What We Do: The Office of the Regional Administrator (ORA) provides the overall direction and management of the region. ORA is responsible for planning, programming, implementation, control, and direction of technical and administrative aspects of Region 2 programs and activities. ORA provides technical oversight of the Region’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Additionally, the Region's Office of Public Affairs and the Special Programs Office are housed within ORA.

Air and Radiation Division

Director: Richard Ruvo

What We Do: The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) implements programmatic aspects of the Clean Air Act (CAA), State Implementation Plans, Federal Implementation Plans, permitting, air data analysis, quality assurance, Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, radon and radiation programs within the boundaries of Region 2. The Division conducts activities to reduce emissions so that air pollution does not constitute a threat to public health, safety, well-being and the environment. To carry out its mission, the Division works with other federal agencies, state and local agencies, Tribal governments, the public, and the private sector. The Division also coordinates with the EPA Office of Air and Radiation to ensure consistency with the national environmental policy.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division

Director: Kate Anderson

What We Do: The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division (ECAD) promotes environmental compliance with federal environmental regulations in partnership with our states and Tribes. ECAD works closely with the other Region 2 divisions, Office of Regional Council (ORC), Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and Department of Justice (DOJ) to deliver a comprehensive enforcement and compliance assurance program that uses the entire spectrum of compliance assurance tools available to the Region.

The Division inspects, investigates, and, where appropriate, implements enforcement actions for violations of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act.

Environmental Justice, Community Engagement and Environmental Review Division

Director: Terry Wesley

What we do: The Environmental Justice, Community Engagement and Environmental Review Division champions the principles of just treatment and meaningful engagement in regional decision-making processes and empowers communities through strategic approaches, collaborations and resources to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable futures. Its core responsibilities include:

Leading the region’s environmental justice program to ensure equitable access to environmental benefits and protections.
Overseeing environmental justice grants and technical assistance programs, providing critical support to underserved communities.
Developing and implementing community outreach and engagement programs to foster collaboration and public participation.
Managing the region’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities, ensuring compliance and integration of environmental considerations into decision-making.
Coordinating disaster recovery and resiliency efforts to enhance preparedness and response to natural and environmental challenges.
Overseeing regional programs and projects focused on Children’s Health, while contributing to the development of national initiatives to protect and promote children’s environmental health.
Leading environmental education efforts to build awareness and empower communities with knowledge about sustainable and healthy practices.

Caribbean Environmental Protection Division

Director: Carmen Guerrero

What We Do: The Caribbean Environmental Protection Division (CEPD) implements a wide range of environmental programs impacting water, air, and land. Our activities include:

administering environmental permitting programs,
enforcing a wide range of environmental regulations,
providing compliance assistance to the regulated community,
administering financial grants, and
engaging government and elected officials, the general public, and the media to keep them informed of EPA activities in the Caribbean.

Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division

Acting Director: Claudia Gutierrez

What We Do:

The Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD) is in the Region 2 Edison Environmental Center in New Jersey.  As the science lead for the Region, LSASD provides integrated and comprehensive scientific support to the Region’s regulatory and non-regulatory programs through field sample collection, laboratory analysis and quality assurance.  LSASD’s activities are focused on supporting sound decision making based on the generation of credible, defensible data of the appropriate quality for its intended use.  LSASD conducts 1) field sampling of environmental media in support of all the major environmental programs including air, drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, surface water, sediment, soil, soil gas, biota and hazardous waste; 2) investigations and inspections of industrial facilities, publicly owned treatment plants and Superfund sites; 3) data validation and visualization, quality assurance planning, reviews, technical assessments, and oversight of partner states, Tribes and local governments to conform with EPA quality assurance guidance; and, 4) technical and forensic chemistry support.   

LSASD maintains a full service nationally accredited analytical laboratory that provides a range of routine and specialized chemical and biological testing of water, soil, sediment and hazardous waste. The specialized services include 1) the analysis for emerging contaminants of concern such as Per Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in water using EPA Method 537.1 and 2) analysis of bacteria, using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), to determine if its origin is human/non-human, used for Microbial Source Track down studies. 

LSASD is the lead for the Region’s Participatory Science Program (formerly Citizen Science Program). Participatory science engages the public in efforts to advance scientific knowledge by formulating research questions, collecting data, and interpreting results. Participatory science efforts expand to local undeserved communities, helping people understand the environmental challenges and opportunities within their local environment.

LSASD is also the lead for the Caribbean Science Consortium, a group of universities and government organizations aimed at expanding and facilitating science in the Caribbean.

LSASD is the lead for the Regional Science Program.   The Regional Science Liaison (RSL) working closely with EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) to bring important collaborative research opportunities and projects to the Region to address our Regional science needs and priorities.

LSASD is home to the Region 2 Scientific Integrity, Quality Assurance (QA), and Peer Review Programs: overseeing and implementing the programs to ensure compliance with Agency Policies, and enthusiastically promoting QA & Scientific Integrity, strengthening relationships with our 8 Region 2 Indian Nations, NJ, NY, PR, and the USVI; EPA counterparts, and others.

Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Director: Ariel Iglesias

What We Do: The Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (LCRD) implements the program (i.e., non-enforcement) aspects of:

the RCRA hazardous and solid waste programs,
underground storage tanks program,
Brownfields program,
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act,
Toxics Substances Control Act,
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act,
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, and
Pollution Prevention Act.

Mission Support Division

Director: Donald Pace

What We Do: The Mission Support Division (MSD) provides leadership, support, communications, and direction to ensure efficient operations vital to EPA and Regional goals. The Director also holds the role of Senior Resource Official and Senior Information Official.

The Division advises the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator, senior leadership, and management on regional and national policies involving strategic planning, technical, and resource management issues. The Division includes the Financial Management Branch, Information Resource Management Branch, Human Resources Branch, Grants Audit Management Branch, Facilities and Administrative Management Branch and Contract Management Branch.

Office of Regional Counsel

Regional Counsel: Paul Simon

What We Do: The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) represents the Region in a wide variety of legal matters, including civil and administrative cases, regulatory and permit actions, government contracts, and employment matters. Often working with the Justice Department, EPA headquarters, and state environmental agency lawyers, this office assists in the enforcement of federal air, water, hazardous waste, toxics and pesticides laws throughout the Region. The office also manages the Freedom of Information (FOIA) response process. Criminal enforcement counsel assists U.S. Attorneys' offices in prosecuting environmental crimes.

Superfund and Emergency Management Division

Director: Pat Evangelista

What We Do: The Superfund and Emergency Management Division (SEMD) implements the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA); Section 311 of the Clean Water Act (CWA); Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (the National Contingency Plan or NCP) and the National Response Plan; and Superfund enforcement and cost recovery support.

SEMD also provides emergency response capability, and implements emergency planning, preparedness and prevention activities in preparation for hazardous materials responses during environmental incidents such as hurricanes.

Water Division

Director: Javier Laureano

What We Do: The Water Division (WD) ensures drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. The Division implements the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, except for inspections and enforcement, which are principally managed by the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. In addition, WD supports cross-cutting EPA programs such as the Urban Waters program, Healthy watersheds protection and restoration, and other geographic initiatives. WD also provides financial and technical assistance to states and localities.

Organization of EPA's Region 2 Office in New York City

Serving New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Eight Tribal Nations

Organization Chart

Leadership and Organizational Responsibilities

Office of the Regional Administrator