1. Industrial Pollution and Environmental Policy
Part 6 Pollution Control and Environmental Management
Chapter Fourteen
Industrial Pollution and Environmental Policy

2. Chapter Fourteen Learning Objectives
Define Pollution and comprehend its sources.
Examine the linkage between pollution-caused health problems and industrialization.
Examine biosphere problems caused by industrial activity.
Compare the old values with the emerging values that relate to humans and nature.
Familiarize yourself with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statutes designed to protect the environment from degradation in the United States.
Examine air pollution problems and related regulations.
Examine water pollution problems and related regulations.
Examine land pollution problems and related regulations.
Examine problems related to the administration of environmental regulation.

3. POLLUTION: Where it comes from
POLLUTION is any substance in the environment that endangers human welfare.
It can be produced by nature.
It can be produced by human activity.

4. Pollution and Human Health
Disease caused by industrial pollution is significant, but far less significant than disease caused by older, non-industrial forms of pollution.
Exposure to pollution in LDCs is estimated to cause 18% of the disease burden as compared to 4.5% in developed countries.
Far from creating a deadly blizzard of pollution, industrializing nations, instead, greatly reduce the overall burden of disease by reducing exposures to lethal non-industrial pollutants.

5. Pollution and the Biosphere
Biosphere, 1. The part of the world in which life can exist. 2. Living beings together with their environment. (Merriam-Webster College Dictionary)
Problems caused by pollution:
Disruption of natural chemistry
Land conversion
Degradation of broad ecosystems
Consequences: unknown
Contemporary ideas:
Sustainable development
Environmental Kuznets Curve

6. The Changing Environmental Ethic
OLD ETHIC EMERGING ETHIC
Nature is an adversary to be conquered
Man is superior to nature
Man is superior to other animal and plant species
Humans must accept pollution risks
Future generations have few rights
Economic development has priority
Corporations may exploit nature
Nature is an indispensable ally in struggle to survive
Man is part of interdependent community
Man has duty to protect rights of other animals and plants
Humans have natural right to pure environment
Future generations must not be endangered
Corporations have duty to protect nature

7. Pollution Media and Basic Statutes
AIR
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
WATER
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1972)
As Amended in 1985
“Clean Water Act”
LAND
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980)
“Superfund”

8. Air Pollution Problems
“…Smoke gets in your eyes…”
Urban smog
Acid rain
Toxic industrial emissions
Indoor air
Greenhouse gases
CFC emissions

9. Criteria Pollutants Lead Carbon monoxide Sulfur dioxide Particulates
Volatile organic compounds
Nitrogen dioxides

10. Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (Clean Water Act)
1. Its goal: To eliminate ALL polluting discharge by 1985.
2. National annual expenditures are more than $40 Billion.
3. Effective in REDUCING polluted factory outflows or effluents.
4. EPA or State regulators issue permits to businesses that cover three categories of pollutants: a. CONVENTIONAL: the contaminants found in household sewage
b. TOXIC: 126 identified industrial wastes that can be dangerous in very small amounts
c. NONCONVENTIONAL: other pollutants that are neither conventional or toxic, that can be identified and measured
5. NONPOINT effluents: Runoff that enters surface waters from diffuse sources (but non-factory) is largely uncontrolled and is now the primary cause of impaired water bodies.

11. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976)
“Cradle to grave” management of toxic waste as it is generated, treated, stored, and disposed of
Permits for hazardous waste 4,300 facilities, including: Treatment facilities Storage facilities Incinerators Land disposal facilities
Corrective action
Imposes $2 billion in costs annually on U.S. economy

12. Liability Under Superfund
STRICT
RETROACTIVE
JOINT-AND-SEVERAL

13. Problems with the Administration of the Nation’s Environmental Laws
Inconsistent philosophy
Rigidity
Bureaucratic sluggishness
Complexity
Focus is on compliance, not results
Adversarial approach
Transmedia pollution