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https://epa.gov

Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.
SCORE
72
GRADE
C
FIX
3
REVIEW
4
PASS
6
INFO
0
Checks
13
6 PASS 4 REVIEW 3 FIX
D
Web Manifest
Action
Not found
FIX
Not found
Info::
No web manifest found
No manifest at standard paths (/manifest.json, /site.webmanifest). A manifest is optional but enables PWA features like home screen installation and standalone display.

No web manifest found.

D
Dark Mode Support
Action
No dark mode signals
FIX
No dark mode signals
Info::
No dark mode signals detected
Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.
Info::
Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles
External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.
Dark ModeNo Dark Mode Detected
color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

D
Print Stylesheet
Action
No print styles
FIX
No print styles
Info::
No print-specific styles detected
When users print this page, they get the screen layout including navigation and non-essential elements. Add @media print rules to hide navigation and optimize layout for paper.
Print Stylesheet No Print Styles
Print stylesheet Not found ✗Inline @media print Not detected ✗
B
404 Error Page
HTTP 404, custom page
REVIEW
HTTP 404, custom page
Info::
Correct 404 status code returned
Got: HTTP 404
Info::
Custom styled 404 page
Info::
Navigation links present on 404 page
Info::
Homepage link present on 404 page
404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page
Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Page Title Page Not Found | US EPA ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✓Homepage Link ✓Search Form ✗
C
Favicon & Branding
Action
9 icon(s) detected
REVIEW
9 icon(s) detected
Warning::
No favicon.ico at site root
Some older browsers, bookmark tools, and RSS readers look for /favicon.ico. Add one as a fallback.
Info::
HTML icon links detected
Info::
Apple touch icon present
Info::
Multiple icon sizes detected
✗ favicon.ico Missing
✓ PNG Icons Present
✓ Apple Touch Present
✗ SVG Favicon Missing
✗ Manifest Icons Missing
✓ Multiple Sizes Present
C
Navigation UX
Action
3 navigation pattern(s)
REVIEW
3 navigation pattern(s)
Info::
Search functionality detected
Got: role-search
Info::
Skip navigation link detected
Info::
Back-to-top link detected
Info::
3 navigation landmark(s) detected
Breadcrumbs
Search role='search' landmark
Skip Link Skip link detected
Labeled Navigation 3 <nav> element(s)
Back to Top
Hamburger Menu
Sticky Navigation Cannot reliably detect (CSS-based)
4 of 6 testable patterns navigation patterns detected. Strong navigation UX with multiple discovery paths.
C
Color Contrast (Screenshot)
Action
20 text elements analyzed, 18 fail WCAG AA
REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

2 pass 18 fail WCAG AA
h1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
32px · bottom of viewport
h1 www.epa.gov Feedback Survey
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
32px · bottom of viewport
h2 EPA and HHS Announce MAHA Win to Address…
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 500 Environmental Accomplishments by Tru…
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 U.S. and Mexico Reach Agreement to Perma…
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 Powering the Great American Comeback
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 EPA and HHS Announce MAHA Win to Address…
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 Careers at EPA
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Applying for EPA Grants
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Drinking Water Resources
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 EPA News Releases
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Discover.
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Connect.
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Ask.
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Follow.
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Success
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Error
1.75:1
#000000
on
#373540
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
p An official website of the United States…
3.12:1
#000000
on
#005EA2
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)

5 contrast failures on background images/gradients

These failures are invisible to CSS-based accessibility tools like Lighthouse. The text may be fine on a solid background, but fails when rendered over an image or gradient.

Show all checked elements (20)
ElementRatioRequiredFGBGResult
h1 U.S. Environmental P…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h1 www.epa.gov Feedback…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 EPA and HHS Announce…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 500 Environmental Ac…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 U.S. and Mexico Reac…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Powering the Great A…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 EPA and HHS Announce…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Careers at EPA1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Applying for EPA Gra…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Drinking Water Resou…1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 EPA News Releases1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Discover.1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Connect.1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Ask.1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Follow.1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Success1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
h2 Error1.75:13.0:1
#000000
#373540
Fail
title U.S. Environmental P…18.43:14.5:1
#000000
#F0F0F0
Pass
a Skip to main content9.80:14.5:1
#000000
#90B6D1
Pass
p An official website …3.12:14.5:1
#000000
#005EA2
Fail

