International affairs

Q: How would you characterize EPA's early involvement in international environmental affairs?

MR. RUCKELSHAUS: I primarily agreed with Russell Train that he should take over most of the international work. I did go to several conferences, was a delegate to the Stockholm Conference in 1970, and signed some international agreements to help both developed and developing countries with their environmental programs. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, we led the rest of the world in dealing with the environment.

The agency had and still has a very fine international reputation, in fact, much higher than in this country. Its scientific expertise, its technical capabilities, its willingness to share data, and the efficiency and effectiveness of its regulatory mechanisms made and make EPA highly esteemed abroad. People from other nations often turned to EPA for advice on environmental action. In fact, foreign countries were much more likely to tap our knowledge than American states. Relations with the states were really not as good.

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International affairs

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