1. Environmental & Energy Law
Business Law
Objective 3.03
Understanding environmental and energy laws

2. Environmental Laws
In the 19th century, the rise of industrialism led to factory-produced waste which polluted the land, air, and water. By the mid-20th century, the damage to the environment had become apparent.

3. Clean Air Act
A few years later, Congress passed the Clean Air Act of 1963, which provided funds to fight air pollution and set standards for emissions from factories, mills, and power plants that pollute the air.

4. Clean Air Acts http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caa_history.html
What do the Clean Air Acts of 1963, 70 & 77 do for us?
Established to protect public health and the environment
Was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency to authorize the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to assist in the creations of law to protect the environment
Handles problems such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, and air toxics
Clean
Air
Act

5. Clean Water Act
To deal with the pollution of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, in 1972 Congress passed the Clean Water Act, also called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

6. Clean Water Act http://www.epa.gov/regulations/laws/cwahistory.html
What does the Clean Water Act do for us?
Protects water quality
Does not handle ground water
Helps to reduce pollution in waterways, wastewater treatment plants, and control runoff pollution
Protects the fish, shell fish, and wildlife in water
Clean
Water
Act
WORKSHEET:
EPA Compliance
Violations

7. U.S. Department of Energy http://www.energy.gov/
What does the Department of Energy do?
Promotes National Energy Security
Ensures Nuclear Security
Strengthens scientific discovery
Protects the environment relative to nuclear weapons production
Promotes the supply and delivery of reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy

8. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) http://www.ferc.gov/
What is FERC & What does FERC do?
Independent government agency, organized as part of the Department of Energy.
What is FERC responsible for?
Regulates transmission of natural gas, oil & electricity
Regulates wholesale sale of electricity
Licenses and inspects hydroelectric projects
Approves construction of interstate natural gas pipelines, storage facilities and Liquefied Natural gas terminals.
Monitors & Investigates Energy Markets
FERC

9. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) cont.
Can you think of any “local” activities that may be regulated by FERC?
Dixie Pipeline Company transports natural gas Natural Gas. Their pipeline system extends from Mont Belvieu, Texas, to Apex, North Carolina and that it has numerous origin and destination points along the route. Also transfers ethane and refinery grade propylene
Progress Energy is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  The single-unit, 900-megawatt Harris Nuclear Plant is located near New Hill, N.C. The plant generates power for more than 550,000 homes.

10. Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 http://www. nrc
What did the Energy Reorganization Act do?
Divided the research aspects and regulatory aspects of nuclear power between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
ERDA controls development & production of nuclear weapons
ERDA eventually absorbed by the Department of Energy(DOE)
NRC focuses on regulatory work & environmental safety
ERA established under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954

11. Energy Regulation & Conservation
Energy Tax Act (ETA)
Handles unstable energy climate
Established in 1978
Promotes energy conversion of boilers, coal, solar, and wind technology
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
Works to helps decrease electricity demand
Regulates utilities for residential consumers electricity

12. The Environmental Policy Act
In 1969 Congress passed the Environmental Policy Act which established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This federal agency is responsible for protecting the environment and human health.

13. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/
What does the EPA do?
Manages all federal antipollution programs
Handles air, solid waste, toxic substances, and pesticides
Sets guidelines for program
Monitors programs
Establishes grants to help eliminate pollution
Researches and sets national standards for programs
Issues permits

14. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
What does the “local” EPA office do?
The major center for air pollution research and regulation is on the RTP campus focusing on three major functions:
Administration and Management is responsible for resources and financial management
Regulation of air quality is the responsibility of the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS)
Research and Development is conducted at the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), National Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT), and National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC).
EPA

15. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) http://www.nrc.gov/
What does the NRC do?
Ensures safety to commercial use of nuclear materials
Consists of a five member commission
One member is appointed by the President
Generates safety policies and regulations for nuclear reactors and materials and allows the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) to handle policies and decisions of the commission
Issues licenses
Handles legal matters
Directs the activities of the program
EDO ensures safety of commercial use of nuclear materials in the US
Offices handle inspections, enforcement of laws, and emergency response programs licensees
NRC1
NRC2

16. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/
What is the EPA responsible for?
Responsible for environmental protection
Implements the Environmental Policy Act
Governs the environmental laws for air, water, solid waste, toxic substances, and noise pollution
Controls executive orders

17. EPA-RTP Facility

18. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) http://www. epa
What does NEPA do?
Fights Pollution and cleans the environment
Explains consequences for environmental violation
Prevents or eliminates damage to the environment
Requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values by creating Environmental Impact Statements each week that are posted every Friday on the website

19. National Environmental Policy Act
Go to the NEPA website and list the Environmental Impact Statements issued for the past two weeks. ?

20. Toxic Substance Control Act
In 1976, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act, which gave the EPA the power to police the use of dangerous industrial chemicals, such as asbestos, mercury, and lead.

21. Toxic Substance Control Act http://www. epa. gov/regulations/laws/tsca
What does the Toxic Substance Control Act do for us?
Tracks industrial chemicals produced and imported into the US
Handled by the EPA
Screens, tests, and reports chemicals that pose a threat to the environment
EPA can prohibit the manufacture or import of chemicals thought to be hazardous
Toxic
Substance
Control
Act

22. Oil Pollution Act (OPA) Pollution Prevention Act
Additional Pollution Prevention
Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
Works to prevent drastic oil spills
Established a trust fund to help clean up spills
Oil facilities must submit detailed reports to the Federal government explaining how they will handle unexpected spills
Pollution Prevention Act
Works to reduce pollution
Handles activities such as recycling, source reduction, and sustainable agriculture
Helps to protect conservation issues such as energy, water, and natural resources
WORKSHEET:
Fed. E & E Law