Appropriations, 2002	1 $8,078,813,000
Budget estimate, 2003	7,620,513,000
Committee recommendation	8,299,141,000
1 Includes $175,600,000 in fiscal year 2002 supplemental funding.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] was created through Executive Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970 designed to consolidate certain Federal Government environmental activities into a single agency. The plan was submitted by the President to the Congress on July 8, 1970, and the Agency was established as an independent agency in the executive branch on December 2, 1970, by consolidating 15 components from 5 departments and independent agencies.

A description of EPA's pollution control programs by media follows:

Air- The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 authorize a national program of air pollution research, regulation, prevention, and enforcement activities.

Water quality- The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, provides the framework for protection of the Nation's surface waters. The law recognizes that it is the primary responsibility of the States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution. The States determine the desired uses for their waters, set standards, identify current uses and, where uses are being impaired or threatened, develop plans for the protection or restoration of the designated use. They implement the plans through control programs such as permitting and enforcement, construction of municipal waste water treatment works, and nonpoint source control practices. The CWA also regulates discharge of dredge or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.

Drinking water- The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended in 1996, charges EPA with the responsibility of implementing a program to assure that the Nation's public drinking water supplies are free of contamination that may pose a human health risk, and to protect and prevent the endangerment of ground water resources which serve as drinking water supplies.

Hazardous waste- The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 mandated EPA to develop a regulatory program to protect human health and the environment from improper hazardous waste disposal practices. The RCRA Program manages hazardous wastes from generation through disposal.

EPA's responsibilities and authorities to manage hazardous waste were greatly expanded under the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984. Not only did the regulated universe of wastes and facilities dealing with hazardous waste increase significantly, but past mismanagement practices, in particular prior releases at inactive hazardous and solid waste management units, were to be identified and corrective action taken. The 1984 amendments also authorized a regulatory and implementation program directed to owners and operators of underground storage tanks.

Pesticides- The objective of the Pesticide Program is to protect the public health and the environment from unreasonable risks while permitting the use of necessary pest control approaches. This objective is pursued by EPA under the Food Quality Protection Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act through three principal means: (1) review of existing and new pesticide products; (2) enforcement of pesticide use rules; and (3) research and development to reinforce the ability to evaluate the risks and benefits of pesticides.

Radiation- The radiation program's major emphasis is to minimize the exposure of persons to ionizing radiation, whether from naturally occurring sources, from medical or industrial applications, nuclear power sources, or weapons development.

Toxic substances- The Toxic Substances Control Act establishes a program to stimulate the development of adequate data on the effects of chemical substances on health and the environment, and institute control action for those chemicals which present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. The act's coverage affects more than 60,000 chemicals currently in commerce, and all new chemicals.

Multimedia- Multimedia activities are designed to support programs where the problems, tools, and results are cross media and must be integrated to effect results. This integrated program encompasses the Agency's research, enforcement, and abatement activities.

Superfund- The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 established a national program to protect public health and the environment from the threats posed by inactive hazardous waste sites and uncontrolled spills of hazardous substances. The original statute was amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. Under these authorities, EPA manages a hazardous waste site cleanup program including emergency response and long-term remediation.

Leaking underground storage tanks- The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 established the leaking underground storage tank [LUST] trust fund to conduct corrective actions for releases from leaking underground storage tanks that contain petroleum or other hazardous substances. EPA implements the LUST response program primarily through cooperative agreements with the States.

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