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About the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)

What We Do

The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) aggressively goes after pollution problems that make a difference in communities through vigorous civil and criminal enforcement that targets the most serious water, air and chemical hazards. OECA also advances environmental justice by protecting vulnerable communities.

OECA is resetting our relationship with states to make sure we are delivering on our joint commitment to a clean and healthy environment.

Through improved transparency and community participation, we are enlisting the public’s assistance to ensure compliance nationwide, and that no entity enjoys an unfair economic advantage from noncompliance with the nation’s environmental laws.

OECA works with EPA regional offices, and in partnership with state and tribal governments, and other federal agencies to enforce the nation’s environmental laws, including:

Programs and projects managed by OECA:

Strategic planning:

Programs:

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Organization

Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator
Lawrence Starfield, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Steve Chester, Deputy Assistant Administrator
Lisa Garcia, Associate Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice
Charles Lee, Deputy Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice
The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance includes:

Office of Administration and Policy (OAP)

What We Do

The Office of Administration and Policy (OAP) recommends national policy on issues pertaining to enforcement and compliance. OAP provides a wide range of administrative support services which includes: human resources, labor relations, budget, finances, contracts, grants, records management and management of the compliance and enforcement information on the Agency’s Web site.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Administration and Policy

Mail code: 2201A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OAP Organization

Mark Badalamente, Director
Kenda Layne, Acting Deputy Director

The Office of Administration and Policy includes:

Administrative Management Division

Budget and Financial Management Division

Information Technology Division

Policy and Legislative Coordination Division

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Office of Civil Enforcement (OCE)

What We Do

The Office of Civil Enforcement (OCE) develops and prosecutes administrative civil and judicial cases and provides legal support for cases and investigations initiated in EPA regions. OCE directly implements and enforces federal programs, i.e., those where there are no EPA-authorized state programs. OCE also has responsibility for planning and setting priorities for enforcement activities, developing national enforcement policy and guidance, participating in Agency rule-making to ensure that regulations contain clear and enforceable provisions, and implementing effective communication to alert regulated entities to potential compliance problems.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Civil Enforcement

Mail code: 2241A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OCE Organization

Susan Shinkman, Director
Pam Mazakas, Deputy Office Director
The Office of Civil Enforcement includes:

Air Enforcement Division

  • Phillip Brooks, Director
    • Phone: (202) 564-0652

Special Litigation and Projects Division

Waste and Chemical Enforcement Division

Water Enforcement Division

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Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training (OCEFT)

What We Do

The Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training (OCEFT) investigates violations of environmental laws and provides a broad range of technical and forensic services for civil and criminal investigative support and council on legal and policy matters.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training

Mail code: 2231A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OCEFT Organization

Henry Barnet, Director

Matthew Morrison Deputy Director

The Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training includes:

Criminal Investigation Division

Field Operations Program 

National Enforcement Investigations Center

Legal Counsel Division

Office of Compliance (OC)

What We Do

The Office of Compliance (OC) identifies, prevents, and reduces noncompliance and environmental risks by establishing enforcement initiatives and ensuring effective monitoring and assessment of compliance. OC provides compliance assistance and compliance data and ensures the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement personnel through training.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Compliance

Mail code: 2221A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OC Organization

Lisa C. Lund, Director
Betsy Smidinger, Acting Deputy Director
Mamie Miller, Associate Director
The Office of Compliance includes:

Enforcement Targeting and Data Division

Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division

National Enforcement Training Institute

Planning, Measuring, and Oversight Division

Resource Management Staff

Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)

What We Do

The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) works to protect human health and the environment in communities overburdened by environmental pollution by integrating environmental justice into all EPA programs, policies and activities. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, particularly minority, low-income and indigenous populations, in the environmental decision-making process.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Environmental Justice

Mail code: 2201A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OEJ Organization

Heather Case, Acting Director
Kent Benjamin, Acting Deputy Director

Office of Federal Activities (OFA)

What We Do

The Office of Federal Activities (OFA) coordinates EPA's review of all federal Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) prepared by other agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as EPA's compliance with NEPA. OFA also works with federal and state agencies, foreign governments and international organizations in order to ensure compliance with United States environmental laws, and to promote a level playing field in trade internationally.

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Federal Activities

Mail code: 2251A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OFA Organization

Susan Bromm, Director
Kimberley De Paul, Deputy Director
Cheryl Wasserman, Associate Director
The Office of Federal Activities includes:

International Compliance Assurance Division

NEPA Compliance Division

Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO)

What We Do

The Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO) is responsible for ensuring that federal facilities take all necessary actions to prevent, control and abate environmental pollution. FFEO facilitates compliance through inspections and enforcement under all environmental statutes and cleanup at federal facilities.

Programs and projects managed by the Federal Facilities Enforcement Office

Mail code: 2261A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

FFEO Organization

David Kling, Director
Anne Heard, Acting Deputy Director
The Federal Facilities Enforcement Office includes:

Site Remediation and Enforcement Staff

Planning, Prevention, and Compliance Staff

Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (OSRE)

What We Do

EPA's cleanup enforcement program protects human health and the environment by getting those responsible for a hazardous waste site to either clean up or reimburse EPA for its cleanup. EPA uses a number of cleanup authorities independently and in combination to address specific cleanup situations. The Office of Site Remediation Enforcement manages the enforcement of EPA's national hazardous waste cleanup programs:
  • Superfund (officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act),
  • corrective action under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
  • the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), and
  • underground storage tanks (UST).

Programs and projects managed by the Office of Site Remediation Enforcement

Mail code: 2271A | EPA mailing addresses

Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OSRE Organization

Elliott Gilberg, Director
Kenneth Patterson ActingDeputy Director
The Office of Site Remediation Enforcement includes:

Policy and Program Evaluation Division

Regional Support Division

Program Operation Staff

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