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EPA History

Selected Historical Press Releases, 1970-1998

Note: these press releases are now in EPA's archive.  To find one, click on the Search EPA Archive button and copy the name of the release into the search box on the archive home page.  Be sure to put quotes around the name of the release to ensure the best search results.

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1996-1998 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 | 1979 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973 | 1972 | 1971 | 1970


1996-1998

April 21, 1998: Carol Browner's Remarks on Earth Day Right-to-Know Expansion Celebration

February 18, 1998: President Clinton's remarks on Clean, Safe Water for All Americans

February 27, 1997: Browner Announces New EPA Offices to Support Children's Health, Regulatory Reinvention and Right To Know

August 6, 1996: President Clinton Signs Legislation to Ensure Americans Safe Drinking Water

January 29, 1996: EPA Takes Final Step in Phaseout of Leaded Gasoline

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1995

December 1, 1995: Statement on EPA's 25th Anniversary

December 1, 1995: A Look at EPA Accomplishments: 25 Years of Protecting Public Health and the Environment

August 2, 1995: EPA Announces Streamlining of Rules as Part of Regulatory Reinvention Effort

July 28, 1995: EPA Protects Millions of Americans From Petroleum Refinery Air Toxics

May 25, 1995: Superfund Reforms

March 29, 1995: Browner Announces New Agenda and Partnership to Protect Drinking Water

March 20, 1995: EPA Expands Open-Market Trading of Acid Rain Credits

March 10, 1995: EPA Commits to Partnership for Long-Term Research on Remote-Sensing Data from Space Satellites

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1994

October 21, 1994: Fred Hansen - Biography

October 18, 1994: EPA Presents First Energy Star Computer Awards

July 20, 1994: Browner Names Six Industries in Plan to Improve Environmental Protection

April 20, 1994: Browner Releases Data on U.S. Water Quality, Calls for New Clean Water Act

March 1, 1994: EPA Announces Biggest Air Toxic Reduction in Agency History

February 16, 1994: EPA Issues First Safe Substitutes List for CFCs and Other Ozone Depleters

January 18, 1994: EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner Issues Citizen Right-To-Know List of Toxic Chemicals

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1993

November 30: EPA Announces Full Phaseout of CFCs and Other Ozone Depleters

September 14: EPA Regulates Dry Cleaners in First Air Toxics Rule Under New Clean Air Act

August 4: President Clinton's Executive Order on Reducing Toxic Emissions from Federal Facilities

May 7: Robert M. Sussman - Biography

April 23: Regulatory History of CFCs and Other Stratospheric Ozone Depleting Chemicals (to 1993)

March 5: EPA Announces Final Rule on Acid Rain Emission Trading

January 7: EPA Designates Passive Smoking a "Class A" or Known Human Carcinogen

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1992

November 25, 1992: Accelerated Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Chemicals

October 30, 1992: New Oxygenated Fuels Program

August 5, 1992: Benzene Violations Targeted in Environmental Enforcement Actions

July 22, 1992: Release of Environmental Equity Report

June 30, 1992: Reilly in New York to Mark End of Sewage Sludge Dumping

May 19, 1992: EPA Issues 23 Final Drinking Water Standards

January 14, 1992: EPA, NOAA Issue Guidelines to Reduce Coastal Pollution

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1991

December 5, 1991: New EPA Rule Gives Every American Right to Buy and Sell Acid Rain Emissions

July 19, 1991: Voluntary U.S. EPA/Industry Program Commits to Cut Toxic Wastes

March 13, 1991: Exxon to Pay Record One Billion Dollars in Criminal Fines and Civil Damages in Connection with Alaskan Oil Spill

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1990

November 29, 1990: The Environmental Protection Agency: A Retrospective

November 15, 1990: EPA Administrator Reilly Hails Signing of New Clean Air Act

October 3, 1990: 1988 Toxic Release Inventory National Report Available

September 26, 1990: Reducing Risk: Setting Priorities and Strategies for Environmental Protection

September 6, 1990: Reilly Participates in Opening of Environment Center in Budapest

July 20, 1990: Times Beach Settlement Reached

May 15, 1990: Reilly responds to Lois Gibbs on Love Canal habitability and related issues

May 8, 1990: EPA Completes Land Disposal Restrictions for Hazardous Wastes

April 30, 1990: EPA to Regulate Dioxin in Paper Industry

April 20, 1990: Statement on Earth Day 1990

June 21, 1990: Charter Signed to Establish Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

February 5, 1990: EPA Registry to Record Trees Planted in Celebration of Earth Day

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1989

November 7, 1989: Daminozide (Alar) Pesticide Canceled for Food Uses

August 2, 1989: Reilly Press Conference in Anchorage about Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup

