In Fiscal Year 2004, the U.S. EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), all ten U.S. EPA Regions, the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) Compliance Committee and state representatives from each of the ten Regions developed a new tool to assess state performance in enforcement and compliance assurance: the State Review Framework. The purpose of the Framework is to provide a consistent mechanism by which EPA Regions, working collaboratively with our states, can ensure that states meet agreed upon minimum performance levels and provide a consistent level of environmental and public health protection across our nation. This Framework is meant to establish a dialogue on enforcement and compliance performance that will lead to improved program management and environmental results.