What about Federal Regulations?

Initially businesses expressed concern about the uncertainty of Federal actions on the Wisconsin Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program. Because of this, DNR negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement [PDF 179KB] (MOA) with EPA Region 5.

This MOA is the first between a state and EPA outlining reinvention of government. Wisconsin Lt. Governor Scott McCallum, Wisconsin DNR Secretary George E. Meyer and acting Regional Administrator for USEPA Region V, David A. Ullrich, signed it March 25, 1999. The document guides the working partnership of both agencies to fulfill the Joint State/EPA Agreement to Pursue Regulatory Innovation (April 1998), as well as the objectives of Wisconsin's Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program - to pilot and evaluate innovative environmental regulatory methods.

Under this Memorandum of Agreement, the EPA and WDNR agree on the need to experiment with new approaches to improve the nation’s environment. These new approaches can help identify cleaner, cheaper, smarter ways to improve environmental performance.

This partnership fosters an environment in which WDNR innovations are supported and encouraged in order to develop better ways of achieving environmental and ecosystem goals. As the front-line delivery agent for environmental programs, WDNR has first hand knowledge of the environmental problems, facility issues, and community concerns that puts it in a unique position to develop practical solutions that are environmentally protective as well as efficient and effective. EPA will support WDNR’s efforts with timely input and consultation that demonstrates openness and flexibility while observing requirements of the federal statutes.

The mechanism for inter-agency collaboration on cooperative agreements is a team of representatives from both agencies, called the Interagency Innovations Team (IIT). This team will act as the communications center while each pilot agreement is being selected, negotiated and implemented. The IIT will also identify and address programmatic issues such as: permit and program modification procedures, enforcement and compliance schedules, and the context and implementation of the MOA. The team will also make sure staff in both agencies and in participating pilot facilities understand these issues.

In summary, the MOA details the specific phases needed to implement the Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program and the agencies' involvement in these projects. The inter-agency partnership will avoid duplication of effort and ensure that both agencies’ needs are met in a timely manner.

Pictures From Unprecedented DNR/EPA Announcement of MOA

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