Environmental Protection Agency Awards Program

B-286604: Mar 9, 2001

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This document discusses our legal opinion regarding several issues relating to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Air Excellence Awards Program. Concerns revolve around two central questions: EPA's authority to establish the awards program and the propriety under the Federal Advisory Committee Act of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee's participation in the new awards program.

We conclude that the creation and implementation of the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program is within the parameters of EPA's broad statutory authority. However, the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee's elimination of finalists for awards violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act.