When the first European settlers came to what is now the United States, they discovered a treasure trove of untapped natural resources. While the Native Americans lived in harmony with these resources, as soon as they climbed off the boat, the Europeans began exploiting them. Water and forest resources were first exploited. Later, untold riches in the form of minerals and oil were discovered underground and these have been and still are being exploited. It can be said with a great deal of truth, these abundant resources are responsible for making this country great.

It wasn't until the middle of the 20th Century, some 350 years after the first Europeans landed when water and air pollution became so totally obvious, that some individuals began to think perhaps these resources, some of which were irreplaceable, might need some degree of protection.

In 1968, Richard Nixon became President. I'll bet that very few of us think of him as an environmentalist, but it was in 1970 that he signed an executive order creating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Less than a year earlier, he had signed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the first of several major environmental laws enacted during his administration. EPA has been controversial since its creation.

EPA wasn't the first federal environmental organization. The short-lived Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA) began operation in 1965. Other Federal agencies had some responsibilities for environmental protection. When EPA was created, these responsibilities including FWPCA were folded into EPA. Thus, federal responsibilities for environmental protection were concentrated into one agency.

EPA has grown into an organization of over 17,000 employees with an annual budget of over $8 billion. Besides its Washington headquarters, it has 10 regions and 27 laboratories. Cooperating with state, local and tribal governments, it enforces national standards for air and water. It has monitoring and enforcement responsibilities. It conducts environmental assessments, education and research.

Most people agree that the environment is better off now that it was in 1970. The number of massive die-offs of fish and waterfowl have declined in recent years. The Cuyahaga River in Cleveland hasn't caught fire like it did in 1969. Superfund sites are slowly, gradually being cleaned up. Air pollution if not better, has not gotten measurably worse. The establishment of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) is gradually leading to the revitalization of some stream reaches as fishable and swimmable. So why is our environment better? It is better, at least in part, because educational programs such as recycling sponsored by EPA, and other federal, state, local and tribal organizations have convinced a large part of the population of the importance of environmental protection.

Still, there are too many among us, who resent the EPA, who resent environmental protection, who have no sense of conservation, who feel that it is their right to exploit our natural resources. Wetlands exist to be drained. Mountains exist to be damaged or destroyed to secure the mineral resources they contain. Yes, they are a small minority, but they have vocal supporters in Congress who would be happy if they could make the EPA go away.

In my humble opinion, the EPA exists to make the country a better place for us to live and prosper by protecting our environment. To answer the title question, EPA is our friend. It is working for all of us and it deserves our support.