The Environmental Results Program (ERP) is an innovative approach to improving the environmental performance of various business sectors and other groups with large numbers of small facilities. While individual facilities within these groups may release small amounts of pollution, their aggregate impact can be significant. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection developed ERP 10 years ago for the dry cleaner, photo processor and printer sectors. Now, 18 states have developed or are implementing at least one ERP to address challenging environmental issues in 11 sectors/groups. To date, six of those states have completed a full ERP cycle and generated results demonstrating the success of this approach. ERP is an integrated system of: Plain-language compliance assistance that promotes pollution prevention (P2); Facility self-assessment and self-certification; Agency inspections; and Statistically based performance measurement. Where necessary, regulators also conduct a comprehensive facility inventory and targeted enforcement actions. These elements work together to improve performance across a business sector or other group of pollution sources, while deploying government resources strategically and efficiently.

Title from title screen (viewed on April 4, 2008). "December 2007." "EPA 100-R-07-009." Includes bibliographical references.