Environmental Legislation

& Regulations
Professor Bernie Engel
ASM 336
September 13, 2004
Who governs environmental laws
and policies?
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The
governing body for major statues or laws

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-1969:
establishes policies, set goals and facilitate the
implementation of such policies

NEPA requires federal agencies to assess
environmental impact of implementing their
major program (Work with NASA & Army)
Positive Aspects of Regulations
Protection of the Environment
Concerns about Regulations
Structured so costs excessive compared
to benefits.
Command-and-control
US Free Market Choice
Uneven application of regulations
Lack properly structured incentives
Generate inefficiencies
Paper work, costs
Duplicative (Federal, State, etc)
Environmental Regulations
Clean Air Act (CAA)-1970
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)-1974
Clean Water Act (CWA)-1977
Resource Conservation & Recovery Act
(RCRA) -1976
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)-
1980
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide &
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) -1972
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) -1996
Clean Air Act (CAA)
(1970)
Diesel Engines


Odor
Safe Drinking Water Act
Protect nations sources of drinking
water
Protect public health through
treatment techniques
MCLs: Maximum Contaminant Level
Protect underground sources of
drinking water
Well Head protection areas
Clean Water Act (1972)
Water Pollution Control
Restore & maintain chemical,
physical and biological integrity of
the nations waters
Community sewers
NPS pollution control (TMDLs!!!)
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)

Resource Conservation &
Recovery Act (RCRA)
Hazardous Waste
Underground tanks
Control Solid Waste
Regulation of facilities which burn
waste

Comprehensive Environment Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Also known as the Superfund
Establish a Hazardous Substance
Superfund
Establish regulations controlling
hazardous waste sites
Provide liability for hazardous waste
release from inactive sites

Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA)-1986
Revise and extends CERCLA

Emergency planning &
preparedness, community right-to-
know reporting and toxic chemical
release reporting

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)



Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Regulates the use and safety of pesticides
products and features
Classification and certification of pesticide by
specific use
Evaluation of risk posed by pesticides (Required
for registration)
Restriction of use of pesticides harmful to the
environment
Enforcement of requirements through
inspections, labeling, notices and state
regulations
Groundwater management plan
Additional Regulations
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
-establishes wild and scenic river system

Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
- balanced preservation & development in
coastal areas

Endangered Species Act
- conserve endangered and threatened
species



Additional Regulations
Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act
- regulates dumping of all types of materials into
ocean

Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)
- sets up toxic substances program
- EPA can require manufacturers to collect data
on effects of their substance

National Historic Prevention Act
-preserve, restore and maintain cultural
resources

Additional Regulations
Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA) -1970

Oil Pollution Act (OPA)-1990

Endangered Species Act (ESA)-1973