...Clean Air Act – Help to breathe or not? Abstract When you first awake and take in the first long breath and exhale to start the day, do you think about that air being clean? This was not a question until 1948 where the industrial town of Donora, Pennsylvania had a thick cloud of air pollution formed over the town. (EPA, 2015) The event started the public awareness on the effects of air pollution and how it causes health problems. Clean Air Act – Help to breathe or not? Introduction The Earth cannot exist without air, so why did it take a tragedy to bring awareness to conservation of the environment. Until, 1948 where the industrial town of Donora, Pennsylvania had a thick cloud of air pollution formed over the town, which lasted for a total of five days. Out of the total population of 14,000 people it killed 20 people and caused sickness in 6,000 of the town's people. (EPA, 2015) Then in 1952, London, England had 3,000 people pass away in what became known as London's "Killer Fog." (EPA, 2015) The events started the public awareness on the effects of air pollution and how it causes health problems. But it still took over ten years to create several federal and state laws to pass in 1963 to establish the original Clean Air Act. Choose 1 U.S. environmental law. State the name of the law and the date the law was passed. The original Clean Air Act of 1963 was established to provide funding for the study and the cleanup of air pollution, there was no one agency...
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...Clean Air Act Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq. -- Enforced by US EPA -- By the end of this lecture you should be able to describe: * The race to laxity * What NAAQS means. * The federal government’s role in cooperative federalism * 7 criteria pollutants * A hazardous pollutant under the CAA * Non-attainment area * Emissions trading programs * Noise pollution under the CAA * The four Class I areas designated by the State of Florida * The four emissions regulated by Title II of the Clean Air Act relating to motorized vehicles * How long a waiver is good for and to how much of an auto manufacturer’s production does it apply to. * What city is the Title II pollution numbers based on. * What is a clean fuel vehicle. LOOK for *** as pointers NOTE Most of the narrative on the lectures in this course has been modified from: - Plater et al. Environmental Law and Policy: Nature, Law and Society, 1992. - Findley and Farber. Environmental Law, 2008. Background Air and water are common resources and are sometimes referred to by lay-people as “pollution sinks,” implying that airsheds and water bodies are large vats into which pollutants can be thrown as a large disposal. As we saw with the Clean Water Act, this isn’t true. While both airsheds and water bodies can handle some amount of pollution without significant degradation, airsheds and water...
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...The Clean Air Act James Huckabone ENV/320 9/10/2012 Siroos Mostaghimi The Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act was established in 1970 when the United States government decided to a more drastic role in protecting the countries air from unwanted pollution. There were a few amendments to the Clean Air Act in the following years to come, one being in the year 1977 and the other coming in 1990. Although having control over pollution did not just start in 1970 the United States Government stated with a clean act in 1955 which started paving the way for today’s Clean Air Act.(EPA) In the year of 1955 the United States enacted the first pollution control act this act was called the Pollution Control Act of 1955. This act was the first federal regulation for air pollution and the Pollution Act of 1955 also gave funding to help find the main sources of air pollution that was contaminating the air. Before the federal government enacted this act there were several state and local regulations to help with pollution control.(Encyclopedia of Earth) Next came the Air Quality act of 1963, The Air Quality Act of 1963 was an act that authorized a national program to address pollution related environmental problems.(EPA) The act also helped expand research into air quality. One of largest benefits to the Air Quality Act of 1963 was the control of automobile emissions. The controlling of automobile emissions came through an amendment to the Air Quality Act of 1963. This amendment...
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...Strengths and weaknesses of rations A ration is a fixed allowance on provisions on any product that is needed but has a shortage. Most Times rations have occurred wars and other catastrophic events that involved a mass reduction. A ration also can be seen in cases where something is in high demand but because the producer wants to be fair, they put a limit on what can be given. There are strengths and weaknesses to some degree in each situation that may occur due to a ration be orchestrated. Auctions are due to the sell of merchandise for buyers to bid on, for example Storage Company’s auction off a unit due to non payment. The strength in this as related to rations is that it is open to every one and it allows everyone to bid on it. The weakness is that there are only so many units and the ratio of people to units is scarce. Then there are the ration coupons the strength in these is that it allows a big number of consumers to have a chance at certain product. The weakness to this is that it limits what people can get, these coupons were mostly used during wars and these days grocery stores just put a limit on certain items rather than go through the trouble of issuing out a coupon. The term first come first serves have a long list of pro’s and cons. One important strength would be that it creates and urgency and depending on if there is a limit it allows consumer to take advantage of a great deal. The weakness is that when it is a first come first serve basis in rations...
