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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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 2: The Scientific, Technical and Political Challenges

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

Challenges faced in starting up the program, especially in standard-setting.

Chapter 4: Public-Private Relations

(15 minutes) From Interview with James (Jim) Seif

Seif describes what he sees as unalterable cultural differences between the public and private sectors, discusses how both parties could benefit from working together, and outlines some ways to red...

Chapter 3: Working Against an Immovable Deadline

(8 minutes) From The Anthrax Cleanup on Capitol Hill

Working seven days a week and 18 hours a day while overcoming obstacles ranging from hidden rooms to sudden breaches in containment, the response team begins the clean-up. Among the big...

Chapter 1: An Unusual Arrival at EPA

(18 minutes) From Interview with Lee Thomas, EPA's 6th Administrator

Lee Thomas discusses the very unusual circumstances of his arrival at EPA and his subsequent appointment by the President to be the new Administrator of EPA.

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."

Waste Management: A Half Century of Progress

From Waste Management: A Half Century of Progress
Categories: RCRA

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.

Invisible Threat, Invisible Resource: Underground Tanks Contaminate Groundwater by Susan Tejada

From Strengthening the Federal-State Partnership, Jan. 1984
Categories: Industry, Policy and Planning, RCRA, States, Superfund, Toxics, Water: Drinking

Watching the Salt by Eddie Lee

From EPA and the Farmers, Apr. 1976
Categories: Research, Water: General

Around the Nation

From Education and the Environment, Jan. 1981
Categories: Enforcement, Policy and Planning, RCRA, Regions, States

Interior and the Environment by Cecil Andrus

From The Federal Effort, Sep. 1980
Categories: Congress, Other Federal Agencies, States, Tribes

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!