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PART I - INTRODUCTION A. THE STATE/EPA AGREEMENT (S/EA) I-" "" CJl 00 The S/EA is a cooperative agreement between the Colorado Department of Health and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. The purpose of the S/EA is to identify those elements of Colorado's environmenal health programs which are to be supported by EPA financial and/or staff resources and to highlight the "priority objectives" upon which the State and EPA will focus their attention in the coming years. The Colorado S/EA is a biannual agreement based upon the State fiscal year. The agreement, therefore, extends from July 1, 1984 to June 30, 1986. In the State/EPA Agreement, the State and the EPA have established a process through which the State's environmental priorities are comprehensively identified permitting the best all-around use of available resources. This approach gives direction to environmental problem-solving' that is consistent with clearly established objectives. It also facilitates a close working relationship between State and Federal program managers. Each of the program priorities subject to the Agreement have been mutually agreed upon by the State and EPA. The Federal funding programs being applied to the State environmental activities covered by the Agreement include: the Water Quality Management (106) Program; the Safe Drinking Water Program (P.L. 93-523); the Administration of Wastewater Treatment Works Construction Grants (205(g)&(j); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); and the Clean Air (105) Program. The Federal funds from these programs provide over one third of the overall funding for the environmental programs operated by the Department of Health. The balance of the State's funding for environmental programs comes primarily from appropriations by the State Legislature and permit and license fees. As a management tool, the Agreement offers sev~ral important opportunities. The most important is the setting of program and budget priorities. The heart of the Agreement is the identification of "priority objectives" for environmental health programs. The priority objectives upon which the S/EA is based reflect a commitment by both the State and the EPA to address key environmental problems facing Colorado. These priority objectives were identified not only on the basis of the severity or importance of the problem to be addressed, but also because it is felt by both the State and EPA that specific, meaningful results can be achieved by the efforts in these areas. B. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN COLORADO The State of Colorado faces a number of environmental and health protection challenges in the 1980's. The responsibility for managing and financing these programs is gradually being transferred to the States. Colorado confronts the task of meeting these challenges in the wake of a large projected growth in population. -1- "'" p . _ }; ~ ,,_ .J4t",;:ii;