On October 7, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) and U.S. EPA entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to establish procedures and policies for administration of the state’s environmental self-audit law. Under the agreement, EPA recognizes that North Dakota’s self-audit law and policy encourage compliance with laws and rules protecting public health and the environment.
“The environmental audit process is another compliance tool that may be utilized by the regulated community to reduce noncompliance and achieve environmental and health benefits for North Dakota and its citizens,” said NDDEQ Director Dave Glatt.
“EPA and NDDEQ share a joint mission of securing environmental compliance,” added EPA Regional Administrator Gregory Sopkin. “This agreement provides assurance to the regulated community that if they use the state self-audit law they will be dealing with NDDEQ without micromanaging from EPA. This will improve participation in and the efficiency of our self-audit efforts and deliver environmental benefits for the people of North Dakota.”
