What We Do: The Office of the Regional Administrator (ORA) provides the overall supervision of the Region, with all SES-level Division Directors reporting to the RA. ORA manages the planning, programming, implementation, control and direction of technical and administrative aspects of Region 5 programs and activities. In addition, ORA is responsible for total resources management in the Region, and for the continuing evaluation of Regional programs and activities. It serves as primary representative for Region 5 to headquarters senior leadership and external stakeholders. ORA oversees matters related to:

Environmental justice.
The National Environmental Policy Act.
Public affairs.
Children’s health.
Environmental education.
Tribal affairs.
International affairs.
Equal employment opportunity and special emphasis programs.

The External Communications Office and the Tribal and Multimedia Programs Office are located in ORA.

Air and Radiation Division

Director: John Mooney

What We Do: The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) implements the programmatic aspects of Clean Air Act within the geographic boundaries of Region 5, except for inspections and enforcement, which are principally managed by the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division.

Under this statute and in accordance with implementing regulations and agency guidelines, 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 coordinates with the Office of Air and Radiation to ensure national consistency and strives to meet legal deadlines imposed by the CAA.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division

Director: Michael Harris

What We Do: The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division (ECAD) is responsible for developing and implementing Region 5 enforcement and compliance assurance programs and statutes EPA administers in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio.

ECAD works closely with the other Region 5 divisions, Office of Regional Counsel (ORC), Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and Department of Justice (DOJ) to deliver a comprehensive enforcement and compliance assurance program utilizing the entire spectrum of compliance assurance tools available to the region. The program includes:

Developing strategic planning for enforcement.
Engaging in compliance monitoring and compliance assistance activities.
Conducting inspections.
Developing enforcement cases.
Preparing and issuing administrative actions.
Assessing penalties.
Developing judicial enforcement actions.
Negotiating settlements.
Measuring and reporting results of the Region’s enforcement efforts.

Environmental Justice, Community Health, and Environmental Review Division

Director: Alan Walts

What We Do:The Environmental Justice, Community Health, and Environmental Review Division manages the Region’s Environmental Justice , Children’s Health, Environmental Education, and National Environmental Policy Act programs. It also manages a national Center of Excellence with the region’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. providing compliance assistance and assurance to schools under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

EJCHERD works closely with the other Region 5 divisions and Office of Regional Counsel to deliver a comprehensive EJ program. This program includes:

Implementing Executive Orders on Environmental Justice, including Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations" (Feb. 1994) and E.O. 14096, "Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All" (Apr. 2023).
Administering grants, technical assistance, and training programs to advance environmental justice and equity.
Conducts and supports community-focused engagement, assessment, and action to address unequal and increasing impacts on human health and the environment.
Integrating environmental justice principles across regional program activities.
Supporting implementation of civil rights requirements throughout the region.
Coordinating with local government, states and Tribes to consider and address environmental justice and equity.

EJCHERD works with other regional divisions to implement the Children’s Health program. This program assists and advises regional programs as they evaluate, and address issues and priorities related to children's environmental health protection; and coordinates with the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units in Region 5.

EJCHERD implements the Environmental Education program through annual student and teacher awards, and through grants.

EJCHERD implements the regional National Environmental Policy Act program. This includes:

Ensuring regional compliance with NEPA.
Reviewing environmental impact statements and other major actions under the authority of Clean Air Act Section 309 and NEPA for other agencies within the region.

Great Lakes National Program Office

Director: Teresa Seidel

What We Do: The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) coordinates U.S. efforts with Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem.

GLNPO manages and implements programs pertaining to Areas of Concern, the Great Lakes Legacy Act, science-based activities related to the health of the Great Lakes, binational lakewide management, and nutrients.

GLNPO brings together federal, state, tribal, local, and industry partners under the strategic framework of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to accomplish the objectives of GLRI action plan which in turn fulfills the aims of the GLWQA. We:

Remediate contaminated sediments under GLLA.
Work to reduce persistent toxic chemicals, and identify emerging contaminants.
Identify, protect and restore important habitats.
Monitor and report on environmental status and trends.
Support community-based Remedial Action Plans for AOCs and for Lakewide Action and Management Plans.
Assist Great Lakes partners through grants, interagency agreements and contracts.

Learn more about GLNPO.

Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division

Director: George Schupp

What We Do: The Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD) provides laboratory analytical support for the region’s media programs and enforcement programs, as well as dedicated field services. About Region 5’s Chicago Regional Laboratory

LSASD coordinates with regional media and enforcement programs to ensure effective collection and analysis of environmental data. It ensures that data collected, reported and used in the region is properly documented and sufficiently accurate and precise to meet data quality objectives. It also ensures that the quality assurance programs of the environmental programs in the Region’s states, tribes and local governments conform with EPA quality assurance guidance.

LSASD provides field support for regional programs, such as field sampling, investigations, and field activities.

It ensures the integrity of technical products, peer review, science inventory, science hub services, and general regional scientific integrity issues.

LSASD also advises the Regional Administrator and senior management on regional and national policies and issues in these areas.

Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Director: Ed Nam

What We Do: The Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (LCRD) implements portions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, including management of hazardous waste, solid waste, underground storage tanks, and leaking underground storage tanks. It also implements the regional Brownfields program, as well as programs associated with the:

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Residential Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984 (ASHAA).
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA).
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA).

LCARD responsibilities include:

Remediating hazardous waste at sites where human health or the environment are threatened.
Helping states develop state programs under the statutes above and authorizing and approving state programs.
Issuing permits under those statutes.
Implementing joint EPA/state/tribal multi-media plans and recommending the award of program grants to states and tribes.

Work is accomplished through interaction with other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, non-profit organizations, the regulated community, and the public.

Mission Support Division

Director: Amy Sanders

What We Do: The Mission Support Division 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 Comptroller Branch, Information Technology and Operations Management Branch, and the Human Resources Branch.

MSD manages issues related to:

Strategic planning and coordination of EPA’s process improvement systems.
Budget.
Finance.
Financial aspects of cost recovery.
Management control and integrity (FMFIA).
Facilities and security.
Human resources.
Information technology and information management.
Management of grants and interagency agreements.
Contracts and acquisition.
Health and safety.

Office of Regional Counsel

Regional Counsel: Robert Kaplan

What We Do: The Office of Regional Counsel acts as the principal legal adviser to the Regional Administrator and provides legal opinions, legal counsel and litigation support to all regional program and management divisions and offices. ORC provides legal advice on ethics issues arising within the Region. In providing legal counsel, ORC attorneys consult and coordinate with attorneys in OGC and other ORC offices to ensure consistency in the legal positions being taken across the Agency. ORC responsibilities also include the functions of the Regional Hearing Clerk.

Superfund and Emergency Management Division

Director: Doug Ballotti

What We Do: The Superfund and Emergency Management Division implements and enforces the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund), the Oil Pollution Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan and the National Response Plan.

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

The remedial response function implements Superfund site evaluation, site investigation, site remediation, long-term stewardship and revitalization programs for sites and for long-term removal (non-time critical and certain time critical) sites.

Water Division

Director: Tera Fong

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.

WD implements the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, except for inspections and enforcement, which are principally managed by the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division.

WD manages its programs through four core branches:

Ground Water and Drinking Water.
Permits.
State and Tribal programs and support.
Watersheds and wetlands .

WD also supports cross-cutting EPA programs such as the Urban Waters program, Healthy Watersheds Protection and Restoration, and other geographic initiatives.

Organization of EPA's Region 5 Office in Chicago

Serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 Tribal Nations

Organization Chart

Leadership and Organizational Responsibilities

Office of the Regional Administrator