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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Reflections on US Environmental Policy: Interview with William K. Reilly
Former Administrator Bill Reilly talks about his arrival at EPA, his agenda at EPA, his focus on international issues, his changing view of EPA staff, and challenges that EPA faces. This interview was produced by two alumni, Dan Fiorino and Gordon Binder, under the auspices of the School of Public Affairs at American University.
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...
Chapter 3: Congressional Approval and the Start Up of the New Agency
(22 minutes) From Behind the Scenes at the Creation of EPA in 1970Chuck Elkins tells of the Congressional hearings that approved the creation of EPA and describes the heady opening days at EPA in 1970 and 1971.
Chapter 1: A Public and Private Sector Career in Environmental Protection
(9 minutes) From Interview with James (Jim) SeifJim Seif discusses the origins of his commitment to environmental protection and how this and his political activism have shaped his career
Chapter 1: A New Approach to a Large Mission but a Small Budget
(14 minutes) From The Underground Storage Tank Program's Early Management ChallengesRon Brand describes the environmental challenges facing the new program and how they chose a franchising approach for dealing with their large management challenge.
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.
The Quest for Alternative Technologies
From The New Superfund: Protecting People and Their Environment, Jan. 1987Categories: Superfund
Quenching the World's Thirst
From Skiing and the Environment, Purer Drinking Water, Feb. 1977Categories: International, Water: Drinking
Update
From Cities and the Environment, May. 1988Categories: Air: General, Air: Mobile, Enforcement, States, Toxics, Water: General
Books & Articles by Alumni
Some of the most detailed history of EPA is contained in books and articles written by alumni.
Cleaning up America: An Insider's View of EPA by John Quarles
From Cleaning up America: An Insider's View of EPA by John Quarles
Chapter 6. The States Begin to Take Charge
From Borrowed Earth, Borrowed Time: Healing America's Chemical Wounds by Glenn E. SchweitzerCategories: Toxics
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 7. The Greening of Industry
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.
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
First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970
From First Presidential Environmental Message (Nixon) 1970
Creation of EPA: Message to Congress
From Creation of EPA: Message to CongressSearch all history files.
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