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PR EPA AWARDS GRANTS TO EIGHT STATES TO REINVENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING

Release Date: 07/22/97
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FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1997
EPA AWARDS GRANTS TO EIGHT STATES TO
REINVENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING


As part of the Clinton Administration’s ongoing efforts to reinvent government, U.S. EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner announced that eight states will be awarded grants of $500,000 each to assist in developing a system for “one-stop” reporting of environmental information.
Through these grants, EPA is working in partnership with states to replace costly, paper-intensive environmental reporting with Internet sites that will provide easier access to more reliable information for citizens, industry, business and regulators at the federal, state and local levels.

The eight states receiving the grants are: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Minnesota, Texas, New Mexico and Oregon.

“These grants demonstrate EPA’s continued commitment to work with the states to develop common sense, cost-effective national environmental policy. In addition to cutting reporting costs for industry and government, one-stop reporting will facilitate the community right-to-know process by providing all citizens easy access to national, state and local environmental information from their home computers,” Browner said.

This action supports EPA’s continuing effort to reinvent environmental regulation through its Common Sense Initiative (CSI). Launched by Browner in 1993, the CSI is based on the Clinton Administration’s belief that the best environmental and economic outcomes are achieved when government sets strong national environmental goals, but allows flexibility, innovation and common sense in how those goals are met. The CSI is working to replace the “command-and-control” approach to regulation with an industry-by-industry approach that is more flexible, efficient and effective in protecting public health and the environment.

In 1996, five states--Massachusetts, New Jersey, Missouri, Utah and Washington--received $500,000 awards to assist in developing one-stop reporting systems.

The EPA and these 13 states are committed to creating a seamless, nationwide reporting system that cuts red-tape and the cost of reporting for industry while providing efficient, universal access to an improved quality of environmental information.

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