Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **EPA**?

**Organizations operating point source discharges, major air emissions sources, or hazardous waste management units are legally required to comply with EPA standards under CAA, CWA, and RCRA.** This includes facilities with NPDES permits (40 CFR Parts 122-125), Title V permits for major sources (≥10 tpy single HAP or ≥25 tpy combined), RCRA generators (e.g., LQGs accumulating >1,000 kg/month), and TSDFs subject to Subparts AA/BB/CC air emission controls.

Does **EPA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**EPA does not mandate external audits or third-party certification for most programs but requires self-monitoring, recordkeeping, and state/EPA inspections.** Compliance is verified through Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) under NPDES, Title V periodic monitoring, and RCRA inspections; facilities may elect voluntary EMS or ISO 14001 alignment, with EPA audit protocols guiding internal assessments.

How often should an assessment for **EPA** be performed?

**EPA assessments should be performed continuously via daily/periodic monitoring, with annual compliance certifications and triennial permit renewals.** RCRA Subpart AA requires daily control device checks and annual closed-vent inspections; NPDES mandates monthly/quarterly DMRs; Title V requires annual compliance certifications per 40 CFR Part 70.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **EPA**?

**Non-compliance with EPA standards results in civil penalties up to $25,000+ per day per violation, injunctive relief, and potential criminal liability for knowing violations.** Settlements like Hino Motors ($1.6B for CAA fraud) and HF Sinclair (refinery emissions) demonstrate strict liability enforcement, with penalties recovering economic benefit and addressing harm via ECHO-tracked actions.

An **EPA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**EPA standards cannot be formally mapped as they are U.S.-specific statutes without direct international equivalents.** However, RCRA Subparts AA/BB/CC allow election of CAA controls (40 CFR Parts 60/61/63) for hazardous waste emissions, providing cross-program alignment within EPA frameworks.

What is the first step to begin implementing **EPA**?

**The first step to implement EPA compliance is compiling a regulatory register of applicable statutes, 40 CFR parts, and facility-specific permits.** Conduct a baseline audit using EPA protocols (e.g., RCRA TSDF checklist) to identify gaps in monitoring, records, and controls like NPDES DMRs or RCRA labeling.

What is the primary objective of **FISMA**?

**The primary objective of FISMA is to provide a comprehensive framework for federal agencies to develop, document, implement, and maintain risk-based information security programs protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of federal information and systems.** Enacted in 2002 and modernized in 2014, FISMA mandates agency-wide programs using NIST’s Risk Management Framework (RMF) with its seven steps: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, and Monitor. It emphasizes continuous monitoring, incident reporting to Congress, and protections commensurate with risk via FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High) and NIST SP 800-53 controls.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **FISMA**?

**FISMA legally requires compliance by all federal executive branch civilian agencies and any contractors, vendors, or third parties operating or hosting federal information systems or processing federal data.** This includes cloud providers under FedRAMP, state/local entities administering federal programs (e.g., Medicaid), and system integrators. Key roles encompass agency heads, CIOs, CISOs, Authorizing Officials (AOs), and Inspectors General (IGs). National security systems are excluded, governed separately.

Does **FISMA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**FISMA requires annual independent evaluations by agency Inspectors General (IGs) or third-party auditors, but does not mandate external certification like ISO.** IGs assess program maturity using CISA metrics across NIST Cybersecurity Framework functions, assigning levels from Ad Hoc (1) to Optimized (5), often targeting Managed and Measurable (4). Contractors face agency-driven assessments, with FedRAMP providing standardized third-party reviews for cloud services.

How often should an assessment for **FISMA** be performed?

**FISMA requires annual independent program evaluations by Inspectors General, with continuous monitoring of controls and systems throughout the year.** RMF assessments occur during the Assess step and ongoing via SP 800-137, including automated tools for vulnerabilities and configurations. Major incidents demand real-time reporting to CISA and Congress, typically within 30 days for PII breaches.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **FISMA**?

**Non-compliance with FISMA results in unfavorable IG reports, OMB remediation directives, operational restrictions, reduced funding, contract losses, and debarment for contractors.** Agencies face public scrutiny via OMB’s annual report to Congress, potential DHS binding operational directives, and GAO audits. Persistent failures, as in HHS’s repeated "Not Effective" ratings, lead to heightened oversight and mission constraints.

Can **FISMA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**FISMA cannot be directly mapped to other international frameworks in official guidance, as it is a U.S.-specific statute focused on federal civilian systems.** Its NIST RMF and SP 800-53 controls share conceptual alignments with global standards, but implementation remains standalone without formal reciprocity. Agencies prioritize FISMA’s unique metrics and reporting.

What is the first step to begin implementing **FISMA**?

**The first step to implement FISMA is the RMF Prepare phase: establish governance, assign roles (e.g., CIO, CISO, AO), develop a risk management strategy, and create a complete system inventory.** This includes executive sponsorship, RACI matrices, and CMDB for assets, setting the foundation for FIPS 199 categorization.

EPA vs FISMA | GRADUM

Q: What is the primary objective of **EPA**?

**The primary objective of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment by implementing and enforcing federal environmental statutes such as the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).** EPA achieves this through standards in **40 CFR**, including NAAQS for air quality, effluent guidelines for discharges, and hazardous waste controls, ensuring clean air, water, and land via permitting, monitoring, and enforcement.

