[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51973-51975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25051]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6381-8]
The Yellow Book: Guide to Environmental Enforcement and
Compliance at Federal Facilities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: To assure that Federal agencies adhere to the requirements
under various laws and Executive Orders, EPA has revised and reissued
the 1988 Federal Facilities Compliance Strategy, commonly referred to
as the ``Yellow Book.'' The revised Yellow Book is titled The Yellow
Book: Guide to Environmental Enforcement and Compliance at Federal
Facilities. This notice is to inform the public that the revised Yellow
Book is available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anissa M. McNeill, Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance,
Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (2261A), 401 M St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-0013; fax: (202) 501-
0644; e-mail: mcneill.anissa@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. General Information
A. Does This Notice Apply to Me?
The primary purpose of the Yellow Book is to provide field-level
personnel that have environmental responsibilities at Federal
facilities with a comprehensive informational tool to help them comply
with environmental requirements and to understand the enforcement and
compliance processes used by EPA and States at Federal facilities. The
information contained in the Yellow Book may be of value to others
within the environmental community such as Federal agency environmental
managers, EPA Headquarters and Regional staff with Federal facility
responsibilities; State, Tribal, and local environmental staff; and
contractor (or subcontractor) operators of Federal facilities.
The above description is intended to provide examples of entities
likely to find the Yellow Book useful. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this announcement to you, consult the
person listed under ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.''
B. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of This Document?
1. Electronically. You may obtain electronic copies of this
document at http://www.epa.gov/oeca/fedfac/yellowbk/, or by accessing
the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO) web page at http://
www.epa.gov/oeca/fedfac/fflex/html.
2. In person or by phone. To purchase a copy of the Yellow Book,
contact the U.S. Government Printing Office, 710 North Capitol St.,
NW., Washington, DC 20401; telephone: (202) 512-1800; fax: (202) 260-
1800. Either the stock number 055-000-00624-5 or the publication number
EPA 315-B-98-011 can be used when ordering the Yellow Book.
II. Background
Since its inception, EPA has relied on a strong, aggressive
enforcement program as the centerpiece of its efforts to ensure
compliance with national environmental laws. Federal agencies, just
like private parties, are required to comply with all environmental
requirements. To ensure that Federal agencies adhere to environmental
requirements, EPA monitors Federal agency compliance, issues and
assesses fines and penalties, and develops Federal agency enforcement
and compliance policy and guidance.
In February 1999, EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance and
Assurance, Federal Facilities and Enforcement Office revised and
reissued The Yellow Book: Guide to Environmental Enforcement and
Compliance at Federal Facilities, commonly referred to as the Yellow
Book. The document supersedes the 1988 Yellow Book titled Federal
Facilities Compliance Strategy. The Yellow Book is intended to assist
Federal facility staff with achieving and maintaining compliance with
environmental requirements as required by Executive Order 12088,
Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards. In addition, by
providing compliance assistance to Federal facilities, the Yellow Book
will help EPA achieve it's goals--of Federal facility compliance
equaling or surpassing the rest of the regulated community and of
Federal facilities leading the way in minimizing environmental
contamination.
The Yellow Book is a comprehensive informational tool that has been
developed by FFEO to help Federal agencies comply with environmental
requirements. It has been developed to:
Provide a ``roadmap'' for Federal agency compliance with
environmental requirements.
Explain how, and by whom, Federal facility activities are
monitored and tracked.
Explain the enforcement tools and processes used by EPA,
States, American Indian Tribes, and citizens to ensure compliance.
The Yellow Book is designed to function as a user-friendly guide
that contains useful and easily accessed information and as a resource
for obtaining additional information on specific environmental issues.
The Yellow Book is not intended to ensure compliance with all
regulations.
The revised Yellow Book contains many changes from the 1988
version. For example, the new Yellow Book:
Includes new and revised policies and procedures.
Includes new and reauthorized laws.
Discusses more environmental laws.
Broadens the scope of environmental statute descriptions
by: Detailing the requirements of the law; tailoring the descriptions
to highlight the law's application to Federal facilities; and
describing the enforcement response that can be taken when a Federal
facility is in violation of a law's requirements.
