Overview of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Structure and Activities Involving Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

Abstract The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements federal laws designed to protect human health and the environment. EPA administers more than a dozen environmental laws. The following are some of the major statutes EPA administers that may be applicable to oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or “Superfund”), and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The authors describe the creation and organizational structure of EPA that has evolved over the years to implement these statutes. They then discuss various ongoing and planned activities relevant to oil and gas E&P and the role that the Agency’s “oil and gas cluster” is playing in coordinating these activities.