assistance activities planned across 
the entire Agency for FY 2001. This comprehensive approach allows 
interested stakeholders to understand the Agency's current compliance 
assistance priorities and activities and to suggest where tools or 
additional emphasis are still needed. The consolidated information will 
also assist compliance assistance providers in determining how to focus 
their resources without duplicating EPA's efforts. Additionally, the 
regulated community will be able to anticipate what compliance 
assistance will be available to them in the near future.
    The Agency is seeking stakeholder input on the content, structure 
and usefulness of the Plan. EPA intends to utilize this feedback in the 
FY02 budget

[[Page 11314]]

development process and the FY01 budget implementation process.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may obtain a copy of the Annual 
Compliance Assistance Activity Plan from the Internet at 
www.seattle.battelle.org/epa-icaa. Copies may also be by obtained by 
contacting Joanne Berman at the contact information provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Berman, (202) 564-7064; e-mail 
at [email protected]; or by mail at U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2224A, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 
NW, Washington, DC 20004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency is committed to listening to 
stakeholders as we continuously improve the way we do business. In 
early 1999 the Agency held a series of stakeholder meetings to ask how 
we can better serve our customers. The ``Aiming for Excellence'' report 
(Report) released by Administrator Browner in July 1999 responds to key 
issues raised during the stakeholder meetings. EPA's commitment to 
develop the Annual Agency Compliance Assistance Activity Plan is one of 
the most ambitious actions items identified in the Report.
    Objectives of the Plan are to: (1) Identify and coordinate similar 
activities to leverage resources; (2) provide an inventory of the 
Agency activities to assist stakeholders in planning their activities; 
and (3) seek stakeholder input on the Agency's compliance assistance 
priorities. The FY01 Plan is the first attempt to undertake this intra-
agency planning. EPA will strive to consider stakeholder comments as we 
begin implementing the FY01 activities, but any major change in 
strategic direction would be difficult since the Agency's FY01 budget 
submission already includes specific projects. However, stakeholder 
comments will have a more significant impact on the FY02 planning and 
budgeting cycle that begins this spring. It is the Agency's expectation 
that as future (FY02 and beyond) Plans are developed, stakeholder input 
will influence the directions in which we focus our compliance 
assistance resources.

    Dated: February 25, 2000.
Michael M. Stahl,
Acting Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-5043 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P