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.
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Interview with James (Jim) Seif
Jim Seif, former Regional Administrator in EPA’s Region 3 and Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection discusses his experiences during a 45-year career in environmental regulation.
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 2: Chernobyl's Radiation Emergency
(8 minutes) From Interview with Lee Thomas, EPA's 6th AdministratorLee Thomas describes his being put in charge of handling the consequences for the United States of the Chernobyl Radiation Emergency in the Soviet Union.
Chapter 4: Leadership Management within EPA
(18 minutes) From Former Deputy Administrator Hank Habicht talks about management at EPAHank Habicht explores his and Bill Reilly's approach to fostering leadership within EPA, including their successful division of labor between them.
Chapter 2: How EPA was Created using Reorganization Plan #3
(10 minutes) From Behind the Scenes at the Creation of EPA in 1970Chuck Elkins tells why certain programs were chosen to be moved to the new Agency and why others were left behind.
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."
Superfund: A Half Century of Progress
From Superfund: A Half Century of ProgressCategories: Superfund
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.
Agriculture and the Environment
From Farmers and the Environment, Mar. 1978Categories: Pesticides, Water: Drinking
Communicating Risk to a Concerned Public by Milton Russell
From Financing the Next Generation of Wastewater Treatment, Nov. 1986Categories: Public, The
Update
From Environment and the Law, Jun. 1980Categories: Air: General, CEQ, Management of Agency, Other Federal Agencies, Radiation, Research, Toxics
Chronicle: London's Historic "Pea Soupers" by David Urbinato
From Clean Water Agenda: Remaking the Laws that Protect Our Water Resources, Jun. 1994Categories: Air: General, International
Books & Articles by Alumni
Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.
A History of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quaity Standards by John Bachmann
From A History of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards by John Bachmann
Chapter 9. The Power and Limitations of Science and Technology
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
Chapter 8. Exceeding the Absorptive Limits of the Global Commons
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
Chapter 4. Explaining Risks to an Aroused Public
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: 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.
White House Fact Sheet re Creation of EPA
From White House Fact Sheet re Creation of EPA
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
Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
From Creation of EPA: Message to CongressSearch all history files.
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