About EPA

About the Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

What We Do

OPA is the primary office for all EPA communications. The Associate Administrator for Public Affairs is the principal advisor to the Administrator on all issues concerning short-term and long-term strategic communications. OPA:

  • prepares speeches for the Administrator and senior managers,
  • serves as the principal news media gateway for official agency announcements, press releases and statements, speeches, Congressional and public hearing testimony, biographies of principal officers, and other documents of public interest,
  • coordinates the agency's external message for emergency response activities,
  • serves as the agency-wide point of contact for the planning, developing, and reviewing of all agency print, promotional, display, audiovisual and broadcast products (other than news and web-based products) intended for the public,
  • directs agency multilingual outreach and communications efforts,
  • manages EPA's web content, including content on epa.gov and in new social media, and
  • communicates with EPA personnel on a variety of topics.

Programs and Projects Managed by OPA

Mail code: 1701A | EPA mailing addresses
Location:  EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OPA Organization

Frank Benenati, Associate Administrator

Melissa Harrison, Deputy Associate Administrator

  • Phone: 202-564-8368

George Hull, Acting Principal Deputy Associate Administrator

  • Phone: 202-564-4455

The Office of Public Affairs includes:

  • Office of Internal Communications
    Sarah Sowell, Acting Director
  • Office of Media Relations
    Julia Valentine, Acting Director 
  • Office of Multimedia
    Ron Slotkin, Director
  • Office of the Press Secretary
    Monica Lee, Press Secretary
  • Office of Web Communications
    Danny Hart, Director

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

About EPA