Which statement about the Environmental Protection Agency's responsibilities is true?

Which statement about the Environmental Protection Agency's responsibilities is true?

• A. It funds medical research.
• B. It enforces financial reporting standards.
• C. It sets and enforces environmental laws.
• D. It manages patient health records.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting health and the environment by creating environmental standards and enforcing the laws that limit pollution. This means setting rules under major environmental laws, issuing permits, monitoring compliance, and taking enforcement actions when violations occur to reduce pollution and protect ecosystems and public health. Funding medical research is typically handled by agencies like the National Institutes of Health, not the EPA. Enforcing financial reporting standards is the job of financial regulators and standard-setters such as the SEC and FASB, not environmental agencies. Managing patient health records is a function of healthcare providers and privacy laws like HIPAA, not environmental protection agencies. So the statement that the EPA sets and enforces environmental laws best captures its role.

The main idea is that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting health and the environment by creating environmental standards and enforcing the laws that limit pollution. This means setting rules under major environmental laws, issuing permits, monitoring compliance, and taking enforcement actions when violations occur to reduce pollution and protect ecosystems and public health.

Funding medical research is typically handled by agencies like the National Institutes of Health, not the EPA. Enforcing financial reporting standards is the job of financial regulators and standard-setters such as the SEC and FASB, not environmental agencies. Managing patient health records is a function of healthcare providers and privacy laws like HIPAA, not environmental protection agencies.

So the statement that the EPA sets and enforces environmental laws best captures its role.