![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512111800im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Office of Policy Analysis and Review
Director
Robert D. Brenner
Phone: (202) 564-1677
Fax: (202) 564-1554
Mission
As policy staff to the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, OPAR analysts undertake diverse activities to ensure that OAR policies are consistent, effective in protecting health and the environment, and economically efficient. The Office is structured to be flexible, with the capability of responding quickly and efficiently to the priorities of the Agency and especially the Assistant Administrator of OAR.
OPAR analysts:
- Help the Assistant Administrator to track and monitor OAR's numerous and complex rulemaking activities
- Review policy and analytical aspects of most OAR rules as they are being developed, assuring that the rules are consistent with the policies of the Assistant Administrator and the Agency, and alerting the Assistant Administrator to significant issues and ways to resolve them. This function often includes the identification and resolution of potential conflicts with other OAR Programs, with other EPA rulemakings, and with the activities of other agencies. Frequently, OPAR conducts independent analyses to support its reviews.
- Selectively participate more substantially in the development of major rules with difficult policy issues; participation ranges from sitting on workgroups to writing substantial portions of the rules, and often involves performing independent economic and technical analysis.
- Provide the Assistant Administrator with independent perspectives on key issues and advice on policy priorities.
- Stay in touch with Congress, other agencies and the outside world on the impact of proposed OAR policies, serving as additional "eyes and ears" for the Assistant Administrator.
- Serve as OAR focal point for developing clean air legislation, most recently for the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
- Coordinate OAR policy review of non-OAR rulemakings.
Other functions of OPAR include:
- coordinating and directing special projects on important issues that cut across OAR programs
- coordinating OAR international activities.
- providing quick-turnaround analytic support for the Administrator and Assistant Administrator
- performing special assignments for the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Assistant Administrator, and Deputy Assistant Administrator
- helping OAR offices obtain support for major rules
- representing OAR on the EPA Regulatory Policy Council and the Steering Committee
- serving as a liaison to OMB for regulatory review
- providing "infrastructure" support for OAR
