ABSTRACT
Environmental Quality Control https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Early U.S. environmentalists, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot, succeeded in obtaining legal support for the conservation movement. By the 1950’s federal legislation and agencies had included protection of water resources and some attention to air pollution. Gradually, the problems of solid-waste disposal, radiation protection, noise abatement, and chemical pollution hazards were recognized as federal concerns, and legal safeguards began to be established.
By the end of 1970 most of the federal control activity was coordinated under the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 also had created the Council on Environmental Quality. This organization, in the Executive Office of the President, is charged with assisting the President in preparing an annual environmental quality report and with making recommendations for national policies to improve the environment. The Council also is empowered to analyze conditions and trends in the quality of the environment and to conduct investigations relating to the environment. The annual report “Environmental Quality” is transmitted to Congress in August. a
A partial list of agencies, laws, and acts of federal origin is offered to assist in the identification of environmental data and information issued by the federal government. For listings of current publications consult the “Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications”.
FEDERAL AGENCIES, LAWS, AND ORDERS; PARTIAL LIST, 1960–1972
THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Council on Environmental Quality. Established by the President in May 1969, succeeding the Environmental Quality Council.
Environmental Control Administration (Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Deals with environmental health problems.
Environmental Data Service (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce). Issues a bimonthly bulletin.
Environmental Health Service (Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Includes Community Environmental Management Bureau.
Environmental Protection Agency. Administers all phases of pollution control. Annual budget, $1 billion plus. In addition to its offices of Air, Water, Solid Waste, Pesticides, and Radiation, it has ten regional offices and an Office of International Affairs.
Environmental Quality Council. Established by the President in July 1969 as the first independent, cabinet-level organization charged with a broad overview of environmental problems; abolished by Reorganization Plan No. 2, 1970.
Environmental Quality Improvement Act, 1970, PL 91–224. Created the Office of Environmental Quality and added the following responsibilities to the Council on Environmental Quality: (1) review environmental monitoring, (2) evaluate effects of technology, and (3) assist federal agencies in development of environmental standards.
Environmental Research Laboratories, Boulder, Colorado. Investigates and reports on environmental subjects for NOAA.
Environmental Science Services Administration. Monitors and inspects pollution load and distribution. Formerly a component of the Department of Commerce; became major part of NOAA.
Executive Order No. 11514, March 5, 1970. Instructed all federal agencies in conformity with the National Environmental Policy Act. Listed the responsibilities of the Council on Environmental Quality.
National Environmental Policy Act, 1969, PL 91–190. Set up a national policy on environment with directions for implementation. Established Council on Environmental Quality and outlined its functions.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce). Selected marine, atmospheric, and weather projects.
Office of Environmental Quality. Consists of the supporting staff office serving the Council on Environmental Quality and its Chairman and Director. Annual budget, $2 million plus.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
Air Pollution Control Act, 1962. Authorized the Surgeon General to study health aspects of air pollution.
Air Pollution Control Office. Now called the Air Programs Office (q.v.); formerly a division of the EPA. See Annual Reports, e.g., Senate Document 92–11, May 3, 1971.
a These annual reports (about 300 pages each), perhaps the best available summaries of the interests and progress of the federal government in all fields of pollution control, are available from the Superintendent of Documents.
Air Programs Office (Environmental Protection Agency). Publishes material treating all aspects of air-pollution control. Formerly the Air Pollution Control Office (q.v.).
Air Quality Act of 1967, PL 90–148. Elaborated upon and amended the 1963–65 act.
Clean Air Act, 1963. Encouraged state and local pollution agencies and provided grants for control programs. Amended October 1965 to permit national regulation of air pollution from new motor vehicles.
Clean Air Amendments, 1970, PL 91–604. Contained major amendments and additions to the 1963, 1965, and 1967 acts.
Executive Order No. 11507, February 4, 1970. Stipulated that projects or installations owned or leased by the federal government must be designed and operated to meet air and water-quality standards.
National Air Pollution Control Administration. Moved from HEW to EPA December 2, 1970. Later renamed Air Programs Office (q.v.).
Task Force on Air Pollution. Created by the President on November 18, 1969.
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Clean Water Restoration Act, 1966. Provided federal money for building water-treatment facilities.
Executive Order No. 11574, December 23, 1970. Implemented a permit program to regulate discharge of pollutants into navigable waters; charged several federal agencies with making this permit system effective for pollution control.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 1956. Amended 1961, 1965, 1971. Authorized planning technical assistance and grants for state and municipal programs and construction.
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (Department of the Interior). Set up in 1966 as successor to programs in HEW. Changed to Federal Water Quality Administration in 1970 (q.v.).
Federal Water Quality Administration (Department of the Interior). Sets water-quality standards for all interstate and coastal waters. Publishes "Inventory of Municipal Waste Facilities" (1940, 1945, 1957, and 1962 inventories by PHS). Created in 1970.
Water Quality Improvement Act, 1970. Set up the Federal Water Quality Administration and provided tighter controls over oil pollution and pollution from vessel dumping.
Water Quality Office (Environmental Protection Agency). Succeeded a similar office in FWQA.
OTHER POLLUTION CONTROLS
Atomic Energy Commission. Implements and enforces radiation standards by licensing authority. Regulates radioactive waste disposal.
Bureau of Solid Waste Management (Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Treats environmental health aspects of waste disposal.
Federal Aviation Administration (Department of Transportation). Administers aircraft-noise-abatement laws and rules.
Federal Radiation Council. Established by Executive Order of the President. Published about 20 reports and memoranda during the 1960’s dealing with radiation protection. Established “protective action guides”.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Department of Labor). Administers safety and health standards, with special reference to the Williams-Steiger Act of January 28, 1971, which prescribes environmental conditions in industry.
Pesticides Research Program (Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Sets limits for pesticides in foods.
Solid Waste Management Programs Office (Environmental Protection Agency). Reports and makes recommendations concerning solid-waste problems.
Walsh-Healey Act. Comprises federal code of occupational noise regulations listing permissible noise exposures; amended January 24, 1970.
Federal Environmental Agencies https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315214092/af889dd2-32df-4b79-a8fd-0eb97589b0f5/content/tab8_2.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315214092/af889dd2-32df-4b79-a8fd-0eb97589b0f5/content/tab8_2a.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315214092/af889dd2-32df-4b79-a8fd-0eb97589b0f5/content/tab8_2b.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315214092/af889dd2-32df-4b79-a8fd-0eb97589b0f5/content/tab8_2c.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> Motor Vehicle Pollution Limitations https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">Actual federal regulation of automobile emissions began with the 1968 model year and applied only to manufacturers’ new cars. In 1970 the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare indicated the standards given in the following table.
STANDARDS AND PROJECTIONS BY HEW
Limitations on Vehicle Exhaust
Exhaust
Limitations, in g/mi a
Prior to controls
1970 standards
Proposed 1975
Goal for 1980
Hydrocarbons
11
2.2
0.5
0.25
Carbon monoxide
80
23
11.0
4.7
Oxides of nitrogen
4
0.9
0.4
Particulates
0.3
0.1
0.03
For data concerning emissions from light-duty vehicles, see Table 8-9.
