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MDEStat, the real-time management and accountability program used by the Department since 2007, has received the 2009 State Program Innovation Award from the Environmental Council of the States, an organization of state environmental regulatory agencies.
The award honors agencies for new practices and techniques that states are employing in their own backyards. MDE was one of three state regulatory agencies — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management were the others – to win the prestigious award.
Under the direction of Secretary Shari T. Wilson and inspired by Governor Martin O’Malley’s CitiStat initiative, MDE developed MDEStat. MDEStat enables proactive management, improves MDE’s effectiveness and efficiency through intensive, systematic, data-driven oversight, and ensures that MDE is making the best possible use of its resources while also informing Maryland citizens on progress. MDEStat is used to increase performance of more than 30 environmental regulatory programs and processes.
MDEStat began in 2007 and is led by Stat Director Sue Battle-McDonald and guided by weekly meetings of the MDEStat panel with MDE’s air, water, and land programs. The panel is designed to provide a multi-perspective approach, and includes MDE’s Secretary and eight other members of MDE’s senior and executive management staff, reflecting policy, regulatory, scientific, financial and legal expertise. The panel also tracks spending of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Data reviewed at MDEStat meetings covers a variety of activities and information, from permitting and inspections, to outcome measures such as air quality, to internal processes such as filling vacancies. Data submissions are reviewed and compared to previously submitted information. Discussions lead to opportunities for improvement, alternative approaches, policy changes, or requests for additional data. Accurate and timely data is crucial to the success of the program.
MDEStat has helped the Department to improve its performance, and to use resources better, in a number of areas.
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MDE identified uses for $5 million in previously underutilized federal drinking water set-aside funds.
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MDE’s number of overdue personnel evaluations were reduced by 65 percent.
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MDE’s number of overdue enforcement actions was reduced from more than 500 to 15.
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MDE’s number of overdue Title V permits was reduced from seven to two.
MDEStat also helps MDE ensure transparency and public accountability by making this data available to the public.
Click here for more information, including all of the data reviewed during MDEStat meetings (except for a very small amount of confidential data).
Information on the 2009 State Program Innovation Awards will soon be available by going to www.ecos.org and clicking on the Green Reports link.
Click here for information on the 2008 Awards.
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