The Evolution and Emergence of US EPA and, the Benefits of Economic Development in Environmental Protection
Omotolani Oyelade
EHS Manager | Environmentalist | Urban & Regional Planner | Sustainability Advocate | PMP Certified | Scrum Master | UNA- Director of Global Goals.
Environmental is a scientific system with an approach to interrelationships study among people and their built and natural environments and sustainability of natural resources with an accepted jurisdiction. It involves certain environmental studies, i.e., the study of pollution, natural disasters, water, air, land, waste, hazards, and everything else available for human service on land. The protection of the environment is a crucial factor in considering having an aesthetic vicinity and creating a standard of development for both man and living organisms. This article examines the evolution and emergence of the US EPA and the benefits of economic development for environmental protection. Environmental protection is the act and system of protecting the environment by studying its governments, populace, and agencies. the act of conserving natural resources and the current natural environment, where viable, to restore, impair, and modify directions. In the United States, environmental protection came to light in the 1960s, when a woman named Racheal Carson reported her attack on the haphazard use of pesticides in the spring of 1962 (US EPA 1992). She raised her concern about how the utilization of chemicals could affect the water and air, which might result in disasters. Beginning in 1970, the concern of Racheal Carson became a general city urgency on city water contamination, urban air issues, and various environmental issues in the city.
??? This lamentation constructs a decision for President Richard Nixon to read out an inventive highlights request from the House and Senate for environmental concern. The President requested a national contingency plan for the cleansing of oil spills and enacting taxes on lead additives in gasoline. He requested standards and strict instructions to reduce transport emissions for citizens to experience fresh air and asked for funds to ameliorate the distribution and management of urban water. clean up of contaminated facilities and instruct the Congress to plan to strengthen the protection of seaborne and legislation to terminate the improper wastes into the lakes. (US EPA 1992). Afterwards, President Nixon's interest in giving protection of the environment a good structure waxed stronger as he nominated a council to put together federal government programs to arrange to abate pollution and structure his inventive highlights to make the environment an aesthetic place to live in.
The President also designates a plan to the Congress to reinforce the environmental authority of the federal government under one agency, i.e., the “Environmental Protection Agency,” to structure environmental issues, coordinate research studies on vital pollutants, and monitor the state of the environment for both physical and biological reasons. The US EPA would arrange an environmental baseline, coordinate waste disposal issues, designate a proper account for funds and technical support, and coordinate educational training as required. After listening to and reading through the Presidential Note, the House and Senate approved the incentives. The US Environmental Protection Agency was structured with a sealed oath of office on December 4, 1970. Thereafter, he signed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to explore their functions and environmental delegations.
Emergence of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Historically, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was established and emerged with full authority, structure, and functions. The President furthered his concern by endorsing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) enactment on January 1, 1970. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was appointed to designate national policy and functions for the environment, to bring to existence the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and all that pertains to the national act on environmental policy. NEPA, in federal environmental laws, was the first major environmental law in the United States. As a national body, NEPA has the authority to evaluate Federal agencies' activities prior to making decisions on them. NEPA also monitors national policy on funds and measures technical support to stimulate public well-being and maintain a conducive atmosphere for both nature and human, social, economic, and sustainability of Americans according to Section 101 of 42 U.S.C. 4331(a). Part of the responsibility required of NEPA is to coordinate procedural for major federal actions, particularly those damaging human environmental conditions. NEPA requires comprehensive communication on environmental actions, inevitable harmful results, substitutes for proposed action, irrevocable and lasting action on resources, and the continuance of efficiency. Section 102, 42 U.S.C. 4331(2)(C). NEPA assures agencies of the importance of environmental protection and the harmful consequences it entails when it is not properly coordinated in decision-making. (NEPA 2020)
NEPA enact Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under the authority of the president to assure that the national agencies carried out adequate duties and necessity as structured under NEPA. The council controls National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) administration by coordinating regulations and ensure procedural requirement are set in place. They approve Agencies compliance on emergencies and assist in settle argument within national, states, local, government bodies and public on environmental issues. The council also and one of the key functions is to suggest national policies to the president on how to perpetuate environmental standards and attaining major objectives. (NEPA Handbook 2020). However, regions and private sectors across the continent structure their environmental division and give room to environment assessment trainings and programs upon the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an international agency in environmental protection. The United States Environmental Protection Agency plays a special role in the National Environmental Policy Act's (NEPA) functions and operations. The US EPA is authorized to arrange its own NEPA document for compliance and to assess the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the other federal agencies and give the right evaluation of the same before final decision-making.
Stages of NEPA Review Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is in three different stages:
Studies show that most federal agency activities do not require environmental impacts, which may not give room to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). However, it is the responsibility of the agencies to disseminate policy, i.e., categories of policy that do not have major effects on the human environment, “categorical exclusions (CEs)”. The “environmental assessment (EA)” is to determine if federal decisions affect humans or the entire environment. (Ruple, J., & Tanana, H. 2020)
Some of the duties conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
The Congress enacted and empowered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a range of environmental policies, including the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. (Norman J. Vig et al., 2012). The enactment of the US EPA brought about actions and duties to oversee from other federal agencies. The Department of Interior (DOI) transferred the functions and control of the Federal Water Quality Administration. The protection division of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Control of Food and Environmental Health Service by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), the Federal Radiation Council (FRC), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under Section 204(5) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970. (Environmental Protection Agency origin, 2016). Furthermore, the Congress authorizes the EPA to oversee power and regulation issues pertaining to environmental protection across different regions of the United States. The regions are divided into ten administrative regions, and each region has its own headquarters and territory to carry out duties, respectively.
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Environmental protection and Economic Development
Whose Environment? Who’s Economic? "The sustainable development approach is either morally justifiable or totally inoperative.'' (Wilfred Beckerman, 1992). Environmental protection and economic development are frequently seen as incongruous goals; however, they might not be so. In fact, they can be collectively helpful and maintained. Protecting the environment is crucial for substantiating human well-being and economic development in the long run. Economic activities that debase the environment can lead to natural resource reduction, harm the ecosystem, and have detrimental health impacts, primarily undermining economic growth and development. Otherwise, economic development is essential for hoisting people out of poverty, improving human welfare, and building a healthy, productive society. When practiced sustainably, economic development can contribute to environmental protection by stimulating sustainable resource use, lessening pollution, and alleviating climate action.
To achieve a balance between environmental protection and economic development, it is imperative to integrate environmental factors into economic decision-making processes. This means evaluating the environmental impacts of economic activities and implementing policies and regulations that activate sustainable practices and prevent adverse ones. It also means fostering environmentally friendly technologies and operations, contributing to green infrastructure, and fostering sustainable business implementation. In the long run, environmental protection and economic development are not mutually exclusive goals. Through collaboration in sourcing ideas for solutions that stimulate sustainable economic growth and secure the environment, a better future is possible for all.
Benefit of Economic Development on Environmental Protection
Economic development has diverse benefits for environmental protection when it is sustained.
Conclusion
I would say that full priority should be given to environmentalists in the process of economic development in terms of challenges and how future generations, who are interested in investing in environmental development goals, can build growth and pursue the necessary demand. Although this foregoing would fall most heavily on people in developing countries, it would allow them to build their levels of energy consumption and technology to attain higher levels of profitability. Interchangeably, they both work hand in hand. The environmental resource enables the input into the production of goods and services by providing minerals and fossil fuels to ease the manufacturing of goods. Economic development supports environmental protection by promoting environmentally friendly technologies, resource efficiency, financial resources, employment opportunities, and environmental awareness. (Everett, Tim et al.,2010).
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