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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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 3: Implementation (Standards, Regions, and States)
(18 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act How Headquarters, Regions, and States worked together.
Chapter 2: Search for an Effective Clean-up Method
(6 minutes) From The Anthrax Cleanup on Capitol HillThe response team devises sampling protocols, finds and registers an effective pesticide, and designs and tests a delivery system that is safe and effective in a modern office buil...
Chapter 5: EPA Leadership and Staff
(3 minutes) From Reflections on US Environmental Policy: Interview with William K. ReillyBill Reilly discusses how his view of the EPA staff changed (in a favorable direction) once he arrived at the Agency. He also discusses his approach to choosing the Agency's political lea...
Chapter 1: Introduction and Background of the Development of Clean Air Legislation in the U.S.
(10 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 in CaliforniaDave Calkins summarizes the early history of air pollution control in the U.S. and the early Clean Air Acts that led to the passage of the landmark 1970 Clean Air Act. William Ruckelshaus tal...
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. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTED ARTICLES FOR YOU TO SAMPLE.
Growing Concern About Gasoline Vapors by Rita A. Calvan
From Protecting Our Air, Sep. 1984Categories: Air: Mobile, Health
Protecting Public Health by Douglas M. Costle
From Health and the Environment, Mar. 1979Categories: Budget, Health, Management of Agency, Research, Toxics
Action on Hazardous Wastes by Barbara Blum
From Recreation and the Environment, Jun. 1979Categories: Budget, Enforcement, Health, Policy and Planning, Toxics
A Skeptical Twist by Jane S. Shaw and Richard L. Stroup
From Post-Rio: The Challenge at Home, Sep. 1992Categories: Economic Impact
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 4. Explaining Risks to an Aroused Public
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
Index (for detailed searching)
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. OgeHistorical Documents
Some documents have made a big difference in the direction that EPA has taken through the years. Here we present some of them.
First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970
From First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970
Reorganization Plan that Created EPA
From Reorganization Plan that Created EPA
White House Fact Sheet re Creation of EPA
From White House Fact Sheet re Creation of EPA
Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
From Creation of EPA: Message to CongressSearch all history files.
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Headline Media, Bob Bell (Developer), Nicole Lane (Developer), and Chuck Elkins & Barry Gilbert (Members)
Headline Media, Bob Bell (Developer), Nicole Lane (Developer), and Chuck Elkins & Barry Gilbert (Members)