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PA MEMORANDUM ON NAT'L ENV. PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP SYSTEM

Release Date: 07/19/96
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PA MEMORANDUM ON NAT'L ENV. PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP SYSTEM

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1996

EPA ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF A POLICY MEMORANDUM ON THE NATIONAL PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP SYSTEM

EPA's Office of Regional Operations, State/Local Relations is announcing the availability of a policy memorandum signed by Fred Hansen, EPA Deputy Administrator, on July 15. This document signals the conclusion of the first pilot year for the National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) which establishes a framework for State-EPA relations. The goal of the new system is to strengthen protection of public health and the environment by directing scarce public resources toward the most pressing environmental needs, providing states with more flexibility in how they achieve environmental results and enhancing accountability. EPA is implementing a similar performance partnership system for Tribal governments through Tribal/EPA Environmental Agreements. After a successful year in which several states and EPA Regions pioneered the new approach, the Agency is now set for full implementation of NEPPS. Thirty-three states have indicated they intend to participate in NEPPS in fiscal year 1997. EPA and state officials have engaged in an extensive collaborative process to devise solutions to issues that emerged in developing the first set of performance partnership agreements and this memorandum to EPA's senior leadership clarifies policies and provides tools to aid both EPA and the states in negotiating partnerships. For more information, contact Ann Cole at 202-260-3953.

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