Behind the Scenes at the Creation of EPA in 1970

Chuck Elkins tells why certain programs were chosen to be moved to the new Agency and why others were left behind.

Audio Track - Chapter 2 - 10 minutes

In this chapter Chuck Elkins discusses how the various programs were combined under a Reorganization Plan and how decisions were made about which programs (and people) to include in EPA and which ones to leave behind in their individual Departments.

THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS

The individual "chapters" of the discussion are available for viewing individually as is the complete interview (48 minutes).

Chapter 1: The Public and Social Context for the Creation of EPA (16 minutes)

Chuck Elkins describes events leading to President Nixon's decision to create EPA and details the  status of environmental programs at time of EPA's creation.

Chapter 2: How EPA was Created using Reorganization Plan #3 (10 minutes)

Chuck Elkins tells why certain programs were chosen to be moved to the new Agency and why others were left behind.

Chapter 3: Congressional Approval and the Start Up of the New Agency (22 minutes)

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.

THE INTERVIEW AS A WHOLE (48 minutes)

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.

The introduction to the interview is as follows:

In 1970 Chuck Elkins worked in the Office of Management and Budget where he was the budget examiner for many of the programs that became part of EPA. Early that year he was detailed to serve as Deputy Director of the effort within the President’s Council that was developing a reorganization to create EPA. In this interview Chuck gives us a behind the scenes view of the public and social context, the process by which EPA was created, , and the early days of the Agency as the doors opened.

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