Discusses more executive orders and broadens the scope of
executive order descriptions by providing more detail regarding
requirements.
Provides the reader with sources of more information for
each subject discussed in the Yellow Book. The Yellow Book contains a
preface, seven chapters, and seven appendices.
III. Summary of Chapters
The chapters and appendices are listed below.
Chapters I through VII
Chapter I: Identifying Federal Facilities and Tracking Federal Facility
Compliance
This chapter defines Federal facilities, describes the different
types of Federal facilities, and identified how EPA tracks Federal
facility activity. It provides answers to the following questions: What
is a Federal facility? How are Federal facilities identified and
tracked?
Chapter II: Environmental Statutes and Executive Orders
This chapter summarizes key provisions of environmental statutes
and executive orders with which Federal facilities must comply. It
addresses the need for Federal facilities to comply not only with
Federal environmental requirements, but also with those of State,
Tribal, and local governments. In addition, several other laws
affecting Federal facilities (e.g., the Base Closure and Realignment
Act) are discussed.
Chapter III: Crosscutting Environmental Issues
This chapter discusses several crosscutting environmental issues
that affect Federal facilities. Included is a discussion of pollution
prevention, Federal government environmental awards and challenge
programs, environmental justice, American Indian Tribes, innovative
technology, the Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue
Committee, formerly used defense sites, and environmentally beneficial
landscaping requirements.
Chapter IV: Monitoring Federal Facility Compliance
Chapter IV discusses why and how EPA, States, and Tribes monitor
Federal facility activities. It includes a discussion of the goals and
objectives of EPA's Federal facility compliance program and identifies
the tools frequently employed to monitor Federal agency compliance.
Specific topics discussed in Chapter IV include coordination between
EPA Regions and the States on Federal facility compliance; the
reporting and recordkeeping activities that are required of Federal
facilities; the Code of Environmental Management Principles;
Environmental Management Systems; inspections of Federal facilities by
EPA, States, and/or Tribes;
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audits conducted by the facilities themselves; and Federal Agency
Environmental Management Program Planning, commonly referred to as
FEDPLAN.
Chapter V: Enforcement Response to Federal Facility Violations
Chapter V discusses EPA's Federal facility enforcement philosophy,
summarizes key enforcement policies affecting Federal facilities, and
provides an overview of enforcement authorities and the enforcement
process. Also discussed is EPA's response to violations at Federal
facilities operated by non-Federal parties (e.g., government-owned/
contractor-operated facilities) and State/Tribal response to Federal
facility violations. A chart depicting the EPA Federal facilities
enforcement process is provided. In addition, an exhibit is presented
that provides definitions for significant violators and significant
noncompliers of environmental requirements.
Chapter VI: Compliance Assistance, Training, and Outreach
This chapter discusses EPA's role in providing compliance
assistance to Federal facilities. Included in the discussion are
training opportunities, available hotlines, and access to EPA
publications.
Chapter VII: EPA Offices With Major Federal Facility Responsibilities
Chapter VII provides an overview of the major organizations and
groups within EPA that are directly involved in activities affecting
Federal facilities. The chapter discusses the roles and
responsibilities of the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office, Federal
Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office, Office of Site Remediation
Enforcement, Office of Federal Activities, Federal Facilities
Leadership Council, and Regional Federal Facility Coordinators.
Appendices A through F
Appendix A: Regional Federal Facility Coordinators
Appendix B: Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties Against
Facilities Under the Clean Air Act and Guidance on Implementation of
EPA's Penalty/Compliance Order Authority Against Federal Agencies Under
the Clean Air Act (CAA)
Appendix C: Key Executive Orders
Appendix D: EPA/FFEO Compliance Assistance Tools for Federal Facilities
Appendix E: Hotlines
Appendix F: Web Pages
List of Subjects
Environmental protection.
Dated: September 17, 1999.
Craig E. Hooks,
Director, Federal Facilities Enforcement Office.
[FR Doc. 99-25051 Filed 9-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
