Environmental Protection Agency Region 10

Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
Agency name	Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
Formed	1970
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington
Jurisdiction	Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Pacific Islands
Parent agency	United States Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 is the Pacific Northwest regional office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, coordinating federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act programs across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and affiliated Pacific Islands. The regional office is based in Seattle, Washington and interacts with state executives such as the Governor of Alaska, the Governor of Idaho, the Governor of Oregon, and the Governor of Washington, as well as with tribal authorities like the Federally recognized tribes in Alaska and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Overview

Region 10 implements federal statutes including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act within a geography that spans continental and insular jurisdictions. It administers programs tied to statutes like the Endangered Species Act and coordinates with agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service to address transboundary issues like salmon restoration, marine pollution, and permafrost thaw. Region 10 staff liaise with federal offices including the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services for emergencies and long-term planning.

Jurisdiction and Organization

The Region 10 territory covers the state governments of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, plus insular areas and tribal lands such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia for certain programs. Organizational units mirror national programs: Air Program offices administer Clean Air Act implementation and coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation; Water Program offices implement the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act; Waste and Chemical programs enforce Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Toxic Substances Control Act requirements. The regional director reports to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and interacts with congressional delegations including members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives from Pacific Northwest states.

Programs and Initiatives

Region 10 runs remediation initiatives under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act such as Superfund site cleanups including projects interacting with the Hanford Site and urban brownfield redevelopment tied to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Water quality programs coordinate with the Puget Sound Partnership, the Columbia River Basin, and the Yukon River Basin for habitat restoration, salmon recovery under the Endangered Species Act, and hazardous runoff reduction tied to National Estuary Program work. Air quality efforts address regional issues including wildfire smoke intersecting with the National Interagency Fire Center and cross-border transport with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Pollution prevention and chemical safety initiatives leverage the Toxics Release Inventory and partnerships with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health monitoring.

Environmental Enforcement and Compliance

Enforcement actions invoke authorities from statutes like the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act against entities including industrial facilities, ports such as the Port of Seattle, and mining operations in areas tied to the Kennecott Mine history and the Bunker Hill Mine complex. Region 10 conducts inspections, issues administrative orders, negotiates consent decrees filed in federal courts including the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, and collaborates with the Department of Justice on criminal referrals. Compliance assistance and permitting engage state agencies such as the Washington Department of Ecology, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Regional Partnerships and Community Engagement

Region 10 partners with tribal governments like the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Villages, the Makah Tribe, and the Tulalip Tribes on co-management of natural resources, environmental justice projects, and drinking water improvements funded through interagency mechanisms including the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Community outreach collaborates with nonprofit organizations such as the The Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society of Portland, and regional institutions like the University of Washington, Oregon State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Idaho State University for monitoring, science, and student engagement. Cross-border and international cooperation engages the Government of British Columbia, the Province of British Columbia, and Pacific partnerships like the Pacific Islands Forum to address marine debris, climate resilience, and invasive species.

History and Notable Actions

Since its establishment following the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, Region 10 has overseen notable actions such as Superfund responses at the Gold King Mine discharge incident, remediation in the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site, and oversight of cleanup at the Hanford Site plutonium-production complex in collaboration with the Department of Energy. The region has been involved in litigation and settlements with corporations including cases related to the Kennecott Copper Corporation and historic lead contamination connected to the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex. Region 10 has advanced policy pilot programs on tribal co-regulatory frameworks, engaged in disaster response after events like the Mount St. Helens eruption and major wildfire seasons, and contributed to regional initiatives such as the Puget Sound Partnership and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Category:United States Environmental Protection Agency regions