About EPA

Region 7 Office of Regional Counsel

Regional Judicial & Presiding Officer

Overview of the Office of Regional Counsel

The Office of Regional Counsel (CNSL) oversees the provision of legal advice and the delivery of legal services to the Regional office, working with regional staff on the implementation, application, and enforcement of Federal statutes, regulations, policy, and guidance. In addition to Regional Counsel, a Deputy and four Branch Chiefs, the office includes 30+ staff attorneys, paralegals, and support staff.

Other areas of CNSL responsibility:

Represent the Region in all civil administrative and judicial litigation in which the Region is a party.
Represent the Regional Administrator and the Region as counsel in their relationships with other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies; and provide the legal review for the delegation of federal programs and/or federal authorization of state programs to state, tribal, and local agencies.
Provide such other legal advice and services to enable and assist the Region in carrying out the mission of the Agency.

The Immediate Office of CNSL:

Provides legal services to the Region 7 Criminal Investigation Division.
Represents the Region as counsel in personnel matters, including employee relations, equal employment opportunities, conflicts of interest, ethics, and labor relations, collective bargaining negotiations, contract interpretation, and implementation.
Provides legal services and advice to the Region on records management and retention issues, as well as Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
Provides legal services and advice to the Region in conjunction with the grants and contracting programs, as well as the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) program.
Collects and compiles all enforcement data for the Region.

Dave Cozad, Regional Counsel - (913) 551-7587; cozad.david@epa.gov
Leslie Humphrey, Deputy Regional Counsel - (913) 551-7227; humphrey.leslie@epa.gov

Air Branch (ARBR)
Sara Hertz Wu, Acting Branch Chief - (913) 551-7316, hertzwu.sara@epa.gov
ARBR provides legal services to the Air and Waste Management Division, representing the Region and working in conjunction with program staff on all civil judicial and administrative matters, as well as counseling issues under the CAA such as enforcement, permitting, standards implementation, review, and approval of state implementation plans, program review, and delegation.

Chemical Management Branch (CMBR)
Ray Bosch, Acting Branch Chief - (913) 551-7501, bosch.raymond@epa.gov
CMBR provides legal services to Region 7 for all matters relating to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; TSCA; EPCRA, and Comprehensive Environmental Response, and Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) reporting: CAA 112® and Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; and Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The Branch represents the Region and works in conjunction with the affected programs in all civil judicial and administrative matters, as well as counseling issues, arising under these statues, including enforcement, permitting, program review, and authorization/delegation.

Superfund Branch (SPFD)
David Hoefer, Branch Chief - (913) 551-7503, hoefer.david@epa.gov
SPFD provides legal services to the Region 7 Superfund Division for all matters arising under CERCLA, representing the Region and working in conjunction with the program in all civil judicial and administrative matters, as well as counseling issues, including removal and remedial actions, response, and cost recovery.

Water Branch (WATR)
Daniel Breedlove, Branch Chief - (913) 551-7172, breedlove.dan@epa.gov
WATR provides legal services to Region 7 for all matters relating to the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Oil Pollution Act. The Branch represents the Region and works in conjunction with affected programs in all civil judicial and administrative matters, as well as counseling issues, arising under these statues, including enforcement, permitting, program review, water quality standards, and authorization/delegation.

Regional Hearing Clerk

Lisa Haugen is the Regional Hearing Clerk in Region 7 and may be reached at (913) 551-7877 or by email at haugen.lisa@epa.gov. The Regional Hearing Clerk receives filings for proceedings under the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/Termination or Suspension of Permits, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 22.

There is a self-service filing collection box/kiosk located in the lobby area of the Region 7 Office, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219, for documents that are hand-delivered for personal service filing with the Regional Hearing Clerk. The collection box is only for filings with the Regional Hearing Clerk.

Time stamp the original and one copy of each document and place in collection box.
Time stamp a copy of each document for your records.
Hours for personal service filing of documents are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Any documents filed after 4 p.m. will be deemed filed on the following business day.)

Documents filed in any proceeding are open for public inspection and copying during filing hours, subject to provisions of law restricting public disclosure of confidential information. The person seeking copies will be responsible for reproduction costs incurred. Documents will be made available to the public upon request through the Regional Hearing Clerk.

Regional Judicial & Presiding Officer

Duties of the Regional Judicial and Presiding Officer

This individual serves as the Regional Judicial Officer or Regional Presiding Officer, depending on the procedural rules used in a particular proceeding. The Regional Judicial Officer, acting on behalf of the Regional Administrator, rules on pre-answer motions and issues final orders on consent decrees in cases under the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the suspension or Revocation of Permits, 40 C.F.R. Part 22 (EPA’s procedural rules for cases under the Administrative Procedure Act). In addition, the Regional Judicial Officer serves as an alternative dispute resolution neutral (mediator) in Part 22 cases, when requested by the parties.

The Regional Presiding Officer is designated by the Regional Administrator to serve as adjudicator in EPA administrative cases not governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, including cases involving the administrative assessment of civil penalties as enforcement sanctions under the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act. The Regional Presiding Officer also has adjudicatory responsibilities in administrative proceedings under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Interim Status Corrective Action Program, 40 C.F.R. Part 24, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Guidance on Federal Superfund Liens (Supplemental Guidance on Federal Superfund Liens, July 29, 1993).

Region 7's Regional Judicial and Presiding Officer

Karina Borromeo is the Regional Judicial and Presiding Officer in Region 7. Ms. Borromeo can be reached at (913) 551-7675 or by email at borromeo.karina@epa.gov.

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