What We Do: The Office of the Regional Administrator (ORA) provides the overall supervision for the Region and serves as the primary regional representative to the Office of the Administrator in headquarters on national initiatives and Administration priorities. Within the Immediate Office, ORA works directly with our tribal partners in implementing their environmental programs. Other areas of the office include key programs that support the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Equal Opportunity Office

EEO Officer: Naima Halim-Chestnut

The Equal Opportunity Office serves as the principal advisor to the Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, and the operating divisions on matters relating to the regional civil rights programs.

Office of Outreach and External Engagement

Director: Brandi Jenkins

The Office of Outreach and External Engagement (OOEE) serves as the primary coordinator and office for all regional communication and messaging needs, as well as a liaison with elected officials and their offices. OOEE ensures external stakeholders are informed of EPA's programs and decisions, as well as prepares speeches and press releases, is the primary point of contact for the media and manages the region's social media presence. OOEE also leads the region’s Community Involvement and environmental education programs.

Gulf of Mexico Division

Director: Marc Wyatt

The Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) works with external partners by providing sound scientific and technical information related to research, monitoring, scientific analysis and financial resources to support state and community action in coastal areas. The GMD works on projects focused on improving and/or restoring water and habitat quality throughout the five Gulf states and the Mississippi River Basin. With a commitment to voluntary solutions, GMD projects strengthen community resilience by promoting and supporting environmental education and outreach to the public, including to vulnerable communities. View more information about EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program.

Strategic Programs Office

Acting Director: Susan Park

The Strategic Programs Office (SPO) manages the National Environmental Policy Act program to help ensure all major environmental actions are given the appropriate level of consideration as they relate to potential environmental impacts. SPO works closely with communities and other stakeholders on implementing the regional science, environmental justice, international and children’s health programs.

Air and Radiation Division

Director: Caroline Freeman

What We Do: The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) is responsible for implementing the regulatory programs of the Clean Air Act and related authorities. In particular, ARD works with state, local, and tribal governments, industry, and others to achieve and maintain clean outdoor air, including reduction of exposures and risks associated with criteria and hazardous air pollutants. The Division also partners with a variety of stakeholders including communities, academia, schools, and health professionals to implement voluntary indoor environment efforts to improve public health where people live, work, and play. While many of the regulatory programs overseen by ARD are delegable to state, local, or tribal agencies, the Division directly implements programs that are not delegated. ARD also manages grant programs associated with the Clean Air Act and related authorities.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division

Director: Carol Kemker

What We Do: The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division (ECAD) is responsible for developing and implementing Regions 4 enforcement and compliance assurance programs and statutes EPA administers in the Southeast. ECAD works closely with the other Region 4 divisions, Office of Regional Counsel, Criminal Investigations Division, and Department of Justice to deliver a comprehensive enforcement and compliance assurance program that relies on the entire spectrum of compliance assurance tools available to the Region. This includes: strategic planning for enforcement; 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.

Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division

Director: John Blevins

What We Do: The Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD), located in Athens, Georgia, provides field sampling, analytical support, training and quality assurance management for the Region. As the Region’s main applied science organization, it provides critical data used in the Program Divisions through highly responsive and flexible support teams.

LSASD can deploy on short notice with project designs that use sound planning and coordination with program decision makers to provide highly customized approaches. State-of-the-art techniques are used to generate high quality, legally defensible data accompanied by expert scientific/engineering analysis. In addition to meeting the direct needs of Region 4, LSASD has a long history of supporting states and tribes with field studies and technical training, both of which foster consistency across the Southeast in the collection, analysis and interpretation of analytical data. Region 4’s LSASD is the first and only organization in the Agency to be ISO/IEC 17025-accredited for field, laboratory and forensics operations, and maintains its Certification for Drinking Water Analyses through the EPA Office of Water.

Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Director: Cesar Zapata

What We Do: The Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (LCRD) implements the solid and hazardous waste, sustainable material management, brownfields, redevelopment, sustainability, pollution prevention, underground storage tanks, and chemical safety programs through oversight and assistance to states and tribes to promote sustainable environmental results. The work is accomplished through interaction with other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, non-profits organizations, the regulated community, and the public.

Mission Support Division

Director: Vickie H. Tellis

What We Do: The Mission Support Division (MSD), organized under the leadership of its Director and Deputy Director, employs over 100 employees working together to ensure the protection of human health and the environment throughout the Southeast Region. MSD’s mission critical support involves people, infrastructure and resources through a host of services including, but not limited to: contractual support, fiscal and human capital management, information technology, facilities management, diversity, and Regional planning.

Office of Regional Counsel

Regional Counsel: Leif Palmer

What We Do: The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) provides legal advice and support to EPA Region 4 management and staff on a broad array of matters arising out of the Region’s work to protect human health and the environment. This includes providing legal support to the Region in its enforcement work, both civil and criminal, and in its implementation of the requirements of all major federal environmental statutes and their associated federal regulations, as well as other federal laws such as the Freedom of Information Act. Other legal support functions include providing legal assistance to the Region in connection with carrying out its day-to-day operations, including entering into contracts, awards, grants, managing property and working with EPA employees. The Region 4 Regional Judicial Officer and Region 4 Regional Hearing Clerk also work within the Office of Regional Counsel.

Superfund and Emergency Management Division

Acting Director: Randall Chaffins

What We Do: The Superfund and Emergency Management Division (SEMD) implements the federal government’s principal program for identifying, investigating, and cleaning up contaminated sites and protecting public health and the environment from releases of hazardous substances. Enacted into law as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, the program became known as Superfund because Congress established a large trust fund to provide the program’s funding needs. SEMD's efforts in supporting its primary mission include emergency and short-term removals, and long-term cleanups at National Priorities List and Superfund Alternative sites.

Water Division

Acting Director: Denisse Diaz

What We Do: The Water Division (WD) implements the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) as well as portions of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) and the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA). The Division works with states and tribes to develop and approve programs to protect public health and natural resources through source water protection, improving aging infrastructure, water reuse and nutrient reduction. The Division collaborates with states and tribes to build capacity to address natural disasters, emergencies and terrorist attacks, as well as to address emerging contaminants of concern when they are identified. The Division also partners with other external partners to identify and leverage funds to enhance our mission efforts.