Administrator: Lisa P. Jackson
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001
202.272.0167
www.epa.gov









Role: The Administrator of the EPA is a Cabinet level appointee responsible for overseeing the agency and serving as the nation’s environmental watchdog.

Background: The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment – air, water, and land – upon which life depends.

Historical Note: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in the executive branch as an independent agency pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. app.), effective December 2, 1970. It was created to permit coordinated and effective governmental action on behalf of the environment. The Agency is designed to serve as the public’s advocate for a livable environment.

Core Functions:

Air and Radiation

The Office of Air and Radiation activities of the Agency include developing national programs, policies, regulations, and standards for stationary and mobile sources, and emission standards for hazardous air pollutants among other responsibilities.

Water

The Agency’s water quality activities represent a coordinated effort to keep the nation’s waters clean and safe for fishing, swimming, and drinking.

Solid Waste and Emergency Response

The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response provide policy, guidance and direction for the Agency’s hazardous waste and emergency response programs.

Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances

The Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances is responsible for various functions, including promoting the public’s right to know about industrial chemicals, promoting pollution prevention, and evaluating and regulating pesticides and industrial chemicals to safeguard all Americans.

Research and Development

The office of Research and Development (ORD) provides the scientific foundation for the Agency’s environmental protection mission. ORD’s chief role is to conduct and support high quality research targeted to understanding and resolving the nation’s most serious environmental threats.

Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) is the lead agency office for matters pertaining to the Agency’s enforcement and compliance assurance programs.

Regional Offices

The Agency’s 10 regional offices represent its commitment to the development of strong local programs for pollution abatement. The regional offices are in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle.

Source: United States Government Manual