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...Urban Development, Recreation, Fish and Shellfish consumption C. Fish and Shellfish consumption, Aquatic Life habitats, Drinking water D. Swimming, Boating, Canoeing, Rope swinging, Cleaning stuff. What Federal agency is responsible for assessing and monitoring the bodies of water in the U.S.? A. Environmental Precipitation Association B. Environmental Principle Agency C. Environmental Protection Association D. Environmental Protection Agency What Act of Legislation gave them the power to monitor and assess our nation’s watersheds? A. Clean Air Act of 1972 B. Clean Water Act of 1972 C. Clean Air Act of 1792 D. Clean Water Act of 1792 If a body of water receives a level 1 assessment by the EPA, it means that the water is: A. Clean B. Dirty C. Not too clean and not too dirty If a body of water receives a level 3 assessment by the EPA, it means that the water is: A. Clean B. Dirty C. Not too clean and not too dirty If a body of water receives a level 5 assessment by the EPA, it means that the water is: A. Clean B. Dirty C. Not too clean and not too dirty 7. Which of the following is NOT an example of a watershed? A. Trinity River Basin B. Cooper Creek River Basin C. Lake Ray Roberts Watershed D. The Pacific Ocean Which of the following has the Highest Albedo value? A. Fresh Snow B. A Mirror C. Black Pavement D. Trees Which of the following has the Lowest Albedo value? A. Fresh Snow B. A Mirror C. Black Pavement D. Trees 8. 2. 9. 3. 4. 10. Based on albedo alone, in...
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...of being carless and uneducated about the things I do and don’t do that have a direct impact on the environment. Such as eating out almost every night, constantly purchasing new gadgets every time they come out, never buying used clothing etc. Before this class I never gave a second thought to these things. Learning about the clean water act as well as the clean air act was really interesting. I take clean water and air for granted all the time. I am used to going outside and just expecting to breathe clean air as if it’s a right and not a privilege. When I want to brush my teeth or take a shower I don’t think about how my water got clean or where it comes from I just expect it to be there and to be healthy for consumption and use. It amazes me how we take so many of our resources for granted and we just assume that they will always be here for us to use. I couldn’t believe how much resources and energy we use in the United States alone and how much waste we generate. Seeing video of water being so dirty that it catches fire and witnessing the death of a sea because of pollution and waste was uncanny. To know that one day we will be at war over clean water bothers me. In my opinion we have advanced firsthand knowledge of a lot of our issues. It’s not like we wake up one day and these things just appear we are forewarned and we take too long to take action which results in disaster. Lately I have noticed that more people...
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...effects on air, water, and land, will have an impact on the final decision where Big Rapids will be located. Regardless of the chosen site, the laws instituted by the EPA must be followed. The following states environmental regulations will be discussed: Arizona, Texas, and Tennessee. Environmental regulations for the state of Arizona are enforced by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Arizona’s environmental regulations primarily focus on air, water, and waste. The Grand Canyon National Park is protected by the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts – these provide for monitoring of hazardous air and water pollutants because of its historical significance. According to the Glen Canyon Institute (2010, para. 6), Congress passed the Grand Canyon Protection Act to protect the Canyon and mitigate damages associated with building new structures within it. Big Ben National Park, located on the Rio Grande River in Texas, is another potential site for Big Rapids. The Texas Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the regulation of air and water pollution as well as waste reduction. The Rio Grande River is primarily used for irrigation and serves as the habitat for many species of wildlife. The E ... Merced River – California --- Yosemite Environmental regulations for the state of California are enforced by the California Environmental Protection Agency. The Cal/EPA enforces the state’s environmental protection laws that ensure clean air, clean water, clean soil, safe...
