(Chester Higgins | National Archives)
(Jim Pickerell | National Archives)
(John Neubauer | National Archives)
(Chester Higgins | National Archives)
(Michael Phillip Manheim | National Archives)
(Marc St. Gil | National Archives)
(Marc St. Gil | National Archives)
(Gene Daniels | National Archives)
(William Strode | National Archives)
(James Thomas | Cleveland Press Collection)
(Gary Miller | National Archives)
(Gene Daniels | National Archives)
(Harry Schaefer | National Archives)
(Frank J. Aleksandrowicz | National Archives)
(William Strode | National Archives)
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Oil Slick Around The Statue Of Liberty, May 1973
Photographer Chester Higgins described New York City in the 1970s as "soup of pollution." Before 1972, it was legal to dump garbage, industrial pollutants, and sewage into waterways, which is how an oil slick ended up in the water around the Statue of Liberty.
Oil Slick Around The Statue Of Liberty, May 1973
Photographer Chester Higgins described New York City in the 1970s as "soup of pollution." Before 1972, it was legal to dump garbage, industrial pollutants, and sewage into waterways, which is how an oil slick ended up in the water around the Statue of Liberty.
Photo credit | Chester Higgins | National Archives
Trash and Old Tires Litter Baltimore Harbor, January 1973
Dumping of garbage and waste into waterways was common. Along the shore of Baltimore Harbor sights like tires littering waterways was common. Seeing trash along bodies of water can be seen in any major city.
Photo credit | Jim Pickerell | National Archives
Raw Sewage Flows Into The Potomac, April 1973
Raw sewage being dumped into the Potomac River. Before the passage of the Clean Water Act there was no legislation surrounding was could be dumped into waterways.
Photo credit | John Neubauer | National Archives
George Washington Bridge Smog, May 1973
Taking care of the air was just as important as taking care of the water. Large cities in the U.S. were blanketed by a coating of smog. Just like New York City, where conditions made it difficult to see.
Photo credit | Chester Higgins | National Archives
Outside Logan Airport Near In Boston, May 1973
Despite being able to enforce laws that protect from pollution, protecting health is another mandate of the EPA. The Noise Control Act of 1972 gave the agency the ability to noise regulation recommendations to airports.
Photo credit | Michael Phillip Manheim | National Archives
Car Batteries Burned In Houston, July 1972
Car batteries were formerly disposed by burning. This is now illegal because of the amounts of acid, lead, and plastic found in the batteries.
Photo credit | Marc St. Gil | National Archives
Chemical Plant Spewing Smoke Into Harrison County, June 1972
Harrison County, Texas was the home of Atlast Chemical Plant which during operation would belch out smoke which covered nearby farmland with soot. One farmer near the plant complained that he lost a cow to the pollution. Locals called the plant "Old Darky" because it covered everything with soot.
Photo credit | Marc St. Gil | National Archives
Smelter In Tacoma, Washington, August 1972
The Asarco copper smelting complex was responsible for coating the area in lead and arsenic while it was in use. People are still learning about the pollution that it spewed along with harmful agents. It was shut down in 1985.
Photo credit | Gene Daniels | National Archives
Strip Mining On Indian Burial Grounds By Peabody Coal Co., May 1972
This photographs shows what occurs during strip mining or surfacing mining, it was taken in Black Mesa, Arizona. Surface mining involves the removal of mountain tops and adjacent land to reveal seams of cola. This can permanently alter landscapes.
Photo credit | William Strode | National Archives
Cuyahoga River Fire, Ohio, November 1952
The Cuyahoga River in Ohio is famous for becoming so polluted it caught fire multiple times. In 1969, media coverage of the event led Congress to pass the National Environment Policy Act which set the wheels in motion for the formation of the EPA.
Photo credit | James Thomas | Cleveland Press Collection
Illegal Dumping Area In New Jersey, March 1973
Today, Liberty State Park exists in this area that was once a former illegal dump. A terminal was once housed at this site but when a decline in railroad transportation forced it to close it became a dumping site.
Photo credit | Gary Miller | National Archives
Discard Pesticide Cans In Fresno, May 1972
One of the functions that the EPA inherited was the regulation of pesticides. Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane (DDT), a powerful and persistent pesticide, was proven to have a strong effect in keeping pests away, but was found to cause cancer in humans. It was banned by the EPA in its early days.
Photo credit | Gene Daniels | National Archives
Water Cooling Towers of Power Plant In West Virginia, August 1973
Coal burning power plants are known for emitting air pollution that causes asthma, cancer, and heart and lung ailments. This photo taken in West Virginia shows how close people lived to these plants.
Photo credit | Harry Schaefer | National Archives
Clark Avenue In Cleveland, July 1973
Taken in 1973 this photo shows how the smog that was blanketing large cities was being produced. Factories behind the cars pumped out heavy smoke which covered the street during the commute.
Photo credit | Frank J. Aleksandrowicz | National Archives
Smog Over Louisville, September 1972
Smog covered many of the large cities in the U.S. before the EPA was created to implement and enforce regulations. Nothing is able to be made out in this aerial photograph of Louisville, Kentucky.
Photo credit | William Strode | National Archives
(Chester Higgins | National Archives)
(Jim Pickerell | National Archives)
(John Neubauer | National Archives)
(Chester Higgins | National Archives)
(Michael Phillip Manheim | National Archives)
(Marc St. Gil | National Archives)
(Marc St. Gil | National Archives)
(Gene Daniels | National Archives)
(William Strode | National Archives)
(James Thomas | Cleveland Press Collection)
(Gary Miller | National Archives)
(Gene Daniels | National Archives)
(Harry Schaefer | National Archives)
(Frank J. Aleksandrowicz | National Archives)
(William Strode | National Archives)
