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Regional Offices - Oakland
General Information
Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance Staff
Principal Program AreasPrincipal program areas of the Regional Office include: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) The Office assures compliance with NEPA through review of environmental documents and by providing environmental compliance consultation with bureaus. Federal Project Reviews The Office manages the Department's technical and policy reviews of the environmental and natural resource aspects of non-Interior projects and proposals through NEPA, FERC, and other environmental reviews in Region IX , excluding Alaska.. Emergency Response The Office coordinates, provides leadership for, and promotes consistency in the Department's responses to incidents affecting natural and cultural resources and historic properties, lands and facilities under the Department's jurisdiction during and following oil discharges, hazardous substance releases, and natural disasters. This includes removals at hazardous materials sites under Superfund in Region IX, excluding Alaska, and representation of the Department on the Regional Response Teams. Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration The Office assists in the management of the Department's responsibilities as a natural resources trustee under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, Superfund) and various oil spill liability statutes as needed to support bureau responsibilities in Region VI, IX, and X, including Alaska. Hazardous Materials Management The Office assists headquarters and bureaus in the coordination and oversight of remedial, corrective, and management actions of the Department. Staff Support to Secretary The Office, through the headquarters office, advises the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget, and other top Departmental officials about policies, programs, and individual actions affecting natural resources and environmental quality in Region IX, excluding Alaska. Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) The Department of the Interior Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance Region IX (DOI/OEPC-IX) works closely with US Army Corps of Engineers - South Pacific Division (USACE-SPD) and US Environmental Protection Agency in Region 9 (USEPA-9) on Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) issues. Since January 2001, USACE and USEPA have co-chaired the FUDS Workgroup in the states of CA, NV, AZ; DOI is the largest public land holder. As the policy and compliance unit for the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, OEPC's Oakland Regional Office coordinates DOI bureaus' input on Department of Defense cleanup of FUDS to enable future public use. Urban Rivers Restoration Initiative (Tres Rios) In July 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army entered into a memorandum of understanding to address water quality issues, economic revitalization, and the public use and enjoyment of urban rivers. The two agencies agreed to select eight (8) demonstration pilot projects to restore at the present time. The Tres Rios project in Arizona is the only pilot project within Region IX. The Tres Rios multi-purpose project involves a seven mile stretch of the Salt and Gila Rivers west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The goals of the project include restoration of native riparian habitat, water quality improvement, flood damage reduction, recreation, cultural resources mitigation, environmental education, and benefit to local tribal lands. Of much concern is the, now closed, 123rd Avenue Landfill, located within the Gila Riverbed and the Tres Rios Project boundaries. Much effort will be spent on its characterization, possible mitigation and remediation. Source: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/landrevitalization/urbanrivers/ |
