United States Environmental Protection Agency

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and with safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. The EPA began operation on December 2, 1970, when it was established by President Richard Nixon. It is led by its Administrator, who is appointed by the President of the United States. The EPA is not a Cabinet agency, but the Administrator is normally given cabinet rank. The current Administrator (as of 2006) is Stephen L. Johnson.

Contents

[edit] Overview

EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The EPA comprises 18,000 people in headquarters program offices, 10 regional offices, and 17 laboratories across the country. The EPA employs a highly educated, technically trained staff, more than half of whom are engineers, scientists, and environmental protection specialists. A large number of employees are legal, public affairs, financial, and computer specialists.

The EPA provides leadership in the nation's environmental science, research, education, and assessment efforts. The EPA works closely with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and Native American tribes to develop and enforce regulations under existing environmental laws. The EPA is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs and delegates to states and tribes responsibility for issuing permits, and monitoring and enforcing compliance. Where national standards are not met, the EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist the states and tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental quality. The Agency also works with industries and all levels of government in a wide variety of voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts.

[edit] History

In July of 1970, the law that established the EPA was passed in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land, spurred by such scandals as the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the federal government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which harm human health and degrade the environment. The EPA was assigned the task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and to establish new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality.

[edit] Programs

[edit] Energy Star

Main article: Energy Star

In 1992 the EPA launched the Energy Star program, a voluntary program that fosters energy efficiency; in 2006 EPA launched WaterSense to similarly foster water efficiency. EPA also administers the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (which is much older than the agency) and registers all pesticides legally sold in the United States. It is also responsible for reviewing projects of other federal agencies' Environmental Impact Statements under NEPA.

[edit] Fuel economy testing and results

American automobile manufacturers are required to use EPA fuel economy test results to advertise the gas mileage of their vehicles, and the manufacturers are disallowed from providing results from alternate sources. The fuel economy is calculated using the emissions data collected during 2 of the vehicle's Clean Air Act certification tests, by measuring the total volume of carbon captured from the exhaust during the test. This calculated fuel economy is then adjusted downward by 10% city and 22% highway to compensate for changes in driving conditions since 1972.

The current testing system was developed in 1972, and is a simulation of rush-hour Los Angeles of that era. Prior to 1984, the EPA did not adjust the fuel economy downward, and instead used the exact fuel economy figures calculated from the test. In January 2006, the EPA proposed new test methods to improve fuel economy and emission estimates, which would take effect with model year 2008 vehicles [1], setting the precedent of a 12 year review cycle on the test procedures.

As of the 2000s, most motor vehicle users report significantly lower real-world fuel economy than the EPA rating; this problem is most evident in hybrid vehicles. This is mainly because of drastic changes in typical driving habits and condtions which have occurred in the decades since the tests were implemented. For example, the average speed of the 1972 "highway" test is a mere 48 mph, with a top speed of 60 mph. It is expected that when the 2008 test methods are implemented, city estimates for non-hybrid cars will drop by 10-20%, city estimates for hybrid cars will drop by 20-30%, and highway estimates for all cars will drop by 5-15%[2].

In February 2005, the organization launched a program called "Your MPG" that allows drivers to add real-world fuel economy statistics into a database on the EPA's fuel economy website and compare them with others and the original EPA test results.

[edit] Air quality and air pollution

The Air Quality Modeling Group (AQMG) is in the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and provides leadership and direction on the full range of air quality models, air pollution dispersion models and other mathematical simulation techniques used in assessing pollution control strategies and the impacts of air pollution sources.

The AQMG serves as the focal point on air pollution modeling techniques for other EPA headquarters staff, EPA regional Offices, and State and local environmental agencies. It coordinates with the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) on the development of new models and techniques, as well as wider issues of atmospheric research. Finally, the AQMG conducts modeling analyses to support the policy and regulatory decisions of the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS).

The AQMG is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

[edit] Libraries

On September 20, 2006, the EPA posted a notice to the Federal Register that EPA Headquarters Library would close its doors to walk-in patrons and visitors on October 1, 2006.[1]

The EPA is also closing many of its regional libraries.[2]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] DDT ban

In the 1970's the EPA banned DDT for its harmful effects on ecosystems, especially birds. [citation needed]. Studies in the intervening years have solidified the belief that while its effect on humans and primates is mild at worst [citation needed], DDT has a very heavy impact on aquatic life and the avian populations which feed on them.

Recently, Scientific American made a cautious endorsement of its use as an indoor insecticide when sprayed on walls. [citation needed] This is possible given that DDT does not break down indoors in the way it will outdoors, and also lower amounts used indoors as compared to the hundreds of pounds used in outdoor spraying.

