Abstract |
The Environmental Protection Agency=s (EPA=s) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), all ten EPA Regions, the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) Compliance Committee and other state representatives have jointly developed a method to assess state performance in the enforcement and compliance assurance program. This report reflects the FY2005 review by Region 4 of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) compliance and enforcement program and the Jefferson County Department of Health (Jefferson County), Air compliance and enforcement program utilizing the State Review Framework (SRF). This review has been a collaborative effort between the Region, State and Jefferson County and captures both successes as well as any identified areas that need improvement. As this is the first review of this type for ADEM and Jefferson County, this report will serve as a baseline review. Future reviews will look at performance as a comparison to the level documented in this review. The purpose of the SRF assessment is to provide consistency in the level of core enforcement activity and performance thus in environmental protection across the country. It provides a consistent tool for EPA Regions to use in overseeing state enforcement program performance as well as to provide the basis for a consistent mechanism for EPA Regions to provide flexibility to states which can demonstrate an adequate core enforcement program. |