[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR1.27]

[Page 8-9]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 
PART 1_STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION--Table of 
Contents
 
                         Subpart B_Headquarters
 
Sec. 1.27  Offices of the Associate Administrators.

    (a) Office of International Activities. The Office of International 
Activities, under the supervision of an Associate Administrator, 
provides direction to and supervision of the activities, programs, and 
staff assigned to the Office of International Activities. All of the 
functions and responsibilities of the Associate Administrator are 
Agencywide, and apply to all international activities of the Agency. The 
Office develops policies and procedures for the direction of the 
Agency's international programs and activities, subject to U.S. foreign 
policy, and assures that adequate program, scientific, and legal inputs 
are provided. It conducts continuing evaluations of the Agency's 
international activities and makes appropriate recommendations to the 
Administrator. The Office advises the Administrator and principal Agency 
officials on the progress and effect of foreign and international 
programs and issues. The Office serves as the Administrator's 
representative in contacts with the Department of State and other 
Federal agencies concerned with international affairs. It negotiates 
arrangements or understandings relating to international cooperation 
with foreign organizations. The Office coordinates Agency international 
contacts and commitments; serves as the focal point for responding to 
requests for information relating to EPA international activities; and 
provides an initial point of contact for all foreign visitors. The 
Office maintains liaison with all relevant international organizations 
and provides representation where appropriate. It establishes Agency 
policy, and approves annual plans and modifications for travel abroad 
and attendance at international conferences and events. It provides 
administrative support for the general activities of the Executive 
Sec. etary of the U.S. side of the US-USSR/PRC agreements on 
environmental protection and of the U.S. Coordinator for the NATO 
Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society. The Office supervises 
these programs with respect to activities which are completely within 
the purview of EPA.
    (b) Office of Regional Operations. The Office of Regional 
Operations, under the supervision of an Associate Administrator, reports 
directly to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. The Office 
serves as the primary communications link between the Administrator/
Deputy Administrator and the Regional Administrators. It provides a 
Headquarters focus for ensuring the involvement of Regions, or 
consideration of Regional views and needs, in all aspects of the 
Agency's work. The Office is responsible for assuring Regional 
participation in Agency decision-making processes, assessing the impact 
of Headquarters actions on Regional operations, and acting as ombudsman 
to resolve Regional problems on behalf of the Administrator. The 
Associate Administrator coordinates Regional issues, organizes Regional 
Administrator meetings and work groups; and coordinates Regional 
responses to specific issues. In addition, the Office is responsible for 
working with the Regional Offices to further the consistent application 
of national program policies by reinforcing existing administrative, 
procedural, and program policy mechanisms as well as through initiation 
of reviews of significant Regional issues of interest to the 
Administrator. It continually monitors responsiveness

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and compliance with established policies and technical needs through 
formal and informal contact and free dialogue. The Office initiates and 
conducts on-site field visits to study, analyze, and resolve problems of 
Regional, sectional, and national scale.