On June 10, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Ken Kopocis to the position of Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
RCAP receives an annual grant from EPA, which makes up part of RCAP's operations budget. With these EPA funds, RCAP employs technical assistance providers across the country who assist small, rural communities with their technical, managerial and financial needs related to their water and wastewater systems at no charge to the communities because of EPA's support. The Office of Water is the main way RCAP relates to EPA.
Kopocis has been the Senior Counsel on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since 2008. From 2006-2008, he served as the Deputy Staff Director for Infrastructure on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From 1993-2006, Kopocis was the Staff Director and Senior Counsel for the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. From 1985-1993, he served as Assistant Counsel on the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Kopocis has worked on water issues in Congress for more than 25 years, and has played a role in crafting and defending numerous pieces of environmental legislation, including the Clean Water Act. He also previously served as an attorney in the Government Accountability Office and at the General Services Administration. Kopocis holds a B.S. from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a J.D. from the College of William and Mary.