The United States Environmental Protection Act - 1034 Words

The United States Environmental Protection Act (hereinafter referred to as EPA) defines environmental justice as ‘’the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, colour, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies’’ (Bullard 2005, 4). Throughout the world, poor people and people of colour, who have the least political power and who are the most marginalized, are selectively victimized by environmental crises (Bullard 2005, 6). Numerous environmental groups have been formed over time e.g. the Green Belt Movement to combat this injustice. On the other hand, environmentalism is more concerned with protecting the†¦show more content†¦However, the EPA was never designed to address environmental policies that result in unfair, unjust and inequitable outcomes. Officials of the EPA are not likely to ask questions that go to the h eart of environmental justice such as ‘’what groups are most affected by a specific environmental problem’’ or ‘’why are they affected’’ or ‘’how could the problem have been prevented’’? (Bullard 2005, 29). The environmental justice framework was adopted on September 27th, 1991 following the First National People of Colour Environmental Leadership Summit (Bullard 2005, 21). This seventeen-principle framework was extremely important at the time it was drawn up because it served as a catalyst for bringing environmental protection issues to the core. The framework attempts to turn the dominant environmental protection paradigm on its head by seeking to prevent environmental threats before they occur. (Bullard 2005, 5). It incorporates the aims of other social movements that seek to eliminate harmful practices in houses, health care, poverty and redlining especially for those living in an urban ghetto or barrio (Bullard 2005, 25). Bullard states that the framework attempts to uncover the underlying assumptions that may contribute to and produce unequal protection (Bullard 2005, 25). One of its major principles is that all individuals have a right to be protected from environmental degradati on and some of the precedents forShow MoreRelatedEnvironmental Laws And Its Effects On The United States1292 Words   |  6 Pagesproperty rights and environmental protection. Their advocacy created a national phenomenon that empowered government and policymakers to execute policies aimed at solving these problems nationwide. The government again took action to enact numerous laws, some of which became the foundation for modern environmental policy and regulations in the United States. â€Å"On the national level, the first federal action to respond to public concerns about air quality was the Clean Air Act of 1955† (Longhurst andRead MoreHow Does The Governmental Transfer Of Power Impacts Wildlife And The Workforces That Conserve And Protect Wildlife?1538 Words   |  7 PagesHow does the governmental transfer of power impacts wildlife and the workforces that conserve and protect wildlife? The United States government is constantly rotating officials in control of regulati ng previous and developing laws, forming future concepts and regulations on various assemblies, and striving to improve the lives of the American citizens. However, the ever changing governmental powers may cause a positive or negative impact on wildlife conservation and policy, due to varying opinionsRead MoreTutor Review Assignment 2 Using Your Manager Skills Situation 1814 Words   |  4 Pagesattention that an environmental group known as â€Å"SafePack Materials Pollute† is clamming that our SafePack materials are not biodegradable. The group is asserting that these materials are causing an environmental hazard that is seeping from a local landfill into a nearby stream. The group has also launched an internet campaign geared toward compelling fruit producers to stop purchasing our packing materials. The situation raises environmental issues that relate directly to the Clean Water Act and the SolidRead MoreThe History Of The Enviornmental Protection Agency926 Words   |   4 Pagesincredibly important to the United States; there is not one greater than the other. However, the departments under the environmental category have accomplished many fantastic projects that have created a healthier living space for the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the environmental category will be dissected into two main sections: the history of the department and the major responsibilities of the department. The Enviornmental Protection Agencys vast history reflectsRead MoreDo Governmental CSR Policies Assist Consumers or Organizations898 Words   |  4 Pagesguide for organizations to follow for the protection of the environment. According to Masahudu (2004) â€Å"several governmental CSR policies, such as the National Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Water Act assist in protecting consumers and organizations†. (p. 1). An example of a policy which assists consumers and organizations is the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act provides a variety of regulatory and non-regulatoryRead MoreChina s Low Rates Of Air Pollution1257 Words   |  6 Pagesto the United States in recent times. China began its rise to a modern global economic power in the 1980s, but never once had any strong, well-enforced environmental regulations until 2013. As unregulated factory and automobile use increased, China’s rates of pollution quickly surpassed that of the United States, leaving China much more affected by air pollution than the United States in recent times. In China, there is a much higher rate of cardiovascular disease than in the United States due toRead MoreCorporation s Social Responsibility : Green Marketing And The Effects On The Environment853 Words   |  4 PagesResponsibility defined is as an organization that uses business strategies for the purpose of improving human and environmental well-be ing (Lawrence Weber, 2014) ï‚ § Corporation’s should perform in a way that enhances society and the world’s occupants ï‚ § Created to maintain and protect the interest of employees, suppliers, consumers, and society (Norton, 2015) ï‚ § Environment Protection Agency (EPA) created to protect the environment ï‚ § Prevents a further declining of the essentials that are neededRead MoreThe Love Canal Crisis : An Epidemic1709 Words   |  7 PagesJames Daniel Mr. Peters Honors Environmental Science 11 November 2016 A Civil Action The Love Canal crisis is an epidemic that will shake the roots of this country for centuries. From 1942 to 1953 a landfill in Niagara Falls area known as the Love Canal; which is named after 18th-century famous entrepreneur William T. Love who had an aspiration to connect two levels of the Niagara River, which evidentially separated by Niagara Falls. His plan sought to integrate a canal that would utilizeRead MoreEPA Protecting the Planet Essay697 Words   |  3 PagesThe Environmental Protection Agency takes on this ever so important mission of protecting them both. The mission statement of the EPA states, â€Å"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Small Business Programs is to support the protection of human health and the environment by advocating and advancing the business, regulatory, and environmental compliance concerns of small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses, and minority academic institutions (US Enviromental Protection AgencyRead MoreUn it 7626 Words   |  3 Pagesremind you of the long history of drinking water protection. In 1974 Congress passed an act called The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 42 U.S.C.  §300f et seq. (1974), it is the main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans drinking water. In 1986 the law was amended to include rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. SDWA rules and regulations apply to every public water system in the United States, but allows individual states the opportunity to set and enforce their own