Illinois EPA Organization

Associate Director

The Office of the Associate Director includes the Office of Community Relations, the Office of Compliance Assistance & Environmental Justice, the Office of Outreach and Policy, and the Office of Pollution Prevention.

Office of Pollution Prevention

The Office of Pollution Prevention was created under the Illinois Toxics Pollution Prevention Act of 1989. This office is dedicated to promoting and supporting pollution prevention strategies that will help facilities reduce or eliminate pollution at the source through cost-effective changes in production, operation and raw materials use. Such changes can help facilities save money, increase efficiency and improve compliance efforts. This office also encourages state agencies, local governments and public institutions to adopt sustainability plans and other measures that will improve the environmental and economic efficiency of their operations. The pollution prevention program's responsibilities include providing information, conducting technical assistance, and participating in strategic and innovative partnerships.

Office of Community Relations

The Office of Community Relations encourages and facilitates communication between the public and the Illinois EPA. "Public" means individuals, communities, businesses, organizations, other government officials, and anyone else who has a stake in Illinois EPA activities and decisions.

Their objectives are to:

• Ensure that the public receives accurate and timely information about Illinois EPA activities and decision making processes
• Listen to public concerns, convey those concerns to the technical staff, and respond to the public fully and in plain language
• Give the public an opportunity to take part in Illinois EPA decision making

They promote participation and listening on all sides, resulting in better service and decision-making. For some environmental programs, public involvement opportunities are required by law. Community Relations Coordinators fulfill those requirements but go further, working with environmental programs and initiatives where there are no such mandates. They stimulate communication and cooperation among diverse groups that often results in improvements to Illinois EPA activities, programs, and processes.

Community Relations Coordinators have the scientific backgrounds and communication skills necessary to bridge the gap between the technical staff and laypersons. The office has received national recognition for its work in water protection, hazardous waste cleanups, and risk communication.

Office of Compliance Assurance & Environmental Justice

The function of the Office of Compliance Assurance & Environmental Justice is to assist small businesses in complying with the applicable environmental requirements. To assist small businesses, the Small Business Office develops and publishes information specifically for small businesses, opens up channels of communication with small businesses and their associations and organizations, responds to questions from small businesses, and acts as an advocate for the small business community where appropriate. The Small Business Office also works with the bureaus within the Agency to assist in developing programs for small business and in promoting the development of new or alternate programs for the small business community.

Office of Outreach and Policy

Mission: The Office of Outreach and Policy disseminates information and provides support for Illinois EPA’s regulatory policies, and compliance assistance, including environmental education and sustainability initiatives.

Goals:

• Build collaborative relationships within the Agency and externally with other state agencies and affected stakeholders.
• Seek the best outcome while pursuing those objectives that provide both common sense and innovative directions for successful results.
• Review annually the short and long term directions of the program.
• Provide annual summaries of program achievements.

Staff:

• Elmo Dowd – Associate Director
• Richard Breckenridge – Agricultural & Rural Affairs Advisor
• Kristi Morris – Education & Outreach Coordinator
• Deirdre McQuillen – Outreach Coordinator
• Sarah Seelbach – Outreach Coordinator