Environmental Policy Amanda Valtin Courtney Whitney Alex Stilson

Environmental Policy Amanda Valtin, Courtney Whitney, Alex Stilson

Why it is so controversial… • Environmental policy creates winners and losers • Scientific uncertainty • Resistance by some groups • Affects how the government deals with states and other nations

Policies are not flexible • Policies are universal for the entire country • Creates conflict • In England, laws are not universal (more flexible)

The EPA • The ‘Environmental Protection Agency’ • Created by Nixon in 1970 • Activists advertise dangers of harming the environment • Entrepreneurial politics – a small group pays, everyone benefits

Some other groups that are involved… • Council on Environmental Policy • Department of Energy • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • National Wildlife Federation • Wilderness Society

Teddy Roosevelt • Studied natural sciences at Harvard • Created many national parks • Set up forest preserves, wildlife refuges • Inspired the invention of the teddy bear

Court case example… • Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill (1978) • Tested Endangered Species Act • Building dam might wipe out endangered fish species • Court ruled in favor of not building dam

Laws… • Environmental Policy Act (1969) • Clean Water Act (1972) • Environmental Quality Act (1970) • Endangered Species Act (1973)

Modern policies and issues… • Alternate fuel options to replace gasoline • Global warming • More public focus on the environment and ways to save energy

People care about the environment when… • The issue directly impacts citizens • It is big in the news, affects a lot of people • Ex: oil/chemical spills

The Anti-Environmental Movement • Mostly associated with • • businesses Sometimes use ‘think tanks’ or organizations to push for antienvironmental legislation Stereotype environment activists as “tree huggers”

What about nuclear waste? • Radioactive waste is buried, dumped in the ocean, or is segregated and stored. • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Citations • • • • "Environmental Policy Act (1969). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Green Party Platform (2004). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Jimmy Carter: State of the Union message (1981). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Clean Water Act (1972) with amendments (1977). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Environmental Quality Act (1970). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Endangered Species Act (1973). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Council on Environmental Quality. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Department of Energy. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill (1978). " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "National Wildlife Federation. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. Vaughn, Jacqueline. "Wilderness Society. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. "antienvironmental movement. " American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 18 Jan. 2013.