On Dec. 2, 1970, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by President Richard Nixon with an Executive Order to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection.

William D. Ruckelshaus served as the first EPA Agency Administrator, from 1970 to April 1973. Since its inception, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

The creation of the EPA followed significant public concern regarding environmental degradation and was marked by the strengthening of federal environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act of 1970.