2025732 - The History of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Thursday, June 12, 2025

10:10am – 11:50am ET

Location: 306B

Panel Chair(s)

Frank T. Princiotta, BChe, ORSORT

Retired, Division Director
Retired Director of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, EPA’s Office of Research & Development, NC

Panelist(s)

Frank T. Princiotta, BChe, ORSORT

Retired, Division Director
Retired Director of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, EPA’s Office of Research & Development, NC
Richard A. Wayland

Retired Director of the Air Quality Assessment Division, EPA’s Office of Air Quality, Planning, and Standards
JB

John C. Bosch, Jr., MSChE (he/him/his)

Retired Chief of EPA’s National Air Data Branch

On December 24, 1968, astronaut William Anders took a color picture of the Earth, powerfully illustrating the beauty and isolation of the globe we all live. In February 1970, President Richard M. Nixon sent a special message to Congress “on environmental quality.” He wrote, “The time has come when we can wait no longer to repair the damage already done, and to establish new criteria to guide us in the future.” The first “Earth Day,” held on April 22, 1970, brought more than 20 million Americans—10% of the country’s population—to call for the nation to address the damage caused by 150 years of unregulated industrial development. President Nixon responded to growing pressure by proposing the creation of the EPA in July 1970, which was officially established in December 1970, consolidating various federal responsibilities under one agency. This panel, consists of recent EPA retirees.