ABSTRACT
Presented in this chapter is the U.S. federal government’s environmental health structure, described via a description of the federal agencies that have environmental health programs. To gain an appreciation of the federal structure requires some understanding of the three branches of the U.S. government, which commences this chapter. As background, attention is given to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and how its environmental health mandate evolved from the antecedent responsibilities of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). The involvement of U.S. Surgeons General in shaping waste, air, and water environmental policies is described. Also presented is a summary of the environmental health responsibilities of the PHS, EPA, and other federal departments and agencies. Because many federal laws require the development of regulations and standards for control of environmental hazards, the chapter concludes with a summary of the federal rulemaking process, as stipulated by the Administrative Procedures Act of 1946.
