The Clean Water Act was established to eliminate the release of high levels of toxic substances and pollutants into the water. The waters protected under the Clean Water Act are all “navigable waters of the United States”, meaning waters in the United States and of United State’s territories. In 1972 act introduced the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which is a permit system for regulating pollution. People and businesses who wish to discharge pollution must obtain a permit from the NPDES (managed by the Environmental Protection Agency), which then allows discharge into managed facilities.
The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 and was designed to ensure that all Americans have safe air to breathe. The act works to reduce harmful and dangerous pollutants in the air to avoid smog, acid rain and ozone depletion. It set national health based standards to limit the amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead and soots in the air along with ways to reduce the amount of pollutants already being inhaled by Americans. In addition, the EPA set national standards for new sources of pollution including automobiles, trucks and electric power plants.
The EPA was established December 2, 1970 due to elevated concern about environmental pollution. The government decided to consolidate in one agency many activities dealing in federal research, monitory, and standard setting to ensure environmental protection. For years and years, sewage and industrial wastes had contaminated the air, water and land without any thought or concern for the future. With pollution emissions becoming more and more frequent, the country was on the rise to “do something”. After Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” became a best seller, foundations, clubs, and organizations were all united to help create a better Earth. This helped spur government action in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. During the first few years of the EPA’s existence, numerous environmental laws and acts were passed.
I don’t understand why the government passed these Clean Air Acts and Clean Water Acts; it doesn’t make any sense to me. There isn’t a noteworthy amount of air or water pollution to harm or kill anybody, so these regulations are a waste. The government should spend more time and money caring for its businesses and creating acts that benefit them. Without this country’s big businesses it wouldn’t be as successful and powerful and its economy wouldn’t be as strong. What would our nation be without its wealth generated from business? Also, The National Environmental Policy Act is such a nuisance and progress impediment. I don’t see the need for environmental “assessments” and “impact statements.” Instead of wasting my time on these “assessments” and “statements,” I could focus on expanding my business and becoming more successful. I also don’t agree with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Businesses don’t need regulations and monitoring. What businesses need is to give attention to expansion and profit making, which is what’s really important to this country.
ReplyDeleteThe Clean Air Act has helped our country, (and hopefully will continue to do so). By any objective measurement, the act has been a tremendous success. The air is cleaner and public health has improved. Emissions of toxic lead have dropped 98 percent. Emissions of sulfur dioxide have dropped by 35 percent percent even though the gross domestic product has more than doubled. Emissions of carbon monoxide have dropped by 32 percent even though driving has increased 127 percent. Even so, many areas of the country still violate the basic health standards, and the health of tens of millions of Americans remains at risk. Now we won’t have to work with only one day to celebrate our beautiful mother Earth, the First Earth day will occur this spring 1970. The youth will retake what big business and our government have regarded as inconsequential and reveal its splendor!
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