subject: Who is the EPA and what can they do for me? [print this page] Who is the EPA and what can they do for me?
The EPA, or The United States Environmental Protection Agency, is on a mission to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, the EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
According to the EPA, "The EPA's purpose is to ensure that 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, that 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 that the United States plays a leadership role in working with other nations to protect the global environment."
One of the main focuses of the EPA is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills that occur in and around inland waters of the United States. The EPA is the lead Federal response agency for oil spills occurring in inland waters. They are currently heavily involved in the crisis in the Gulf related to the BP oil spill. When you read the paper or watch the news, you will read or hear the mention of the EPA. The EPA's programs help ensure that facilities and organizations take steps to prevent oil spills, chemical accidents, and other emergencies, implement planning and preparedness requirements, and respond to environmental emergencies. The EPA has set up 4 major plans to help achieve these goals.
Facility Response Plan (FRP) Rule - Certain facilities that store and use oil must submit plans to respond to a worst-case discharge of oil and to a substantial threat of such a discharge.
National Contingency Plan (NCP) Subpart J - Product Schedule - Provides for a schedule of spill mitigating devices and substances that may be authorized for use to remove or control oil discharges.
Risk Management Plan (RMP) - Facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute, or store certain chemicals must develop and report to EPA an accident prevention plan including a hazard assessment, a prevention history, and an emergency response program.
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule
As part of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, specific facilities must prepare, amend, and implement SPCC Plans.
For more information regarding the EPA and the programs they have in place, you can visit the EPA online.
