On May 17, 1995, EPA announced plans to create a National Environmental Performance Partnership System. This system is to fundamentally change the EPA-state relationship by setting new goals for environmental protection and giving the states broad flexibility to meet them. In response to this problem, a major component of EPA’s National Environmental Performance Partnership System is a joint planning and priority-setting dialogue with the states that is intended to replace the current annual work plan process. In theory, the use of these agreements to increase state input and flexibility could improve EPA’s relations with its state partners and reduce the costs of implementing federal environmental programs. EPA believes that its consolidated grants would provide the states with easier access to multimedia funding and promote the reporting of their activities to integrate the management of facilities.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO discussed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) initiatives in response to the National Academy of Public Administration's recommendations to change the nation's approach to environmental protection, focusing on EPA attempts to improve its relationship with states.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) EPA plans to create a National Environmental Performance Partnership System, which would fundamentally change the EPA-state relationship by setting new goals for environmental protection and giving states broad flexibility to meet them; (2) although this system should allow states more input in decisionmaking, provide for joint planning, and reduce EPA oversight of states that perform well, it is too soon to assess the effectiveness of these partnership agreements; (3) states' attempts to integrate their regulatory activities across programs show potential for reducing pollution and increasing regulatory efficiency; and (4) EPA believes that its proposed consolidated grants should alleviate problems caused by inflexible federal fund allocations and duplicative reporting requirements.