Created by a 1970 reorganization plan during a period of bipartisan environmental momentum. Roughly half its workforce is scientists and engineers, and states run most day-to-day permitting under the federal floors it sets.
Open the interactive page for EPA →Created byReorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970 (transmitted July 9, 1970; effective Dec. 2, 1970; 84 Stat. 2086) — never given a stand-alone organic act; operates under the Plan plus program statutes (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, etc.)
Head appointedReorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, § 1(b): Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; no fixed term (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory protection — at will (Plan and program statutes are silent on removal)
Funded underannual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (discretionary appropriations; modest program fees, e.g. pesticide registration fees under 7 U.S.C. § 136w-8, are supplementary)
Congressional oversightHouse Energy and Commerce (air, drinking water, toxics; water quality shared with House Transportation and Infrastructure) · Senate Environment and Public Works
Inspector generalown EPA OIG — PAS IG under the IG Act (5 U.S.C. § 403(a): President appoints, Senate confirms)
Judicial reviewDirect court-of-appeals review for major rules — Clean Air Act § 307(b), 42 U.S.C. § 7607(b) (D.C. Circuit for nationally applicable rules); citizen suits (42 U.S.C. § 7604; 33 U.S.C. § 1365); APA § 702 otherwise
Comment on proposed rules at regulations.gov; sue under the citizen-suit provisions written into the environmental statutes; vote for President, who sets EPA's direction.