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Frequently Asked Questions
Following are some of the most common questions that are asked via EPA's web site. You may find the information that you are looking for here. If you don't find the answer that you need in our FAQ, then you can submit a request from our questions form.
Questions
I'll be visiting Region 4 soon. Do you have information on nearby hotels, restaurants, etc.?
Who should I call about environmental problems?
How and when was the EPA created?
What does the term, abbreviation or acronym "xyz" mean?
How can I order EPA publications?
How can I locate the phone numbers and mailing addresses of EPA staff people?
How do I report a violation of environmental regulations?
How do I report an environmental emergency?
How can I get information on the EPA's budget?
How can I find out about job openings and internships at the EPA?
How can I find out about fellowships sponsored by the EPA?
How can I submit an official comment on proposed environmental regulations?
Is it OK for me to link to the EPA web site from my home page?
How do EPA's rules and policies affect small business?
Answers
EPA Region 4 consists of the states of:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
I'll be visiting Region 4 soon. Do you have information
on nearby hotels, restaurants, etc.?
Yes, we do. You can browse our Region 4 visitor pages from here.
Who should I call about environmental problems?
While the Region 4 office oversees 8 southeastern states, these states have the first line of responsibility for air, water and waste issues in their states.
| (334) 271 7700 | |
| (850) 245 2118 | |
| (404) 657 5947 | |
| (502) 564 2150 | |
| (601) 961 5171 | |
| (919) 733 4984 | |
| (803) 898 3900 | |
| (615) 532 0109 |
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How and when was the EPA created?
According to the publication "The Guardian: Origins of the EPA," President Nixon declared his intention to establish the Environmental Protection Agency with Reorganization Plan Number 3, dated July 9, 1970. The EPA's mission would include:
"The establishment and enforcement of environmental protection standards consistent with national environmental goals... The conduct of research on the adverse effects of pollution and on methods and equipment for controlling it; the gathering of information on pollution; and the use of this information in strengthening environmental protection programs and recommending policy changes... assisting others, through grants, technical assistance and other means, in arresting pollution of the environment... assisting the Council on Environmental Quality in developing and recommending to the President new policies for the protection of the environment."
After being cleared through hearings in the Senate and House of Representatives, the EPA came into being on December 2, 1970.
You can obtain a copy of this publication free-of-charge by calling the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP, formerly NCEPI) at 1-800-490-9198. There is also another title called "Guardian: EPA's Formative years, 1970-73" that you can get at NSCEP. To place your order, call NSCEP at the above 1-800 number and give them the title with the report number:
Guardian: Origins of the EPA (report# EPA 202 K92 004)
Guardian: EPA's Formative years, 1970-73 (report# EPA 202 K93 002)
What does the term, acronym or abbreviation "xyz" mean?
Environmental terms, as well as EPA abbreviations and acronyms, are listed by the Agency's Office of Communications, Education, and Public Affairs.
How can I order EPA publications?
Many EPA publications are available free-of-charge from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP, formerly NCEPI), which is located in Cincinnati, OH. To order publications, call NSCEP toll-free at 1-800-490-9198. To search a catalog of EPA publications, and for further information about EPA publications, visit NSCEP's web site.
How can I locate the phone numbers and mailing addresses of EPA staff people?
EPA's automated National People Locator contains the telephone numbers of most EPA employees and associated contractors. You can search the locator by the name of the employee. The main mailing address for EPA nationally is:
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M St., SW
Washington, DC 20460
To send a letter to a certain person, you would need to add their name, and the appropriate mail code (listed in the National People Locator) for the employee's office to the above address.
Key Region 4 phone numbers are available. The mailing address for EPA Region 4 is:
Environmental Protection Agency
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
How do I report a violation of environmental regulations?
State and local governments have responsibility for enforcing most environmental laws in the area where you live. You can locate these government offices through your telephone directory. In most communities, the responsible agency is the city or county health department. At the state level, an environmental agency carries out the pollution control laws, whereas an agriculture agency often handles regulation of pesticides. To report an Environmental Violation, go to http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html. If these sources can't help you, contact EPA Region 4.
How can I report an environmental emergency?
Environmental emergencies such as oil and chemical spills should be reported immediately to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 or contact EPA Region 4 using our Emergency phone numbers. For more information on environmental emergencies, visit EPA's Concerned Citizens' Environmental Emergencies page.
How can I get information on the EPA's budget?
EPA produces a summary of the EPA budget each year. The current year's summary is available electronically from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Print copies and copies from past years may be available from the EPA Budget Office by calling (202) 260-4157.
How can I find out about job openings and internships at the EPA?
The Office of Human Resources and Organizational Services is the key contact for all employment information within the EPA. However, job information is not contained centrally on the EPA Internet server, but is instead maintained by the Federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM offers information about all federal jobs that fit specific qualifications, and will soon be searchable by specific Agencies or Departments.
For environmental general employment/career information, please access the "Environmental Careers Resource Guide". This document contains fact sheets concerning different environmental careers, and links to a "Regional Human Resource Offices" page which provides phone numbers and addresses for EPA offices. For the Washington DC area you can call the jobs hotline at 202-260-6000, or call Employee Services at 202-260-3267.
EPA offers several opportunities for internships. You can find information on these opportunities from the Office of Human Resources and Organizational Services students web site.
You may also wish to browse USAJobs for information about employment and internship opportunities in the southeast and the rest of the Nation.
How can I find out about fellowships sponsored by the EPA?
For information about obtaining a graduate research fellowship grant, we suggest that you contact the EPA Grants and Fellowship Hotline at 1-800-490-9194. Application information is also available electronically.
Application due dates for the next school year vary from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.
How can I submit an official comment on proposed environmental regulations?
Comments on proposed rules should be submitted to the EPA docket for the regulatory area that oversees the rule. Many dockets accept comments via e-mail. Consult our list of EPA dockets for the address, telephone number and e-mail address for the docket you may wish to contact.
Is it OK for me to link to the EPA web site from my home page?
EPA is happy to have anyone link to our site from personal or organizational web sites, as long as EPA endorsement or approval is not implied. For the same reason, we do not provide links from our site back to yours.
How do EPA's rules and policies affect small business?
EPA has many assistance programs for small business and provides information with the small business entrepreneur in mind. The Small Business Gateway offers complete information about regulations and policies that relate to small business.