FACTS ON U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION FIVE 1 N Wacfcer Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 312-353-5800 Public Affairs Office The Region V Public Affairs Office was established to inform the citizens of the Region of the activities of EPA in its efforts to combat the various forms of pollution covered in its mandate. The Region V PAO is designed to facilitate communications with EPA's publics both within and outside of the Agency. In order to accomplish its goals the PAO is engaged in numerous activities. In the area of press relations, it arranges news conferences, writes and performs follow-up work on news releases, assists media representatives to obtain information, and helps the press in covering events and activities related to EPA efforts, In addition to maintaining an up-to-date list of persons in the Agency available for speaking engagements and arranging these engagements, the members of the PAO staff participate in the public speaking program. The PAO is responsible for initiating and developing all publications which are published by Region V and for disseminating all publications emanating from Region V offices, whether they are developed at the national or regional level. The office publishes a public report and an internal newsletter on a regular basis. Public Affairs is directly responsible for the liaison work with the Region V Youth Activities Board which provides youth-oriented input to the Agency at the Regional level. Also, PAO publishes the monthly Youth Activ- ities Board Newsletter. Further liaison responsibilities include work with environmentally oriented citizen groups located in the six states within Region V1 s juris- diction. PAO develops and maintains mailing lists which include Region V news media, citizens groups, government officials, educational institutions, as well as other segments of the population interested in environmental problems. Letters of inquiry are routed to the appropriate Region V divisions and the district offices so that answers may be written by officials with the EPA905-F-73-010 ------- >;.x.pertise to give adequate and correct information. Inquiries which can be handled by PAO are answered there. PAO serves as a support division for Region V programs by assisting all dirLsions within the Region V office when they need assistance with projects In she .field of public affairs. The PAO staff regularly visits the public affairs offices of state environmental agencies in the five states in Region V for the purpose of evaluating their public affairs programs and giving them assistance with these programs. Articles for in house publications and the public report as well as for publications published by other institutions and organizations are produced by the staff. Speeches for certain agency officials are also a responsibility. The President's Environmental Merit Awards Program (PEMAP) is administered by PAO, The office is responsible for arranging the presentation of these awards whenever they are made in Region V. A film library is maintained by PAO and films are loaned on written request. Films must be picked up at the Public Affair Office. Telephone callers requesting information about EPA and its activities are directed to PAO which in turn directs the callers to EPA experts whenever expert answers are required. ------- |