Cooperative Environmental Management

The role of the Office of Cooperative Environmental Management (OCEM) is to provide timely and well-researched guidance to the EPA Administrator and other senior Agency decision-makers through management of the Federal Advisory Committee process.

EPA's advisory committees bring the concerned public into a productive, information-gathering process to assist in the development of national and international environmental policies.

OCEM provides efficient operation and oversight of the committees authorized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). With operational oversight over five committees and strategic oversight over 24 FACA committees, the public benefits from an open and on-going exchange of information.

The individuals who participate on Federal Advisory Committees are experts in the environmental, sociological and technological sciences. From business owners, to public health officials, to ecologists, all are stakeholders in the issues they address. Approximately 700 stakeholders are currently sitting on EPA advisory boards. About the Office of Cooperative Environmental Management.