The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA is to protect human health and the environment.
EPA's purpose is to ensure that:
- all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work;
- national efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best available scientific information;
- federal laws protecting human health and the environment are enforced fairly and effectively;
- environmental protection is an integral consideration in U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy;
- all parts of society -- communities, individuals, businesses, and state, local and tribal governments -- have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks;
- environmental protection contributes to making our communities and ecosystems diverse, sustainable and economically productive; and
- the United States plays a leadership role in working with other nations to protect the global environment.
To accomplish this mission, we:
Develop and enforce regulations
When Congress writes an environmental law, we implement it by writing regulations. Often, we set national standards that states and tribes enforce their own regulations. If they fail to meet the national standards, we can help them. We also enforce our regulations, and help companies understand the requirements.
Study environmental issues
At laboratories located throughout the nation, we identify and try to solve environmental problems. To learn even more, we share information with other countries, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and other agencies.
Sponsor partnerships
We don't protect the environment on our own. We work with businesses, non-profit organizations, and state and local governments through dozens of partnerships. A few examples include conserving water and energy, minimizing greenhouse gases, re-using solid waste, and getting a handle on pesticide risks. In return, we share information and publicly recognize our partners.
Teach people about the environment
Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility, and starts with understanding the issues. The basics include reducing how much energy and materials you use, reusing what you can and recycling the rest. There's a lot more about that to learn!
More Legal and Business Bylines From EPA
- We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Proposes Historic Fuel Economy Standards - (Posted On Wednesday, November 23, 2011)
- EPA Awards $50 Million for Clean Diesel Projects /Reducing diesel emissions helps decrease asthma attacks and premature deaths - (Posted On Friday, October 21, 2011)
- EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for TCE - (Posted On Tuesday, October 11, 2011)
- Twelve Defendants Arrested for Involvement in the Illegal Distribution and Sale of Pesticides in New York’s Chinatown - (Posted On Monday, September 26, 2011)
- EPA Releases Strategy to Protect People’s Health and the Environment in Communities Overburdened by Pollution - (Posted On Thursday, September 22, 2011)
- EPA Advancing Clean Up at 15 Hazardous Waste Sites, Proposing 11 Sites for Action - (Posted On Tuesday, September 20, 2011)
- Former EPA Fugitive Sentenced to More than Seven Years in Prison for Asbestos Training Scam - (Posted On Saturday, September 17, 2011)
- Peter Martin Kuhn Added to EPA Fugitive List / Defendant failed to surrender after indictment in illegal mining waste dumping case - (Posted On Saturday, September 03, 2011)
- EPA Announces Top Contenders in Energy Star National Building Competition / In the first six months of the competition, participants saved more than $3.7 million on utility bills - (Posted On Friday, August 12, 2011)
- Obama Administration Advances Efforts to Protect Health of U.S. Communities Overburdened by Pollution / Federal Agencies Sign Environmental Justice Memorandum of Understanding - (Posted On Thursday, August 11, 2011)