About EPA

Organization of EPA's Region 8 Office in Denver

Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 28 Tribal Nations

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Organization chart
Leadership and organizational responsibilities

Organization Chart

Leadership and Organizational Responsibilities

Office of the Regional Administrator (ORA)

Phone: 303-312-6312 or, if calling from the Region 8 states, 800-227-8917

Deb Thomas, Regional Administrator (Acting) and Deputy Regional Administrator

What We Do: The Office of the Regional Administrator (ORA) provides the overall direction and management of the Region. ORA is responsible for planning, programming, implementation, control, and direction of technical and administrative aspects of Region 8 programs and activities. ORA provides technical oversight of the Region’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Special Emphasis Programs. Additionally, ORA houses the Region's:

Public Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and National Environmental Policy Act Branches; and
advisors for agriculture, tribal affairs, science, children's health, and environmental justice.

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EPA’s Region 8 office includes:

Air and Radiation Division
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division
Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division
Mission Support Division
Office of Regional Counsel
Superfund and Emergency Management Division
Water Division

Air and Radiation Division

Acting Director: Carl Daly

What We Do: The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) implements the programmatic aspects of the Clean Air Act (CAA) within the geographic boundaries of Region 8, except for inspections and enforcement, which are principally managed by the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. Under this statute and in accordance with implementing regulations and agency guidelines, the Division conducts activities to reduce emissions so that air pollution does not constitute a threat to public health, safety, well-being or the environment.

To carry out its mission, the Division works with other federal agencies, state and local agencies, tribal governments, the public, and the private sector. The Division coordinates with the Office of Air and Radiation to ensure national consistency and strives to meet legal deadlines imposed by the CAA.

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Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division

Director: Suzanne Bohan

What We Do: The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division (ECAD) is responsible for developing and implementing Region 8 enforcement and compliance assurance programs and statutes that EPA administers in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and Region 8 tribes.

ECAD works closely with the other Region 8 divisions, Office of Regional Counsel (ORC), Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and Department of Justice (DOJ) to deliver a comprehensive enforcement and compliance assurance program that uses the entire spectrum of compliance assurance tools available to the Region. The program includes:

developing strategic planning for enforcement;
engaging in compliance monitoring and compliance assistance activities;
conducting inspections;
developing enforcement cases;
preparing and issuing administrative actions;
assessing penalties;
developing judicial enforcement actions;
negotiating settlements; and
measuring and reporting results of the Region’s enforcement efforts.

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Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division

Director: Sandra Spence

What We Do: The Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD) is a diverse, multidisciplinary organization that emphasizes high quality science, field sampling, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, geospatial technology, and strategic planning, protection and restoration. LSASD takes a holistic ecosystem approach, in cooperation with the other divisions and offices, to achieving human health and environmental protection.

LSASD leads environmental indicators-based planning and analyzes environmental data to better understand conditions and trends, and to prioritize and target regional, state and local programs. This work includes using decision-support tools and GIS (geographic information system) mapping.

LSASD is home to the Region's quality assurance manager, who is responsible for the regional quality system and program offices' quality assurance programs. Through the Regional Science Liaison, LSASD coordinates with EPA's Office of Research and Development and other regions to focus agency resources and activities on the most important science and policy issues.

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Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Director: Mark Smith

What We Do: The Land, Chemicals, and Redevelopment Division (LCRD) administers environmental statutes that protect our air, water and land environments, as well as the public's right to know about hazardous chemicals in their community. It:

protects the air from asbestos emissions;
protects water and land from inefficient hazardous waste practices;
conserves energy and natural resources through recycling and recovery;
protects the public from pesticide misuse or contaminants;
protects children from the hazards of lead-based paint and other environmental contaminants;
supports the redevelopment of Brownfields; and
regulates underground storage tanks containing petroleum or hazardous substances.

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Mission Support Division

Director: Rick Buhl

What We Do: The Mission Support Division (MSD) provides leadership, support, communications, and direction to ensure efficient operations vital to EPA and Regional goals. The Director also holds the role of Senior Resource Official and Senior Information Official.

The Division advises the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator, senior leadership, and management on Regional and national policies involving strategic planning, technical, and resource management issues. The Division includes the Human Resources, Information Management, Infrastructure, Grants, Acquisition, and Interagency Agreements, Fiscal Management and Planning Branches.

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Office of Regional Counsel

Regional Counsel: Kenneth Schefski

What We Do: The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) represents the Region in a wide variety of legal matters, including civil and administrative cases, regulatory and permit actions, government contracts, and employment matters. Often working with the Justice Department, EPA headquarters, and state environmental agency lawyers, the office assists in the enforcement of federal air, water, hazardous waste, toxics and pesticides laws throughout the Region. The office also manages the Freedom of Information (FOIA) response process. Criminal enforcement counsel assist U.S. Attorneys' offices in prosecuting environmental crimes.

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Superfund and Emergency Management Division

Director: Betsy Smidinger

What We Do: The Superfund and Emergency Management Division (SEMD) is responsible for activities regarding the Oil Pollution Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund. SEMD determines goals, priorities and objectives for the Superfund and oil programs; oversees the work of federal responsible party cleanups; and concurs on military base closure property transfers. SEMD also:

coordinates the discovery, assessment, remediation, and removal of, and assists with enforcement of abandoned hazardous waste sites;
develops strategies to reuse Superfund sites, and
responds to emergency–including terrorism–situations that pose an immediate threat to human health and the environment.

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Water Division

Director: Darcy O’Connor

What We Do: The Water Division (WD) manages and implements programs under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect, preserve, and enhance water resources, and works closely with states and local communities to protect drinking water sources, and to ensure that estuaries, rivers, streams, and lakes are healthy, vital resources for communities. We accomplish this by:

conducting monitoring;
relying on water quality standards, pollution load allocations for streams; permits for stream discharges, public health standards, and required testing for drinking water safety;
providing financial and technical assistance to states and localities.

WD also encourages citizen involvement in developing and carrying out major estuary, local watershed and drinking-water protection plans.

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