The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), created in 1970, is the central federal agency that is responsible for implementing most federal environmental protection statutes and coordinating environmental policies. It has broad authority to address environment issues, to undertake a variety of studies, research, and investigations and to engage in other information-gathering activities. The EPA works in partnership with state, county, municipal, and tribal governments to use a range of tools to protect public health and the environment.
The Agency is headed by an administrator and operates 10 regional offices, each headed by a Regional Administrator. Regional offices adapt federal policies and objectives to state and local programs and are the primary point of contact with state and local governments on environmental matters.
The EPA maintains a website that which contains a helpful array of major information on environmental programs, government agencies, and types of environmental hazards.