- Mission [1]
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology
(NACEPT) in 1988 to provide independent advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of domestic and international environmental
policy, technology, and management issues. NACEPT provides a forum for public discussion from a broad range of EPA's constituents
and stakeholders. This committee and its subcommittees address EPA's cross-goal strategy of building partnerships. EPA depends
on its partnerships with other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, non-governmental organizations, industry,
and academia to achieve results. Council members include senior-level decision makers and knowledgeable and experienced members
from academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and state, local and tribal governments. NACEPT's scope involves
advising the EPA Administrator on broad, crosscutting issues associated with EPA's environmental management on matters relating
to activities and functions under the Federal environmental statutes, executive orders, regulations, and policies. NACEPT
advises on ways to improve the development and implementation of domestic and international environmental management policies,
programs, and technologies. NACEPT's major objectives are to provide advice and recommendations on: a.) Identifying approaches
to improve the development and implementation of domestic and international environmental management policies and programs;
b.) Providing guidance on how EPA can most efficiently and effectively implement innovative approaches throughout the Agency
and its programs; c.) Identifying approaches to enhance information and technology planning; d.) Fostering improved approaches
to environmental management in the fields of economics, finance, and technology; e.) Increasing communication and understanding
among all levels of government, business, non-governmental organizations, and academia, with the goal of increasing non-federal
resources and improving the effectiveness of federal and non-federal resources directed at solving environmental problems;
f.) Implementing statutes, executive orders and regulations; and g.) Reviewing progress in implementing statutes, executive
orders, and regulations.Accomplishments:NACEPT held three public meetings and produced two Advice Letters in FY 2011. NACEPT’s
work in FY 2011 focused on two topics: (1) strategic workforce planning at EPA, and (2) the need for innovative technologies
to identify, measure, and reduce environmental risks faced by vulnerable populations. NACEPT produced two advice letters in
FY2011 in response to a broad charge from EPA on workforce planning issues. The first letter recommended scientific and technical
competencies necessary to support EPA’s mission today and in the future. The second letter defined strategies to obtain and
retain scientific and technical expertise and to promote a One EPA culture. NACEPT began working on the vulnerable populations
charge in FY11 by researching and discussing the types of technologies needed by vulnerable populations to address environmental
risks. NACEPT developed a draft framework and case studies, and expects to produce a final report in early FY 2012. Response
Letters/Impact of Recommendations: NACEPT has made an impact on EPA’s decisions. The Council received two letters from EPA
in FY11 in response to the workforce advice letters. The response letters indicated that NACEPT's advice had benefited the
Agency and would continue to be useful as EPA moved forward to achieve its priorities and mission.
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