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Russell E. Train's letter to employees
[EPA Journal - Nov./Dec. 1975]Office of the Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
To My fellow employees:
I am extremely proud of what EPA has accomplished--of what all of you have accomplished--in the five years since our Agency was founded.
The decision to create EPA--with responsibility for protecting the environment as a single, interrelated system--was one of the major forward steps in our Nation's response to the environmental challenge.
But an agency is made up of people, and its effectiveness depends on the talent, dedication, and courage of its employees. Many of you were working for environmental benefit before EPA was organized and chose to transfer to the new Agency when it was established. Many others were attracted by the challenge of protecting the environment and the opportunity to participate in an effort of historical significance. As a result of our performance we have become a team without equal (in my judgment) in the Federal establishment.
One result is that EPA has firmly established itself. Our legislative mandates have been broadened and strengthened. Administration and management of our Agency has improved. Our scientific and analytic capacity is broadly respected. And our relationships with State and local governments, with industry, and with the public have expanded and improved.
Even more importantly, we have made great progress in the implementation of our programs. Evidence of improvement in environmental quality is already apparent, and future years will bring further advances as the result of actions which EPA has taken over these five years.
As an outgrowth of our efforts as well as many others, environmental protection has become part of the fabric of our society. All levels of government now have environmental programs. Industry now considers environmental safeguards a necessary part of doing business. Environmental education is taught in our schools, and environmental law and environmental engineering are growing specialties. The environmental movement has become institutionalized, an integral and important part of the way we think and the way we live.
EPA has had its difficulties and, no doubt, will continue to have difficulties in the future; no vital organization is without them. But given the strength we have demonstrated in the past I have no doubt that we will continue to persevere in the future.
Congratulations on a job well done.
Russell E. Train