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ERRT. The Environmental Results Reporting Tool Presented to the RTOC 9 February 2006. Background. EPA creates a series of 5-year plans (updated every three years) which set goals for the Agency, many of which are numeric (“by 20XX, clean up XX open dumps on Tribal lands”).
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ERRT The Environmental Results Reporting Tool Presented to the RTOC 9 February 2006
Background • EPA creates a series of 5-year plans (updated every three years) which set goals for the Agency, many of which are numeric (“by 20XX, clean up XX open dumps on Tribal lands”). • EPA’s progress under this strategic plan informs reporting on the efficiency and functionality of EPA’s programs
Tribes in the Strategic Plan • The current Strategic Plan contains some, but not very many Tribal-specific targets. • The forthcoming Strategic Plan should contain more Tribal-specific elements. • While EPA Regions track some measures of Tribal progress, the information housed at EPA about Tribes is not complete, nor is it always accurate.
Why Measure Tribal Progress? • Providing EPA with accurate measures of Tribal progress and needs is primarily important to Tribal programs as it is included in the budget requests made by Tribes: • “There are XXX open dumps in Region 9 Indian Country. With $XXX dollars, Tribes in the Region can clean up XX dumps in the target year, thereby helping EPA meet its goal X.XX to clean up XXX open dumps by 20XX.” • Measurements of Tribal progress are also used in annual accomplishment reports.
Why else measure progress? • Currently, with little data on progress and needs in Indian Country, Tribes have no way of knowing if EPA is keeping its promise to Tribes. • Additionally, EPA relies in part on data about Tribes supplied by other Agencies, such as BIA or IHS. Tribes need a way of fact-checking and correcting this data.
Doesn’t EPA already do enough? • Not to the satisfaction of Tribes. • EPA’s data is limited, occasionally erroneous, and not stored in any single database. • AIEO has been working for a number of years, spending a great number of dollars to create the Tribal Enterprise Architecture, which is still not available and about which Tribes have serious concerns. In times of increasing pressures on budgets nationally, Tribes need to develop this information now.
The Vision of the ERRT • A Tribally-oriented database • Confidential information in, only summary information out • Speaks to all relevant Strategic Targets which help describe the Tribal environmental universe • Additionally helps Tribes create realistic budget projections for outlying years
Mechanism of the ERRT • Consists of the following elements: • A self-spawning downloadable program, which can be filled out by Tribes at their own pace and returned via FTP or email. • A printable questionnaire (for those who are allergic to computers) • An Administrator program, which accepts data submitted by Tribes and creates summary statistics as its output.
Quality Assurance and the ERRT • In order to satisfy EPA on the quality of ERRT data, a QAMP (Quality Assurance Management Plan) is being prepared (in the approval process) which will govern the ERRT. • Additionally, the new version of the ERRT requests metadata on certain data items.
Is the “new” ERRT different from the “old” ERRT? • Yes. Changes made include: • Requests for metadata (to make Ed Liu happy) for some items • Method of submitting an incomplete ERRT • Data standards: there are definitions for each question so users understand what should be counted or reported • General format (quicker to refresh, etc.)
Using the ERRT • There is a “how to use the ERRT” document included with copies of the tool. • If users have questions or problems, they can contact Laura Mayo at Yurok Tribe for assistance.
Outputs of the ERRT • Throughout its development, data security and confidentiality for Tribal information has been a primary concern. • The only output data from the ERRT are summary data (in tables or in charts), such as the following:
Where are we now? • We have one year’s worth of data on file, for a portion of Tribes in the Region only. • The Workgroup would like to make a strong push for the ERRT (either completing it or opting out of it) this year and bring the total number of participating Tribes to 60 (at least!) in time to report to NTOC and EPA. • We will be calling you and sending you a letter to remind you!
Future Upgrades to ERRT • Additional Solid Waste questions, as requested by Solid Waste Workgroup • Way to view your previous year’s data and choose to carry forward data which continues to be true • Way to view what EPA/IHS/BIA is saying about your Tribal environment (and contacts for correcting bad data).
Why is it so important (again?) • There’s been a good deal of discussion about how we won’t be seeing increases in budgets for the next few years, at least • In light of this, our focus is not on making the case for increases in Tribal programs, but rather demonstrating how investments in Tribal programs are a good value for EPA, and to make the case for no loss in Tribal program dollars.
Where can I get more information? • The Yurok Tribe’s website has (will have as of Friday): • The ERRT for download • The ERRT Draft QAMP • This powerpoint presentation, along with other, past presentations • “how to use the ERRT” – a tutorial • Contact information, in case you have other questions • www.yuroktribe.org, navigate under Departments to the Environmental Program, follow bolded link at top of page.
