EPA
U.S. federal regulations for environmental protection standards
FedRAMP
U.S. program standardizing cloud security assessments for federal agencies
Quick Verdict
EPA enforces environmental regulations via permits, monitoring, and penalties for polluters, while FedRAMP authorizes secure cloud services for federal use through NIST controls and 3PAO assessments. Companies adopt EPA for legal compliance; FedRAMP to win government contracts.
EPA
40 CFR: Protection of Environment
Key Features
- Multi-layered regulations across air, water, waste media
- Technology- and health-based performance standards
- Facility-specific permits with federal-state implementation
- Mandatory monitoring, recordkeeping, reporting systems
- Predictable enforcement with civil penalties, SEPs
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Key Features
- Reusable 'assess once, use many times' authorizations
- NIST SP 800-53 baselines for Low/Moderate/High impacts
- Independent assessments by accredited 3PAOs
- Continuous monitoring with monthly vulnerability reporting
- FedRAMP Marketplace for procurement transparency
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
EPA Details
What It Is
EPA standards (40 CFR: Protection of Environment) are a family of legally binding federal regulations implementing major statutes like Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and RCRA. They establish enforceable requirements for emissions, discharges, and waste management using risk-based health endpoints and technology-based controls.
Key Components
- Numeric limits, thresholds, performance criteria across air (NAAQS, MACT), water (effluent guidelines, NPDES), waste (Subparts AA/BB/CC).
- Permitting (Title V, NPDES, RCRA), monitoring/reporting, enforcement structures.
- Federal baselines with state/tribal implementation; codified in Title 40 CFR.
- No central certification; compliance via audits, permits, self-reporting.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for regulated entities to avoid penalties, shutdowns, liabilities. Drives risk reduction, operational efficiency, ESG alignment; enables defensible data for enforcement defense and stakeholder trust.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, EMS design, controls deployment, training, audits. Applies to industrial facilities nationwide; high complexity due to site-specific permits, multi-media integration, ongoing e-reporting (ECHO, ICIS).
FedRAMP Details
What It Is
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government standardized framework that provides security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud services used by federal agencies. Its core purpose is accelerating secure cloud adoption via reusable authorizations, leveraging NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls mapped to FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High).
Key Components
- Baselines with ~156 (Low), 323 (Moderate), 410 (High) controls across 20 families
- Independent 3PAO assessments producing SSP, SAR, POA&M
- Continuous monitoring playbook with monthly/annual reporting
- Agency and Program authorization paths
- OSCAL for machine-readable documentation
Why Organizations Use It
CSPs seek FedRAMP for federal market access, FISMA compliance, and competitive edge. It reduces duplication, enhances security posture, builds agency trust, and differentiates in procurement via Marketplace visibility.
Implementation Overview
Involves categorization, documentation, 3PAO audit, remediation, and ongoing ConMon; suits cloud providers targeting U.S. federal sector. High complexity, 10-19 months typical, requires expertise and $150k-$2M investment.
Key Differences
| Aspect | EPA | FedRAMP |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Environmental protection (air, water, waste) | Cloud security assessment & authorization |
| Industry | Manufacturing, energy, waste management (US-wide) | Cloud service providers (federal agencies) |
| Nature | Mandatory federal regulations (CAA, CWA, RCRA) | Standardized authorization program (NIST-based) |
| Testing | Monitoring, sampling, inspections (self/state/EPA) | 3PAO independent assessments (annual reassessments) |
| Penalties | Civil/criminal fines, injunctions, SEPs | Authorization revocation, contract ineligibility |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EPA and FedRAMP
EPA FAQ
FedRAMP FAQ
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