Environmental policy in the United States

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png This Ballotpedia article is in need of updates. Please email us if you would like to suggest a revision. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Environmental Policy Logo on Ballotpedia.png
State environmental policy
U.S. environmental policy
Endangered species policy
State endangered species
Federal land policy
Environmental terms
Public Policy Logo-one line.png

Environmental policy in the United States involves governmental actions at the federal, state, and local level to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. Environmental protection is balanced with other public policy concerns, such as economic growth, affordable energy, and the rights of businesses and individuals. Debates over state and federal environmental policies often involve discussions of the trade-offs associated with environmental laws.

Environmental policy can include laws and policies addressing water and air pollution, chemical and oil spills, smog, drinking water quality, land conservation and management, and wildlife protection, such as the protection of endangered species.

Background

Environmental policy is aimed at balancing environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources with other policy goals, such as affordable energy as well as economic growth and employment. Federal and state environmental rules cover air quality, water quality, waste management, land conservation, chemical and oil spills, drinking water quality. Some environmental policies regulate the actions of private individuals, organizations, or businesses. For example, a factory that must discharge wastewater as part of its daily operations may need to hold and maintain a federal permit. The factory would be required to follow a set of rules and requirements within its permit to comply with environmental laws.

Environmental rules and regulations vary in their requirements depending on the issue involved. Environmental policy and energy policy are also interconnected. For example, energy production and consumption can produce environmental effects. As a result, environmental policy can involve restrictions or regulations on energy production such as oil and natural gas operations or solar energy development.[1]

History

Environmental policy has changed as environmental issues have changed over time.

1970s

In 1970, President Richard Nixon (R) signed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which established the Council on Environmental Quality. The council became the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1971. During the 1970s, amendments to the Clean Air Act and the Water Pollution Control Act, which became the Clean Water Act, went into effect. The Endangered Species Act, which requires the listing of animal and plant species as endangered or threatened, was passed in 1973. These environmental laws were meant to address air and water pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, suspended solids and toxic metal substances. Additionally, sources of these pollutants, such as industrial facilities, automobiles and municipalities, came under federal regulation.[1]

1980s and 1990s

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) was passed by Congress on December 11, 1980. The act allowed the EPA to regulate contaminated waste sites. The act also permitted the EPA to hold individuals or companies liable for contaminated sites as well as site cleanup. The program aimed at cleaning up abandoned waste sites is known as the Superfund program.[2][3]

President Ronald Reagan (R) signed a 1982 budget bill reducing the EPA's budget by 30 percent. Reagan's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) conducted a cost-benefit analysis for every proposed federal regulation, including environmental regulations. Each proposed environmental regulation had to be submitted to the OMB before taking effect. President Bill Clinton (D) signed the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at greenhouse gas reductions in an effort against human-caused climate change. The treaty was rejected by the United States Senate. Additionally, Clinton designated approximately 3 million acres of federal land as national monuments and signed an executive order directing the federal government to consider environmental justice concerns in federal decision-making.[4][5]

2000s

President George W. Bush (R) proposed the Clean Skies Initiative, a program to establish a market-based system for companies to buy and sell pollution credits. The initiative would have replaced the regulatory structure of the Clean Air Act for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions with a market system. The initiative did not pass Congress. Bush did not sign the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a response to human-induced global warming. During his tensure, President Barack Obama (D) authorized federal regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and power plants. In addition, Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009), known as the stimulus bill, to authorize federal funding for solar energy projects.[6][7][8][9]

