The file FG 298 contains correspondence and memoranda relating to the Environmental Protection Agency. It was created as an independent agency pursuant to Reorganization Plan 3 of 1970, effective December 2, 1970. During the administration of Richard Nixon, the Environmental Protection Agency had two Administrators. The first was William D. Ruckelshaus, who was succeeded in the summer of 1973 by Russell E. Train, former Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency was created to permit coordinated and effective governmental action to assure the protection of the environment by abating and controlling pollution on a systematic basis. Transferred to the EPA under Reorganization Plan 3 were a variety of research, monitoring, standard-setting, and enforcement functions, as well as the task of coordination and support of research and anti-pollution activities carried out by state and local governments, private and public groups, individuals, and educational institutions.
Principal correspondents include the President, Administrators William Ruckelshaus and Russell Train, David Parker, Staff Assistant to the President, Patrick O'Donnell, Staff Assistant to the President, John Whitaker, Deputy Assistant to the President, and Anne L. Armstrong, Counselor to the President.
Note that FG 298 is not the primary subject category for many of the documents contained therein. Even documents generated by the EPA itself generally only appear as secondary or even tertiary cross-references. Thus in many cases it will be necessary to consult a related file in order to obtain the entirety of many of the documents in this file. The related categories are listed in the top right hand corner of the document copy. The complete document of a multi-page item is usually filed in the primary category, listed first.
The Executive folders consist largely of White House and EPA memoranda about the various undertakings of the EPA, including the Clear Air Act and other legislation proposed by the Agency. The General folders are largely proposed by the Agency. The General folders are largely made up of letters from members of the general public expressing their opinions of the activities of the EPA; again, particularly aspects of the Clean Air Act.
On the folders, the terms Executive and General are used in the titles to indicate separation of documents according to source and handling. "Executive" items include communication among national, foreign, and state and local governments and their agencies, members of Congress, and selected prominent correspondents. "General" designates communications between Government officials and private citizens, institutions, and private interest groups. Where "/A" follows a numeric file designation, it indicates files relating to appointments, nominations, and resignations within that organization.
Some of the files related to FG 298 include:
White House Central Files: Subject Files
FG 6-11-1 White House Office Staff
FG 6-17 Council on Environmental Quality
HE 9-1 Health: Air Pollution
HE 9-3 Health: Sewerage Systems
FG 298
This category contains letters and memoranda relating to various undertakings of the Environmental Protection Agency. Subjects include the Clean Air Act and other legislative proposals made by the EPA, a 1973 controversy over a proposed permit for the construction of parking lots, auto emission standards, and scheduling information for trips and speeches made by the EPA Administrator.
FG 298/A
This category contains Executive Orders, transmittal letters, and memoranda relating to the appointments, nominations, and resignations of members of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Not yet available online