[edit] Mercury emissions

In March of 2005, 9 states, California, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Mexico and Vermont, sued the EPA. The EPA's inspector general had determined that the EPA's regulation of mercury emissions did not follow the Clean Air Act, and that the regulations were influenced by top political appointees.[3][4] The EPA had suppressed a study it commissioned by Harvard University which contradicted its position on mercury controls[5]. The suit alleges that the EPA's rule allowing exemption from "maximum available control technology" was illegal, and additionally charged that the EPA's system of pollution credit trading allows power plants to forego reducing mercury emissions.[6] Several states also began to enact their own mercury emission regulations. In one of the most stringent examples, Illinois' proposed rule would reduce mercury emissions from power plants by an average of 90% by 2009, with no trading allowed.[7]

[edit] 9/11 Air ratings

See EPA 9/11 pollution controversy

[edit] Climate change

In June 2005, a memo revealed Philip Cooney, former chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and former lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute, had personally edited climate change documents before their release.[8]

Cooney resigned two days after the memo was published in the New York Times. Cooney said he had been planning to resign for over two years, implying the timing of his resignation was just a coincidence. Specifically, he said he had planned to resign to "spend time with his family."[9] One week after resigning he took a job at Exxon Mobil in their public affairs department. [10]

[edit] Fuel economy

In July of 2005, an EPA report showing that auto companies were using loopholes to produce less fuel-efficient cars was delayed. The report was supposed to be released the day before a controversial energy bill was passed and would have provided backup for those opposed to it, but at the last minute the EPA delayed its release.[11]


[edit] EPA regional offices

Each EPA regional office is responsible within its states for implementing the Agency's programs, except those programs that have been specifically delegated to states.

Each regional office also implements programs on Indian Tribal lands, except those programs delegated to Tribal authorities.

[edit] List of EPA administrators

1970–1973 William D. Ruckelshaus
1973–1977 Russell E. Train
1977–1981 Douglas M. Costle
1981–1983 Anne M. Gorsuch (Burford)
1983–1985 William D. Ruckelshaus
1985–1989 Lee M. Thomas
1989–1993 William K. Reilly
1993–2001 Carol M. Browner
2001–2003 Christine Todd Whitman
2003–2005 Michael O. Leavitt
2005— Stephen L. Johnson

[edit] Related legislation

The legislation here is general environmental protection legislation, and may also apply to other units of the government, including the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.

[edit] Air

[edit] Water

[edit] Land

[edit] Endangered species

[edit] Hazardous waste

[edit] See also

US Government offices in Environmental sciences
EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
DOI - United States Department of the Interior 
NPS - National Park Service 
FWS - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
BIA - Bureau of Indian Affairs 
BLM - Bureau of Land Management
MMS - Minerals Management Service
OSM - Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement
USGS - U.S. Geological Survey
BR - Bureau of Reclamation
OIA - Office of Insular Affairs
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture 
Extension Service of the USDA
FSA - Farm Service Agency 
FAS - Foreign Agricultural Service 
RMA - Risk Management Agency 
FSIS - Food Safety Inspection Service 
FS - Forest Service 
NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service 
RBS - Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
OCD - Office of Community Development 
RHS - Rural Housing Service 
RUS - Rural Utilities Service 
FNS - Food and Nutrition Service 
CNPP - Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 
AMS - Agricultural Marketing Service 
APHIS - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
GIPSA - Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
ARS - Agricultural Research Service 
CSREES - Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
ERS - Economic Research Service 
NASS - National Agricultural Statistics Service 
ASCS - Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
NWS - National Weather Service 
NOS - National Ocean Service 
NGS - National Geodetic Survey 
NESDIS - National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Service 
OAR - Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
DOE - Department of Energy 
EERE - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
EIA - Energy Information Administration
FERC - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
BER - Biological and Environmental Research
EM - Office of Environmental Management

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Notification of Closure of the EPA Headquarters Library" (pdf), September 20, 2006
  2. ^ Letter to Appropriations Committee, Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee, June 29, 2006 (pdf), from leaders of 16 local EPA unions
  3. ^ Proposed Mercury Rules Bear Industry Mark, Washington Post, January 31, 2004
  4. ^ EPA Inspector Finds Mercury Proposal Tainted, Washington Post, February 4, 2005
  5. ^ New EPA Mercury Rule Omits Conflicting Data, Washington Post, March 22, 2005
  6. ^ States Sue EPA Over Mercury Emissions, LA Times, March 30, 2005
  7. ^ Governor Blagojevich and Illinois EPA Propose Aggressive Mercury Controls For Illinois Power Plants, Environmental Progress, Spring 2006, page 12
  8. ^ U.S. Official Edited Warming, Emission Link - Report, Reuters, June 8, 2005
  9. ^ White House Official Resigns After Climate Documents Flap, Agence France Presse, June 12, 2005
  10. ^ Ex-White House environment official joins Exxon, Reuters, June 15, 2005
  11. ^ E.P.A. Holds Back Report on Car Fuel Efficiency, New York Times, July 28, 2005

[edit] External links

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