Jeffrey Lape

Biography:

Jeff’s passion for water resources began with transformational experiences growing up on Lake George and Lake Champlain.

Jeff has devoted his entire 45-year career to the protection and restoration of water resources and the environment, at the watershed scale, local, state, and Federal levels of government, and in the private sector.

In the ‘70s, Jeff designed and implemented a water quality monitoring program to assess land use impacts on water quality in Corbeau Creek watershed and supported early public engagement efforts for the Lake Champlain Basin Study.

With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Jeff was a member of the Senior Executive Service and held positions including: Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program; Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Law Office; Deputy Director of the Office of Science and Technology; and Director (acting) of the Water Permits Division.  Jeff was the architect and principal author of numerous national Clean Water Act regulations, policies, action plans and reports to Congress.

As Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, Jeff represented, facilitated, and coordinated the restoration and protection efforts of twelve Federal Agencies, six States, the District of Columbia and many public and private partners across the 64,000 square mile watershed. He oversaw an annual EPA appropriation of $40 million.

He has also supported water resource protection efforts with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and with three private sector consulting firms.

Research Interests/Expertise:

• Water resources management
• Watershed restoration and protection
• Innovative technology and transformational change
• Septic systems, onsite systems, and regional wastewater/water management
• Public engagement and empowerment
• Certified scuba diver since 1974

Active Memberships/Societies:

• Water Environment Federation (Life Member)

Notable Publications:

• National Water Reuse Action Plan (U.S. EPA 2020)
• Water Technology and Innovation Blueprint (U.S. EPA 2014)
• Strengthening the Management, Coordination and Accountability of the Chesapeake Bay Program – Report to Congress (Chesapeake Bay Program 2008)
• Chesapeake Partnership – State of the Program (Chesapeake Bay Program 2007-2010)
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Final Rule (U.S. EPA 2001)
• NPDES Permit Program Strategic Plan (U.S. EPA 2001)
• USDA-EPA Unified Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations (U.S. EPA 1999)
• National Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy (U.S. EPA 1994)