Environmental Policy

Agencies, Laws, and Issues

Policy

• Policy: an outline of actions, incentives, penalties, and rules

that a company, group, or government follows concerning a certain issue.

Developing an Environmental Policy

involves

making decisions

based on

risk assesmment cost/benefit analysis

which involves which involves

Determining how much risk identifying positive and is acceptable negative impacts of

environmental activities

Cost-benefit Analysis• Example: What are the risks, costs, and

benefits of controlling toxic waste discharge into streams?– Industry: increased cost of production and

decreased profit– Townspeople: decreased health risk to those

living near or using the stream

NO TALKING WHEN YOU ENTER THE CLASSROOM!

You will receive a ZERO on your quiz if you talk…please be quiet!

LOCAL Policy

• Local and State governments have the most responsibility for maintaining environmental quality

• Personal concerns become community concerns (and change happens) when more people recognize the issue and understand how they are all affected– How? letters, protests, court action, voting

FEDERAL (Nationwide) Policy

• The Federal government gets involved in environmental issues when the actions of one state affect the quality of life in another state

• Example: Pollutants in the Mississippi River 27 states involved

How to decide what is best for all?

FEDERAL Policy

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)– Responsible for managing and investigating

environmental concerns so that effective laws can be developed

– Deals with all environmental matters except those related to nuclear energy

– Many divisions: Resources, Compliance, Environmental Justice, Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Water, etc.

INTERNATIONAL Policy• When more than one country is involved in

an environmental issue

• Developed vs. Developing Nations:– Developed: Dominate decision- and policy-

making to benefit themselves in international organizations like the United Nations; Caution developing nations to protect their resources

– Developing: Believe developed nations have already obtained their wealth and consumed earth’s resources for their own needs; Trying to obtain wealth through the sale of their resources

INTERNATIONAL Policy

• Examples:– Sea Turtles in Costa Rica– Bush meat and ivory/pelt black market trade

in Africa– Rainforest vs. Farm land in South America

More Issues (Ideas for your HOMEWORK!!)

• Local Water Quality

• Clear-Cutting Trees

• Offshore Oil Drilling

• Use of Public Lands

• Disposal of Hazardous Wastes