The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department. The Department manages the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve lands, state forest lands, wildlife management areas and various other state owned public lands of New York. The Department is also responsible for regulating sport fishing, hunting and trapping within the state, and enforcing the State's environmental laws and regulations.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control - is the government agency responsible for public health and the environment in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was created in 1973 from the merger of the South Carolina State Board of Health and the South Carolina Pollution Control Authority. The agency's commissioner manages the day-to-day operations of the agency, while the Board of Health and Environmental Control is responsible for supervising DHEC's operations. Each of the board's seven members is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the South Carolina Senate.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - is the environmental agency for the U.S. state of Texas. The commission is headquartered at 12100 Park 35 Circle in Austin. The agency was formed by act of the Texas Legislature in 1993 by consolidating the Texas Air Control Board (1965-1993) and Texas Water Commission (1985-1993) with the aim of increasing efficiency in enforcement of environmental laws, statutes, and regulations. Originally known as the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, it acquired its present name in 2002. It is the primary state agency charged with enforcement of environmental regulations and with issuing air and water operating permits to businesses operating in Texas. These permits typically specify the types and maximum amounts of pollutants a permit holder may legally discharge into the air or state waterways.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Barriers to EPA Enforcement
Localization - Many issues of environmental justice are localized, and are therefore hard to be addressed by federal agencies such as the EPA. Without significant media attention, political interest, or ‘crisis’ status, local issues are less likely to be addressed on local or federal level. With a still developing sector of environmental justice under the EPA, small, local incidents are unlikely to be solved compared to larger, well publicized incidents.
Conflicting Political Powers - The White House holds direct control over the EPA, and democrats and republicans have very different views. For example, while President Bill Clinton signed the executive order 12898, the Bush administration did not develop a clear plan or establish goals for integrating environmental justice into everyday practices, which in turn affected the motivation for environmental enforcement.
Authority of the EPA - Under different circumstances, the EPA faces many limitations to enforcing environmental justice. It does not have the authority or resources to address injustices without an increase in federal mandates requiring private industries to consider the environmental ramifications of their activities.
Conflicting Political Powers - The White House holds direct control over the EPA, and democrats and republicans have very different views. For example, while President Bill Clinton signed the executive order 12898, the Bush administration did not develop a clear plan or establish goals for integrating environmental justice into everyday practices, which in turn affected the motivation for environmental enforcement.
Authority of the EPA - Under different circumstances, the EPA faces many limitations to enforcing environmental justice. It does not have the authority or resources to address injustices without an increase in federal mandates requiring private industries to consider the environmental ramifications of their activities.
Friday, April 30, 2010
EPA Controversies
9/11 Air Ratings Controversy - The Office of the Inspector General of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in August 2003 released a report that claimed that the White House put pressure on the EPA to delete cautionary information about the air quality in New York City around Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Very Fine Airborne Particulates - So health advocates want the EPA to regulate tiny particles, under 2.5 micrometres because they are attributed to health and mortality concerns. The EPA first established standards in 1997, and strengthened them in 2006.
Environmental Justice - The EPA has been criticized for its lack of progress towards environmental justice. Administrator Christine Todd Whitman was criticized for her changes to President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 12898 during 2001, removing the requirements for government agencies to take the poor and minority populations into special consideration when making changes to environmental legislation, and therefore defeating the spirit of the Executive Order.
Very Fine Airborne Particulates - So health advocates want the EPA to regulate tiny particles, under 2.5 micrometres because they are attributed to health and mortality concerns. The EPA first established standards in 1997, and strengthened them in 2006.
Environmental Justice - The EPA has been criticized for its lack of progress towards environmental justice. Administrator Christine Todd Whitman was criticized for her changes to President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 12898 during 2001, removing the requirements for government agencies to take the poor and minority populations into special consideration when making changes to environmental legislation, and therefore defeating the spirit of the Executive Order.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Important Legislations of the EPA
Countless laws have been written and protected by the EPA, so this post will only go into the main laws.
The Air Pollution Control Act was the first United States Clean Air Act passed by congress to address the national problem of air pollution. This act's sole purpose was to inform the people of the dangers of air pollution, but not actually combat it. It did authorize the Surgeon General to research, investigate, and pass out information relating to air pollution and how to stop it.
The Clean Air Act was enacted by Congress to control air pollution on a national level. It was enacted in 1963, but was greatly amended in 1970 and 1990. It required the EPA to write and enforce regulations to protect American citizens from hazardous air-born pollutants.
The Clean Water Act or CWA, was the primary law enacted by the federal government to govern water pollution. The CWA established goals of reducing and eliminating water pollution by 1985. The Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972 greatly strengthened the CWA, and it was again amended in 1977, and 1987.
The Wilderness Act was enacted in 1964 to legally define the United States' wilderness, and to protect 9 million acres of federal land. Today, the act protects over 107 million acres of wilderness.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was enacted in 1976 to be the principal federal law of the US to govern the disposal of solid, and hazardous waste.
The Air Pollution Control Act was the first United States Clean Air Act passed by congress to address the national problem of air pollution. This act's sole purpose was to inform the people of the dangers of air pollution, but not actually combat it. It did authorize the Surgeon General to research, investigate, and pass out information relating to air pollution and how to stop it.
The Clean Air Act was enacted by Congress to control air pollution on a national level. It was enacted in 1963, but was greatly amended in 1970 and 1990. It required the EPA to write and enforce regulations to protect American citizens from hazardous air-born pollutants.
The Clean Water Act or CWA, was the primary law enacted by the federal government to govern water pollution. The CWA established goals of reducing and eliminating water pollution by 1985. The Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972 greatly strengthened the CWA, and it was again amended in 1977, and 1987.
The Wilderness Act was enacted in 1964 to legally define the United States' wilderness, and to protect 9 million acres of federal land. Today, the act protects over 107 million acres of wilderness.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was enacted in 1976 to be the principal federal law of the US to govern the disposal of solid, and hazardous waste.
The Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is the main federal force in regulating federal environmental policies. The EPA's job is to protect human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing laws passed by Congress. The EPA was originally proposed by President Nixon in 1970. The EPA has 17,000 employees at its headquarters in Washington DC, 10 regional offices, and 27 laboratories across the nation. The agency conducts environmental assessment, research, and education. EPA enforcement powers include fines, sanctions, and other measures. The agency also works with industries and all levels of government in a wide variety of voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts.
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