Environmental+Protection+Agency

=Environmental Protection Agency=

Overview[[image:http://www.ecosponsible.org/Images/epa.jpg width="150" height="163" align="right" link="http://www.ecosponsible.org/Images/epa.jpg"]]
The Environmental Protection Agency was established on December 2, 1970. One of the main reasons for creation was pollution, along with other hazards for the environment and its people. A book, //Silent Spring//, brought major environmentalism to the world. Rachel Carson's, author, book discussed issues involving the world. It brought together over 14,000 people. Some of which included lawyers, scientists, and managers to start fighting for "environmental protection". This brought about a era of people understanding the term 'conservation' and caring for the planet. Prior to this, a few groups were trying to be formed for the same cause. President Nixon set up Cabinet-level Environmental Quality Council and a Citizen's Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. Both failed, because the assumed barely any power. Which has brought us to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Main Point
A famous quote said by President Nixon defines this new decade; "[making] the 1970s a historic period when, by conscious choice, [we] transform our land into what we want it to become." Which truly did happen. He also announced a 37 point environmental action program. On April 22, the first Earth Day was celebrated, bringing more than 20 million Americans outside. The mission of the agency was to establish and enforce environmental protection standards. Also, conduct research, provide assistance to others fighting pollution and finally, to Assist the CEQ in developing and recommending to the President new policies for environmental protection. Fifteen different departments came together to help this one out. Each one regulated rules that would help out with the environment. For example, the Food and Drug Administration lowered the tolerance level for the amount of pesticides. In the beginning, the agency struggled creating credibility.

Conclusion/ Historical Significance
The agency became very successful and created many laws and acts. Some of which were the Clean Air Act of 1970 which helped with the amount of pollution in the air. The Clean Water Act in 1972 helped establish a basis for clean lakes, and has helped tremendously over time. Another major accomplishment was "Operation 5000", a mission to close down and convert 5,000 open dumps to sanitary landfill, requiring a 6-inch soil fill at the end of each day. Many other acts included the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act in 1972, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in 1976. All of these acts help set a great path to a healthier and more environmental friendly Earth.

News Articles
The Milwaukee Sentinel