EPA Puts Performance Measurement to Work for Real-World Change

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced a new performance management tool called the Quarterly Management Report (QMR). The QMR is helping the agency deliver real results by applying business principles to solve the nation’s environmental challenges.

The QMR is updated every three months and consists of roughly 60 national and regional priorities. During regular meetings with senior headquarters and regional managers, the agency uses performance measurement to review quarterly progress, identify successes and make adjustments that lead to more and better environmental results.

For example, EPA’s enforcement office routinely sends requests to the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) for approval to take legal action against polluters. By checking performance measures, the agency found that it typically sent about 10 times as many referrals to DOJ in the fourth quarter of the year as in the first quarter. This was causing temporary backlogs at DOJ late in the year. EPA is now leveling the workload throughout the year, which should result in faster turnaround times. Changing this one work practice means EPA can take faster action to protect human health and the environment.