The Resource Protection, Preparedness, Response and Recovery Team and the Regional Offices work with multiple federal, state and local agencies and other organizations to improve preparedness, protection and recovery of Interior’s lands and resources, and the Nation’s natural and cultural resource and historic property interests for both emergency and longterm responses.
Environmental Preparedness, Response and Recovery
Safeguard both Interior’s and the Nation’s natural and cultural resources and historic properties during disasters and emergencies. OEPC leads DOI's environmental preparedness and response processes to be more efficient and effective through inter-bureau/interagency collaboration. Two principal responsibilities are to serve as the:
Natural Resources Trust
The Team works with OEPC Regional Environmental Officers (REOs) to coordinate environmental response with natural resource restoration. Resolution of contamination and hazardous waste problems is best achieved when response and restoration actions are effectively coordinated. OEPC facilitates such coordination by providing response agencies with a single point of access to the full range of resources and expertise within DOI, coordinating DOI response activities when more than one bureau is involved, and resolving potential problems to expedite environmental response and restoration actions, to uphold key environmental statutes, including CERCLA & Oil Pollution Act, and the Clean Water Act.
Remedial Response
The Team establishes and provides interagency policy and guidance when multiple Federal agencies are involved in remedial response actions affecting DOI resources. The Team and the REOs work towards early, upfront resolution of interagency issues so that subsequent, multiple case-specific remedial response actions can be taken more quickly and effectively at a reduced cost. The two lines of effort are:
Management Excellence
The RPPRR Team provides principal support for OEPC's continuity of operations, budget formulation, and financial management execution. The Team supports the establishment, tracking and analysis of performance measures, workload measures and other metrics needed for documenting the office's programs and performance supporting DOI's Strategic Plan.