All News Releases By Date

U.S. EPA TO HOLD MEETING IN LOS ANGELES ON PERMIT PROCESS MAY 24

Release Date: 5/11/1995
Contact Information: Lance Miller, U.S. EPA, (908) 321-6782 or (202) 260-0632 Or: Dave Schmidt, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1578

     (San Francisco)--  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA) today announced it will host a roundtable meeting in
Los Angeles on May 24-25, 1995, to receive advice from
stakeholders on improving U.S. EPA's environmental permitting
program.

     The one-and-one-half-day session is sponsored by U.S. EPA's
Permits Improvement Team, which was formed in July 1994 to
identify actions to increase the effectiveness of U.S. EPA's
environmental permitting programs.  The U.S. EPA team initially
held five national stakeholder meetings last fall to receive
advice on the direction of this project.  Six task forces were
set up to develop recommendations in the following areas:

     * alternatives to individual permits;
    * administrative streamlining
    * enhanced public participation
    * pollution-prevention incentives;
    * training; and,
    * performance measures.

     The Los Angeles meeting will be held at the Sheraton Gateway
Hotel, 6101 West Century Blvd., near the Los Angeles
International Airport.   This is one of six meetings scheduled
for May and early June in cities around the country.  Other
meetings will be held in Atlanta (GA), Kansas City (KS), Chicago
(IL), Newark (NJ), and Washington, D.C.  

     The meetings will be conducted at a roundtable of
approximately 40 participants, with additional audience seating.
The roundtable will have approximately equal representation from
environmental and community groups, regulated entities, and
regulators.  Each task force will present its recommendations,
and stakeholder discussion will follow each presentation. Those
who are not able to comment orally are encouraged to submit
written comments to:  U.S. EPA Permits Improvement Team, Mail
Stop 100, 2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837.  Attendees
should RSVP by May 17, 1995 to Lance Miller, phone (908) 321-
6782/ fax (908) 321-4381.
                         #     #     #