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About EPA

About the Administrator

Photo of Administrator Stephen JohnsonAs a scientist and 27-year veteran of the Agency, Administrator Johnson brings a strong scientific background and wealth of experience to his role as the nation’s top environmental official and head of the premier environmental agency in the world. Prior to becoming Administrator, he held several senior-level positions, including Acting Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Acting Deputy Administrator, and Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. He has received numerous awards and commendations, including the Presidential Rank Award – the highest award that can be given to a civilian federal employee. More about the Administrator

Biography | Speeches | Action Plan

Who We Are and How We're Organized

EPA employs 17,000 people across the country, including our headquarters offices in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and more than a dozen labs. Our staff are highly educated and technically trained; more than half are engineers, scientists, and policy analysts. In addition, a large number of employees are legal, public affairs, financial, information management and computer specialists.

 

What We Do

EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

Learn more about what we do

Performance and Results

Measuring performance is essential to managing programs effectively.  EPA works continuously to improve the quality of our measures to make them more meaningful and outcome-oriented.

Performance and accountability

Management integrity

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)

Our History

In July of 1970, the White House and Congress worked together to establish the EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the federal government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants that harm human health and degrade the environment. The EPA was assigned the daunting task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and to establish new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality.

More about our history