What organization is tasked with preventing manufacturing plants from releasing harmful pollutants?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the organization specifically responsible for preventing manufacturing plants and other facilities from releasing harmful pollutants into the environment. The EPA establishes standards and regulations that limit industrial emissions and ensures compliance with environmental laws designed to protect air and water quality.

The agency conducts inspections and can enforce penalties against companies that violate these regulations, helping to safeguard public health and the environment. Its mission includes monitoring various pollutants, overseeing waste management, and implementing programs aimed at reducing pollution.

While other organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) focus on food and drug safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned with worker safety and health in the workplace, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) deals with consumer protection and antitrust regulations, none of these agencies primarily addresses the release of pollutants by manufacturing plants in the same way the EPA does.