Environmental Policy

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Environmental Policy Decision Making

• orWhy cant people make up their minds?

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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• 1970 First Earth Day

Gaylord Nelson Earth Day Founder
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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• Early 1970s Interest in environment
• increases

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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• Mid 1970s Interest in environment
• declinesenergy crisis

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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• 1980s Little government interest in
• environment

Dismissed acid rain proposals as burdensome to
industry
Slashed EPA budget
Increased leases on national lands
If youve seen one tree, youve seen them all.
Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do.
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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill sparks
• renewed interest in the environment

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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• 1990s High interest in the environment

Set aside millions of acres of land as National
Monuments
Increased funding for National Parks
Expanded Safe Drinking Water Act
Accelerated clean-up of toxic wastes
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Changing Environmental Views in the U.S.

• 2000s ???

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U.S. Environmental Legislation
National Environmental Policy Act 1969

• Clean Air Act 1963

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U.S. Environmental Legislation
Clean Water Act 1972
Safe Drinking Water Act 1972
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U.S. Environmental Legislation
Endangered Species Act 1973
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U.S. Environmental Agencies

• Environmental Protection Agency

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U.S. Environmental Agencies

• Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
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U.S. Environmental Agencies

• Department of the Interior

Office of Surface Mining
Bureau of Indian Affairs
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U.S. Environmental Agencies

• Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service
United States Geological Survey
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U.S. Environmental Agencies

• Department of the Interior

Fish Wildlife Service
National Park Service
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U.S. Environmental Agencies
United States Department Of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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New Challenges for a New Century

• Increased democracy
• Technological advances
• Increased cynicism loss of faith