4 environmental protection

7/28/2019 4 Environmental Protection

1/30

Environmental Protection


2/30

Environmental Protection Agency

An administrative agency created by

Congress to coordinate the

implementation and enforcement of the

federal environmental protection laws.

Broad rule-making powers

Adjudicative powers

The EPA can initiate judicial proceedings

in court against suspected violators of

federal environmental laws.


3/30

National Environmental Policy Act

Federal statute that mandates that the federal government

consider the adverse impact a federal government action

would have on the environment before the action is

implemented.

Created the Council on EnvironmentalQuality.

Does not apply to action by state or local governments or private

parties.


4/30


5/30

Environmental Impact Statement(continued)

EIS must:

Describe affected environment.

Describe impact on environment.

Identify and discuss alternatives.

List resources to be committed.

Contain cost-benefit analysis

Subject to public review and comments.

EPA decisions are appealable to

appropriate U.S. court of appeals.


6/30

Air Pollution

Clean Air Act (as amended)

A federal statute enacted in 1963 to assist states

in dealing with air problems.

The Clean Air Act, as amended (1970, 1977, 1990),provides comprehensive regulation of air quality

in the United States.


7/30

Pollution Sources

Stationary Sources

of Air Pollution

Mobile Sources of

Air Pollution

Nonattainment

AreasToxic Air Pollutants


8/30

Sources of Air Pollution

Stationary sources

States must be identified

Plans must be developed to reduce pollution

Mobile sources

Emission standards set

EPA regulates pollution caused by fuel and fuel

additives


9/30

National Ambient Air Quality

Standards

The Clean Air Act directs the EPA to

establish national ambient air qualitystandards (NAAQS) for certain pollutants.

Standards are set at two levels:

Primary to protect humanbeings

Secondary to protectvegetation, matter, climate,visibility, and economic values

States responsible for enforcement


10/30

Nonattainment Areas

Regions that do not meet air

quality standards.

Five categories, ranging from

marginal to extreme. States must submit compliance

plans.

Failure to develop and implement

approved plan will cause loss of

highway funds and limitations on

new sources of emissions.


11/30

Water Pollution

Comprehensive scheme of statutes and regulations to preventand control water pollution.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1948 (asamended):

Clean Water Act of 1972

Clean Water Act of 1977

Clean Water Quality Act of 1987


12/30

Point Sources of Water Pollution

Sources of water pollutionsuch as paper mills,manufacturing plants, electric

utility plants, and sewageplants.

Dischargers must keep

records, maintain monitoringequipment, and keep samplesof discharge.


13/30

Thermal Pollution

Heated water or material discharged into

waterways that upsets the ecological balance

and decreases the oxygen content

Sources subject to Clean Water Act


14/30

Wetlands

Areas that are inundated or saturated by

surface water or ground water that support

vegetation typically adapted for life in such

conditions

Clean Water Act forbids filling or dredging of

wetlands without permit from Army Corps of

Engineers.


15/30

Safe Drinking Water Act

Authorizes the EPA to establish national

primary drinking water standards.

Prohibits the dumping of wastes into wells

used for drinking water.

The states are primarily responsible for

enforcing the act.


16/30

Ocean Protection

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries

Act

Extended environmental protection to the oceans.

Requires a permit for dumping wastes and other

foreign materials into ocean waters.

Establishes marine sanctuaries in ocean waters

and in the Great Lakes and their connectingwaters.


17/30

Oil Spills

Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires oil industry to adopt

procedures and contingency plans.

The Clean Water Act authorizes the U.S. government to clean

up oil spills and spills of other hazardous substances in ocean

waters.

The government can recover cleanup costs from responsible parties.


18/30

Toxic Substances

Chemicals used for agricultural, industrial, and mining uses

that cause injury to humans, birds, animals, fish, and

vegetation.

Key federal laws:

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of

1947 (as amended in 1972)

Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976


19/30

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

Solid waste that may cause or significantlycontribute to an increase in mortality or seriousillness or pose a hazard to human health or theenvironment if improperly managed

Land Pollution

Pollution of the land that is generally caused byhazardous waste being disposed of in an impropermanner


20/30

Toxic Substances Control Act

Requires manufacturers and processors to test

new chemicals to determine their effect on

human health and the environment before the

EPA will allow them to be marketed.

EPA establishes standards.

Requires stationary sources to control emissions.

EPA can limit or prohibit manufacture and sale,

or remove it from commerce.


21/30

Insecticides, Fungicides, and Rodenticides

Requires pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides

to be registered with the EPA.

The EPA may deny, suspend, or cancel registration.


22/30

Land Pollution

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976

Federal statute that authorizes the EPA to regulate

facilities that generate, treat, store, transport, and

dispose of hazardous wastes. States have primary responsibility for

implementing the standards established by the act

and EPA regulations.


23/30

Superfund

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation & Liability Act

Administered by the EPA

Gives the federal government a mandateto deal with hazardous wastes that have

been spilled, stored, or abandoned.


24/30

Superfund (continued)

The Superfund requires the EPA to:

Identify sites in the U.S. where hazardous wastes have been disposed,stored, abandoned, or spilled, and

Rank these sites regarding the severity of risk

The hazardous waste sites with the highest ranking are put on aNational Priority List

The law provides for the creation of a fund to finance the cleanup ofhazardous waste sites

Can order polluter or landowner to pay for cleanup


25/30

Radiation Pollution

Emissions from radioactive wastes that can

cause injury and death to humans and other

life and can cause severe damage to the

environment.


26/30

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Licenses the construction and opening of

commercial nuclear power plants.

Continually monitors the operation of nuclear

power plants and may close a plant if safety

violations are found.


27/30

EPA

Empowered to set standards for radioactivity

in the environment and to regulate the

disposal of radioactive waste.

Regulates thermal pollution from nuclear

power plants.

Regulates emissions from uranium mines and

mills.


28/30

Endangered Species

Endangered Species Act

Federal statute that protects endangered and threatened speciesof animals.

The Secretary of the Interior is empowered to declare a form ofwildlife endangeredor threatened.

The act requires the EPA and the Department of Commerce todesignate critical habitats for each endangered and threatenedspecies.

The act prohibits the taking of any endangered species.


29/30

Federal Wildlife Laws

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Bald Eagle Protection Act

Wild Free-Roaming Horses and

Burros Act

Marine Mammal Protection Act Migratory Bird Conservation Act

Fishery Conservation and

Management Act

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

National Wildlife Refuge System


30/30

State Environmental Protection Laws

Many state and local

governments have enacted

statutes and ordinances to

protect the environment.

States are entitled to set

pollution standards that are

stricter than federalrequirements.

4 environmental protection

Documents