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Environmental Science and Sustainability

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Submitted By keycole07
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Phase 5 Individual Project

SCI201-1404B-15 Environmental Science and Sustainability

Keara Cole

Instructor: Debra Ladner

December 22, 2014

The environmental law I chose to write about is the Clean Air Act of 1970. This law sets the goals and standards that's needed for good air quality here in the United States of America. It is required by law, that the Clean Air Act as well as other environmental laws be periodically reviewed to make adjustments when needed. A huge amount of amendments in the 1990's toughened air quality standards and placed new emphasis on market forces to control air pollution, causing many major companies in other countries, though not directly under U.S. Laws, to clean up their pollution standards to continue trade with the USA. This environmental law was set in place due to the deplorable air quality caused by many manufacturing waste/air born byproducts, unnaturally causing many health issues and environmental issues. These issues caused certain strands of cancer, deletion of natural resources due to global warming, acid rain, and damage to the stratospheric ozone layer. As a result, many companies were forced to revamp their waste management programs, ultimately causing better living conditions for all. Violating this law comes with some agonizing penalties. According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, there are a number of examples of companies paying steep fines for breaking this law. One such example is Metal Dynamics, a Detroit scrap metal and iron recycling company. Part of the judgment was for them to pay $110,000 in penalties and invest $400,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the Clean Air Act. Another example is Costco Wholesale Corporation (EPA, 2014). They agreed to cut its emissions of ozone-depleting and greenhouse gases from leaking refrigeration equipment at more than half of its

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