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 Clean Air Act of 1970 in California

Three former Region 9 employees (John Wise, Dave Calkins, and David Souten) and Bill Ruckelshaus and Mary Nichols tell the story of how EPA applied the new Clean Air Act of 1970 with its stringent standards and deadlines to the very difficult challenge of cleaning up the most polluted region in the nation--the Los Angeles Air Basin.

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 1970

The 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 2: My Agenda at EPA

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

Bill Reilly describes how he set his agenda at EPA drawing on the advice of the Science Advisory Board regarding the highest priority issues in the Agency including ecology and no-net-loss in wetla...

Chapter 1: Major Elements of the Legislation and their Historical Context

(33 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act

In this chapter the panelists discuss the context for the passage of the legislation and the major components of the program.

Chapter 3: Congressional Approval and the Start Up of the New Agency

(22 minutes) From Behind the Scenes at the Creation of EPA in 1970

Chuck Elkins tells of the Congressional hearings that approved the creation of EPA and describes the heady opening days at EPA in 1970 and 1971.

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.

Letter to the Editor

From The Greenhouse Effect: What Can We Do About It?, Mar. 1990
Categories: Solid Waste

Vacuuming Up the Bags by Steve Bassi

From Pesticides and Food Safety, May. 1990
Categories: Pesticides

EPA, The Auto, and Air Pollution

From Transportation, Feb. 1980
Categories: Air: Mobile, Enforcement, Industry, Policy and Planning

EPA Roundup: More Cities Exceed "Action Level" for Lead in Drinking Water

From Pollution Prevention: It's a Whole New Way of Doing Business..., Jul. 1993
Categories: Lead, Water: Drinking

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!