More commonly known by its acronym, the EPA is the US government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing a wide range of environmental issues, one of the most important of which is the impact of industry on the environment. Most commercial energy production has a real or potential impact on the environment. The EPA acts in conjunction with other state and federal regulatory agencies to insure that all industries, not just energy producers, conform to standards set out for safe and environmentally-friendly behavior. The agency has the power to impose penalties on businesses which do not meet acceptable standards.

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