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The '''Environmental Protection Agency''' ('''EPA''') is an independent agency of the U.S. government to protect the natural resources (e.g., air, water and land) and endangered species.  It was created by President [[Richard Nixon]] in 1970 and is part of the executive branch of the government.<ref>It was not  created by act of Congress. [http://www.epa.gov/history/publications/origins6.htm Origins of the EPA: An Agency For The Environment]]</ref> EPA  reports directly to the president. The primary mission of the EPA is to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment (air, water and land) of the nation. The EPA was established at atime of new awareness of the environment, with the goal of combing into a single agency many of the existing federal government activities of research and development, monitoring, setting of standards, compliance and enforcement related to protection of the environment.  

The '''Environmental Protection Agency''' ('''EPA''') is an independent agency of the U.S. government to protect the natural resources (e.g., air, water and land) and endangered species.  It was created by President [[Richard Nixon]] in 1970 and is part of the executive branch of the government.<ref>It was not  created by act of Congress. [http://www.epa.gov/history/publications/origins6.htm Origins of the EPA: An Agency For The Environment]</ref> EPA  reports directly to the president. The primary mission of the EPA is to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment (air, water and land) of the nation. The EPA was established at atime of new awareness of the environment, with the goal of combing into a single agency many of the existing federal government activities of research and development, monitoring, setting of standards, compliance and enforcement related to protection of the environment.  

The [[Obama Administration]] appointed [[Lisa P. Jackson]] to head the agency in 2009, with cabinet rank.  Conservatives have been skeptical of the agency's liberal political agenda.

The [[Obama Administration]] appointed [[Lisa P. Jackson]] to head the agency in 2009, with cabinet rank.  Conservatives have been skeptical of the agency's liberal political agenda.

In December 2009 the EPA officially declared that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, "threaten the health and welfare of the American people". The decision could open the way for the [[Obama administration]] to impose its own curbs on emissions, although Congress may have the final say.  

In December 2009 the EPA officially declared that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, "threaten the health and welfare of the American people". The decision could open the way for the [[Obama administration]] to impose its own curbs on emissions, although Congress may have the final say.  

On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions.  This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases. <ref>Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution [http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html]</ref>.

On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions.  This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution]</ref>

==Mercury==

==Mercury==

On 8 February, 2008, a federal appeals court struck down a [[mercury]]-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The court ruled that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_go_ot/epa_mercury_pollution Court strikes down EPA's plan on mercury ]</ref>  

On 8 February 2008, a federal appeals court struck down a [[mercury]]-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The court ruled that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_go_ot/epa_mercury_pollution Court strikes down EPA's plan on mercury ]</ref>  

==Global Warming==

==Global Warming==

The EPA has ruled that CO₂ is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated. <ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref>

The EPA has ruled that CO₂ is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated.<ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref>

===DDT===

===DDT===

An influential early act of the EPA was to ban [[DDT]] in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food.

An influential early act of the EPA was to ban [[DDT]] in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food.

* Kraft, Michael E. ''Environmental Policy and Politics'' (3rd ed 2006)

* Kraft, Michael E. ''Environmental Policy and Politics'' (3rd ed 2006)

* Lacey, Michael J. ed. ''Government and Environmental Politics: Essays on Historical Developments Since World War Two'' (1989)

* Lacey, Michael J. ed. ''Government and Environmental Politics: Essays on Historical Developments Since World War Two'' (1989)

* Landry, Marc K. et al., eds. ''The Environmental Protection Agency: Asking the Wrong Questions: From Nixon to Clinton''  (1994) case studies on the Ozone Standard, Resouce Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Air Act (and its impact on the steel industry), the Superfund, Cancer Policy [http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Protection-Agency-Questions-Clinton/dp/0195086732/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260468941&sr=8-2#noop excerpt and text search]

* Landry, Marc K. et al., eds. ''The Environmental Protection Agency: Asking the Wrong Questions: From Nixon to Clinton''  (1994) case studies on the Ozone Standard, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Air Act (and its impact on the steel industry), the Superfund, Cancer Policy [http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Protection-Agency-Questions-Clinton/dp/0195086732/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260468941&sr=8-2#noop excerpt and text search]

* Lester, James P. ''Environmental Politics and Policy: Theories and Evidence'' (2nd ed. 1995)  

* Lester, James P. ''Environmental Politics and Policy: Theories and Evidence'' (2nd ed. 1995)  

* Lieber, Harvey.  ''Federalism and Clean Waters: The 1972 Water Pollution Control Act.'' (1975). 288 pp.   

* Lieber, Harvey.  ''Federalism and Clean Waters: The 1972 Water Pollution Control Act.'' (1975). 288 pp.   

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[[Category : United States Government Agencies]]

[[Category:United States Government Agencies]]

[[Category : Environmentalism]]

[[Category:Environmentalism]]

[[Category : Liberalism]]

[[Category:Liberalism]]

[[Category : Reagan Era]]

[[Category:Reagan Era]]

[[Category : Obama Administration]]

[[Category:Obama Administration]]

[[Category : Police State]]

[[Category:Police State]]

[[Category : United States Law]]

[[Category:United States Law]]

[[Category : Law]]

[[Category:Law]]

[[Category : United States Government]]

[[Category:United States Government]]

[[Category : Systems of Support]]

[[Category:Systems of Support]]

[[Category : Government Organizations]]

[[Category:Government Organizations]]