Legislation and regulation

Federal legislation

See also: Environmental policy laws and lawsuits
  • The Clean Air Act (CAA) was passed by Congress in 1963 and amended in 1967, 1970, 1977, and 1990. The Clean Air Act is aimed at reducing air pollutants and their sources. The EPA enforces the Clean Air Act. The law authorizes national air quality standards for ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter, which are regulated as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.[10][11][12][13]
  • The Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed by Congress in 1972 as an amendment of the 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Under the act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes wastewater standards and administers the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which makes it illegal to discharge a pollutant into navigable waters without a federal permit. For more information about the implementation of the Clean Water Act, click here.[14][15]
  • The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed by Congress in 1973. The act authorizes the listing of species as endangered or threatened. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service enforce the law and manage species conservation programs. Under the ESA, the federal government may not take any action that would result in the destruction or adverse modification of any federally listed species or its habitat. The law further prohibits an action that causes the taking of any listed species.[16]
  • The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) was passed by Congress in 1980. It established a federal program aimed at reducing hazardous pollutants at uncontrolled or abandoned waste sites. These waste sites experienced accidents, spills, and/or the emergency release of pollutants. The federal program aimed at listing these sites is the Superfund program, which is administered by the EPA. The EPA initiates cleanup projects at these sites and can require responsible parties to pay for cleanup costs.[17]
  • The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was passed by Congress in 1976 and amended in 1984 and 1986. The law allows the EPA to engage in hazardous and non-hazardous waste management. The EPA oversees the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of waste. The 1984 amendments required that waste be minimized and disposed of in contaminated lands The EPA also oversees underground storage tanks for petroleum and other potentially hazardous substances as part of the agency's storage tank program.[18]
  • The Safe Drinking Water Act was passed by Congress in 1974 and amended in 1996. Its aim is to maintain water quality for above ground water and underground drinking water sources. The EPA sets minimum standards for tap water and requires the owners and operators of public water systems to comply with federal standards. Public water systems include municipal water suppliers and any other system that delivers drinking water to a population of 25 or more people for most of the year. The 1996 amendments required the EPA to perform cost-benefit analyses for drinking water standards and adhere to the best available scientific evidence. State governments receive approval from the EPA to implement federal drinking water rules while the federal government is responsible for establishing minimum drinking water standards.[19]

Federal agencies

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a United States agency formed in 1970 "to protect human health and the environment."[20][21][22]
  • The U.S. Department of the Interior is a United States executive department established in 1849. The department was formed to manage natural resources.[23] It oversees land agencies that administer federal land policies, such as the regulation of energy development on federal land and land leasing for offshore energy development.[24]
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is a United States agency formed in 1940 "to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."[25] The FWS operates programs for the conservation, development and management of fish and wildlife.[25]
  • The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a United States agency formed in 1946 to manage more than 245 million surface acres of federal land. Its stated mission is "to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." The bureau is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.[26] [27] For a more comprehensive listing of the bureau's activities, click here.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms United States environmental policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Environmental policy in the United States - Google News

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Congressional Research Service, "Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency," December 20, 2013
  2. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)," accessed February 17, 2015
  3. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: A Summary of Superfund Cleanup Authorities and Related Provisions of the Act," June 14, 2012
  4. ↑ New York Times, "Reagan and Environment: To Many, a Stalemate," January 2, 1989
  5. ↑ Tikkun, "Clinton's Environmental Legacy," accessed December 19, 2014
  6. ↑ New York Times, "Bush Energy Proposal Seeks to 'Clear Skies' by 2018," July 30, 2002
  7. ↑ Seattle Times, "Senate panel hangs dark cloud over Bush's "Clear Skies" plan," March 10, 2005
  8. ↑ White House, "Environment," accessed December 19, 2014
  9. ↑ White House, "American Energy," accessed December 19, 2014
  10. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Air Act Requirements and History," accessed August 7, 2014
  11. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Understanding the Clean Air Act," accessed August 7, 2014
  12. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "History of the Clean Air Act," accessed August 7, 2014
  13. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Clean Air Act Requirements and History,” accessed January 29, 2014
  14. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Summary of the Clean Water Act,” accessed January 29, 2014
  15. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Water Quality Criteria," accessed September 22, 2014
  16. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Summary of the Endangered Species Act," accessed September 26, 2014
  17. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Summary of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)," accessed December 16, 2014
  18. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Summary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act," accessed December 16, 2014
  19. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Summary of the Safe Drinking Water Act," accessed December 16, 2014
  20. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Our Mission and What We Do," accessed March 14, 2014
  21. ↑ Huffington Post, "Senate approves Obama-pick McCarthy to head EPA," July 18, 2013
  22. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Duties Transferred to EPA," accessed March 14, 2014
  23. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "Strategic plan FY 2011-2016," accessed January 2, 2013
  24. ↑ U.S. Department of Energy, "Interior Organizational Chart," accessed June 12, 2014
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "About Us," accessed December 19, 2014
  26. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Who We Are, What We Do," accessed August 18, 2014
  27. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "BLM Mission Statement," accessed August 18, 2014
v • e
Ballotpedia
About
Editorial Content
Geoff Pallay, Director of Editorial Content and Editor-in-Chief • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Daniel Anderson, Managing Editor • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor • Cory Eucalitto, Managing Editor • Mandy Gillip, Managing Editor • Doug Kronaizl, Local Elections Project Manager • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Thomas Ellis • Frank Festa • Nicole Fisher • Brianna Hosea • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Jaime Healy-Plotkin • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Nathan Maxwell • Ellie Mikus • Jackie Mitchell • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Maddie Sinclair Johnson • Abbey Smith • Janie Valentine • Joel Williams • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox • Mercedes Yanora
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Environmental_policy_in_the_United_States&oldid=8826298"