Which of the following agencies is responsible for protecting our waterways from contamination?

The correct answer is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which plays a crucial role in safeguarding water quality and protecting waterways from contamination. The EPA is tasked with enforcing the Clean Water Act and establishing guidelines and regulations aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of surface waters, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. This includes monitoring pollution levels, regulating discharges into waterways, and ensuring that local, state, and federal water quality standards are met.

The agency is also involved in research and education to prevent water pollution and promote clean water initiatives. Through various programs, the EPA works to reduce contaminants from industrial, agricultural, and residential sources, thus helping to preserve aquatic ecosystems and public health.

Other agencies, while important in their respective domains, focus on different areas: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is concerned with workplace safety and health regulations, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) governs food safety and pharmaceuticals, and PHS (Public Health Service) works on public health issues but does not specifically oversee waterway protections.