Government Agencies

espite efforts in recent years to consolidate environmental programs at the federal government level, the complexity and multi-disciplinary aspects of the subject make this very difficult, if indeed, not impossible. Problems encountered in attempts to designate focal points for the environment are reflected in organizational patterns, in information services developed to support the subject area, and in publications resulting from the various programs and information services. Programs related to the environment cut across a number of lines in varying degrees. Aspects of the problem can be defined as: scientific, technical, legal, social, economic, managerial, health, cultural, administrative, and many others. Nearly all scientific disciplines as well as those of the social sciences are involved. Since the environment touches every aspect of the world and human existence and since the federal government is responsible for the well-being of its citizens and the nation, it is understandable that at this time the United States Government Organization Manual 1972/73 lists approximately eighty departments, agencies and offices which have responsibilities in the ecology or conservation and environmental programs of the federal government. These responsibilities may be policy-making, regulatory, research or administrative; they may be related to specific areas such as urban and rural life, population, education, energy resources, land use, or areas such as air, water, noise and solid waste. They may involve what appear to be conflicting responsibilities such as in the case of pesticides and radiation.published or submitted for publicatio