The Effectiveness of Environmental Policies in the United States - Term Paper Example

Environmental Policies in USA Introduction The issues of environmental conservation have become so serious that they can no longerbe ignored by the current generation that is unless we want to do it at our own peril. To this regard, various studies have been conducted on the matter of environment with an aim of coming up with various solutions to the impending danger of humankind extinction (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). Different governments globally, amongst them the United States government has also to that regard formulated various legislations with an aim of safeguarding the environment. The issues regarding environmental policy of the United States is to the actions of the federal government to regulate (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). This paper will be critically analyzing the environmental policies in the United States, the history of the policies, the various legislations governing them and the agencies reinforcing the policies. Additionally, the paper will analyze the environmental issues in the United States and the shortcomings of the policies put in place. Activities having environmental impact according to the United States environmental policy provisions should be acted upon by the federal government. The main purpose of formulation of environmental policy is to that the current generations protect the environment for future generations. The United States environmental policy also tries to interfere as little as possible with the efficiency of commerce and tries to limit inequity in who is burdened with environmental costs (Kraft & Vig, 1990). The government of United States has instituted legislations that regulate the environment. These laws are administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was formulated in 1970 and has been bestowed with the power to control pollution and the environment at large since its inception (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). The United States is without doubt the number one country that’s spends a greater portion of its GNP in cleaning up the environment. The United States residents have in many occasions demonstrated a great deal of concern when it comes to environmental problems. As a result both local and national political leaders in the United States talk about environmental issues in their campaigns (Kraft & Vig, 1990). Each year millions of United States tax payer money and donations are spent in environmental policies plan and in management of resources. The United States has managed considerably, in recent decades to reduce many types of pollution, environmental disasters and improved the quality of waters in many places. But that being said, The Unites States just as many other countries faces and is still struggling to use its God given recourses in an efficient way and to preserve its ecosystem (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). When the United States started to develop an active environmental policy, it was a sovereign nation state which possessed all the constitutional, institutional, economic, and political requirements to conceive and implement a coherent and consistent environmental policy home and abroad (Holt & Winston, 2002). Various studies in the field explain that until the 1960s water and air issues were mainly dealt with at the level of individual states within the United States. This lead to an increased public concern, that ended up prompting the Congress to adopt federal air pollution legislation in 1965 and 1967 which later was reinforced by the Clean air Act Amendments of 1970. This didn’t stop here as a similar development occurred in the water sector of 1972 (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). As of the 1970s, Environmental policy in the United States started experiencing a strong centralization. This included the adoption of federal legislation concerning air and ware pollution, industrial permitting, nature protection and soil cleanup policies; and powerful enforcement mechanisms, in particular via the EPA during 1970s, EPA and other federal agencies pursued a vigorous and robust policy of standard setting and enforcement of environmental standards (Kraft & Vig, 1990). The History of U.S Environmental policies The history of the Environmental policies in the U.S can be traced as back as of 1800s. This is the time when cropland was generated from prairies; some species of animals were hunted to their extinction. Land was acquired through cutting down ancient forests. This came to change as of the 1990s when the consequences of these actions started downing on the people. At this time leaders like President Theodore Roosevelt and conservationist John Muir, called for increased protection and management of the nation’s resources. (Bass, Herson, & Bogdan, 2001). Bass, Herson and Bogdan continue to explain that during President Theodore Roosevelt, many national forests and parks, and agencies to manage national resources were established around 1900s. Since that time people started appreciating natural resources with some serious sense. The history of environmental policy in the U.S. from 1900-up-todate. 1900-1915: there was naming of the first US national Birds Preserve in Florida. The US authorities also negotiated for a pollution agreement with the UK name US-Canada pollution agreement (Library of Congress, 2002). It is also during the period that various associations were formed amongst which include Smoke Prevention Association of America and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. On the ecological front, there was the inception of Ecological Society of America (Holt & Winston, 2002). 1916-1925: on the resource conservation front, there was establishment of the US National Park Service and signing of a Migratory Bird Treaty with Canada. Consequently, there was enactment of US Oil Pollution Act while there was founding of both Save the Redwoods League and National Parks Association on the civil society front (Library of Congress, 2002). 1926-1945: this period was coupled with the establishment of US National Institute of Health on the public health front and formation of US Civilian Conservation Corps on the resource conversation front (Library of Congress, 2002). Additionally, various organizations were founded amongst which include Wilderness Society, National Wildlife Federation and Planned Parenthood. 1946-1960: the period saw the signing of International Whaling convection and holding of the first UN conference on the Environment. Additionally, the legislators enacted various environmental acts amongst which include US Air Pollution Control Act and the US Federal Water Pollution Act and founding of numerous conservancy organizations like The Nature Conservancy and the formation of International Union for the Protection of Nature (Holt & Winston, 2002). 