What caused the EPA to form?

Answer 1

The EPA was set up to protect the environment from pollution and destructive behavior of humans.

Specifically:

o The White House and Congress worked together to establish the EPA in response to a heightened concern about environmental pollution and a growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land which reached a high point in 1970. On January 1, 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed by President Nixon and called for the formation of a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to advise the President on environmental matters. On April 22, the first Earth Day celebration was held and was a huge success, giving great priority to environmental issues. On July 9, President Nixon sent Reorganization Plan No.3 to Congress, and the EPA was established, opening its doors on December 2, 1970. The EPA combined components of various programs from other departments William Doyle Ruckelhaus served as the first EPA Agency Administrator and focused on air pollutions issues as well as developing the agency's structure. The EPA consolidated federal research, monitoring, standard-setting, and enforcement activities for environmental protection and was created to allow coordinated and effective governmental action on behalf of the environment. The EPA's mission is to "protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment - air, water, and land - upon which life depends."

Answer 2

The EPA was formed in response to increasing public concerns about environmental pollution and its impact on human health and the environment. Events like the publication of Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" and high-profile environmental disasters (e.g., the Cuyahoga River catching fire) highlighted the need for a unified federal agency to address environmental issues.