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DELAWARE ESTUARY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION STREAMLINE REVIEW, 2002
Citation:
Delaware Estuary Program. DELAWARE ESTUARY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION STREAMLINE REVIEW, 2002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Description:
The primary purpose of the Delaware Estuary Program implementation review (formerly known as the biennial review) has been to assist EPA in. making funding decisions for those NEPs that are in the post-CCMP, or implementation, phase, and to evaluate implementation progress. The implementation review process also provides an opportunity for NEPs to (1) highlight their successes and strengths, (2) identify and address areas for improvement, and (3) demonstrate that stakeholder commitments, as well as community support and momentum, are being maintained and increased. In addition, the process provides an opportunity to specifically evaluate EPA's progress in carrying out its CCMP commitments and to identify ways that EPA can better assist the NEPs individually and collectively. The Delaware Estuary Program (DELEP) is in its sixth year of implementation. Through the collective efforts and coordinated authorities of its participants, DELEP continues to strive for success in its role to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Delaware Estuary (CCMB. DELEP's role is to act as a provider of information, facilitator, a leader in providing a regional watershed focus, and a provider of incentives throughout the Delaware Estuary Region to encourage actions toward the implementation of the CCMP. Over the last three years, DELEP has continued to evolve and refine itself as a program. DELEP is notable among the NEPs for many reasons. Due to its wide scope, DELEP is one of the most geographically and politically complex National Estuary Programs in the nation. Coordination and implementation activities must occur among three states, two EPA regions, twenty-two counties, hundreds of municipalities, and a multitude of non-governmental stakeholder groups. This is further complicated by the fact that at the State level, regulations protecting the environment vary. Despite these challenges, DELEP continues to make progress towards helping to bring the various participating entities together to reach a common goal of Estuary restoration and protection. The current watershed planning and management process that each of the three states have been engaged in will further help to accomplish the Action Items set forth in the CCMP. DELEP provides a critical mechanism that facilitates partnerships that cross jurisdictional boundaries. These partnerships might not occur without the Estuary Program. This critical role continues to illustrate how the final outcome will be far greater than the sum of the parts. Primary examples of such partnerships fostered by DELEP include but are not limited to: The PCB Initiative; The formation of the Fish Consumption Advisory implementation Team; and the development of the Pea Patch Island Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). The Program also continues to address those areas outlined in the November 20, 1997 and December 30, 1999 Biennial Review response letters. Areas highlighted included: Enhanced Program infrastructure Coordination; Monitoring; Public Outreach and Involvement; Prioritization of Action Items; Tracking Implementation Progress; and Funding.
URLs/Downloads:
Delaware Estuary IR 4 2002 (PDF, NA pp, 19254 KB, about PDF)Delaware Estuary IR 1b 2002 (PDF, NA pp, 4185 KB, about PDF)
Delaware Estuary IR 2 2002 (PDF, NA pp, 3821 KB, about PDF)
Delaware Estuary IR 3 2002 (PDF, NA pp, 16107 KB, about PDF)
Delaware Estuary IR 1a 2002 (PDF, NA pp, 4560 KB, about PDF)