Standards Comparison

EPA

Mandatory

1970

Federal standards for air, water, waste protection

FISMA

Mandatory

2014

U.S. federal law for risk-based cybersecurity management

Quick Verdict

EPA regulates environmental standards for industries via permits and emissions limits, while FISMA mandates cybersecurity for federal systems using NIST RMF. Companies adopt EPA for legal compliance and operations, FISMA for contracts and data protection.

Environmental Protection

EPA

EPA Standards under Title 40 CFR

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

18-24 months

Key Features

Family of enforceable standards under CAA, CWA, RCRA
Facility-specific permits from national baselines
Mandatory monitoring, QA/QC, electronic reporting
Hybrid health-based and technology-driven limits
Predictable enforcement with civil penalties, SEPs

Cybersecurity

FISMA

Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

NIST RMF 7-step risk management process
Continuous monitoring and diagnostics requirements
FIPS 199 system impact categorization
NIST SP 800-53 tailored security controls
Annual IG assessments and OMB reporting

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

EPA Details

What It Is

EPA standards are a family of legally binding regulations implementing major U.S. environmental statutes including the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Codified in Title 40 CFR, they form multi-layered compliance systems for air, water, and waste. Primary purpose: protect health/environment via performance standards, permits, monitoring. Approach blends health-based ambient criteria (e.g., NAAQS) with technology-based controls (e.g., MACT, effluent guidelines).

Key Components

Statutory mandates, 40 CFR rules, numeric/narrative limits
Permitting (NPDES, Title V, RCRA) for site-specific obligations
Monitoring/recordkeeping/reporting (DMRs, QA/QC)
Enforcement pathways (civil/criminal penalties) Built on evidence-driven architecture; compliance via data demonstration, no central certification.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for regulated industries to avoid multimillion penalties, shutdowns; mitigates risks, ensures continuity. Benefits: operational efficiency, ESG alignment, stakeholder trust, innovation incentives.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, controls/SOPs, deployment, audits. Applies to manufacturing/energy/waste sectors, all sizes; federal-state variations demand integrated EMS, ongoing adaptation via Regulations.gov.

FISMA Details

What It Is

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 is a U.S. federal law establishing a risk-based framework for securing federal information and systems. Enacted to modernize 2002 legislation, it mandates agency-wide security programs for civilian executive branch agencies and contractors, using the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) for lifecycle protection of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Key Components

NIST RMF 7 steps: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor.
FIPS 199 system categorization (Low/Moderate/High impact); NIST SP 800-53 controls (20 families, 1000+ requirements).
System Security Plans (SSPs), Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&Ms), Authorizations to Operate (ATOs).
Continuous monitoring, incident reporting, IG annual assessments; no central certification.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for federal agencies/contractors handling federal data.
Reduces risks, enables FedRAMP/cloud access, avoids penalties/debarment.
Builds resilience, efficiency, trust; aligns security with missions.

Implementation Overview

Phased RMF: governance/inventory, categorization/control selection, implementation/assessment, authorization/monitoring. Applies U.S.-wide to agencies/contractors all sizes; requires ongoing audits/reporting to OMB/CISA.

Key Differences

Aspect	EPA	FISMA
Scope	Environmental pollution control across air/water/waste	Federal information systems cybersecurity
Industry	All industrial sectors, multi-state operators	Federal agencies and contractors
Nature	Mandatory environmental regulations via 40 CFR	Mandatory cybersecurity law with NIST RMF
Testing	Inspections, sampling, DMR reporting	Continuous monitoring, IG assessments, ATO
Penalties	Civil penalties, injunctive relief, SEPs	Contract loss, debarment, IG ratings

Scope

EPA

Environmental pollution control across air/water/waste

FISMA

Federal information systems cybersecurity

Industry

EPA

All industrial sectors, multi-state operators

FISMA

Federal agencies and contractors

Nature

EPA

Mandatory environmental regulations via 40 CFR

FISMA

Mandatory cybersecurity law with NIST RMF

Testing

EPA

Inspections, sampling, DMR reporting

FISMA

Continuous monitoring, IG assessments, ATO

Penalties

EPA

Civil penalties, injunctive relief, SEPs

FISMA

Contract loss, debarment, IG ratings

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about EPA and FISMA

EPA FAQ

FISMA FAQ

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EPA

FISMA

Quick Verdict

EPA

Key Features

FISMA

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

EPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

FISMA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

EPA FAQ

What is the primary objective of EPA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with EPA?

Does EPA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for EPA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with EPA?

An EPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing EPA?

FISMA FAQ

What is the primary objective of FISMA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with FISMA?

Does FISMA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for FISMA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with FISMA?

Can FISMA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing FISMA?

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CMMC Level 3 Implementation Guide: Integrating NIST SP 800-172 Enhanced Controls for APT Defense

NIST CSF 2.0 Implementation Tiers Roadmap: Step-by-Step Guide from Partial to Adaptive Cybersecurity Maturity

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

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Six Sigma vs C-TPAT

ISO 27001 vs FSSC 22000

ISO 37001 vs IFS Food