The Air and Radiation Division (ARD) is responsible for implementing the Clean Air Act (CAA). The division also serves as the delegated authority for carrying out Administrator actions on State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and designations, including evaluation of SIPs, associated regulations, and oversight of permits. The division is charged with conducting all air program activities except enforcement activities, which are cooperatively managed between the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division and the Office of Regional Counsel.

Specific duties of the Director of ARD include:

• Acting as the Regional Administrator's principal advisor on the CAA.
• Planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and coordinating the regional Air and Radiation Division program.
• Supervising a large multidisciplinary group of EPA employees organized into branches and offices/sections headed by subordinate supervisors.
• Providing leadership to the division in strengthening core programs (i.e., planning, permits, rulemaking, radiation, monitoring and modeling support, and grants) that are grounded in the regulatory authority of the CAA.
• Accomplishing or directing the actions involved in determining the effect of proposed or enacted federal or state legislation, new or proposed program requirements, new or improved technology, emergency situations, court decisions, etc.
• Ensuring that extramural resources, both procurement (contracts) and assistance (grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements), are efficiently and appropriately managed to maximize use of the Agency's resources.
• Accomplishing or directing the actions involved in coordinating the program with internal and external organizations, determining or recommending the compromises to be made, and maintaining effective relations with interested groups. Internal and external organizations include key officials of EPA; other federal agencies, state, local and tribal governments; private industry, environmental organizations, and the public.