PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 18, 1999
Second Generation of Environmental Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Information Management - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate a Chief Information Officer for EPA to carry out the authorities of the Administrator under this title.Directs the Administrator to prepare a report for Congress proposing a set of national environmental performance indicators (quantitative measures designed to provide data on the quality of the environment over time) designed to: (1) focus EPA resources on the most critical environmental problems; (2) inform the public of progress toward meeting environmental goals; and (3) evaluate the success of innovative environmental strategies.Provides for an annual State of the Environment Report to Congress analyzing the measured levels of each environmental indicator.(Sec. 103) Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress a unified plan for all of EPA's information activities. Requires the plan to provide a scientifically and technically sound foundation for EPA programs and facilitate the development of a performance-based system of environmental protection and of innovative strategy agreements pursuant to this Act.(Sec. 104) Directs the Administrator to establish an Information Management Program to provide financial assistance to States and local entities to improve the accuracy and timeliness of environmental reporting and to meet the goals of the EPA plan. Requires the Administrator, acting through the Small Business Ombudsman, to create a program to provide technical and financial assistance to small businesses to help them meet the requirements of such plan.(Sec. 105) Directs the President to include in each budget submission a comprehensive analysis of the activities in each Federal agency devoted to measuring ambient environmental conditions and trends.(Sec. 106) Requires the Administrator to establish a program to publicly recognize persons who contribute to improved environmental monitoring and other measurement methods.Directs the Administrator to report to Congress on the length of time EPA has taken over the prior ten years to approve monitoring technologies and to recommend ways to: (1) reduce that time to get reliable monitoring information to EPA and the public more quickly; and (2) increase the deployment of existing technologies.(Sec. 108) Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on whether the Administrative Procedures Act should be amended to apply to information reporting requirements and the use of existing information to create new information products.(Sec. 109) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.Title II: Innovative Strategies - Authorizes the Administrator to enter into innovative strategy agreements with persons or governmental entities with good records of meeting statutory environmental standards to experiment with new approaches to regulation.(Sec. 204) Permits the Administrator, under such agreements, to: (1) modify or waive applicable agency rules or requirements; (2) allow a tiered approach under which monitoring and reporting requirements are loosened initially when emissions are significantly below those allowable under the agreement, with increased requirements as environmental performance gets closer to the emission, discharge, and other limitations in the agreement; (3) extend permit terms, expedite permit review, or provide multi-media permits; (4) establish facility-wide limitations on overall allowable emissions and discharges; (5) allow third-party or self-certification in lieu of frequent inspection; and (6) employ market-based strategies.(Sec. 205) Permits termination of agreements for noncompliance with terms. Authorizes civil actions against parties in violation of such agreements.(Sec. 209) Requires the Administrator to implement an employee incentive awards program that rewards employees and organizational units that demonstrate leadership in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of innovative environmental strategies and other activities that result in better environmental performance, greater economic efficiency in the public and private sectors, and expedited delivery and improved quality of public services.(Sec. 211) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.
People & committees
Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8] · R–PA
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2464)
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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