Question

You are now representing texas in congress. one of your goals is to ensure the healthy environment and a safe place for life to exist. How would you design a system of environmental laws that is both affective and fair. What are the consequences for not following the laws and who has the authority to enforce those laws

Answer 1

In 1990, Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act which states: "the Environmental Protection Agency must establish a source reduction program which collects and disseminates information, provides financial assistance to States, and implements the other activities...."

EPA is responsible for implementing the law passed by Congress called the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.

The "Findings" section of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 explains why Congress passed the P2 Act and are briefly captured below:

• The United States of America annually produces millions of tons of pollution and spends tens of billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution.
• There are significant opportunities for industry to reduce or prevent pollution at the source through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use.  
• The opportunities for source reduction are often not realized because existing regulations, and the industrial resources they require for compliance, focus upon treatment and disposal, rather than source reduction.
• Source reduction is fundamentally different and more desirable than waste management and pollution control.

• In 1990, Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act which states: "the Environmental Protection Agency must establish a source reduction program which collects and disseminates information, provides financial assistance to States, and implements the other activities...."

  EPA is responsible for implementing the law passed by Congress called the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.

  The "Findings" section of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 explains why Congress passed the P2 Act and are briefly captured below:

• The United States of America annually produces millions of tons of pollution and spends tens of billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution.
• There are significant opportunities for industry to reduce or prevent pollution at the source through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use.  
• The opportunities for source reduction are often not realized because existing regulations, and the industrial resources they require for compliance, focus upon treatment and disposal, rather than source reduction.
• Source reduction is fundamentally different and more desirable than waste management and pollution control.

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.

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 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

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.[3][4]

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.[5][6]

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.