Abstract |
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 review by EPA Region 4 of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) compliance and enforcement program utilizing the State Review Framework (SRF). This review has been a collaborative effort between the Region and the State and captures both successes as well as any identified areas that need improvement. As this is the first review of this type for TDEC, 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. |