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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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 2: The Scientific, Technical and Political Challenges
(21 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Safe Drinking Water ActChallenges faced in starting up the program, especially in standard-setting.
Chapter 1: Beginning a New Agency
(13 minutes) From Bill Ruckelshaus and some of his closest aides recall the Opening Months of the New Agency in 1970The panel discusses the sense of excitement with the opening of the Agency's doors and the expectations of the public. They talk about getting the Assistant Administrators on board and establis...
Chapter 4: Crossing the Finish Line
(9 minutes) From The Anthrax Cleanup on Capitol HillSurviving challenges ranging from hidden rooms to sudden containment breaches to emergency, middle-of-the-night forays to Home Depot, the clean-up team delivers and the Senate office buildings reop...
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.
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."
Half Century of Progress: Overview
From Half Century of Progress: OverviewCategories: Air: General, Air: Mobile, Air: Stationary, Enforcement, International, Pesticides, Regions, Solid Waste, States, Superfund, Toxics, 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.
Let's Reform a Failed Food Safety Regime by Al Meyerhoff
From Profiles in Risk Assessment: New Science, New Contexts, Jan. 1993Categories: Pesticides
A Skeptic Speaks Out by Richard S. Lindzen
From The Greenhouse Effect: What Can We Do About It?, Mar. 1990Categories: Climate
Today's Change, Tomorrow's Improvement: Trends in Regulation
From Pesticides and the Consumer, May. 1987Categories: Industry, Pesticides
Books & Articles by Alumni
Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.
Chapter 7. The Greening of Industry
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
Chapter 10. Living with Toxic Risks
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 5: Cleaning Up the Wastes of an Industrial Economy
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
Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
From Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
Reorganization Plan that Created EPA
From Reorganization Plan that Created 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
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