Achievements

Q: During the period 1983 to 1985, what were the agency's most important achievements and how would you characterize the two years?

MR. RUCKELSHAUS: This is probably not my judgment to make, but I think the most important achievement by far was to restore the agency; that is, to put it back on an even keel, restore the trust of the public (or at least stop the damage), and begin to rebuild trust within EPA. I think we accomplished these things.

To the extent I began the process of risk-based decisionmaking within the agency, I consider this a major achievement. I believe it started when we embraced the National Academy of Sciences study on risk assessment and risk management. We began to use its principles in establishing priorities in the agency, and in managing the major risks society faced and EPA attempted to regulate.

We put very good people in the agency, including my successor, Lee Thomas, who managed to keep most of the original EPA staff in place the next four years. I think a lot of progress was made during the Reagan years, much more than the administration is given credit for. Once the initial damage was done from 1981 to 1983, the president largely avoided environmental issues. I repeat, however, that he showed more personal curiosity about pollution problems than President Nixon. Gradually, the turmoil died down and the agency returned to wrestling with the usual demons (in OMB and other places) which affected EPA's ability to function.

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Achievements

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