Environmental Laws, Economics, and Ethics Chapter 2

Environmental History of U.S Dominated by the frontier attitude

Environmental History of U.S Some conservationists were influential in raising environmental concerns later in this period. John James Audubon Henry David Thoreau George Perkins Marsh

Environmental History of U.S Several presidents, particularly Theodore Roosevelt, used this Act to establish 43 million acres of forest reserves General Revision Act st National Park: Yellowstone 1890 Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks

Environmental History of U.S Different worldviews Theodore Roosevelt - utilitarian John Muir - preservationist

Environmental History of U.S Franklin Roosevelt establishes CCC (1933) and SCS (1935) Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac published posthumously (1949)

Environmental History of U.S Rachel Carson published Silent Spring (1962)

Environmental History of U.S Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb 1968 Wilderness Act of 1964, spurred on by Wallace Stegner First Earth Day 1970

Early US National Parks and Forests Congress establishes Yellowstone National Park Congress establishes Yosemite and Sequoya National Parks (John Muir was instrumental in this) General Revision Act gives President power to establish forest reserves on federally owned land Presidents Harrison, Cleveland, and Theodore Roosevelt form 17.4 mil hectares (43 mil acres) of forest reserve

Early US National Parks and Forests T. Roosevelt appoints Gifford Pinchot first head of US Forest service Congress passes the Antiquities Act gives President ability to create National Monuments Congress passes bill preventing presidents from establishing more forest reserves… …T. Roosevelt designates 21 more… …and then signs the bill into law.

Most Common Names Rachel Carson – water pollution, Silent Spring Barry Commoner – Ozone, Closing Circle Hugh Bennet - soil conservation Lois Marie Gibbs – Love canal Al Gore – Inconvenient Truth Garrett Hardin – Tragedy of the Commons John Muir – naturalist, author, founded Sierra Club Gifford Pinchot – US Forest Service Theodore Roosevelt – set aside land national forests Aldo Leopold – Sand County Almanac Wallace Stegener - “Wilderness Essay” helped create support for Wildeness act of 1964

Environmental History of U.S.

U.S. Environmental Legislation National Environmental Policy Act – dictates ALL federally proposed actions draft an environmental impact statement.

U.S. Environmental Legislation Addressing New Environmental Problems with Government Policies Problem identified Regulations implemented / enforced by states (usually) US congressperson drafts legislation Legislation passed, signed by president Full-cost accounting evaluation EPA develops regulations Public comments OMB reviews / approves funding

U.S. Environmental Legislation Many environmental laws have been passed: Clean Air Act (1970) (Amended in 1990) Clean Water Act (1972) Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) Endangered Species Act (1973) Energy Policy and Conservation Act (1975) Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976) National Forest Management Act (1976) Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (1977) Medical Waste Tracking Act Food Quality Protection Act (1996) Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (2002)

Most Common Laws Air Clean Air Act 1970 ammended 1977 & 1990 Montreal Protocol 1987 – cut CFC’s Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases Water Clean Water Act 1972 Safe drinking water Act 1974

More Laws Wildlife Conservation Endangered Species Act 1973 Lacey Act 1990 Toxic Substances Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liability Act 1980 ( CERCLA) Superfund Hazardous Materials Transportation Act 1975, (HAZMAT)

More laws Pesticides Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,& Rodenticide Act 1947, ( FIFRA) Noise Noise Control Act 1965 Solid Waste Mining Act 1872 Solid Waste Disposal Act 1965

Environmental Agencies Bureau Of Land Management ( BLM) Center for Disease control (CDC) Department of Energy (DOE) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly Soil Conservation Service United States Geological Survey ( USGS)

U.S. Environmental Legislation What has been their effect since 1970? 8 National Parks, National Wilderness Preservation System Substantial soil erosion reduction Many endangered species fairing better Emissions of many pollutants reduced

Economics and the Environment Source Raw Materials Economy ProductionConsumption Products Money Sinks Waste

Economics and the Environment National Income Accounts Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Net Domestic Product (NDP) NDP = GDP - depreciation & capital expenses BUT, consuming nonrenewable natural resources typically NOT accounted

Economics and the Environment National Income Accounts Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Net Domestic Product (NDP) NDP = GDP - depreciation & capital expenses In addition, degradation of natural resources by pollution also typically NOT accounted External costs rarely considered

Economics and the Environment Marginal cost of pollution

Economics and the Environment Marginal cost of pollution abatement

Economics and the Environment Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economics and the Environment Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economics and the Environment Common problems with economic analyses: 1) Reduction in quality of life and natural beauty difficult to assess. 2) Fails to consider unexpected catastrophic environmental damage.

Economics and the Environment Economic strategies for pollution control: 1) Command and control regulations 2) Incentive-based regulation

Economics and the Environment Case-in-Point: Environmental Problems in Central and Eastern Europe

Environmental Ethics, Values, and Worldviews Environmental Ethics: What is characterized by the ends? Where would you place yourself along this spectrum of worldviews? Deep Ecology Western