Booting Earth Optimization System
Thank you for your patience. Your civilization is very important to us.
Thank you for your patience. Your civilization is very important to us.
Agency Report Card
Protect human health and the environment
Protect human health and the environment
Unhealthy air days in 35 major U.S. cities fell 64% from 2000 to 2024 (2,080 to 757), while EPA's enacted budget rose 21% in nominal dollars ($7.56B to $9.16B). One of the few agencies whose target metric has clearly improved.
| Year | EPA enacted budget authority (nominal USD, fiscal year; excludes Recovery Act, Infrastructure Act, and Inflation Reduction Act funds) | Unhealthy air days: total days at 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' or worse (ozone and PM2.5), summed across 35 major U.S. cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $7.56B | 2,080 |
| 2004 | $8.37B | 1,400 |
| 2008 | $7.47B | 1,196 |
| 2010 | $10.3B | 1,116 |
| 2012 | $8.45B | 1,297 |
| 2014 | $8.2B | 598 |
| 2016 | $8.14B | 700 |
| 2018 | $8.82B | 790 |
| 2020 | $9.06B | 772 |
| 2022 | $9.56B | 629 |
| 2024 | $9.16B | 757 |
“Sensor-verified pollution pricing with citizen dividends”
EPA budget in 2024
National unhealthy-air days fell from 35 to 11 since 2000
National average days above AQI 100 in 2024
One of the few agencies already moving the metric in the right direction
Did EPA accelerate the improvement in air quality?
Did EPA accelerate the improvement in air quality?
Air quality was already improving from the Clean Air Act of 1963 and 1967 — both passed 3-7 years BEFORE EPA existed. The trend continued at a similar pace after EPA was created. EPA's main contribution was enforcement capacity, not the original legislation.
Air quality was already improving from the Clean Air Act of 1963 and 1967 — both passed 3-7 years BEFORE EPA existed. The trend continued at a similar pace after EPA was created. EPA's main contribution was enforcement capacity, not the original legislation.
“The EPA is the one agency on this list where the numbers actually go in the right direction. Air quality improved. Budget was reasonable. On my planet, we call this competence. Here it seems to be an anomaly.”
Exposed: 1960
“Tetraethyl lead is safe. No evidence of harm at normal exposure levels.”
1923–1986 (63 years)
Industry knew lead was neurotoxic from the start — workers at the first TEL plant had hallucinations, convulsions, and 5 died within months. Government agencies accepted industry-funded studies for 63 years. A single scientist (Clair Patterson) proved atmospheric lead came from gasoline in 1965. Industry tried to destroy his career.
Estimated 824M IQ points lost in the US population. 170M Americans born with elevated lead levels. Correlated with violent crime wave of 1960s-1990s.
Exposed: 2015
“The water is safe to drink”
2014–2019 (5 years)
Government officials switched Flint's water source to save $5M. Internal emails show officials knew water was contaminated with lead. EPA regional administrator suppressed a report documenting high lead levels. State officials told residents the water was safe for 18 months while children were being poisoned.
12 killed by Legionnaires' disease outbreak. 12,000+ children exposed to lead-contaminated water. Long-term developmental damage.
On a well-run planet, this agency would have been deprecated centuries ago. Here is what replaces it.
Environmental Commons Exchange — Environmental Protection Agency