Sustainability and the EPA

For many people, EPA should be one of the obvious leaders in promoting a national sustainability strategy. In fact, EPA has a relatively long history contributing to the understanding and popular awareness of this concept. In 2007, Shari Grossarth and Alan Hecht reviewed some of this history in "Sustainability at EPA: Past, Present and Future" where they describe as moving "from pollution control to pollution prevention to sustainability." (You can also listen to a 13 minute audio version of the article).

In a more recent paper, (Government perspectives on sustainability) Hecht points out that "federal and state regulations and/or incentives are needed to make sustainability operational," and quotes the 1969 National Environmental Protection Act, that the federal government should:

use all practicable means and measures...to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

More recently (March 10, 2010), at a hearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, EPA Assistant Administrator Paul Anastas announced "the goal of sustainability is our 'true north' and that "the work that we do-the research, the assessments, the policy development-is part of ensuring that we have a sustainable society; a sustainable civilization." Anastas further describes his vision for EPA's Office of Research and Development and principles for moving forward.