1961-1975: during the period, there was establishment of US National Wilderness Preservation System. There was also enactment of numerous Acts of parliament amongst which include US Water Quality Act, US Solid Waste Disposal Act, US National Environmental Policy Act and US Clean Air Act. Additionally, other acts include US Federal Water Pollution Control Act, US Hazardous Waste Transportation Act and US Toxic Substances Control Act (Library of Congress, 2002). 1976-1979: during the period, there was enactment of US Federal Land Policy Management Act, US National Forest Management Act, US Soil and Water Conservation Act and Endangered American Wilderness Act. Consequently, EPA was given the authority to regulate leaded gas coupled with enactment of US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, US National Energy Act and signing of Long Range Trans boundary Air Pollution Treaty signed and The Land Institute founded in Kansas (Holt, & Winston, 2002). 1980-1982: there was formulation of World Conservation Strategy which offers guidance to many developing nation conservation plans. Additionally, there was amendment of US Endangered Species Act and the enactment of US Superfund Act which offers directions to the EPA to clean up toxic waste, founding of Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste UN (Kraft & Vig, 1990). 1983-1987: during this period, there was signing of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea signed, International Tropical Timber Agreement and the signing of an agreement between US and Canada on the Trans boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes. Additionally, there was development of Montreal Protocol on Ozone-Depleting Chemicals and enactment of US Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (Holt, & Winston, 2002). 1989-1992: the period was marked with launching of Human Genome Project and signing of the UN Antarctica treaty prohibits mining, limiting pollution and offering protection to animal species (Holt & Winston, 2002). Additionally, there was amendment of US Clean Air Act for effective restriction of power plant emissions and signing of US-Canada Agreement on Air Quality. 1993-Present: The period was marked with a ruling by the Supreme Court that habitat alteration could be regulated. Additionally, there was a moratorium between US and EPA on toxic waste incineration and founding of National Environmental Trust though it also marked the rejection of Kyoto Protocol by the bush administration. Environmental Agencies and Laws This study cannot be complete without the mentioning of the various environmental agencies and laws. In the history of the United States, law makers have created many policies and federal agencies to manage environmental affairs (p. 540). Holt, Rinehart and Winston also observed that it’s EPA which enforces Clean Air Act and the Water Clean Act. They also continue to state that it is these acts that “set standards for acceptable levels of pollutants in air and water.” Many of these laws continue to cause debate among citizens. Some citizens debate whether economic and personal freedoms are equal to long-term social interests. Some debate whether policies are based on science or on political trends. Meanwhile, there has been equally concerns by many citizens about international politics, migration, and trade. (p. 540) The United States Federal Agencies and Their Environmental Responsibilities Environmental Protection Agency: enforces National Environmental Policy Act; Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Solid Waste Disposal Act; Superfund; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Control Act; Waste Reduction Act; Toxic Substances Control Act Department of the Interior: enforces Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001) (managed across several agencies) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: enforces Endangered Species Act, National Wildlife Refuge System Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Species Conservation Act, Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act Bureau of Land Management: enforces Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Taylor Grazing Act (Kraft & Vig, 1990) National Parks Service: Manages national parks Office of Surface Mining: Enforces Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Reclamation and Enforcement Department of Agriculture: Enforces Soil and Water Conservation Act, National Forests Management Act National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Monitors international atmosphere, climate, and oceans (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001) National Marine Fisheries Service: Enforces Marine Mammal Protection Act Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Regulates nuclear power stations and nuclear waste Department of Energy: Enforces National Energy Act, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Environmental Policies in the United States, p. 540). Environmental Issues in the United States As many other nations the United States face many environmental issues, this includes; Climate change and considering the fact that it is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide, Conservation: The United States is still to recapture itself after the effects of first human settlement, which saw the extinct of many plant and animal species and Invasive species (introduced or naturalized species) These species are a threat to many habitats of the U.S. (Kraft, & Vig, 1990) Additionally, the issue of Energy, as a results of greenhouse emissions has come under serious scrutiny, mining, nuclear: policies are being enacted to protect people from nuclear accidents, Pesticides: Brought about by agricultural activities, The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act are responsible for regulating pesticides, Air pollution, Water pollution, Marine pollution, Waste and the high population have of late become of concern (Bass, Herson, & Bogdan, 2001). Problems with Current U.S Policy The current environmental policy applied by the United States has at times come under criticism. Amongst the various problems attributed to it include concerns that the United States policies do not adequately reflect the precautionary principal (Bass, Herson & Bogdan, 2001). Others include reservations that the United States is implementing legislation for the treaty to weaken domestic toxic laws and undermine state’s right and the concern that some chemicals are still used in U.S industries, despite clear evidence of toxity (Kristin, 2006) References Bass, R., Herson, K., & Bogdan, A. (2001). The NEPA Book. Solano Press, Port Arena, CA. Holt, R., & Winston, D. (2002). Environmental Policies in the United States. New York. Hayes, S. P. (2001). Toward Integration in Environmental History. Pacific Historical Review 70(1): 59-67. Kraft, M., & Vig, N. (1990). Environmental Policy from the Seventies to the Nineties: Continuity and Change, in Environmental Policy in the 1990s toward a New Agenda, 354-608. Kristin, S. (2006). One More Failed U.S. Environmental Policy Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus. Library of Congress (2002). Chronology of Selected Events in the Development of the American Conservation Movement. Retrieved from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amrvhtml/conshome.html Read More