OECA has instituted a process for strategic planning in its national enforcement priority areas. It has developed strategic planning guidance and a strategy template to facilitate continual review and improvement of the strategies. The Fiscal Years 2008-2010 strategic plans we reviewed, for air toxics, combined sewer overflows, and mineral processing, contain an overall goal, a problem statement, a description of the current status of the priority area, anticipated environmental benefits, the facilities to be addressed, the tools to be used, and OECA Headquarters and regional responsibilities.

However, each of the plans is missing key elements to monitor progress and accomplishments and efficiently utilize Agency resources. All three strategies lack a full range of measures to monitor progress and achievements. Two strategies lack detailed exit plans. Additionally, the combined sewer overflow strategy does not address the States’ key roles in attaining the strategy’s overall goal. The absence of these elements hinders OECA from monitoring progress and achieving desired results in a timely and efficient manner.