The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was introduced on December 2, 1970 by President Richard Nixon. The agency is charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA's struggle to protect health and the environment is seen through each of its official publications. These publications outline new policies, detail problems with enforcing laws, document the need for new legislation, and describe new tactics to use to solve these issues. This collection of publications ranges from historic documents to reports released in the new millennium, and features works like: Bicycle for a Better Environment, Health Effects of Increasing Sulfur Oxides Emissions Draft, and Women and Environmental Health.

The significance of storm water runoff in affecting water quality in the United States has become an increasing concern in recent years, as further improvements are made in controlling other point sources such as municipal sewage and industrial waste. EPA conducted a broad analysis of storm water runoff characteristics in its Nationwide Urban Runoff Program between 1979 and 1983. During the 1980's the Agency made several attempts to promulgate regulatory controls for storm water runoff under the statutory framework of the 1972 Clean Water Act. Following enactment of the Water Quality Act of 1987, EPA began development of a more comprehensive regulatory program. During the course of these actions, the use of best management practices (BMPs) in addressing runoff problems was frequently identified, however it was known that additional research on the performance of BMPs was also needed. EPA's Engineering and Analysis Division conducted a study on storm water best management practices during 1997 and 1998 as part of its series of preliminary studies in the effluent guidelines program. This report summarizes existing information and data regarding the effectiveness of BMPs to control and reduce pollutants in urban storm water. The report provides a synopsis of what is currently known about the expected costs and environmental benefits of BMPs, and identifies information gaps as well.

The rapid conversion of land to urban and suburban areas has profoundly altered how water flows during and following storm events, putting higher volumes of water and more pollutants into the nation's rivers, lakes, and estuaries. These changes have degraded water quality and habitat in virtually every urban stream system. The Clean Water Act regulatory framework for addressing sewage and industrial wastes is not well suited to the more difficult problem of stormwater discharges. This book calls for an entirely new permitting structure that would put authority and accountability for stormwater discharges at the municipal level. A number of additional actions, such as conserving natural areas, reducing hard surface cover (e.g., roads and parking lots), and retrofitting urban areas with features that hold and treat stormwater, are recommended.

This guide shows you how to develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan specifically designed for your construction site. It should answer any questions you have regarding the NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities that are classified as "Associated with Industrial Activity" (referred to as EPA's Baseline Construction General Permit). Step-by-step guidelines and checklists walk you through the process of setting up your plan, which makes the book invaluable for consultants, regulators, and construction managers and engineers.