Environmental Protection Agency
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Who We Are |
Mission:
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. View the Agency's Strategic Plan at:(http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm)
Organization:
The Agency's mission is carried out by 14 headquarters offices in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and more than a dozen labs. For more information visit:(http://www.epa.gov/epahome/organization.htm)
Personnel: EPA employs approximately 17,000 people across the country. 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. For more information, visit:(http://www.epa.gov/careers/) Budgetary Resources: The budgetary resources for FY 2008 totaled $7.472 billion or $25 per person. |
Budget Snapshot |
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Performance Snapshot |
Accomplishments:
In 2008, the Agency set stringent new standards for a significant number of air pollutants or pollution sources; proposed a new regulation to allow for the underground storage of greenhouse gases in a manner that protects ground water sources of drinking water; ensured that 96 percent of hazardous waste facilities are permitted and 66 percent of the nation?s underground storage tanks are in compliance; completed a thorough reassessment of all food pesticides, setting the most health protective standards in the world for pesticides and food safety; and took enforcement actions to secure commitments from polluters to spend an estimated $11.8 billion on pollution control activities.
Challenges: EPA faced several challenges in 2008 including improving data collection for performance measures, improving efficiency of operations, ensuring consistent application of standards, meeting Homeland Security requirements, and working with partners to address infrastructure concerns. For example, approximately 160,000 public drinking water systems provide the nation with drinking water, and 16,000 facilities treat and dispose of wastewater. Many of the country's water infrastructure systems are aging and need repairs or upgrades to meet various requirements of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA and its federal, state, and local partners face a significant challenge in developing a national strategy for addressing this issue and resolving the problem of aging and deteriorating water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment. |
$ in millions
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Summary of Environmental Protection Agency Ratings for Fiscal Year 2008
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Strategic Goal:
Clean and Safe Water
Ensure drinking water is safe. Restore and maintain oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health; support economic and recreational activities; and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. |
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2008 Actual = $2,855
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Performance Measure(s)* | 2006 Results | 2007 Results | 2008 Target | 2008 Results | 2009 Target |
Percent of population served by community water systems that will receive drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards through approaches including effective treatment and source water protection. | 89.4 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 90 |
Strategic Goal:
Land Preservation and Restoration
Preserve and restore the land by using innovative waste management practices and cleaning up contaminated properties to reduce risk posed by releases of harmful substances. |
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2008 Actual = $1,689
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Performance Measure(s)* | 2006 Results | 2007 Results | 2008 Target | 2008 Results | 2009 Target |
Number of Superfund sites ready for anticipated use site-wide. | N/A | 64 | 30 | 85 | 30 |
Strategic Goal:
Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
Protect, sustain, or restore the health of people, communities, and ecosystems using integrated and comprehensive approaches and partnerships. |
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2008 Actual = $1,227
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Performance Measure(s)* | 2006 Results | 2007 Results | 2008 Target | 2008 Results | 2009 Target |
Percent of new chemicals or organisms introduced into commerce that do not pose unreasonable risks to workers, consumers, or the environment. | 100 | 96 | 100 | Data available 2009 | 100 |
Cubic yards of contaminated sediment remediated (cumulative, in millions) in the Great Lakes. | 4.1 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
Strategic Goal:
Compliance and Environmental Stewardship
Protect human health and the environment through ensuring compliance with environmental requirements by enforcing environmental statutes, preventing pollution, and promoting environmental stewardship. Encourage innovation and provide incentives for government, business, and the public that promote environmental stewardship and long term sustainable outcomes. |
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2008 Actual = $735
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Performance Measure(s)* | 2006 Results | 2007 Results | 2008 Target | 2008 Results | 2009 Target |
Pounds of pollution estimated to be reduced, treated, or eliminated as a result of concluded enforcement actions (in millions of pounds). | 890 | 890 | 890 | 3900 | 890 |