July 31, 1989: Bioremediation of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

June 1, 1989: Occidental Chemical Signs Consent Order for Storage and Destruction of Love Canal Wastes

May 19, 1989: F. Henry Habicht II - Biography

April 12, 1989: EPA Releases Toxic Inventory Data

March 13, 1989: EPA Tracking Program for Medical Waste Starts Today

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1988

November 1, 1988: Lead Contamination Control and Asbestos Information Acts of 1988

October 28, 1988: Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988

October 26, 1988: FIFRA Amendments of 1988

September 30, 1988: Times Beach Record of Decision Signed

September 13, 1988: EPA Sets Standards For Underground Storage Tanks

April 5, 1988: Lee M. Thomas Statement on U.S. Ratification of the Montreal Protocol

February 2, 1988: EPA Announces Guidance on State Revolving Funds for Sewage Treatment

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1987

December 21, 1987: President Reagan on Montreal Protocol Ratification

November 18, 1987: United States and Canada Sign Amendments to Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

September 24, 1987: National Dioxin Study Released

October 26, 1987: Love Canal Record of Decision Signed

October 9, 1987: Final EPCRA rule for Hazardous Chemical Reporting Requirements

April 7, 1987: EPA Outlines Actions to be Taken with States Not Meeting Clean Air Standards; Some Sanctions Mandatory

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1986

October 23, 1986: Signing of Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

October 6, 1986: Endangered Wetlands and New EPA Office of Wetlands Protection

May 14, 1986: Cleanup of the Niagara River

June 20, 1986: President Signs Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments

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1985

November 14, 1985: EPA Approves First Use in Environment of Genetically Altered Bacteria

June 4, 1985: EPA Announces National Strategy for Toxic Air Pollutants

March 20, 1985: A. James Barnes - Biography

March 4, 1985: EPA Sets New Limits on Lead in Gasoline

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1984

December 13, 1984: Ruckelshaus Pledges Continued Support of Chesapeake Cleanup

November 29, 1984: Lee M. Thomas - Biography

November 9, 1984: Statement by the U.S. EPA on the President's Signing of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984

September 13, 1984: EPA and Defense Sign Resolution on Chesapeake

August 2, 1984: Ruckelshaus Denies Request to Buy Love Canal Homes

June 26, 1984: Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's Ruling of June 25th on EPA's "Bubble" Policy to Control Air Pollution

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1983

November 1, 1983: EPA Sets Standards for FIFRA, TSCA Lab Tests

September 30, 1983: EPA Acts to Ban EDB Pesticide

August 5, 1983: Alvin L. Alm - Biography

May 19, 1983: Ruckelshaus Takes Steps to Improve Flow of Agency Information

April 21, 1983: Olin Agrees to Clean Up DDT in Triana, Alabama Area

February 22, 1983: Joint Federal/State Action Taken to Relocate Times Beach Residents

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1982

July 15, 1982: New York State and U.S. EPA Sign $7 Million Love Canal Cleanup Agreement

July 12, 1982: EPA Issues Final National Contingency Plan for Superfund

May 24, 1982: EPA Announces Rule Requiring Schools to Test for Asbestos

March 12, 1982: National Contingency Plan for Superfund Announced

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1981

October 23, 1981: EPA Announces First 114 Top-Priority Superfund Sites

October 16, 1981: EPA Issues First Storage Permit Under RCRA

September 18, 1981: EPA Schedules Emergency Cleanup at Valley of the Drums

May 20, 1981: Anne M. Gorsuch (Burford) - Biography

March 4, 1981: Sixteen States to Manage Hazardous Waste Programs

March 2, 1981: John W. Hernandez, Jr. - Biography

February 10, 1981: EPA Incinerator Approvals to Speed PCB Disposal

January 19, 1981: New EPA Report Focuses on Environmental Accomplishments

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1980

November 19, 1980: EPA's Hazardous Waste Regulations Effective November 19, [1980]

September 11, 1980: Costle Presses for Immediate Passage of Superfund

May 21, 1980: EPA, New York State Announce Temporary Relocation of Love Canal Residents

April 15, 1980: Statement at International Meeting on Chlorofluorocarbons

April 4, 1980: EPA Named Lead Agency to Monitor at Three Mile Island

March 1, 1980: EPA Imposes First Federal Funding Limitations to Spur Auto Inspection Programs

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1979

December 20, 1979: U.S. Sues Hooker Chemical at Niagara Falls, New York

December 3, 1979: "Bubble" Policy Added to EPA's Cleanup Strategy

July 19, 1979: EPA Survey Ship to Visit Washington

July 11, 1979: EPA Establishes Hazardous Waste Enforcement and Emergency Response System; Names 60 New Sites

