As a result, EPA could not ensure that it was directing its efforts toward the environmental problems that were of greatest concern to citizens or posed the greatest risk to the health of the population or the environment itself.
( ( As ( a result ) ) ( , ( EPA ( ( ( ( ( ( could not ) ( ensure ( that ( it ( was ( ( directing ( its efforts ) ) ( toward ( ( the ( environmental problems ) ) ( that ( ( were ( of ( greatest concern ) ) ) ( to citizens ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) or ) ( ( posed ( the ( greatest risk ) ) ) ( to ( ( the health ) ( of ( ( ( the population ) or ) ( the environment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) itself ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN As) (NP (DT a) (NN result))) (, ,) (NP (NNP EPA)) (VP (VP (MD could) (RB not) (VP (VB ensure) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG directing) (NP (PRP$ its) (NNS efforts)) (PP (IN toward) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ environmental) (NNS problems)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBD were) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJS greatest) (NN concern))) (PP (TO to) (NP (NNS citizens)))))))))))))) (CC or) (VP (VBD posed) (NP (DT the) (JJS greatest) (NN risk)) (PP (TO to) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN health)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN population)) (CC or) (NP (DT the) (NN environment))))))) (NP (PRP itself))) (. .)))
EPA couldn't ensure it was directing its efforts toward the environmental problem.
( EPA ( ( ( could n't ) ( ensure ( it ( was ( ( directing ( its efforts ) ) ( toward ( the ( environmental problem ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP EPA)) (VP (MD could) (RB n't) (VP (VB ensure) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG directing) (NP (PRP$ its) (NNS efforts)) (PP (IN toward) (NP (DT the) (JJ environmental) (NN problem))))))))) (. .)))