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... more pollution, and fewer resources. Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division is geared towards protecting human health, sustaining healthy ecosystems, ensuring resources to support a growing economy ("Environmental Protection Division Georgia Department Of Natural Resources", 2010-2011). These are the new issues that have emerged in Georgia. Not too long ago, the American public became concerned about environment and the effects on humans. The federal policymakers implemented statutes as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Endangered Species Act, which the legislation passed in the 1960s and 1970s designed to limit pollution and other abuses. The Georgia General Assembly passed the state’s first major environmental legislation, the Water Quality Control Act of 1964 and in 1968 the Georgia Surface Mining Act requiring the reclamation of the lands after mining (Kundell, 2004-2013). There were several other acts that were...
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...enlarged in the coal seem so that the CBM can be drawn from the well and pumped to the surface. These fractures are created or enlarged by using a thick water-based fluid which is gradually increased by rate and pressure. Third, over time the coal seam is unable to keep up with the fracturing fluid which results in high pressure causing the coal to fracture along the weaknesses within. Sand is pumped into these fractures to keep them ‘propped’ open after the pressures are released. After a period of fluid recovery or groundwater extraction is when the extraction of CBM occurs. As pumping continues, the pressure eventually decreases so that the methane desorbs from the coal, flows and is extracted through the production well. The fracture created acts as a conduit in the rock or coal formation, allowing the CBM to flow more freely from the coal seems through the fracture system and...
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...Abstract This paper will discuss one environmental law. Major provisions will be summarized as well as the economic impact of the law. Global warming will also be discussed as well as whether the U.S. should adopt additional policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Unit 5 Individual Project – Environmental Policies Introduction This paper will discuss the Clean Water Act. This law was passed initially in 1948 and was known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. It was reorganized and expanded upon in 1972 when it became known as the Clean Water Act (EPA, 2014). This paper will summarize the major provisions of this law as well as the economic impact. It will also describe what, if anything, the law has improved. Finally, global warming will be discussed and whether additional policies should be adopted to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Provisions and economic impact of the law The Clean Water Act was the first major law to address water pollution. One of the major provisions of this act are that it prohibits the discharge of any pollutant except those in compliance with the Act. The Act imposes limitations on existing sources and how the pollutant is discharged (whether the pollutant goes directly into an open body of water or to publicly owned treatment plant). This law requires the EPA to maintain water quality criteria, pretreatment programs and administration of the NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit program. It also...
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...1. Examine how Congress writes environmental laws and EPA provides the technical, operational, and legal details needed to carry them out. At least 1/2 page summary A number of laws serve as EPA's foundation for protecting the environment and public health. However, most laws do not have enough detail to be put into practice right away. EPA is called a regulatory agency because Congress authorizes us to write regulations that explain the critical details necessary to implement environmental laws. In addition, a number of Presidential Executive Orders (EOs) play a central role in our activities http://www3.epa.gov/region9/enforcement/intro.html Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a rule generally cannot take effect until EPA submits a rule report to each House of Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States (head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office). Rules that are not considered "major" under the CRA, may take effect as they otherwise would under other applicable law once a rule report is submitted. A rule that is "major" may take effect no earlier than 60 calendar days after Congress receives the rule report or the rule is published in the Federal Register (FR), whichever is later. The CRA also provides procedures by which Congress can rescind a rule within a specified period of time using expedited procedures. 2. Go to http://www.epa.gov/. Read the Community right-to-know regulation CFR 40 Section 370 and summarize subpart A-B-C and D. Subpart...
