In June 2007 EPA Region 7, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and EPA headquarters conducted a Kaizen process improvement event. Kaizen is a process improvement methodology that is a focused, action oriented, week-long event to improve and implement business processes. The subject of this event was the development of water quality standards by the state and the review and approval/disapproval by EPA.

Learn more about Kaizen: http://lean.iowa.gov/index.html.

"Compelled by ever-increasing demands on limited staff and resources, state environmental agency commissioners of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and executive leadership at Region 7 EPA have sought a new kind of relationship and more efficient ways of working together. They have begun to develop a common vision for their working relationship, and are working together to integrate that vision into everyday work. Why is this common sense approach innovative? Because it's working." -ECOStates, Summer 2007

WQS Process Documents

• WQS Kaizen Charter,*.pdf
• New State Process Flow Chart,*.pdf
• New EPA Review Process Flow Chart,*.pdf
• New Process Narrative,*.pdf
• Checklist for WQS Submissions,*.pdf
• Considerations for using the 131.10(g) factors,*.pdf
• CWA Litigation Summary,*.pdf
• Article in ECOS magazine,*.pdf
• Kaizen Report Out,*.pdf

State/EPA Scoping Meetings

• Ground Rules for Scoping Meeting,*.pdf
• Lessons Learned from First Scoping Meeting,*.pdf
  
  
• Iowa Scoping Meeting Aug 2007 (TDS/chloride/arsenic)
  • Agenda,*.pdf
  • Summary of Meeting by EPA,*.pdf
  • TDS Issue Paper,*.pdf
  • Arsenic HH Issue Paper,*.pdf
  • Chloride Issue Paper,*.pdf
  
  
  
• Iowa & Kansas Scoping Meeting Nov 2007 (Antidegradation)
  • Antidedgradation Issue Paper,*.pdf

Kaizen Follow Up, October 2008

• October 2008
  • Meeting Agenda,*.pdf
  • Meeting Notes,*.pdf