USEPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) released their national enforcement priorities for 2005-2007.  The Administrator approved the following 6 core areas as 2005-2007 national priorities: public exposure to air toxics; ensuring NSR and PSD requirements are being implemented; ensuring CWA compliance with storm water runoff and sewer overflows (Wet Weather); RCRA compliance for Mineral Processing; strengthening compliance with financial responsibility requirements; and environmental problems impacting tribal areas.  Petroleum refineries, a current priority, will be re-evaluated at the end of 2004 for inclusion on the list.

Prior to issuing the final list, OECA solicited comments on a list of potential priorities.  The suggested new priority areas in OECA’s preliminary list of national priorities (December 18, 2003) also included reducing the potential hazard from UST’s, ensuring broad environmental compliance to prevent hazardous pollution from fuel storage & distribution, environmental justice, and minimizing or eliminating exposure to friable asbestos in schools.  Specific industries on the preliminary priority list also included auto salvaging, federal facilities and miscellaneous plastics manufacturers.

(68 FR 68893-68896, www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm, www.epa.gov/ocfo/npmguidance/oeca/2005/oeca_npmguidance.pdf