Environmental Policies Paradox in the USA - Assignment Example

 Environmental Policies Paradox with respect to the Hazardous Wastes In Unites States of America Human beings are considered to posses the supreme power when compared to the other living beings. Due to such omnipotence and advancements in the field of technology, humans have been depleting the natural resources and polluting the environment at an increased pace. Increase in man’s demand for goods and services had proportionately led to the constant increase in consumption. It is very much apparent that with the steady increase in the population and the resultant heightened demands had imposed ‘aggressive’ pressure on the environment. From large scale industries to individual’s small everyday domestic actions each and every human activity is resulting in the release of chemicals and other hazardous gases into the biosphere and thereby polluting the environment vigorously. Thus, industrialization which is considered to be the vital ‘weapon’ to the rapid economic development seems to be polluting the environment day by day. It’s high time that all nations across globe need to enact strict laws to regulate activities that have a negative impact on environment. The ultimate goal of the environmental policies has to be saving the renewable and non-renewable resources for the future generation. This paper will mainly focus on the environmental policies followed and implemented by the US government with respect to the hazardous wastes that are emitted in the environment. The environment policies of the United States of America mainly concentrate on controlling air, water and land pollution. Environment Protection Agency was formed in order to check the existence of pollution in the environment. “EPA got its start on July 9, 1970, when President Richard Nixon submitted Reorganization Plan no 3 of 1970 for congressional approval.” (Portney and Stavins, 2000). This content focusing on the impact of the Hazardous wastes on the environment will discuss the federal laws that are in existence to regulate those hazardous wastes. A hazardous wastes material can be defined as the substance that cause potential threats to the environment and affects the health of the public. These wastes can be in different form of physical states such as solid, liquids and gases. However, the major sources of the hazardous wastes would be from industries and domestic usages. In United States of America, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulates the treatment, disposal and storage of the hazardous waste materials. “Thus, RCRA is supposed to protect public health and the environment from improper hazardous waste management while encouraging recycling.” (Needleman, 1994). It was passed in 1976 to control the problems faced by the people due to the domestic, municipal and other industrial wastes. The major goals of this act were to protect the public health and the environment from the hazardous waste disposal, to protect and conserve the natural resources, and to ensure proper disposal treatment of the wastes. It also keeps in track of the existence of the wastes materials and recycling methods. Apart from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, some of the other acts includes Clean Air act 1970, the Clean Water Act 1972, the Safe Drinking Act of 1974, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 1980, all were formulated to keep effective control of the hazardous wastes. (Coglianese and Nash, 2001). Thus, with respect to the above objectives, some more additional laws such as the Hazardous and Solid Waste Act was enacted to protect the environment and other cleanup programs. “Under the hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, the federal government attempted to prevent future cleanup problems by prohibiting land disposal of untreated hazardous wastes.” (RCRA United States, 2012). Above all, standards are set for the complete treatment and disposal of those hazardous wastes. Thus, wastes which are classed as hazardous can be subjected to regulations. “Standards for these treatment, storage, and disposal facilities began with the interim regulations issued in 1980 and were replaced by the final regulations in 1982.” (Sigman, 1999). The standards which are set for treating the wastes assist in the removal of the contaminants from the hazardous wastes and emission respectively. For example incinerators that facilitate burning the waste should destroy nearly 99.99 percent of the organic constituents even before it is emitted. Also, in case of the wastes disposed in land, the amendments released in 1984 mainly concentrate in protecting the groundwater. They allow the constant and periodic monitoring of the groundwater from being contaminated by the land spills and other industrial by products that are released into the land. Thus, the Environment Protection Agency has severe land disposal restrictions and prohibits various forms of land disposals which includes land filling, spreading the land with the wastes, etc. Apart from the above discussed land pollution related government policies, the water and the air pollution are also considerably kept under check through the enactment of laws. Moreover, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act consist of stringent enforcement regulations. Thus, people who violate the rules are punishable of as much as fifty thousand dollars and imprisonment of five to ten years. (RCRA United States, 2012). As a paramount feature, the United States government also assists the people to map the existence of the hazardous waste materials around their vicinity. For example, the TOXMAP is a geographical information system which allows the users to access the data from the Environmental Protection Agency, and thereby they can explore the information regarding the existence of the hazardous chemicals in their immediate environment and other places. Above all, most of the states in United States are encouraged to strictly follow the rules and the standards set by the Environment Protection Agency. Apart from the hazardous wastes discussed above, there are certain waste products which are termed as special wastes. These includes, waste generated from the combustion of coal and other fossil materials, wastes from the extraction and processing of minerals which includes phosphates, uranium, etc. As well as wastes produced during the exploration of crude oil, petroleum, etc. These waste materials can be considered to cause more damage to the environment and hence need to be treated effectively even before it is emitted. The 1980 amendments have special provision for such special wastes which are produced in large volumes and have a greater threat to the environment. The other act includes the Federal facility Compliance Act of 1992. (RCRA United States, 2012). This act mainly focuses on the activities of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and assist in its effective implementation. As discussed above, in USA strict laws had been enacted in order to have effective control over the emission of the hazardous wastes by the industries and from the other domestic sources. The rules and regulations are updated periodically with respect to the emergence of industries and the nature of the wastes emitted. Hazardous wastes products cause a great damage to the environment and to the human beings. Due to the emission of these products, the natural resources and its benefits are made unavailable for the future generation. Above all, it also ends up in natural disasters such as earthquakes, acid rain, global warming, ozone layer depletion and cause lethal effects to the mankind. Thus, it is always advisable that global nations should come together in framing a universal environment policy, so that the pollution levels and the emission of the hazardous wastes can be kept under control. Along with the developed countries, the developing countries can also join hands in regulating strict laws to control the emission of the hazardous wastes. Above all, human beings should have the responsibility to protect the nature and the environment in efficiently controlling the level of pollution and make the earth a better place to live in. References: Coglianese, C and Nash, J. (2001). Regulating from the Inside: Can Environmental Management Systems Achieve. Washington: Resources for the Future. Needleman, B. (1994). Hazardous Waste Recycling under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Problems and Potential Solutions. Journal Article Environmental Law, 24. Portney, P. R. and Stavins, R. N. (2000). Public Policies for Environmental Protection, Second Edition. Washington: Resources for the future “Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) United States.” (2012). The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved from: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Resource_Conservation_and_Recovery_Act_ (RCRA),_United_States Sigman, H. (1999). Reforming Hazardous Waste Policy. New York: Hoovers Press. Read More