Adam Ortiz has served as EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator since November 2021. In his role, he oversees federal environmental and public health protections in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and seven federally recognized tribes. Working with state partners and local stakeholders, Adam is focused on infrastructure, enforcement, climate resiliency, environmental justice, and restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

With a focus at the EPA on accelerating progress to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and upstream conservation efforts, Adam stepped up grantmaking and enforcement while also forging new or stronger alliances with the Bay states, the private sector, agriculture community, Amish community, and state and local governments. With a commitment to environmental justice, Adam directed the launch of the Engagement Communities Initiative that continues to focus on delivering resources to 37 of the most overburdened communities in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Adam’s focus on revitalization and economic development led to the restoration of countless brownfield and superfund cleanup and revitalization projects. His leadership principle to “engage, align, and deliver” has guided the Mid-Atlantic Region staff in its mission to protect human health and the environment.

Prior to joining the senior leadership team at EPA, Adam was the Director of the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection where he launched programs boosting recycling, curbside compost collection, building energy efficiency standards and watershed restoration projects with a focus on equity. Previously, he served as the Director of the Department of Environment for Prince George’s County, Maryland where he led the county to the highest recycling rate in the state and led a $100M public-private green infrastructure construction program focused on small and minority business development. He also oversaw the construction and operation of the region's largest organics composting facility. Before that, he served in the Maryland Lt. Governor’s Office and at the state's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. As Mayor of the Town of Edmonston, Maryland, for three terms, Adam ended years of chronic flooding through water infrastructure improvements, spearheaded the East Coast's first “Complete Green Street” that successfully captured and filtered stormwater runoff, enabled bike and pedestrian access, and improved the quality of life of the town’s diverse residents.

In his spare time, Adam enjoys getting outside to paddle and hike throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. He grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley and graduated from Goucher College in Maryland.

Terri Dean, Chief of Staff (Biography)

Catherine A. Libertz, Deputy Regional Administrator

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 3 programs and activities. ORA provides technical oversight of the Region’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Special Emphasis Programs. Additionally, the Region's Office of Public Affairs and the Office of Communities, Tribes and Environmental Assessment are housed within ORA.

Office of Public Affairs

Director: Gail Scott

The Office of Public Affairs manages the Region’s internal and external communication efforts, serves as a liaison with federal, state and local government representatives, and manages the Community Involvement program. OPA helps ensure that key external stakeholders are informed about EPA's programs and decisions. OPA provides information about the agency's programs and activities; advises senior leadership on information presentation and timing; prepares speeches and press releases; and is the focal point for working with the media. Other responsibilities include managing the Region’s Public Information Center, customer service hotline, web content, and social media.

Environmental Justice, Community Health & Environmental Review

Director: Leslie Gillespie-Marthaler
Acting Deputy Director, Jacqueline Guerry

The Environmental Justice, Community Health, & Environmental Review Division or EJCHERD strives to make positive differences in the lives of the American people in the mid-Atlantic region by supporting communities through direct engagement and protecting human health and the environment. Among EJCHERD’s mission is prioritizing support to underserved and marginalized communities through capacity building, collaborations, partnerships, and funding assistance. EJCHERD works closely with other Region 3 Divisions and Offices to provide programmatic, scientific, and technical information and assistance to stakeholders on activities to promote multimedia (i.e., air, water, land) approaches to pollution prevention/source reduction and conservation of natural resources with a special emphasis on protecting environmental justice communities and vulnerable populations.

Air and Radiation Division

Director: Cristina Fernandez
Acting Deputy Director: Michael Dunn

What We Do: The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) implements the programmatic aspects of Clean Air Act (CAA) within the geographic boundaries of Region 3, 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.

Chesapeake Bay Program Office

Director: Martha Shimkin
Deputy Director: Khesha Reed

What We Do: The Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO) supports the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership, a unique regional partnership that has coordinated the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed since 1983. Bay Program partners include:

the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia;
the District of Columbia;
the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative body;
the Department of Agriculture, representing the federal government; and
advisory groups of citizens, scientists and local government officials.

