Which federal agency is responsible for environmental protection?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency specifically tasked with protecting human health and the environment. Established in 1970, the EPA is responsible for enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress regarding air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, and chemical safety, among others. Its primary goals include ensuring clean air and water, reducing pollution, and managing waste effectively, thus making it the central authority in federal efforts to safeguard the environment.

The other agencies mentioned have specialized functions that do not focus on overall environmental protection. The Federal Aviation Administration oversees aviation safety and regulation, the US Army Corps of Engineers is involved in military engineering and infrastructure projects (including some environmental and flood management tasks, but in a much narrower scope), and the US Coast Guard focuses primarily on maritime safety, security, and environmental protection related to marine environments but operates within a limited context compared to the EPA's broader environmental mandate.