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Office of Public Affairs
The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is the primary office for all EPA communications and public outreach. The Associate Administrator for Public Affairs is the chief spokesperson for the Agency and principal advisor to the Administrator on all issues concerning short-term and long-term strategic communications.
The work of OPA is planned, organized and directed by the Immediate Office to be implemented by its unique and specialized experts in the offices of External Communications, Media Relations, Public Outreach and Web Communications. The below represents the general structure of OPA and the type of roles and responsibilities each office is accountable for.
The Immediate Office- Provides short- and long-range strategic communications planning in support of the Agency’s mission.
- Oversees the distribution of information to inform the public of the Agency’s mission, policies, environmental initiatives, and compliance assistance programs.
- Establishes and maintains close working relationships with a broad range of public- and private-sector organizations.
- Manages the Agency’s relationships with news media.
- Maintains and updates content on the Agency's Web site.
- Prepares speeches for the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and senior managers.
- Manages the Agency’s relationship with the news media.
- Serves as the principal news media gateway for official Agency announcements, press releases and statements, speeches, Congressional and public hearing testimony, biographies of principal officers, and other documents of public interest.
- Provides support to senior Agency officials in their relationships with the news media and provides guidance and assistance in disseminating information to the press.
- Develops written communications materials in support of the Agency’s mission.
- Coordinates with program offices and laboratories to “translate” technical materials into plain English.
- Coordinates Agency’s external message for emergency response activities.
- Develops and implements guidelines for the effective use of media and other communications during emergency situations.
- Establishes and maintains close working relationships with a broad range of public-and private - sector organizations to
- anticipate and address stakeholder concerns regarding Agency and environmental matters;
- keep senior EPA officials apprised of stakeholder needs, perspectives, and issues;
- promote and support stakeholder involvement and public participation in Agency decision making; and
- identify opportunities for public/private partnerships.
- Serves as Agency-wide point of contact for the planning, development, and review of all Agency print and electronic products intended for the public.
- Manages the Agency’s Web site: www.epa.gov.
- Works with the program and regional offices to maintain and update the content on the Web site.