Final answer:
The EPA was established in 1970 and oversees the Mercury Control Program, with regulations shaped by the Clean Air Act. The success of command-and-control regulations has been observed in cleaner air and water, though they come with certain economic challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by the federal government in 1970 to oversee all environmental laws, which includes the Mercury Control Program. The Clean Air Act was enacted in the same year to address air pollution, and this act has been critical in shaping regulations concerning mercury emissions.
While command-and-control type regulations, including those for mercury, have contributed to America's cleaner air and water, economists have identified certain challenges with such regulatory approaches.