A Primer on U.S. Environmental Laws: Part 1 by Jamie Salvo & Jan Weaver
Because we are a nation of laws (as was demonstrated during the recent election), it is important to know what laws govern the issues we care about. This month we introduce a multipart series on major environmental legislation. In this issue we will cover NEPA, CEQ and the EPA. Other parts will follow at irregular intervals.
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act. Passed in 1969 and signed into law in 1970, the purpose of NEPA was “...to declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality.” It required Federal agencies to use all the means at their disposal, consistent with other important considerations of national policy, to:
1) ensure a safe, healthful and productive environment for all Americans;
2) develop the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degrading it;
3) preserve historical, cultural and natural aspects of the environment;
4) seek a balance between population growth and resource use that permitted a high standard of living;
5) enhance the quality of renewable resources (like water) and maximize recycling of non-renewables.
The act promoted an interdisciplinary approach, sought the development of methods for considering currently unquantifiable environmental amenities, established the requirement for Federal agencies to develop Environmental Impact Statements for all actions that might affect the environment, and set up the Council on Environmental Quality.
CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality.
The CEQ was established in 1969 with the passage of NEPA. CEQ was a three person council (+ staff) reporting to the President, that would help prepare an annual report on the environmental state of the nation. The report would:
1) evaluate status and condition of natural, manmade and altered environments (air, water, land, etc.);
2) evaluate current and forseeable trends and effect of those trends;
3) evaluate adequacy of current resources;
4) review Federal, State and local programs and their effect on the environment;
5) develop a program for remedying impacts on the environment.
While the EPA took over the research and standard setting responsibilities of CEQ with respect to pollution, CEQ was envisioned as a top level advisory group on all aspects of environmental quality.
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA was established on December 2, 1970 on the recommendation of the President’s Advisory Council on Executive Organization. The CEO argued that because of the cross-media (air, water, land) impacts of pollution that the executive branch should establish an agency to bring together all the information on pollutants under one roof with the authority to research, establish and enforce standards to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment. Furthermore, it had to be a new agency to avoid the natural conflicts of interest that would arise if such a department were housed in the Interior, Commerce or Agriculture Departments Fifteen components from five agencies were moved to EPA to administer a host of laws passed in the 1970’s and 1980’s. These included the Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA - also known as Superfund), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA-Recycling), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
BioRegional Quiz: According to legend, how many more weeks of winter will there be if the groundhog sees his/her shadow on February 2?
Job of the Month: SEASONAL PRESERVE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANTS he Nature Conservancy of Minnesota has three openings for Seasonal Preserve Management Assistant (PMA) in Southeast Minnesota. Travel throughout central and southeastern Minnesota managing Conservancy nature preserves; work with Land Steward and other PMAs to maintain, enhance, and restore natural areas and conduct property management activities. Responsibilities include boundary posting, cutting trees & brush, harvesting seeds from native plants, assisting with ecological monitoring projects, controlling exotic species, applying herbicide, constructing parking lots, fencing, maintaining vehicles & equipment, meeting with preserve monitors & neighbors, identifying management needs, assisting with field trips & working on other land management & restoration tasks as needed. This is a short-term seasonal position, June 4-August 31. at $10 per hour, 40 hours (typically 4 long days); may require irregular hours For more information, visit Web site at www.tnc.org/jobs . Please send a cover letter & resume & at least 3 references to: Louise Morgan, Director of Administration, c/o The Nature Conservancy, 1313 Fifth Street SE, #320, Minneapolis, MN 55414 by March 2, 2001.
Information on other Environmental Positions is available from the MU Environmental Studies Program, 211 Lowry (inside the Honors College), 882-7116, envstudy@showme.missouri.edu or at www.ejobs.org
Special Events/Information:
Feedback - Got an opinion about something we’ve written, or about a current environmental issue? If we have space, we will consider publishing it; submit it by email (envstudy@showme.missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry Memorial Union, MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU’s Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.