In 1997, the Agency adopted the Performance Based Measurement System (PBMS) (i.e., Federal Register Notice of Intent) to:

• Reduce the cost of monitoring;
• Stimulate the development and use of innovative technologies;
• Speed up the introduction of new methods; and
• Improve the quality of science in the monitoring community.

Unfortunately, the "one size fits all" approach did not work for the diversely different programs and authority within each Agency office. The guidance document Flexible Approaches to Environmental Measurement, created in 2008 shifted the focus from the performance approach to a more flexible one. Documentation on the Agency’s commitment to this flexible approach is below, in addition to a presentation on the specific steps being taken within each media program. An updated webinar series is being held April - August 2017. Please contact us if you are interested in participating. Materials will be published here in September 2017.

• Performance Based Measurement System (PBMS) Federal Register Notice of Intent (3 pp, 1997, 114 K, About PDF)
• Flexible Approaches to Environmental Measurements – The Evolution of the Performance Approach
• Federal Register Notice (FRN) (3 pp, 2009, 140 K, About PDF)
• Flexible Approaches to Environmental Measurements – 2010 Webinar Presentation with Notes
• Flexible Approaches to Environmental Measurement 2010 Webinar Series - Question/Answer Summary