Guide to the Environmental Protection Agency

As an agency of the United States federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is tasked with the duty of protecting the environment as well as the health of humans throughout the country. Its ability to do this is based on a combination of Congressional mandates and regulations issued by the agency itself. The Supreme Court is responsible for overseeing the legality and parameters of the EPA through court cases. In the late 1960s, a nationwide push for more friendly environmental standards and increased regulations on companies and individuals was prompted by the increased understanding of the human impact on nature. As a response, President Richard Nixon worked with Congress to establish the agency, which began functioning on December 2, 1970.

This guide to the EPA will provide you with current and past provisions as well as outline is accomplishments and failures over the years. In addition, the organizational structure and leadership platforms will be addressed so readers can get a full understanding of the abilities and limitations of this agency.

EPA logo. (Supplied by the US Federal Government; Public Domain; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Environmental_Protection_Agency_logo.svg)