The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government that has the responsibility of regulating environmental matters. The EPA was first proposed by President Richard Nixon on July 9, 1970 and began operation on December 2, 1970. Nixon created the agency through an executive order. Read on to learn more about the EPA. Below are some of the most common EPA-related facts. Here's a look at the history of the EPA.
The EPA has three primary responsibilities. In the event of an emergency, the agency is responsible for protecting drinking water systems and other critical infrastructure. The EPA is also responsible for monitoring air pollution. Its role in response to emergencies is defined by three Homeland Security Presidential Directives: the Continuity of Operations Plan, the National Incident Management Strategy, and the Enhanced Response Framework. All three of these policies have significant implications for the EPA's role in the national emergency response system.
The EPA's mission is to protect the public's right to safe drinking water. They set standards for over fourteen thousand public water systems nationwide and oversee states, local governments, and private water suppliers to enforce the Clean Drinking Water Act. Their program also regulates injection wells, which protect underground drinking water sources. By regulating injection wells, the EPA is doing its part in keeping our water supply safe. If you're thinking about installing an injection-well, make sure it meets all of the EPA's standards.
