Which of the following best describes the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to marine issues?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a critical role in monitoring and responding to pollution, which encompasses a variety of marine issues. The agency is primarily responsible for safeguarding the environment and public health by enforcing regulations related to air and water quality, hazardous waste management, and chemical safety. With respect to marine issues, the EPA focuses on preventing pollution in oceans, rivers, and lakes, thereby protecting aquatic ecosystems and public health.

Effective pollution monitoring includes assessing contamination levels in water bodies, researching the impacts of pollutants on marine life, and implementing measures to remediate contaminated sites. Through these efforts, the EPA helps to maintain healthy marine environments, which is essential for the sustainability of the ecosystem and the wellbeing of communities that depend on these water resources.

In contrast, regulating shipping routes, setting fishing quotas, and conducting marine research fall under the purview of other organizations and regulatory bodies, as those tasks are more directly related to maritime commerce, fisheries management, and scientific inquiry specific to marine biology, rather than the broader environmental protection focus of the EPA.