Environmental Legislation, Regulations, and Standards: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • Society of Safety Engineers

  • Created by Presidential Executive Order

  • Richard M. Nixon, 2 December 1970

    • One of the first times an agency was not created by an "Act"

    • Placed directly in the Executive Branch (i.e. reports to OMB)

    • Assumed activities of the former Environmental Health Service

Environmental Protection Agency
Organizational Structure

  • Administrator

  • -Heads EPA. Appointed by the President with Senate confirmation

  • Three Associate Administrators

  • -Office of Regional Operations and State/Local Relations ->Serves as link between Federal EPA and regional administrators

  • Office of Communication and Public Affairs

  • -Liaison between the public sector and the EPA

  • Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs

  • -Ensures coordination between EPA and Congress

  • Organizational Structure

  • Office of the Inspector General

  • -Audits and investigates EPA, reports deficiencies related to EPA operations to the Administrator and to Congress

  • Office of the General Counsel

  • -Legal advisor to the Administrator and provides legal services

  • Office of the Chief Financial Officer

  • -Manages budget of $7.76 billion (2005)

  • Organizational Structure

  • Nine Operational Offices (headed by Assistant Administrators)

    • Administration and Resources Management

    • Enforcement

    • Environmental Information

    • Research and Development

    • International Activities

    • Pesticides and Toxic Substances

    • Air and Radiation

    • Solid Waste and Emergency Response

    • Water

  • Environmental Protection Agency

  • USEPA Regions (available in full paper).

  • Enforcement of Environmental Policy

  • Three Basic Levels of Violation

  • -Negligent violations

  • The violator was openly negligent regarding the law

  • -Knowing violations

  • Occurred with full knowledge and no attempt to prevent it

  • -Knowing endangerment violations

  • Violations allowed to occur, with full knowledge, that impose a threat of death or serious bodily injury

Enforcement of Environmental Policy

  • Fines and Penalties-Differ, depending on the regulation or Act under violation

  • Ex: Fines under CWA differ from those under RCRA

  • -Civil fines generally range from a low of $5500 to $32,500 per day per violation

  • -Maximum fine against individuals can be $250,000, 15 years in jail

  • Government can establish criminal liabilities against any employee, regardless of position in company

Regulatory Overview

A Brief Look at Major Environmental Regulations

  • National Environmental Policy Act of 1970

  • Clean Air Act (and Amendments)

  • Clean Water Act

  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

  • Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976

  • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities Act of 1980

  • Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986

NEPA

Basic Provisions

  • Applicable to Federal Agencies and their employees

  • Establishes National Policy

  • Sets obtainable goals

  • Provides means for implementing and enforcing policy

Purpose and Objectives

  • Inject environmental consideration into federal agency decisions

  • Inform public that a federal agency has considered environmental concerns in its decision making

Keywords:
HSSE standard, Clean Air Act, amendment, US government, Enforcement, substance, air emission, SARA Title III, procedure, regulation
Subjects:
HSSE & Social Responsibility Management, Environment, HSSE standards, regulations and codes, Air emissions
This content is only available via PDF.
2007. American Society of Safety Engineers
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.