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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Behind the Scenes at the Creation of EPA in 1970
As OMB examiner for environmental programs and deputy director of the environmental component of the President's Reorganization Council, Chuck Elkins had a unique close-up view of the key events and decisions involved in the founding of EPA. Chuck provides a behind-the-scenes look at the process of launching the new agency and the social and political context that shaped the key decisions about how EPA was created and configured.
Chapter 1: Growing Up in Wyoming
(5 minutes) From David Dominick, Commissioner of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (1969-1970)David Dominick describes growing up in Wyoming and his developing interest in the environment
Chapter 3: OSWER & Superfund Reauthorization
(8 minutes) From Interview with Lee Thomas, EPA's 6th AdministratorLee Thomas describes his service as the Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response and his work on Superfund Reauthorization.
Chapter 3: State Implementation Planning
(12 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 in CaliforniaJohn Wise lays out the setting for the litigation by the public interest firm. He later discusses how the litigation drove EPA into looking at land use and transportation as a source of measu...
Chapter 3: Running an Independent Program within a Larger Agency.
(18 minutes) From The Underground Storage Tank Program's Early Management ChallengesHow the UST program ran relatively independently plus Ron Brand's suggestions for "lessons learned."
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."
Water Quality: A Half Century of Progress
From Water Quality: A Half Century of ProgressCategories: Water: General
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.
Citizen Groups: A Creative Force by Tom Stoel
From Global Perspectives, Feb. 1981Categories: Conservation, International, Public, The
Helping Minorities Help the Environment by Clarice E. Gaylord and Robert Knox
From Environmental Protection: Has It Been Fair?, Mar. 1992Categories: Education, Management of Agency, Regions, Research
An Urgent Agenda by John Adams
From Post-Rio: The Challenge at Home, Sep. 1992Categories: International
New Farm Law Encourages Cleanup by Wilson Scaling and Milton Hertz
From Tackling Nonpoint Water Pollution, May. 1986Categories: Conservation, Other Federal Agencies, Policy and Planning
Books & Articles by Alumni
Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.
Chapter 2. Controlling 3000 chemicals: One by One
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. Schweitzer
Index (for detailed searching)
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
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 1: Toxic Chemicals Move to Center Stage
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Air: General, Toxics
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.
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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Website Design Team:
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)