QandAs: Business

What is the EPA?

Answer:
The EPA, or the United States Environmental Protection Agency, is a federal government agency tasked with protecting human health by preserving the natural environment.

Created in 1970 by Richard Nixon, the

Environmental Protection Agency currently employs over 18,000 people, with their primary responsibility being maintaining environmental health through government policies.

Notable EPA directives include fuel economy standards, the "Energy Star" initiative, which is a voluntary initiative in which manufacturers of electronics are required to make their products use as little power as possible and use materials that are biodegradable.

One of the EPA's chief environmental research vessels is the US Ocean Research Vessel "Bold", donated to the EPA by the US Navy in 2004. Bold's chief responsibility is to monitor ocean sediment, dredging dump sites, and ocean coastlines for environmental impact.