Vol. 4 No. 1 Summer 1996
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

DEP kicks off new approach to measure environmental progress in New Jersey

With clearly established goals and tangible measurements of progress, the EPA can reduce unneeded oversight, shift its relationship with states toward partnership, and allow states greater flexibility to achieve environmental goals. As a partner in this process, the EPA assisted with the development of New Jersey's agreement, and also committed specific support to the DEP's environmental protection programs.

The Environmental Council of States, or ECOS, which consists of state commissioners including Commissioner Shinn, and EPA, has been instrumental in advancing the NEPPS approach. Implementation of the NEPPS approach is intended, in part, to fulfill EPA's requirements related to the Government Performance and Results Act - a law requiring federal agencies to shift from accounting to accountability in management by 1999. As only the fifth state in the nation to sign a NEPPS agreement (other states include Delaware, Colorado, Illinois and Utah), New Jersey continues its environmental leadership role, and expects this landmark agreement to serve as a model for other states as they develop their performance partnership agreements.

The NEPPS process includes two phases. The first phase requires the preparation of a Self-Assessment--a candid summary of current environmental conditions, an identification of key environmental issues, and an assessment of the strengths and limitations of DEP programs. New Jersey's Self-Assessment pilot, which included its air quality, freshwater, ground water, and drinking water programs, was completed in August 1995.

Phase two is the development of a single Performance Partnership Agreement, which replaces several traditional categorical grant workplans. This agreement articulates specific environmental goals, describes program activities needed to achieve the goals, and requires reporting of indicators to assess progress toward those goals. The pilot agreement for New Jersey includes a total of 13 programs for air quality, freshwater watersheds, and drinking water.

The agreement includes a proposed freshwater watersheds goal which provides for human and ecological uses of water, conservation of wetlands, and protection of threatened and endangered species. Measurable targets (or milestones) for each aspect of the goal were developed and 23 indicators will be used to assess progress toward the milestones. These indicators are classified as "pressure indicators" which describe pollutant loadings or other environmental stressors; "state indicators" which describe ambient conditions of water, sediments, and aquatic life; and "response indicators" which describe activities implemented by the DEP, the regulated community, and citizens to correct environmental problems. An example is provided on the table below.

Milestone By 2005, 75% of New Jersey's assessed river miles will support healthy, sustainable biological communities. (Currently, 65% of assessed river miles meet this milestone).

Pressure Indicators (causes of pollution)	State Indicators (current conditions and effects)	Response Indicators (actions/activities by stakeholders to address problems)
Point source discharges (loads) of pollutants (factories, municipal treatment plants) Point source levels of acute whole effluent toxicity Status of land uses	Stream miles presently supporting aquatic life Water quality Sediment quality	Implementation of watershed management Permit compliance Develop NPS and fish population indicators

Next Steps

During FY97, the DEP will develop a self-assessment that addresses all DEP programs, including Site Remediation/Waste Management and Land Management/Natural Resources Programs. Thus, a comprehensive environmental quality assessment will be available in July 1996. Through periodic self-assessments, as intended under the NEPPS process, the DEP will better track and report the progress of its environmental programs and shift resources as necessary to priority efforts. A NEPPS Agreement between the DEP and EPA Region 2, which addresses all EPA funded or delegated programs, will be developed by October 1996.

In summary, the NEPPS process will:

• Give the DEP a much stronger role in setting its environmental priorities and more flexibility in allocating resources to address those priorities.

• Commit the DEP to spend more time assessing New Jersey's environmental conditions, problems, and solutions.

• In states with strong environmental programs, such as New Jersey, the relationship between the EPA and the DEP will change from extensive oversight to partnership.

• Increase the public's role in helping the DEP establish environmental goals and indicators to measure progress.

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