The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a U.S. governmental agency tasked with the responsibilities of maintaining and safeguarding the nation's natural resources. The agency conducts environmental assessments, research, and educational discourse to help understand the environment. Additionally, the EPA focuses on enforcing national standards under different environmental laws, in coordination with state, tribal, and local governments. The primary goal of the agency is to ensure sustainable environmental protection, by issuing strict regulations against pollution, thereby making ecosystems less susceptible to harm and destruction.