Laws that We Administer

Laws passed by Congress and signed by the President serve as the foundation for achieving the nation's environmental and public health protection goals. However, most laws do not have enough detail to be put into practice right away. EPA is called a regulatory agency because Congress authorizes us to write regulations that explain the critical technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement laws.

In addition to these laws, a number of Executive Orders (E.O.s) issued by the President play a central role in our activities. The major laws and E.O.s are listed on this page and can be roughly divided into two categories:

Laws and E.O.s that influence environmental protection
Laws and E.O.s that influence EPA's regulatory process

For every law, we provide a link to the United States Code (U.S.C.), which is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. When possible, we also provide a link to a PDF version of each law because it is sometimes difficult to read the full text of in the U.S.C. The U.S.C. is updated annually, however, and therefore may provide a more current version of the law than the PDF version.

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view the PDF files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Laws and E.O.s that Influence Environmental Protection

The following laws and E.O.s help to protect human health and the environment. EPA is charged with administering all or parts of these laws and E.O.s.

Laws

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)

CERCLA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of CERCLA, from U.S. Senate (167 pp, 423K) | CERCLA Summary | EPA's Superfund Home Page

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

EPCRA in U.S.C. | EPCRA Summary | EPA's EPCRA Home Page

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

ESA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of ESA, from U.S. Senate (47 pp, 136K) | ESA Summary | EPA's Endangered Species Protection Program Home Page

Energy Policy Act

Energy Policy Act in U.S.C. | PDF Version of the Energy Policy Act, from U.S. Government Prinint Office (GPO) (550 pp, 1.3MB)

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)

FFDCA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of FFDCA, from U.S. Senate (345 pp, 803K) | FFDCA Summary

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

FIFRA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of FIFRA, from U.S. Senate (109 pp, 295K) | FIFRA Summary

Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments

See Clean Water Act

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act)

Titles I and II of MPRSA in U.S.C. | Title III of MPRSA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of the MPRSA, from U.S. Senate (68 pp, 339K) | EPA's Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act Home Page

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of NEPA, from U.S. Senate (9 pp, 39K) | NEPA Summary | EPA's NEPA Home Page

National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

NTTAA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of NTTAA, from GPO (10 pp, 41K) | NTTAA Summary

Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)

NWPA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of NWPA, from U.S. Senate (93 pp, 213K) | NWPA Summary

Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)

OSHA in the U.S.C. | OSHA Summary | OSHA/ EPA Occupational Chemical Database

Ocean Dumping Act

See Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

Oil Pollution Act (OPA)

OPA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of OPA, from U.S. Senate (66 pp, 336K) | OPA Summary | EPA's Oil Program Home Page

Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)

PPA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of PPA, from U.S. Senate (10 pp, 39K) | PPA Summary | EPA's Pollution Prevention Home Page

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

RCRA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of RCRA, from U.S. Senate (163 pp, 420K) | RCRA Summary

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

SDWA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of SDWA, from U.S. Senate (124 pp, 312K) | SDWA Summary | EPA's SDWA Home Page

Superfund

See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)

See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

TSCA in U.S.C. | PDF Version of TSCA, from U.S. Senate (106 pp, 263K) | TSCA Summary | EPA's TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory Home Page

Executive Orders (EOs)

More detailed information about these Executive Orders, and any amendments, is available from the National Archives.

E.O. 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

E.O.12898 (PDF), from the National Archives (5 pp, 20K) | EPA's Environmental Justice Home Page

E.O. 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks

E.O. 13045 (PDF), from the National Archives (6 pp, 69K) | EPA's Children's Health Protection Home Page

E.O. 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

E.O. 13211 (PDF), from the National Archives (2 pp, 25K)

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Laws and E.O.s that Influence the Regulatory Process

Besides carrying out its directive in environmental laws, EPA must abide by several laws and executive orders (E.O.s) that guide federal departments and agencies when developing regulations. These mandates direct EPA to consider issues of concern to the President, Congress, and the American public.