A list of U.S. Federal Government Agencies on the Internet is provided by Louisiana State University.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has several sites of special relevance to the environment, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which works with landowners on private lands to conserve natural resources. Its Data Clearinghouse leads you to the Natural Resource Inventory (the nation is losing 2.1 billion tons of soil per year). Also important is the U.S. Forest Service which is dedicated to multiple-use management for sustained yields of renewable resources such as wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation.
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) promotes American businesses and trade, including expanding U.S. exports, developing innovative technologies, gathering and disseminating statistical data, measuring economic growth, granting patents, promoting minority entrepreneurship, predicting the weather and monitoring stewardship. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, and conserves and manages the nation’s coastal and marine resources. Its site provides considerable environmental data. The National Weather Service has data on current and past weather, including global climate change.
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans. Its website lists over 200 education programs and grants.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
The Department of Energy provides the technical information and scientific and educational foundation for technology, policy, and institutional leadership necessary to achieve efficiency in energy use, diversity in energy sources, improved environmental quality, and a secure national defense. The Energy Department’s Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development helps communities design and implement innovative strategies that enhance the local economy as well as the local environment and quality of life. See their top 20 web sites for examples of sustainable community design. Also check out the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which is developing new energy technologies to benefit both the environment and the economy.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. Its 300 programs include Social Security, Medicare, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and more.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Department of Housing and Urban Development helps people find homes and helps the Nation’s communities develop. The site has many good links to environmental sites, especially those related to cities and urban technologies. HUD’s What Works page provides links to a number of sites that describe current examples of effective approaches, including a link to the Best Practices Database from the 1996 Habitat II International Conference.
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau within the Department of the Interior, is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Its major responsibilities are: migratory birds, endangered species, certain marine mammals, freshwater and anadromous fish, the National Wildlife Refuge System, wetlands, conserving habitat, and environmental contaminants.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The mission of the Bureau of Land Management is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for transportation safety improvements and enforcement, international transportation agreements and the continuity of transportation services in the public interest. The website provides data on highways, aviation, railroads, Coast Guard, and the Transit Administration. Check out the National Transit Library and its information on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency works to improve public health and the quality of the environment. Its areas of concern include: air quality; water quality of drinking water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands; and waste, toxics and pesticides management.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The mission of the USGS is to provide geologic, topographic, and hydrologic information that contributes to the wise management of the Nation’s natural resources and that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of the people. This information consists of maps, databases, and descriptions and analyses of the water, energy, and mineral resources, land surface, underlying geologic structure, natural hazards, and dynamic processes of the earth.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency established by the U.S. Congress under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to ensure adequate protection of the public health and safety, the common defense and security, and the environment in the use of nuclear materials in the United States. The NRC’s scope of responsibility includes regulation of:
- Commercial nuclear power reactors; nonpower research, test, and training reactors
- Fuel cycle facilities; medical, academic, and industrial uses of nuclear materials
- Transport, storage, and disposal of nuclear materials and waste
President’s Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD)
The President’s Council on Sustainable Development is a groundbreaking partnership drawing leaders from industry, government, and environmental, labor and civil rights organizations, and is charged with developing new approaches to integrate economic and environmental policies.
The White House
The Welcome to the White House web site provides information and email for President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, White House history, a virtual library of White House documents, a citizen’s guide to information about the Federal government and services, and more.
The Greening of the White House is a series of environmental upgrades occurring at the White House complex. Measures are being implemented to reduce pollution, save energy, protect water quality, improve comfort, and save money at the White House.