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...Week 8 Activity 1 1. Best available treatment: a water treatment that is the most current and best available through research even though it may not be the treatment used most frequently. 2. Best conventional treatment: a water treatment that is generally used among industries; not always the best treatment available. 3. Clean Air Act: federal legislations that establishes standards for air pollution levels and prevents further deterioration of air quality. 4. Clean Water Act: federal legislations that regulates water pollution through a control system. 5. Due diligence: process of checking the environmental history and nature of land prior to purchase. 6. Emissions offset policy: controls whether new factories can be built in a non-attainment area. 7. Environmental impact statement (EIS): formal report prepared under NEPA to document findings on the impact of a federal project on the environment. 8. Injunction: order of a court of equity to refrain from doing or to do a specified act. 9. Private nuisance: nuisance that affects only one or a few individuals. 10. Zoning: restrictions imposed by government on the use of designated land to ensure an orderly physical development of the regulate area. 1. Solid waste disposal regulations today deal almost entirely with recycling. False 2. The EPA has the authority of have activities halted through the use of injunction. True 3. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of...
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...Unit 5 project 1: pollution, labor and public goods Research on coal burning plant – Releases of pollutants’ are Carbon Dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury compounds. These limits are from the EPA (environmental pollution agency) and its 2249lbs/Mwh for carbon, 13lbs/Mwh for sulfur, 6lbs/Mwh for nitrogen. Water is used to cool the plant and the company has to have a permit to release the water back into the environment. The water may contain lead and arsenic and will have to be managed. Wisconsin Power & Light’s just settled a lawsuit that ended up with WP&L paying out 2.45 million for alleged violations of air pollution laws. WP&L agreed to pay out 8.5 million for environmental projects and that will include 5 million to solar power investments, 2 million to boast power from wind and hydropower plants. This is to be over the next 5 years. WP&L did not install the proper environment control equipment and that is the reason for the suit. The big thing is paying 1.2 billion to keep the big plant up and running with installing the needed pollution control items. Wisconsin is discontinuing about 17% of their coal burning fleet and that is about 1500 Megawatts of power and two plants are the Nelson Dewey plant in Cassville and two of the three boilers in Sheboygan, 590 megawatts of coal will be retired, or the equivalent of one large modern coal plant. Coal is roughly 49% of our electrical producing product. With wind and solar and hydro combined is roughly...
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...Running head: REMEDIATING AGRICULTURAL WATER CONTAMINATION 1 Remediating Agricultural Water Contamination: Problem, Solution, and Barriers Paper Student Name COMM 2367 MWF 9:10 Instructor Name September 29, 2012 REMIEDIATING AGRICULTURAL WATER CONTAMINATION Remediating Agricultural Water Contamination: Problem, Solution, and Barriers Paper Problem Concerns about water pollution are generally focused towards sources that are highly visible and chemically oriented. However, the greatest causes of water contamination and quantity abuse in the United States come from agricultural production (United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2012a), which is defined as a nonpoint source that pollutes with nutrients. In 2011, nine of the top ten corn and soybean producing states were located in the 2 Midwest (United States Census Bureau, 2012), making this region the largest agricultural region by volume produced in the U.S., and thus prone to environmental problems with alarming consequences. In order to meet production demands while bound by constrained budgets, farmers often turn to unsustainable practices to ensure a yield. These include irrigating their fields with groundwater (the water from natural basins underneath the ground), applying excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus as fertilizer, and plowing the land in a way that reduces quality of soil structure (United States EPA, 2012b). All of these factors directly result in the rapid depletion of water...
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...a white collar crime, to others it is not just simply a white collar crime but it can be considered as crime against society. Whit Gibbons (2001) had shown two types of environmental crime in his article. First type is an individual such as an ordinary person dumping waste to the river and the other type is the white-collared type where companies dump harmful contaminants to a water source or the air. The main difference of the two according to Gibbons (2001) is that it is easier to prosecute an individual than a business corporation. The sad part is the business corporations who commit environmental crimes affects the environment more than an individual. He had treated the business corporation offenders as white-collar criminals and as such defined it in the article “crimes are committed by individuals or corporations for financial gain and involve knowledgeable, educated participants who attempt to circumvent the law” The definition of the environmental crime in legal terms is any "willful criminal violation that results in actual and substantial harm to the water, ambient air, soil, or land." There are several laws that had been put...
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