History of the EPA
Below we serve up glimpses of EPA's history in five different "flavors":
Oral History Videos
Alumni have recorded videos on a variety of subjects. Most videos are 45 to 60 minutes in length but are broken down into chapters for easier viewing. Transcripts and podcast versions of these videos are also provided.
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The Underground Storage Tank Program's Early Management Challenges
First Director Ron Brand describes unique ways that the new program met its environmental and management challenges.
Chapter 5: The Future of Environmental Protection
(14 minutes) From Interview with James (Jim) SeifSeif discusses the future of EPA and environmental regulation, and the steps he would take to address the agency’s most important political and management challenges.
Chapter 1: Major Elements of the Legislation and their Historical Context
(33 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Safe Drinking Water ActIn this chapter the panelists discuss the context for the passage of the legislation and the major components of the program.
Chapter 5: Lessons Learned at EPA
(10 minutes) From Former Deputy Administrator Hank Habicht talks about management at EPAHank Habicht lists some major lessons learned about managing the EPA, including SES rotations, "turf" problems, and the value of good science and team work.
Chapter 2: Regulatory Structure of the Clean Air Act of 1970
(13 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 in CaliforniaWilliam Ruckelshaus describes the new CAA's extreme measures and deadlines. John Wise describes the air quality standards, stationary and mobile source control requirements. Dave Calkins ...
Half Century of Environmental Progress
High school and college students as well as others may not know about the major environmental problems and issues encountered in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century, how they were addressed, and the importance of continued vigilance in attacking remaining and evolving issues. This history of EPA has been written for them."
Reducing Pesticide Risks: A Half Century of Progress
From Reducing Pesticide Risks: A Half Century of ProgressCategories: Pesticides
EPA Journals
For many years, EPA published the "EPA Journal" with interesting articles on a very wide variety of topics. The Association is slowly digitizing and categorizing these Journals. To date we have digitized 3034 articles.
Appointments
From Saving the Nation's Great Water Bodies, Nov. 1990Categories: Management of Agency
Easy on the Salt by Peter Acly
From Skiing and the Environment, Purer Drinking Water, Feb. 1977Categories: Research, Water: Drinking
Environmental Almanac: February, 1981: Cathedral Hemlocks
From Global Perspectives, Feb. 1981
Update
From Waste Alert!, Feb. 1979Categories: Air: Mobile, Children, Enforcement, Industry, Pesticides, Solid Waste, Toxics, Water: Drinking
Books & Articles by Alumni
Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.
Before Earth Day: The Origins of American Environmental Law, 1945-1970 by Karl Brooks
From Before Earth Day: The Origins of American Environmental Law, 1945-1970 by Karl Brooks
Chapter 5: Cleaning Up the Wastes of an Industrial Economy
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
Driving the Future: Combating Climate Chagne with Cleaner, Smarker Cars by Margo Oge
From Driving the Future: Combating Climate Change with Cleaner, Smarter Cars by Margo T. Oge
Chapter 2. Controlling 3000 chemicals: One by One
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerHistorical Documents
Some documents have made a big difference in the direction that EPA has taken through the years. Here we present some of them.
Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
From Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
Interview with Alvin Alm in 1993
From Interview of Alvin Alm January 1994Categories: Congress, Economic Impact, Enforcement, Management of Agency, OMB, Other Federal Agencies
Reorganization Plan that Created EPA
From Reorganization Plan that Created EPA
First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970
From First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970Search all history files.
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