---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13103"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13103"
heading: "EPA activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13103"
units:
  - "Chapter 133 — Pollution Prevention"
---

# §13103. EPA activities

- (a) **Authorities—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) shall establish in the [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) an office to carry out the functions of the [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) under this chapter. The office shall be independent of the [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2)’s single-medium program offices but shall have the authority to review and advise such offices on their activities to promote a [multi-media](/usc/42/13102.md?p=6) approach to [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A). The office shall be under the direction of such officer of the [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) as the [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) shall designate.
- (b) **Functions—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) shall develop and implement a strategy to promote [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A). As part of the strategy, the [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) establish standard methods of measurement of [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A);
  - (2) ensure that the [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) considers the effect of its existing and proposed programs on [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) efforts and shall review regulations of the [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) prior and subsequent to their proposal to determine their effect on [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A);
  - (3) coordinate [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) activities in each [Agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) Office[^1] and coordinate with appropriate offices to promote [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) in other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2), and generic research and development on techniques and processes which have broad applicability;
  - (4) develop improved methods of coordinating, streamlining and assuring public access to data collected under Federal environmental statutes;
  - (5) facilitate the adoption of [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) techniques by businesses. This strategy shall include the use of the [Source Reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) Clearinghouse and [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) matching grants provided in this chapter to foster the exchange of information regarding [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) techniques, the dissemination of such information to businesses, and the provision of technical assistance to businesses. The strategy shall also consider the capabilities of various businesses to make use of [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) techniques;
  - (6) identify, where appropriate, measurable goals which reflect the policy of this chapter, the tasks necessary to achieve the goals, dates at which the principal tasks are to be accomplished, required resources, organizational responsibilities, and the means by which progress in meeting the goals will be measured;
  - (8) [^2] establish an advisory panel of technical experts comprised of representatives from industry, the [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), and public interest groups, to advise the [Administrator](/usc/42/13102.md?p=1) on ways to improve collection and dissemination of data;
  - (9) establish a training program on [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) opportunities, including workshops and guidance documents, for [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) and Federal permit issuance, enforcement, and inspection officials working within all [agency](/usc/42/13102.md?p=2) program offices.[^3]
  - (10) identify and make recommendations to Congress to eliminate barriers to [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) including the use of incentives and disincentives;
  - (11) identify opportunities to use Federal procurement to encourage [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A);
  - (12) develop, test and disseminate model [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) auditing procedures designed to highlight [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) opportunities; and
  - (13) establish an annual award program to recognize a company or companies which operate outstanding or innovative [source reduction](/usc/42/13102.md?p=5-A) programs.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
[^2]: So in original. Subsec. (b) enacted without a par. (7).
[^3]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–508, title VI, § 6604, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–322.)