Editors' Summary: The actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may well be one of the single most influential factors influencing the quality of the nation's environment. EPA is often the maker of environmental policy as it writes regulations, balances when and how to enforce its laws, distributes grants, approves state programs, and proposes or comments on legislation before Congress. EPA must work effectively as one agency among dozens in the federal government, knowing when to press environmental issues and when to hold back. And EPA must know how to manage itself, making the most of its limited budget and personnel. Throughout it all, EPA must maintain a sense of perspective, keeping short-term emergencies from crowding out long-term priorities.

The November election will bring a new president, and for EPA that can mean new environmental policies and new management concerns. To help set this important new agenda, we asked a number of people one question: "What would you do if you were running EPA?" We invited them to focus on any concerns they chose: finetuning changes in particular programs, broad improvements in management, redirected environmental priorities, changes in dealings with Congress or the public, or whatever.

Here are their answers. The respondents, all respected leaders in the field, represent a strikingly wide set of backgrounds and perspectives. The answers reflect this diversity.