Enhancing the Office of Water's Efficiency and Effectiveness

EPA's Office of Water continuously reviews the processes and procedures used to conduct business. As a result, a collection of memos were developed to streamline and guide EPA Headquarters and Regional Water senior leadership, decision makers, and staff in carrying out the statutorily required duties of their office and job. Each memo outlines best practices and procedures that result in better and more effective use of Agency resources to accomplish EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment.

• Policy on Use of CWA Section 308 Letters Issued to Nine or Fewer Entities to Support CWA Program Implementation.pdf (pdf) (1.81 MB, November 21, 2018)
  This memo sets procedures for using the EPA's authority to under CWA Section 308 to collect information from nine or fewer entities to support regulatory decision making.
• Policy for the EPA's Review and Action on Clean Water Act Program Submittals.pdf (pdf) (1.01 MB, June 3, 2019)
  This memo establishes a policy to ensure that the EPA reviews and acts upon state and tribal Clean Water Act program submittals in accordance with the Agency's statutory obligations and timelines.
• Office of Water Policy for Draft Documents.pdf (pdf) (357.57 KB, August 6, 2019)
  This memo institutes a policy for draft guidance documents issued by the Office of Water.
• Process for Obtaining Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification for EPA-issued NPDES Permits (pdf) (451.7 KB, November 13, 2019)
  This memo necessitates the efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the CWA Section 401 certification process.
• Policy to Promote Efficient Use of Agency Resources when Developing Documents in Support of Final Agency Actions (pdf) (157.97 KB, January 5, 2021)
  This memo institutes a policy to increase workload efficiency when EPA is preparing documents in support of draft and final Agency actions.