Week 2 at the EPA: SIPs and Smiles

Written by UNC MPA

Welcome back to my blog! This week, I learned a lot about the organizational culture of the EPA. Like any large organization, the EPA sometimes experiences challenges such as breakdown in communication channels and competing values. However, this week I discovered what makes the organization so successful, and its the people that work there!

I am constantly seeing new faces, learning about different roles, and forgetting the name of the person whose hand I just shook. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I am extremely grateful for every interaction–large or small–because everyone is just so nice. The career public servants at the EPA are intelligent, kind, supportive, passionate, and genuinely good people. I spent this week realizing that the EPA is filled with employees who care about the work they do and the people they work with, which is the perfect recipe for an enjoyable and productive work environment. From the moment I set foot on campus, there is always a smiling face wishing me a Happy Friday or offering to discuss the latest SIP proposal. Whether it is a friendly “Good Morning!” at the security checkpoints (of which there are many) or a weekly check-in with my boss, everyone offers support and guidance in any capacity that they can.

When I was not in awe of the incredible people that I work with, I was looking over the latest SIP proposals. State Implementation Plans or SIPs are plans that each state must develop to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established by the Clean Air Act. The EPA is responsible for reviewing these SIPs, approving or denying them, and offering guidance regarding their substance. The latest SIP proposals can be found in the Federal Register and approved revisions can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations! SIPs are extremely complex and important, so nearly every day we are on the phone with the Office of General Counsel (OGC), which is an entire office dedicated to legal guidance and representation for the EPA. If you are ever curious to learn about the actions your state is taking to protect its air quality, check out its SIP at: www.epa.gov