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A+
Landmark Structure
15 landmarks
PASS
15 landmarks
Info::
<main> landmark present
Info::
3 <nav> landmark(s) found
Info::
All <nav> elements are properly labeled
Info::
Skip navigation link present
Info::
Search landmark present
Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it
BANNER header NAV "skip-to-main" SEARCH MAIN CONTENTINFO footer
A
Heading Hierarchy
20 headings
PASS
20 headings
Warning::
Multiple H1 headings (2 found)
A page should have only one H1. Multiple H1s dilute the document outline.
  • H1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • H2 EPA and HHS Announce MAHA Win to Address Microplastics Contamination
  • H2 500 Environmental Accomplishments by Trump EPA
  • H2 U.S. and Mexico Reach Agreement to Permanently End Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
  • H2 Powering the Great American Comeback
  • H2 EPA and HHS Announce MAHA Win to Address Microplastics Contamination
  • H2 Careers at EPA
  • H2 Applying for EPA Grants
  • H2 Drinking Water Resources
  • H2 EPA News Releases
  • H3 EPA Proposes Repeal of 2024 Nonattainment Decision for Utah’s Northern Wasatch Front to Prevent Area from Being Penalized for Foreign Emissions
  • H3 EPA Proposes Repeal of 2024 Nonattainment Decision for Utah’s Northern Wasatch Front to Prevent Area from Being Penalized for Foreign Emissions
  • H3 United States Files Complaint Against DC Water in Response to Potomac Interceptor Collapse
  • H2 Discover.
  • H2 Connect.
  • H2 Ask.
  • H2 Follow.
  • H1 www.epa.gov Feedback Survey duplicate H1
  • H2 Success
  • H2 Error

A page should have only one H1. Multiple H1s dilute the document outline.

Why this matters

Multiple H1s blur the page's primary topic — screen-reader users and Google both prefer one H1.

Learn more ▾

HTML5's outline algorithm technically allows multiple H1s within sectioning content, but no browser implements it. In practice: one H1 per page. Use H2-H6 for subsections.

Source: WCAG 2.4.6 / Google Search Central

A+
Alt Text Quality
All 9 images OK
PASS
All 9 images OK
Info::
2 decorative image(s) correctly marked
Info::
7 image(s) with good alt text
9 images 7 good alt text 2 decorative
All images have appropriate alt text.
A+
Form Accessibility
All 17 controls labeled
PASS
All 17 controls labeled
Info::
17 control(s) properly labeled
17 controls
17 labeled
0 placeholder only
0 unlabeled
ControlTypeLabelMethod
#search-boxsearchSearchfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star0radio0 Starsfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star1radio1 Starfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star2radio2 Starsfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star3radio3 Starsfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star4radio4 Starsfor/id
#question_55203_answer_01_star5radio5 Starsfor/id
#question_55204_answer_02textPlease explain the reason for your rating. *for/id
#question_option_81299radioBusinessfor/id
#question_option_81300radioGovernment employeefor/id
#question_option_81301radioScientistfor/id
#question_option_81302radioStudentfor/id
#question_option_81303radioOtherfor/id
#question_55205_answer_03_othertextEnter other textfor/id
#question_55206_answer_04textPlease tell us why you visited www.epa.gov today.for/id
#question_55207_answer_05textDid you visit www.epa.gov to accomplish a specific task? If yes, please explain why you were able or unable to accomplish your task.for/id
#question_55208_answer_07textHow can we make www.epa.gov a more helpful website?for/id
A+
Lighthouse Accessibility Audits
Score 100/100 — 0 failing, 27 passed
PASS
100

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable
○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state
○The page has a logical tab order
○Visual order on the page follows DOM order
○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region
○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page
○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation
○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology
○Custom controls have associated labels
○Custom controls have ARIA roles
●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles
●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`
●`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes
●`[role]` values are valid
●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values
●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled
●Buttons have an accessible name
●Image elements have `[alt]` attributes
●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.
●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role
●`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents
●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes
●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio
●Document has a `<title>` element
●`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute
●`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute
●Links are distinguishable without relying on color.
●Links have a discernible name
●Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).
●List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements
●No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0
●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.
●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order
●Document has a main landmark.
●Deprecated ARIA roles were not used
●Identical links have the same purpose.
●Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.
○`[accesskey]` values are unique
○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names
○Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.
○ARIA input fields have accessible names
○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names
○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names
○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.
○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element
○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.
○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names
○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names
○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names
○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region
○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.
○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements
○ARIA IDs are unique
○No form fields have multiple labels
○`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title
○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.
○Input buttons have discernible text.
○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text
○Form elements have associated labels
○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`
○`<object>` elements have alternate text
○Select elements have associated label elements.
○Skip links are focusable.
○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.
○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.
○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value
○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`
○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.
○All heading elements contain content.
○Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements
○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.
○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.
○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.
All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.

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