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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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 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 3: Running an Independent Program within a Larger Agency.

(18 minutes) From The Underground Storage Tank Program's Early Management Challenges

How the UST program ran relatively independently plus Ron Brand's suggestions for "lessons learned."

Chapter 1: Introduction: A New Challenge for EPA

(10 minutes) From The Anthrax Cleanup on Capitol Hill

Working under severe time pressure and under intense scrutiny by a nation still reeling from the 9/11 attacks just one week earlier, EPA and an interagency task force are given a challenge never be...

Chapter 2: Regulatory Structure of the Clean Air Act of 1970

(13 minutes) From Early Implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 in California

William Ruckelshaus describes the new CAA's extreme measures and deadlines. John Wise describes the air quality standards, stationary and mobile source control requirements. Dave Calkins ...

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."

Toxic Substances: A Half Century of Progress

From Toxic Substances: A Half Century of Progress
Categories: Toxics

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.

Reducing Existing Pollution

From Earth Day 1995: The 25th Anniversary, Jan. 1995
Categories: Air: General, Air: Stationary, Climate, RCRA, Water: General

Chemical Waste Cleanup

From Chemicals and the Environment, Nov. 1981
Categories: Enforcement, Industry, Toxics

Carol Browner on EPA's Priorities

From Sustainable Development: Linkages and Partnerships for the Developing World, Apr. 1993
Categories: Management of Agency, Prevention

Other Waterways

From State of the Environment, Jan. 1980
Categories: Water: General

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!