National Environmental Policy Act - Research Paper Example

?Running head: National Environmental Policy Act National Environmental Policy Act (school) National Environmental Policy Act Introduction Global warming. This seems to be an issue which is dominating the current environmental and social discussions on policies. In the current age where we are feeling the ravages of global warming and its related environmental issues, our government officials seem to be actively searching for means to stem the tide of environmental damage and its long-term impact. However, for the most part, most of these policies are unable to adequately address the issue in its entirety. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was first passed in 1969, and it is one of the first laws ever written which establishes an encompassing national framework in the protection of the environment. It basically seeks to ensure that all agencies of the government give adequate consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any significant federal action which may affect the environment. This paper shall identity the most significant challenges facing the United States and/or the international community in resolving, identifying and/or dealing with this policy or issue or both. It shall identify and explain two different perspectives that contribute our understanding of the select issues. This paper shall define this issue/policy supported by research and analyses. Discussion There are various challenges which the United States and the international community are facing in relation to environmental policies and issues. When the Industrial Revolution hit its stride, the Earth’s climate and environment started undergoing changes; these changes were mostly seen in the agricultural and industrial practices (Berkeley University, 2004). Due to the increase in population and fossil fuel use seen through burning, toxic emissions, vehicle emissions, and deforestation, various gases have been introduced into our air which are harmful to living things, including human life. These gases are introduced into the atmosphere mostly as a result of human activity, activities which produce high levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (greenhouse gases or GHGs). These are heavy gases and do not interact well with our ozone layer. As a result, our ozone layer is being slowly depleted (Berkeley University, 2004). This is unfortunate because the ozone layer shields us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. These greenhouse gases also cause the greenhouse effect where these gases trap the heat in the atmosphere and cause higher earth temperature levels, otherwise known as global warming. The US environmental issues largely stem from its energy use. The US remains to be the largest energy consumer in the world and also the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide (Berkeley University, 2004). Motor vehicles are the main sources of carbon emissions in the US and in recent years, shifts of use from cars to larger vehicles have assisted in reducing carbon emissions. In 2001, the US consumed about 24% of the world’s main energy consumption. The US released about 1,883 million metric tons of carbon in 2001, and this is credited for 24% of the world’s carbon-related emissions (Berkeley University, 2004). In 2003, the US Department of Energy set forth its Climate Vision program which was meant to assist the President in reducing greenhouse gas intensity from 2002 to 2012. This policy included different federal agencies coordinating with industrial leaders to minimize GHG emissions during the time period set. Bush also states that a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel plan was aimed at establishing technologies which would produce, store and distribute hydrogen as a fuel during transport (Berkeley University, 2004). The FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) was also launched in an attempt to establish hydrogen fuel cell technology and advanced automotive technologies, including hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars. The US energy consumption will likely increase in the coming years and as a result, carbon emissions, as well as GHG gases would also increase, further causing warming earth temperatures and related issues. These are just some of the issues which the US is facing in terms of the environment. In order to reduce the impact of human activities on the environment, the Congress implemented the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969. This act was considered one of the most important actions of the US government towards protecting the environment. This act has “three visionary elements: a far-sighted declaration of national environmental policy, an action-forcing mechanism to ensure that the federal government achieves the Act’s environmental goals, and a broad recognition of the importance of public participation in government decision-making that affects the human environment” (Dreher, 2005). The act’s declaration of policy for environmental protection is related to the recognition of the significant impact of human activity in relation to the natural environment, most especially on the influence of population growth, and technological advances. The act’s action forcing tools in reducing damage to the environment are based on federal actions carried out without significant consideration on their impact on the environment. This act therefore first introduces the need to carry out an environmental impact statement of all federal actions (Dreher, 2005). In effect, all actions must include full disclosure to the public of the following elements: environmental impact of the proposed action; any negative impact which cannot be avoided should the proposal be carried out; alternatives to the proposed action; and “the relationship between short-term uses of the man’s environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity”, and irreversible commitments of resources which would be included in the proposed activity if ever it would be carried out (Dreher, 2005, p. 15). One of environmental challenges being faced by the US and the international community relates to the manufacturing industry and its impact on the environment. After the NEPA was passed in 1969, the Environmental Policy Act followed as a means of regulating businesses and implementing environmental policies (Hahn, 1994). Before 1970, various policies offered directions for business activities in relation to the environment. When the NEPA was enacted, the Congress passed also various laws which were apparently designed to protect and prevent the degradation of the environment (McKinney and Miller, 2009). With these laws in place, the 1970s was known as the environmental decade. Manufacturing companies are especially under a significant amount of pressure to comply with environmental laws. These companies have a significant impact on the environment, especially in terms of their manufacturing process, as well as their disposal process and energy use (McKinney and Miller, 2009). Their activities often require a large consumption of energy and fuel. As a result, these activities often have dangerous by-products which come in the form of smoke and toxic gases, toxic chemicals, and other dangerous waste products. Their need for raw materials also often causes the depletion of trees, natural resources, and other natural products. The issue of global warming is the main issue which the US and the world is confronted with. The fact that the people around the world are feeling the effects of global warming makes this issue even more ominous. The effects of global warming are apparent in our warmer temperature which often causes extremes in weather conditions with