Video: '"The Administrators" 1970-2008'

(Wednesday, December 2, 1970) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters, began operation today after President Richard Nixon signed an executive order, which was ratified by committee hearings in the House and Senate.

The agency’s first administrator, William Ruckelshaus, was sworn into office two days later.