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Legislating Responsibility

Legislating Responsibility. Environmental law in the US . Environmental law is a body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operate together to regulate the interaction of humanity with the rest of the biophysical or natural environment.

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Legislating Responsibility

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  1. Legislating Responsibility Environmental law in the US

  2. Environmental law is a body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operate together to regulate the interaction of humanity with the rest of the biophysical or natural environment. • The purpose of environmental law is to eliminate or reduce the effects of human activity on Earth to preserve not only our ecosystem but ourselves as well. What is EnvironmentalLaw?

  3. The Refuse Act of 1899 • First Anti-Pollution Law passed in the US. • Prohibited dumping in navigable waterways without a permit. • Revised in 1970. This law has never been repealed. It is still in use today. Refuse Act (1899)

  4. The EPA was created in 1970 by the Nixon Administration. • It’s Administrator has Cabinet Status is appointed by and reports directly to the President. • Can write and interpret regulations concerning environmental issues. • Enforce laws, regulations, and treatises pertaining to the environment. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  5. NEPA (National Environment Policy Act) 1970 • Assures that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment. (Any and all tasks must meet EPA Standards.) • CAA (Clean Air Act) 1970 • Regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. • CWA (Clean Water Act) 1972 • establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. • CERCLA “Superfund” (Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act) 1980 • Provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. • RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) 1976 • Gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. Big Five

  6. Global version of the EPA established in 1972. • Committee to provide nations with aid and knowledge in matters of the environment. • Current Executive Director Achim Steiner. United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)

  7. In the last 40 years 32 laws and countless regulations have been passed in favor of the environment. • Over 100 different species of plants and animals have been saved from total extinction. • Millions of acres of national park, forest, desert, and wetlands, are protected by the government from development. • Improvement in Air and Water quality. Impact of environmental legislation

  8. Endangered Species Act(1973) • Spotted Owl • Longfin Smelt • Alaskan Oil Reserve • Roadless Area Conservation Rule • Mining • Construction / Land Development Protection vs. Progress

  9. Is it ethical to create laws that have the potential to harm to businesses? • Is the government imposing on our free market economy by passing laws which adversely affect businesses? • Does our economy have more rights than our environment? • Should the economy be considered before laws are passed? Environment vs. Economy

  10. THAT IS ALL!

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