SETTING STATE PRIORITIES South Carolina Initiative

1. SETTING STATE PRIORITIESSouth Carolina Initiative Bob King, Deputy Commissioner, SC DHEC Jim Joy, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, SC DHEC ECOS Strategic Planning Workshop June 10-11, 2008

2. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Drivers: • The Department finalized its 2005-2010 Strategic Plan in early 2005 • Beginning July 2005, Air, Water and Land Bureaus went through review of existing EQC Operational Plan, respective Bureau Operational Plans and EPA Strategic Plan • Continuing reductions in federal and state funding resources • Desire to focus limited resources on areas that were state priorities

3. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Bureau managers conducted discussions with staff both within Bureau and in regional offices to narrow potential environmental priorities for their areas • Discussions led senior managers to identify priority focus areas for 2 purposes: • Drive internal planning, decision making and alignment of strategic and operational plans • Be a strong factor in future negotiations with EPA in developing PPA

4. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Identified priority focus areas: • Compliance assistance • Emergency response • Information management efforts • Innovative strategies • Interstate/Intrastate issues • Legacy impacts, activities • Local governments/sustainability • Public participation • Resources • Staff retention/development • Toxics

5. SC Priority Setting Initiative • March 24, 2006 – EQC Management Meeting • Priority focus areas discussed in more depth • Smaller workgroups sorted and ranked focus areas using following criteria: • Environmental impact • Ease of implementation • Budget/resource implications • Free up DHEC time? • Change public perception/behavior? • Environmental benefit

6. SC Priority Setting Initiative • High priorities: • Staff retention/development • Local government/sustainability • Resources • Emergency response/preparedness • High-medium priorities: • Information management • Public participation • Compliance assistance • Toxics and interstate/intrastate issues

7. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Letter went from Bob King to Regional Administrator on priorities • Also reiterated need for State and Region 4 to better utilize/share resources through: • Priority-driven allocations • Partnering and work-sharing • Training and technical assistance • Innovations • Flexibility • Laid foundation for PPA discussions

8. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Items that were key to success: • Continued involvement of Deputy Commissioner and Asst. Deputy Commissioner • Change in top management staff in program areas allowed better focus of priorities across EQC and away from silos • Grant and contractor support provided external driver to meet deadlines • Time – Patience - Perseverance

9. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Obstacles: • Didn’t have separate planning staff • Time constraints of key program management staff • Day-to-day crises • Comfort zones • Fear of giving up something

10. SC Priority Setting Initiative • Successes: • Identified state priorities were focus of PPA discussion • Acceptance of priorities by EPA not traditionally identified through grant negotiations • Shift in focus to actions taken before air or water quality standards are violated • Inclusion of staff retention and development demonstrated our continued commitment to staff • Walking the talk – part of Agency Strategic Plan and EQC Operation Plan and now PPA • PPA acknowledged future grant work plans will reflect and complement priority focus areas in PPA