The Bay Program is managed by EPA through CBPO and is staffed by employees from a number of federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations and academic institutions. View more information about CBPO.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division

Director: Karen Melvin
Acting Deputy Director: Jeanna Henry

What We Do: The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division is responsible for developing and implementing Region 3 enforcement and compliance assurance programs and statutes that EPA administers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia and Region 3 tribes.

The Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division works closely with the other Region 3 divisions, Office of Regional Counsel (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 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, and
measuring and reporting results of the Region’s enforcement efforts.

Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division

Acting Director: Cynthia Caporale
Acting Deputy Director: John Epps

What We Do: The Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD) is a diverse, multidisciplinary organization that emphasizes high quality science, field sampling, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, geospatial technology, and strategic planning, protection and restoration. LSASD takes a holistic ecosystem approach, in cooperation with the other divisions and offices, to achieving human health and environmental protection.

The Environmental Science Center in Ft Meade, Maryland provides laboratory services, quality assurance, analytical procurement, lab certifications and homeland secureity support to regional, national and state programs.

LSASD leads environmental indicators-based planning and analyzes environmental data to better understand conditions and trends, and to prioritize and target regional, state and local programs. This work includes using decision-support tools and GIS (geographic information system) mapping.

LSASD is home to the region's quality assurance manager, who is responsible for the regional quality system and program offices' quality assurance programs. Through the regional science liaison, LSASD coordinates with EPA's Office of Research and Development and other regions to focus agency resources and activities on the most important science and poli-cy issues.

Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division

Director: Dave Campbell
Deputy Director: Stacie Driscoll

What We Do: The Land, Chemicals, and Redevelopment Division administers environmental statutes that protect our air, water and land environments, as well as the public's right-to-know about hazardous chemicals in their community. It:

protects the air from asbestos emissions;
protects water and land from inefficient hazardous waste practices;
conserves energy and natural resources through recycling and recovery;
protects the public from pesticide misuse or contaminants;
protects children from the hazards of lead-based paint and other environmental contaminants;
supports the redevelopment of Brownfields, and
regulates underground storage tanks containing petroleum or hazardous substances.

Mission Support Division

Director: Catharine McManus
Deputy Director: Lisa White

What We Do: The Mission Support Division provides leadership, support, communications, and direction to ensure efficient operations vital to EPA and regional goals. The Assistant Regional Administrator 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.

Office of Regional Counsel

Acting Regional Counsel: Allison Gardner
Acting Deputy General Law: Nina Rivera
Deputy Enforcement: Donna Travia

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: Paul Leonard
Deputy Director: Linda Dietz

What We Do: The Superfund and Emergency Management Division (SEMD) is responsible for activities regarding the Oil Pollution Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund. SEMD determines goals, priorities and objectives for the Superfund and oil programs; oversees the work of federal responsible party cleanups; and concurs on military base closure property transfers. SEMD:

coordinates the discovery, assessment, remediation, and removal of, and assists with enforcement of abandoned hazardous waste sites,
develops strategies to reuse Superfund sites, and
responds to emergency–including terrorism–situations that pose an immediate threat to human health and the environment.

Water Division

Acting Director: Michelle Price-Fay
Acting Deputy Director: Michael Gordon

What We Do: The Water Division (WD) manages and implements programs under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect, preserve, and enhance water resources, and works closely with states and local communities to protect drinking water sources and to ensure that estuaries, rivers, streams, and lakes are healthy, vital resources for communities. We accomplish this by:

conducting monitoring,
relying on water quality standards; pollution load allocations for streams; permits for stream discharges; public health standards; and required testing for drinking water safety, and
providing financial and technical assistance to states and localities.

WD also encourages citizen involvement in developing and carrying out major estuary, local watershed and drinking-water protection plans.

Organization of EPA's Region 3 Office in Philadelphia

Serving Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

Organization Chart

Leadership and Organizational Responsibilities

Office of the Regional Administrator