June 13, 1979: Administration Proposes Hazardous Waste Cleanup Fund

April 19, 1979: EPA Bans PCB Manufacture; Phases Out Uses

February 23, 1979: EPA Rules Increase Public Role in Environmental Programs

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1978

November 22, 1978: 1978 Water Quality Agreement Signed by U.S. and Canada

October 15, 1978: Government Ban on Fluorocarbon Gases in Aerosol Products Begins October 15 [1978]

September 29, 1978: EPA Sets New National Air Pollution Standard for Lead

June 16, 1978: DOT, EPA Join To Combat Transportation-Caused Pollution in Urban Areas

June 13, 1978: EPA Announces New Rules on Industrial Growth in Clean Air Areas

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1977

December 28, 1977: Statement by Douglas M. Costle on Enactment of the Clean Water Act of 1977

August 5, 1977: Statement by Douglas M. Costle on Passage of Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977

July 22, 1977: Blum Starts Report Reduction Campaign at EPA

July 14, 1977: EPA Says Scrubbers Necessary for Health Protection Under Coal Conversion Plan

June 25, 1977: EPA Safe Drinking Water Standards Go into Effect Today

May 31, 1977: EPA to Regulate Benzene, a Suspected Cause of Leukemia

March 4, 1977: Barbara Blum - Biography

March 4, 1977: Douglas M. Costle - Biography

January 19, 1977: Train Hails Court Decision on Transportation Controls

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1976

December 13, 1976: New Law to Control Hazardous Wastes, End Open Dumping, Promote Conservation of Resources

October 21, 1976: Train Sees New Toxic Substances Law as "Preventive Medicine"

July 16, 1975: Working Catalysts Required on Imported Cars

February 2, 1976: EPA Begins Two-Year Monitoring Survey of Broadcast Radiation in Major United States Cities

January 27, 1976: EPA Secures Over 700 Environmental Jobs for Welfare Recipients

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1975

October 24, 1975: U.S.-Soviet Environmentalists to Discuss Joint Research

August 11, 1975: New DDT Report Confirms Data Supporting 1972 Ban, Finds Situation Improving

July 30, 1975: Train Stops Manufacture of Heptachlor/Chlordane, Cites Imminent Cancer Risk

July 10, 1975: Quarles Testifies on the Need for Toxic Substances Act

April 22, 1975: Train Stresses Long-Range Planning as the Environmental Movement Comes of Age

April 17, 1975: Federal Government Will Not Award Contracts, Grants, or Loans to Water and Air Polluters

March 27, 1975: EPA Designated International Data Center

January 31, 1975: EPA Administrator Reorganizes Enforcement and General Counsel Office

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1974

December 18, 1974: Train Names 80 Cities for EPA Drinking Water Survey

November 27, 1974: EPA Issues "Significant Deterioration" Regulations

November 22, 1974: EPA Administrator Cites Benefits of Pollution Control Programs

May 20, 1974: EPA to Exhibit Documerica Photographs

January 28, 1974: EPA and General Mills Kick Off Public Service Campaign on the Environment

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1973

November 28, 1973: EPA Requires Phase-Out of Lead in All Grades of Gasoline

October 15, 1973: Transportation Controls Established in Major Urban Areas to Lower Air Pollution Levels

August 23, 1973: EPA Issues Public Participation Regulations

July 30, 1973: EPA Issues First Municipal Wastewater Discharge Permit in the Nation

June 4, 1973: EPA Sets Auto Maintenance Regulations

April 30, 1973: Robert W. Fri - Biography

April 30, 1973: John R. Quarles, Jr. - Biography

April 8, 1973: Earth Week 1973

March 8, 1973: EPA Voices Support for Safe Drinking Water Act

March 2, 1973: Indiana and Federal EPA Announce Issuance of Nation's First Wastewater Permits

February 13, 1973: EPA Releases Guidelines for New Water Quality Standards

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1972

December 31, 1972: DDT Ban Takes Effect

November 8, 1972: EPA to Ask for Comments on New Pesticides Law

August 2, 1972: Las Vegas Laboratory Designated National Environmental Research Center

May 7, 1972: EPA Using Aircraft to Study Eutrophication in Lakes

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1971

October 19, 1971: EPA Defines Air Pollution Danger Levels

August 13, 1971: EPA Approves First State Clean Air Plans

April 30, 1971: EPA Sets National Air Quality Standards

March 4, 1971: Hearings Set on Automobile Pollution Control

February 19, 1971: U.S. Files Suit Against U.S. Steel and DuPont in Indiana

February 9, 1971: EPA Designates Four Corners Interstate Air Quality Region Boundaries

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1970

December 16, 1970: First Administrator on Establishment of EPA

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