stronger rains, stronger weather disturbances in the form of higher intensity hurricanes and other storms (Botkin, et.al., 2005). All around the world, the effects of these extreme weather conditions can be seen in droughts, floods, heat waves, and extremely cold winters, as well as extremely humid summer seasons. The increase of human population has caused higher use of cars and other technological tools, including air conditioners and refrigerators. These products are known to release greenhouse gases which serve to trap the heat from the son in the air, instead of bouncing it back to space (Botkin, et.al., 2005). Emissions from cars, from oil-powered equipment, from air conditioners, refrigerators, and other oil powered equipment all release GHG gases which greatly contribute to the global warming phenomena. Global warming is a major concern because it also interrupts the food supply chain. It reduces the yield of the land due to droughts, storm damage, and floods. As a result of lower yield for the agricultural sector, food supply for the people is lower; in fact it can cause famine and further exacerbate the poor conditions of countries relying on their agricultural lands for subsistence (Physicians for Social Responsibility, n.d). The waters are also affected by pollution, causing deaths of fishes and other sea creatures marketed by fishermen for their subsistence. With lower fish yield, once again, the economic situation and support for the people would be affected, driving these people to even lower levels of poverty. The economic perspective can help in further understanding the issue. In relation to the population growth, an economic perspective on the issue can emerge. With more people, more houses need to be built. As more houses are built, residential areas need to be established for their accommodations (Botkin, et.al., 2005). The problem is, most of the time, trees have to be cut down or forests reduced in land area in order to accommodate these new houses. With more people, the space for trees and other vegetation is reduced, reducing the areas for habitats of fauna and flora. Competing of resources with these animals will also be seen and most of the time, man will win such a contest, causing many of these animals to lose their homes. Eventually, with displaced habitats, these animals would not thrive and die, eventually they would become extinct (Botkin, et.al., 2005). Their loss would likely cause an environmental imbalance – where the earth is not sustained by its users. The social perspective can also be used to understand the environmental issue. Sociologists focus on the relationship between humans and their environment. This perspective focuses on the impact of social relationships within a person’s environment and how a person’s relationship with his environment impacts on his use of natural resources (Nagel, et.al., 2009). Environmental sociology draws insights from the wider discipline of sociology in a number of areas, including social movements, small and large-group decision making, and social inequality. This perspective provides breadth to the critical issues among sociologists in terms of dealing with environmental issues and problems. It highlights motivations, behaviors, and other tools which define a society’s link with nature and the physical world (Nagel, et.al., 2009). Recommendations With the above challenges for the NEPA and for the government in general, there are various recommendations which can be set forth to address these issues and challenges. First recommendation is to make mitigation promises mandatory. Agency promises during the NEPA review process to mitigate the negative impact of federal actions must be considered binding actions. All too often, agencies establish mitigation policies and measures in order to gain the passage of federal actions; however, many of these policies and measures are not strictly complied with or implemented. There is a need therefore to improve compliance with these mitigation measures and for the NEPA to strictly implement the necessary sanctions or policies in order to ensure that the mitigation measures promised are complied with. In effect, measures of mitigation which seek to reduce environmental impact, including impact on forests, on resources, on waste disposal, on toxic gas emissions, and similar impacts must be implemented strictly. Standards of compliance must also be used against these mitigation measures in order to accurately establish compliance. It is also important to require monitoring of project impacts. Enhancing the monitoring of the environmental effects of projects after they are completed can help ensure that the project is complying with environmental standards of the practice (Dreher, 2005). The monitoring process must be done regularly and comprehensively. By monitoring the project, it is possible to establish the degree of a project’s compliance with the mitigation measures. “Improved monitoring also will provide the basic data necessary to conduct adaptive management, where that technique is potentially useful, and to help implement agency EMSs” (Dreher, 2005, p. 22). Monitoring would help establish where an agency’s activities are impacting significantly or not at all. It can also help ensure that the NEPA is establishing a continuing and responsive process in the management of an agency’s environmental impacts. It is also important to improve the management, training, and funding of the agency. This agency is suffering from budget cuts and various federal monetary issues which have managed to reduce allocations throughout the years of its existence. There are various goals which the NEPA has yet to fulfill and it cannot fulfill such unless more funding is allocated to the agency. Such increased funding can also be used for the training of its employees and activities. With improvements in agency implementation of NEPA, more attention would be given to agency managers who are tasked with securing environmental reviews, coordinating with other agencies, and completing requisites in a timely manner. “A meaningful effort to improve NEPA’s implementation must include commitments of additional resources so that agencies can carry out their responsibilities under the Act effectively and efficiently” (Dreher, 2005, p. 22). In effect, these processes would help manage human activities and eventually reducing their impact on the environment. Works Cited Berkeley University. (2004). Environmental Issues of United States. Retrieved 14 August 2011 from http://are.berkeley.edu/~sberto/milos.pdf Botkin, D., Saxe, H., Araujo, M., Betts, R., Bradshaw, R., et.al., (2007). Forecasting the Effects of Global Warming on Biodiversity. Bioscience, volume 57(3), pp. 227-236. Dreher, R. (2005). The Political Assault on the National Environmental Policy Act. Georgetown University. Retrieved 14 August 2011 from http://www.law.georgetown.edu/gelpi/research_archive/nepa/NEPAUnderSiegeFinal.pdf Hahn, R. (1994). United States Environmental Policy: Past, Present and Future. Natural Resources Journal, volume 34, pp. 305-348. McKinney, M. & Miller, P. (2009). Analyzing Environmental Issues in Manufacturing: A Study of Top Management Support for the Environmental Function. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning, volume 5(2), pp. 116-122. Nagel, J., Dietz, T., & Broadbent, J. (2008). Workshop on Sociological Perspectives on Global Climate Change. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 14 August 2011 from http://ireswb.cc.ku.edu/~crgc/NSFWorkshop/Readings/NSF_WkspReport_09.pdf Physicians for Social Responsibility. (n.d). Health Implications of Global Warming: Shrinking the Food Supply. Retrieved 14 August 2011 from http://www.psr.org/assets/pdfs/shrinking-the-food-supply.pdf Read More