EPA Alumni Association: 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. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO PEEK YOUR INTEREST.

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Early Implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act

Six former leaders of the Drinking Water Program discuss the first 10 years of implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, the challenges, and the lessons learned.

Chapter 3: International Issues

(9 minutes) From Reflections on US Environmental Policy: Interview with William K. Reilly

Bill Reilly describes the importance he placed on international issues, including Debt for Nature, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, NAFTA's environmental provisions, and assistanc...

Chapter 2: Regulatory Structure of the Clean Air Act of 1970

(13 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 in California

William 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 ...

Chapter 1: A New Approach to a Large Mission but a Small Budget

(14 minutes) From The Underground Storage Tank Program's Early Management Challenges

Ron Brand describes the environmental challenges facing the new program and how they chose a franchising approach for dealing with their large management challenge.

Chapter 1: An Unusual Arrival at EPA

(18 minutes) From Interview with Lee Thomas, EPA's 6th Administrator

Lee Thomas discusses the very unusual circumstances of his arrival at EPA and his subsequent appointment by the President to be the new Administrator of EPA.

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."

The Air We Breathe: A Half Century of Progress

From The Air We Breathe: A Half Century of Progress
Categories: Air: General, Air: Mobile, Air: Stationary

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. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTED ARTICLES FOR YOU TO SAMPLE.

Changes to Speed Hazardous Waste Program

From Dawn of a New Era, Jul. 1983
Categories: Management of Agency, RCRA, Solid Waste, States, Superfund

The Idea Behind Clean Sites, Inc. by Charles W . Powers

From Controlling Hazardous Waste, Oct. 1984

Are Water Purifiers Worthwhile?

From Skiing and the Environment, Purer Drinking Water, Feb. 1977
Categories: Water: Drinking

EPA's Purpose

From Learning Pesticide Safety, Oct. 1977
Categories: Public, The

Books & Articles by Alumni

Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.

Historical Documents

Some documents have made a big difference in the direction that EPA has taken through the years. Here we present some of them.

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History of the EPA — As Only We Alumni Can Tell It!