Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants is sponsored by ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

About the Office of Policy and Regulatory Management | US EPA About the Office of Policy and Regulatory Management The Office of Policy and Regulatory Management (OPRM) plays a pivotal role in managing a wide array of crosscutting topics that impact the agency. Our core responsibilities include: Regulatory and Economic Expertise : We support the national program offices for regulatory development and economic analysis.

OPRM ensures that EPA’s regulatory framework aligns and furthers Administration priorities. Serving in a Strategic Advisory Role: OPRM provides expert advice to the Administrator on policy and economic matters, fostering, and promoting innovative approaches that safeguard public health and the environment.

Innovation and Integration : OPRM champions change and agency-wide integration, leading to new policies that enhance environmental protection. Strategic Support and Governance: OPRM assists the agency in implementing strategic policy and governance changes, ensuring that EPA meets its current and future goals.

OPRM also plays a vital role in facilitating the effective implementation of Executive Orders across the agency by providing strategic guidance and coordination. Our efforts are integral to advancing the agency's mission and aligning policies with key priorities, such as the five pillars of Administrator Zeldin's in EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative . View OPRM’s Organization Chart .

Becky Keogh , Associate Administrator Michael Hardy , Deputy Associate Administrator for Management & Federal Preservation Officer Claire Mullican , Senior Advisor Please contact the OPRM Chief of Staff (Angela Hackel) with questions at hackel. angela@epa. gov .

Regulatory Policy and Management Division (RPMD) RPMD is dedicated to ensuring an effective regulatory and policy development process, grounded in robust information and sound policy analyses. Our Core Responsibilities Support for EPA’s Regulatory Policy Officer: RPMD oversees the regulatory development process and facilitates senior leadership engagement in rulemaking.

We uphold the principles of Executive Order 12866 ( Regulatory Planning and Review ) and manage the agency’s central IT system for regulatory and policy actions.

Consideration of Statutory & Executive Order (EO) Directives: RPMD provides management and implementation of statutes and EOs impacting rule development, such as the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Congressional Review Act (CRA), and EO 14192 ( Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation ).

Coordination with other Federal Agencies: RPMD coordinates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review of agency actions, acts as the agency liaison with the Office of the Federal Register and develops EPA’s semiannual Regulatory Agenda. Advocacy and Support for Small Businesses: RPMD provides guidance and improves access to technical assistance regarding the impact of agency rules on small businesses.

RPMD serves as EPA’s Small Business Advocacy Chair under the RFA, EPA’s Asbestos Ombudsman per the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), the Small Business Ombudsman under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and leads EPA’s Section 213 Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) Program. Regulatory Flexibility for Small Entities William Nickerson , Director ( nickerson. william@epa.

gov ) National Center for Environmental Economics Division (NCEED) NCEED serves as EPA’s central hub for economics, providing high-quality economic and statistical expertise to inform sound decision-making. Several Executive Orders and environmental statutes require that EPA analyze the costs, benefits, and other economic impacts of regulations.

NCEED supports analysis of EPA policies and programs and investigates ways to develop improved data, methods, and tools for measuring the economic consequences of environmental policies using the best available science. Our Core Responsibilities Advising on Economics : NCEED ensures that EPA relies on sound economic science to support its activities.

We offer guidance to the Administrator on economic issues related to EPA policies, regulations, procedures, and decisions. Engagement in Regulatory and Policy Planning : NCEED provides expert assistance and review of EPA’s economic analyses to ensure that high-quality science and economics are integrated into decision-making processes.

We ensure that senior management has information on the key benefits, costs, and impacts for a range of policy alternatives. Providing Rigorous and Consistent Economic Analyses : NCEED conducts high-quality analyses of the main economic impacts of EPA’s policies and programs. We also work with economists across the agency to promote analytic consistency and quality.

Improving EPA's Capacity for Economic Analysis: NCEED is committed to advancing economic research by developing analytic data, methods, and tools that enhance EPA's economic analyses and support evidence-based decision-making.

Coordinate and Support EPA Statistical Activities : NCEED advises on statistical policies, techniques, and procedures, providing cross-agency technical support to ensure the robustness of statistical activities as required under the Foundations of Evidence-Based Policy Making Act of 2019.

EPA’s Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses Environmental Economics Handbooks and Reports NCEE Publications and Research Alex Marten , Acting Director & Statistical Officer ( marten. alex@epa. gov ) Federal Activities Division (FAD) FAD plays a crucial role in coordinating EPA's responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and across the agency's permitting programs.

Our mission is to enhance proficiency, consistency, transparency, and accountability in environmental processes and implement improvements. NEPA Compliance: FAD coordinates EPA’s review of all federal environmental impact statements prepared by other agencies under NEPA and ensures EPA’s internal compliance.

Permitting Policy: FAD leads and coordinates agency-wide efforts to accelerate sound permitting decisions, balancing the need for timely project approvals while protecting health and the environment. National Environmental Policy Act Prasad Chumble , Acting Director and Chief Environmental Review and Permitting Officer ( chumble. prasad@epa.

gov ) Federal and Science Advisory Committee Division (FSACD) FSACD provides oversight of the agency’s Federal Advisory Committees (FACs), ensuring compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and directly manages three committees, including two congressionally mandated science advisory committees, the Science Advisory Board (Board), and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC).

FSACD also manages a presidential advisory committee, the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB). Membership on FACs includes representatives from local, and state, and Tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academic institutions, federal agencies, and technical or subject matter experts.

The advice provided by the FACs helps EPA make sound decisions and may benefit or impact local and state government and federal agency partners. Our Core Responsibilities Federal Advisory Committee Management Branch (FACMB): FACMB provides oversight and guidance to the agency's FACs, which are directly managed by program offices throughout the agency.

This includes guidance and advice on charters, membership, FAC training, meeting protocol, and other functions ensuring adherence to FACA and associated activities.

FACMB also directly manages one Presidential FAC, the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB), enacted through the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative Act, which provides advice to the President and Congress about environmental and infrastructure issues and needs within the states contiguous to Mexico.

Science Advisory Board Branch (SABB): directly manages the SAB, established through the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978, and CASAC, established through the Clean Air Act, which provide independent scientific and technical advice to the Administrator to inform EPA policies and regulations, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Federal Advisory Committees at EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB) Khanna Johnston , Acting Director ( johnston. khanna@epa.

gov ) Programs and Functions located in the OPRM Immediate Office EPA’s Standards Executive coordinates agency implementation of laws and policies regarding agency participation in and use of private sector standards (e.g., ASTM International, ISO [1] ).

EPA’s Mining Advisor coordinates the agency’s mineral activities to support government efforts outlined in executive orders which have identified the need to improve the reliability of critical mineral and other mineral supply chains for economic and national security.

Build America, Buy America (BABA) Program Implementation: The BABA program coordinates across 70+ programs at EPA and serves as a liaison with OMB’s Made in America Office and BABA leads at other agencies. The program coordinates the agency’s review of BABA waivers. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Program Implementation: The newly formed NHPA program is led out of OPRM.

OPRM coordinates efforts across the agency to ensure compliance with section 106 of NHPA. Voluntary Consensus Standards EPA Build America, Buy America (BABA) [1] International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Contact EPA to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Last updated on May 22, 2026