2. Origins of an Agency 60’s Environmental issues came to forefront Silent Spring by Rachel Carson highlighted dangers of pesticides “Conservation” became a commonly used term-trees and wildlife replaced around country 1969- Nixon est. Environmental Quality Committee NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) passed in January of ‘70. April 22nd 1970- first Earth Day celebration
3. Establishment of the EPA December 1970- Agency officially opened in D.C. Primary Goals: Enforce environmental standards, conduct research, combat pollution, develop new policies for environmental protection Redistributed Powers from other agencies Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare: National Air Pollution Control, Water Hygiene and Solid Waste Management FDA: pesticide control levels Dept. of Interior: Federal Water Quality and pesticide research
4.
5. To create communities and ecosystems that are diverse, sustainable, and economically productive
6. To ensure that federal laws protecting human health and the environment are enforced fairly and effectively
7.
8. Leadership Administrator Lisa Jackson Masters in Chemical Engineering from Princeton Heads 17,000 employees First African American to serve as EPA administrator EPA staff member for 16 years before assuming administrative position Focus on vulnerable groups- children, elderly, and low income
9. Structure 12 Offices at Headquarters- issue specific Office of Air and Radiation Office of Chemical Safety Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Office of Water Office of International and Tribal Affairs Office of Research and Development 10 Regional Offices
10. 1- Boston 5- Chicago 8-Denver 7- Kansas City 10- Seattle 2- New York 9-San Francisco 3- Philadelphia 4- Atlanta 6- Dallas
11. Legislation Clean Air Act- defines EPA’s responsibilities to protect nation’s air quality and the ozone layer, amended in 1990 to provide for corporations and alternative fuel Clean Water Act- basic regulations for pollutant levels in water and set standards for quality of water, originally developed in 1948 Toxic Substances Control Act- provides agency with authority to require reports and restrictions on chemicals Resource Conservation and Recovery Act- provides EPA with authority to control hazardous substances from beginning to end
12. Major Projects Virtual Embryo Project: research to better understand how an embryo is affected by exposure to chemicals and environmental factors Greencheck: guidelines for “Green” building procedures, involved in building of all governmental works Clean Energy Program: works with industry and major corporations to ensure
13. EPA Response to BP Oil Spill Monitor air, water, and sediment pollution in gulf Jackson heads ecosystem task force in Gulf Coast Area Toxicity testing monthly Decision maker for how spill is cleaned up Studies on lasting effects of spill
14. Bush &the EPA Environmental enforcement was not primary goal for administration Decreased fines against violators Weakened overall power of EPA However they did: Set new standards for lead and air quality Postpone further gas and oil drilling in Wyoming
15. Obama & the EPA Reduced green house gas emissions from power plants (Changes take effect Jan. 2011), set standards for petroleum refineries Set long term goals for gulf improvement Reduction of surface coal mining Overall attempts to reverse Bush era changes
16. EPA & the Media 1,703 News releases in 2010 Each regional EPA office has its own newsroom BP Spill was big story for EPA in 2010 Recent Headlines: EPA to set greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel emissions Study shows decrease in toxic chemical releases since 2009 Statement on Chromium 6 in drinking water
