Laws and Executive Orders | US EPA (2025)

A number of laws serve as EPA's foundation for protecting the environment and public health. However, most laws do not have enough detail to be put into practice right away.

EPA is called a regulatory agency because Congress authorizes us to write regulations that explain the critical details necessary to implement environmental laws. In addition, a number of Presidential Executive Orders (EOs) play a central role in our activities.

On this page:

• Summaries of Environmental Laws and Executive Orders
• Summaries of Laws and Executive Ordersthat Influence EPA's Regulatory Process

Summaries of Environmental Laws and Executive Orders

The following laws and EOs help to protect human health and the environment. EPA is charged with administering all or a part of each.

• American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM)
• Atomic Energy Act (AEA)
• Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act
• Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act
• Clean Air Act (CAA)
• Clean Water Act (CWA) (original title: Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972)
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
• Endangered Species Act (ESA)
• Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)
• Energy Policy Act
• EO 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
• EO 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
• Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
• Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments - See Clean Water Act
• Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) - See also FFDCA and FIFRA
• Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act)
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)
• Noise Control Act
• Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)
• Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
• Ocean Dumping Act - See Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
• Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
• Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) - See FIFRA
• Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
• Shore Protection Act (SPA)
• Superfund - See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
• Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) - See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Summaries of Laws and Executive Orders that Influence the Regulatory Process

The following laws and EOs help to protect human health and the environment. EPA is charged with administering all or a part of each.

• Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
• Congressional Review Act (CRA)
• EO 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
• EO 13132: Federalism
• EO 13175: Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
• EO 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review - See EO 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
• EO 13859:Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
• EO 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation
• Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
• Privacy Act
• Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
• Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) - See Regulatory Flexibility Act
• Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)