InstitutionalFunctions
BeforetheestablishmentoftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,thefederalgovernmenthadnoorganizationtojointlyandharmoniouslydealwithharmtohumanhealthanddamagetotheenvironment.Pollutantissues.TheDirectoroftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyisdirectlydesignatedbythePresidentoftheUnitedStatesandisdirectlyaccountabletotheWhiteHouse.EPAisnotincludedinthecabinet,butitisatthesamelevelasthevariousdepartmentsofthecabinet.ThecurrentdirectorisStephenL.Johnson(StephenL.Johnson).EPAcurrentlyemploysapproximately18,000full-timeemployees,anditsagenciesincludetheWashingtonGeneralAdministration,10regionalsub-bureaus,andmorethan17researchlaboratories.
EPA’sspecificresponsibilitiesincludeformulatingandenforcingenvironmentalregulationsinaccordancewithenvironmentallawspromulgatedbyCongress,engaginginorsponsoringenvironmentalresearchandenvironmentalprotectionprojects,andstrengtheningenvironmentaleducationtocultivatepublicenvironmentalawarenessandresponsibility.
ThemissionoftheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyistoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment.Since1970,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyhasbeencommittedtocreatingacleanerandhealthierenvironment.Pleasereadtheoverallstrategicplan,annualreportandpolicyresourcesoftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyemploysmorethan17,000staff,distributedacrossthecountry,includingtheWashingtonGeneralAdministration,10regionalbranchoffices,andmorethan12laboratories.Allemployeeshavereceivedhighereducationandtechnicaltraining:morethanhalfareengineers,scientists,andpolicyanalysts.Inaddition,someemployeesarelawyersandexpertsinpublicaffairs,finance,informationmanagementandcomputers.TheDirectoroftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyisappointedbythePresidentoftheUnitedStates.
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyhasaleadingpositioninenvironmentalscience,research,education,andevaluationintheUnitedStates.
Formulationandenforcementofregulations:TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyformulatesandenforcesregulationsinaccordancewithenvironmentallawspromulgatedbyCongress.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyisresponsibleforresearchingandformulatingnationalstandardsforvariousenvironmentalprograms,andauthorizesthestategovernmentandNativeAmericantribestoissuepermits,supervise,andenforcecompliance.Ifthenationalstandardsarenotmet,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencycansanctionortakeothermeasurestoassistthestategovernmentandNativeAmericantribestomeettheenvironmentalqualityrequirements.
Providefinancialassistance:TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywilldirectlyfundstategovernmentenvironmentalprojectsbyapplyingforfundsfrom40%to50%ofthebudgetapprovedbyCongress.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyprovidesfundstostategovernments,non-profitorganizations,andeducationalinstitutionstosupporthigh-qualityresearch,strengthenthescientificbasisfornationalenvironmentaldecision-making,andhelpachievethegoalsoftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.
TheEPAprovidesresearchfundingandgraduatescholarships
TheEPAsupportsenvironmentaleducationprogramstoimprovepublicawareness,knowledgeandskillstomakethebestdecisionsthathaveanimpactonenvironmentalquality.
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyalsoprovidesinformationonenvironmentalfinancingservicesandprojectsforstategovernments,localgovernments,andsmallbusinesses.
TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyalsoprovidesotherfinancialassistancethroughsomeprograms:thestategovernmentdrinkingwaterrecyclingfund,thestategovernmentcleanwaterrecyclingfund,andbrownfieldcleanupandreuse(lightlypollutedcleanupandreuse)projects.Engagedinenvironmentalresearch:Withlaboratoriesdistributedacrossthecountry,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyiscommittedtoassessingenvironmentalconditionstodetermine,understandandsolvecurrentandfutureenvironmentalproblems;combiningscientificpartners,includingnationalinstitutions,privateorganizations,academicinstitutionsandotherinstitutionsTheresearchresults;leadtheidentificationofemergingenvironmentalissues,andimprovethescientificandtechnologicallevelofriskassessmentandriskmanagement.
