Innovation in New England

Collaboration with the New England States

Most federal environmental regulatory programs are delegated by EPA to the states for implementation. EPA works closely with its state partners to identify, develop, and promote innovation projects related to their regulatory programs. The State Innovation Grant program and the Innovation Action Council help in this effort.

The State Innovations Grants Program
The State Innovations Grants Program fosters the development and evaluation of innovative projects proposed by states. If a state project proposal is approved, EPA funds its development. Since 2003, the New England states have received more than one million dollars through these grants – an amount that far exceeds awards granted to the states of any other EPA region. For more information about the State Innovation Grants Program contact Josh Secunda (secunda.josh@epa.gov or (617) 918-1736).

A Summary of EPA State Innovation Grants in New England:

2008

Rhode Island
$275,000: Wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) in Rhode Island annually treat up to 200 million gallons of wastewater per day while consuming more than 78,000 MWH of electricity. The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC), in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) and the University of Rhode Island, are developing and implementing a Sustainable Energy Management Program for use by all Rhode Island WWTFs. As part of this effort, the project partners are implementing an ERP (Environmental Results Program) designed to utilize waste grease generated by restaurants and food processing operations as a renewable fuel. NBC anticipates that this project will improve the energy efficiency of participating WWTFs by a minimum of 5% to 10 %, and decrease energy demand by as much as 10 to 20%.

New Hampshire
$275,000: Land development and population growth pose significant threats to natural resources and exacerbate regional and global environmental concerns. This project encourages the adoption of land use and development practices that achieve superior environmental results, and develops practices to help municipalities and the construction industry cooperatively achieve high standards of environmental protection. Project results should positively affect air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance habitat protection.

Innovative Permitting and Technical Assistance Initiative

2007

Rhode Island
$200,000: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, working with the University of Rhode Island, is developing an innovative self-certification program using Environmental Results Program (ERP) tools to encourage the installation of erosion prevention practices to construction sites greater than one acre. The program is needed to help meet storm water control requirements. Project outputs will include a self-certification checklist applying Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control erosion and sedimentation, baseline compliance data, a training program with an electronic slide presentation, a statistical methodology to measure improvements (or reductions) in compliance, and a final report evaluating the project’s performance from baseline conditions.

Maine and Massachusetts
$267,000: Encouraging the retrofit of modern BMPs and technologies will limit run-off from existing developments and help receiving waters meet water quality standards. This project will use an ERP approach to collaborate with industry to reduce storm water pollution from existing developments. Commercial developments contribute to nonattainment of water quality goals. Regulations requiring new developments and significant redevelopments to implement modern storm water BMP and storm water management do not impose the same requirements on existing developments.

2006

Rhode Island
$250,000: Rhode Island, Florida and EPA are assessing whether an ERP approach to compliance in the Underground Storage Tank sector can be as effective, or more effective, than traditional enforcement programs.

2005

Massachusetts
$225,000: Massachusetts, with support from the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association (NEWMOA) and other project partner states (all New England states, New York, New Jersey, Colorado and California), are developing a common core set of performance metrics to measure the effectiveness of cross-program and interstate compliance programs. This project will provide a common approach to measuring environmental performance status on a state-by-state basis.

Common Measures Project, Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association

New Hampshire
$234,000: New Hampshire will create and operate an environmental leadership program to be operated by the state for small-to-medium sized industries in New Hampshire. The project encourages public and private sector entities to use systematic environmental management practices to improve environmental performance. The project includes strong education/outreach components to develop a voluntary performance-based reward/recognition program.

Aspiring Leaders Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

2004

Maine
$143,000: This project developed an ERP targeting auto body and auto repair shops. The ERP helps small businesses understand and comply with environmental requirements. It also promotes pollution prevention concepts, increases public and industry awareness of environmental regulations and measures increased environmental compliance. Maine intends to take what it learns from the project and transfer its successes into another sector-based ERP.

Rhode Island
$195,000: This project developed an ERP targeting auto salvage facilities. The ERP helps facilities understand and come into compliance with environmental requirements. It also promotes pollution prevention concepts, increases public and industry awareness of environmental regulations and measures environmental compliance.

Auto Salvage Yards Facilities Certification Program, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Vermont
$200,000: This project developed a cross-media (hazardous waste, air, water, and underground storage tanks) mandatory ERP model for the retail gasoline sales sector. The ERP focused on underground storage tanks located at retail gas stations and other facilities. The project includes the development of a transferable implementation model to facilitate ERP development for other sectors.

Underground Storage Tank Program, Environmental Results program Waste Management Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Compliance

2003

Massachusetts
$100,000: This project integrated an innovative permitting approach with strong community participation by adopting strategies complementing water pollution source controls protecting the Assabet River. The permitting process accomplishes this by integrating non-point-source water pollution control with point-source controls, thus creating a nutrient TMDL standard.

Innovations Action Council (IAC)
The Innovations Action Council (IAC) is composed of senior career officials from EPA HQ and regional offices. The IAC is responsible for formulating and advancing EPA's innovation agenda. Its mission is to identify and promote innovative approaches to complex environmental challenges. The IAC has played an active role in giving innovative approaches the support they need to flourish, and provides a venue to share these efforts more broadly. For more information:

"Innovating for Better Environmental Results: A Strategy to Guide the Next Generation of Innovation at EPA."

EPA-New England's IAC representative is the Deputy Administrator. For more information, please contact Anne Leiby (leiby.anne@epa.gov or at (617) 918-1076).