[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: 40CFR1.37]
[Page 11-13]
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. 1.37 Office of External Affairs.
(a) Office of Federal Activities. The Office of Federal Activities
is headed by a Director who reports to the Assistant Administrator for
External Affairs and supervises all the functions of the Office. The
Director acts as national program manager for five major programs that
include:
(1) The review of other agency environmental impact statements and
other major actions under the authority of Sec. ion 309 of the Clean Air
Act;
(2) EPA compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and related laws, directives, and Executive policies concerning special
environmental areas and cultural resources;
(3) Compliance with Executive policy on American Indian affairs and
the development of programs for environmental protection on Indian
lands; and
(4) The development and oversight of national programs and internal
policies, strategies, and procedures for implementing Executive Order
12088 and other administrative or statutory provisions concerning
compliance with environmental requirements by Federal facilities. The
Director chairs the Standing Committee on Implementation of Executive
Order 12088. The Office serves as the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) principal point of contact and liaison with other Federal agencies
and provides consultation
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and technical assistance to those agencies relating to EPA's areas of
expertise and responsibility. The Office administers the filing and
information system for all Federal Environmental Impact Statements under
agreement with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and provides
liaison with CEQ on this function and related matters of NEPA program
administration. The Office provides a central point of information for
EPA and the public on environmental impact assessment techniques and
methodologies.
(b) Office of Public Affairs. The Office of Public Affairs is under
the supervision of a Director who serves as chief spokesperson for the
Agency and as a principal adviser, along with the Assistant
Administrator for External Affairs, to the Adminstrator, Deputy
Administrator, and Senior Management Officials, on public affairs
aspects of the Agency's activities and programs. The Office of Public
Affairs provides to the media adequate and timely information as well as
responses to queries from the media on all EPA program activities. It
assures that the policy of openness in all information matters, as
enunciated by the Administrator, is honored in all respects. Develops
publications to inform the general public of major EPA programs and
activities; it also develops informational materials for internal EPA
use in Headquarters and at the Regions, Labs and Field Offices. It
maintains clearance systems and procedures for periodicals and
nontechnical information developed by EPA for public distribution, and
reviews all publications for public affairs interests. The Office of
Public Affairs provides policy direction for, and coordination and
oversight of EPA's community relations program. It provides a system for
ensuring that EPA educates citizens and responds to their concerns about
all environmental issues and assures that there are opportunities for
public involvement in the resolution of problems. The Office supervises
the production of audio-visual materials, including graphics, radio and
video materials, for the general public and for internal audiences, in
support of EPA policies and programs. The Office provides program
direction and professional review of the performance of public affairs
functions in the Regional Offices of EPA, as well as at laboratories and
other field offices. The Office of Public Affairs is responsible for
reviewing interagency agreements and Headquarters purchase request
requisitions expected to result in contracts in the area of public
information and community relations. It develops proposals and reviews
Headquarters grant applications under consideration when public affairs
goals are involved.
(c) Office of Legislative Analysis. The Office of Legislative
Analysis, under the supervision of a Director who serves in the capacity
of Legislative Counsel, is responsible for legislative drafting and
liaison activities relating to the Agency's programs. It exercises
responsibility for legislative drafting; reports to the Office of
Management and Budget and congressional committees on proposed
legislation and pending and enrolled bills, as required by OMB Circular
No. A-19 and Bulletin No. 72-6; provides testimony on legislation and
other matters before congressional committees; and reviews transcripts
of legislative hearings. It maintains liaison with the Office of
Congressional Liaison on all Agency activities of interest to the
Congress. The Office works closely with the staffs of various Assistant
Administrators, Associate Administrators, Regional Administrators, and
Staff Office Directors in accordance with established Agency procedures,
in the development of the Agency's legislative program. The Office
assists the Assistant Administrator for External Affairs and the
Agency's senior policy officials in guiding legislative initiatives
through the legislative process. It advises the Assistant Administrator
for Administration and Resources Management in matters pertaining to
appropriations legislation. It works closely with the Office of Federal
Activities to assure compliance with Agency procedures for the
preparation of environmental impact statements, in relation to proposed
legislation and reports on legislation. The Office coordinates with the
Office of Management and Budget, other agencies, and congressional staff
members on matters within its area of responsibility; and develops
suggested
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State and local environmental legislative proposals, using inputs
provided by other Agency components. The Legislative Reference Library
provides legislative research services for the Agency. The Library
secures and furnishes congressional materials to all EPA employees and,
if available, to other Government agencies and private organizations;
and it also provides the service of securing, upon request, EPA reports
and materials for the Congress.
(d) Office of Congressional Liaison. The Office of Congressional
Liaison is under the supervision of a Director who serves as the
principal adviser to the Administrator with respect to congressional
activities. All of the functions and responsibilities of the Director
are Agencywide and apply to the provision of services with respect to
all of the programs and activities of the Agency. The Office serves as
the principal point of congressional contact with the Agency and
maintains an effective liaison with the Congress on Agency activities of
interest to the Congress and, as necessary, maintains liaison with
Agency Regional and field officials, other Government agencies, and
public and private groups having an interest in legislative matters
affecting the Agency. It assures the provision of prompt response to the
Congress on all inquiries relating to activities of the Agency; and
monitors and coordinates the continuing operating contacts between the
staff of the Office of the Comptroller and staff of the Appropriations
Subcommittees of Congress.
(e) Office of Community and Intergovernmental Relations. The Office
of Community and Intergovernmental Relations is under the supervision of
a Director who serves as the principal point of contact with public
interest groups representing general purpose State and local
governments, and is the principal source of advice and information for
the Administrator and the Assistant Administrator for External Affairs
on intergovernmental relations. The Office maintains liaison on
intergovernmental issues with the White House and Office of Management
and Budget (OMB); identifies and seeks solutions to emerging
intergovernmental issues; recommends and coordinates personal
involvement by the Administrator and Deputy Administrator in relations
with State, county, and local government officials; coordinates and
assists Headquarters components in their handling of broad-gauged and
issue-oriented intergovernmental problems. It works with the Regional
Administrators and the Office of Regional Operations to encourage the
adoption of improved methods for dealing effectively with State and
local governments on specific EPA program initiatives; works with the
Immediate Office of the Administrator, Office of Congressional Liaison,
Office of Public Affairs, and the Regional Offices to develop and carry
out a comprehensive liaison program; and tracks legislative initiatives
which affect the Agency's intergovernmental relations. It advises and
supports the Office Director in implementing the President's
Environmental Youth Awards program.
[50 FR 26721, June 28, 1985, as amended at 52 FR 30359, Aug. 14, 1987]