Sponsorvoluntarypartnersandprograms:TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,throughitsheadquartersandregionalbranchoffices,togetherwithmorethan10,000factories,enterprises,non-profitorganizations,andstateandlocalgovernments,hasworkedhardtoreachmorethan40voluntaryPollutionpreventionplanandenergyconservationwork.Thepartnershavesetvoluntarypollutionmanagementgoals,suchassavingwaterandenergy,reducinggreenhousegases,drasticallyreducingtheemissionoftoxicsubstances,reusingsolidwaste,controllingindoorairpollution,andcontrollingpesticiderisks.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyusesrewardstorewardvoluntarypartners,suchassomeimportantpublicpraiseprojectsandaccesstothelatestinformation.
Strengthenenvironmentaleducation:TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencystrivestodevelopeducation,cultivatethepublic'senvironmentalawarenessandsenseofresponsibility,andinspireindividualstodevelopasenseofresponsibilitytocarefortheenvironment.
ManagementOrganization
ExistingManagementOrganizationatEPAHeadquartersinWashington,DC:
OfficeofAdministrationandResources
OfficeofAirandRadiation
OfficeofEnforcementandComplianceAssurance
OfficeofEnvironmentalInformation
OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice
OfficeoftheChiefFinancialOfficer
OfficeofGeneralCounsel
OfficeofInspectorGeneral
OfficeofInternationalAffairs
OfficeofPollution,PesticidesandToxicSubstances(OfficeofPrevention,Pesticides,andToxicSubstances)
OfficeofResearchandDevelopment
OfficeofSolidWasteandEmergencyResponse
OfficeofWater
EPAcurrentlyhas10regionalsub-bureaus,andthejurisdictionofeachsub-bureauisasfollows:
Thefirstbranch:responsibleforConnecticut,MyanmarInStates,Massachusetts,NewHampshire,RhodeIslandandVermont,theofficesarelocatedinBoston.
Secondbranch:inchargeofNewJersey,NewYork,PuertoRicoandtheU.S.VirginIslands,withanofficeinNewYork.
Thethirdbranch:responsibleforDelaware,Maryland,Pennsylvania,Virginia,WestVirginiaandtheDistrictofColumbia,withanofficeinPhiladelphia.
FourthBranch:ResponsibleforAlabama,Florida,Georgia,Kentucky,Mississippi,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolinaandTennessee.TheofficeislocatedinAtlanta.
FifthBranch:ResponsibleforIllinois,Indiana,Michigan,Minnesota,OhioandWisconsin,theofficeislocatedinChicago.
SixthBureau:ResponsibleforArkansas,Louisiana,NewMexico,OklahomaandTexas.TheofficeislocatedinDallas.
Theseventhbranch:responsibleforIowa,Kansas,MissouriandNebraska,withtheofficelocatedinKansasCity.
Theeighthbranch:inchargeofColorado,Montana,NorthDakota,SouthDakota,UtahandWyoming,theofficeislocatedinDenver.
Theninthbranch:responsibleforArizona,California,Hawaii,NevadaandSamoa,theofficeislocatedinSanFrancisco.
Thetenthbureau:ResponsibleforAlaska,Idaho,OregonandWashington.TheofficeislocatedinSeattle.
AlthoughtheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyhasagenciesinallstates,eachstatehasitsownenvironmentalmanagementagency,whichisnotaffiliatedwiththeFederalEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,butissubjecttosupervisionandinspectionbytheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency'sregionaloffices.Unlessexpresslystipulatedinfederallaw,thestateenvironmentalprotectionagencycooperateswiththefederalenvironmentalprotectionagency.Theenvironmentalmanagementagenciesofeachstateareaccountabletothestategovernmentandperformtheirdutiesindependentlyinaccordancewithstatelaws.Thepersonnelofthemanagementagenciesaredeterminedbyeachstate.Theresponsiblepersonandbudgetaresimilartothefederalmechanism.Theyarenominatedbythegovernorandapprovedbythestateassembly.Conflictsarisingfromtheimplementationofenvironmentalpoliciesbytheenvironmentalmanagementagenciesofvariousstatesshallbedeterminedbythelocalcourts.