Description
Book SynopsisThis important resource offers a comprehensive overview of the major U.S. environmental laws and approaches, strategies, standards, and enforcement techniques by which American law protects our environment and our health.
Table of ContentsList of Text Boxes, Figures, and Tables ix
Preface xiii
The Authors xvii
Chapter 1 Overview of the US Legal System 1
The Structure of American Government 2
Separation of Powers: Federal and State 3
Sources of American Law 9
Chapter 2 Transparency and Accountability in the Executive Branch: Judicial Review and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 23
Judicial Review 24
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 29
Chapter 3 Clean Air Act (CAA) 41
Background 42
Introduction to the Clean Air Act 43
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 44
Regulating Emissions 48
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) 58
Enforcement 65
Mobile Source Controls 66
Acid Rain Program 68
Cross-Border Air Pollution 71
Greenhouse Gases 72
Chapter 4 Clean Water Act (CWA) 77
Scope and Basics 79
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 81
Technology-Based Effluent Standards 83
Beyond Technology-Based Standards: Water Quality Safety Net 90
Enforcement 92
Pretreatment Program for Indirect Dischargers 96
Discharges of Fill and Dredged Materials 98
Chapter 5 Safe DrinkingWater Act (SDWA) 107
Who Is Regulated: Public Water Systems 109
What Contaminants Are Regulated? 110
National Drinking Water Regulations 112
Keeping Consumers Informed 116
A Closer Look at Public Water Systems 117
Source Water 120
Enforcement 124
Chapter 6 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or “Superfund Act”) 131
Overview and Definitions 133
Reporting Releases of Hazardous Substances 136
Responding to a Release of Hazardous Substances 136
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 142
The Superfund 145
Liability 146
Brownfields 152
Chapter 7 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 157
What Is a Hazardous Waste? 159
Cradle-to-Grave Regulation 163
Waste Minimization 172
Enforcement 172
Underground Storage Tanks 173
Chapter 8 Oil Pollution Act (OPA) 179
Overview 180
Spill Prevention 181
Spill Response 182
Liability and Penalties 186
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund 189
Chapter 9 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) 193
Overview 194
Emergency Planning Provisions 196
Data Reporting 197
Toxic Release Inventory 198
Chapter 10 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) 203
Background 205
What Are Employers’ Duties? 208
Health Standards 209
Setting Health Standards: Consensus, Permanent,
Emergency Temporary 210
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) 214
Records and Reporting 218
Monitoring and Enforcement 219
Chapter 11 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 225
Scope and Implementation 226
New Chemicals Program 228
Existing Chemicals 233
Significant New Use 235
Chapter 12 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 241
Background 242
Pesticide Registration Program 245
Removing Pesticides from the Market 250
Regulation of Pesticide Use 253
Nearly Exclusive Federal Control 255
Chapter 13 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) 261
Purpose and Programs 262
Foods 263
Drugs and Medical Devices 266
Dietary Supplements 271
Tobacco 275
Chapter 14 Common Law: Toxic Torts 285
Tort Law: An Overview 286
Toxic Torts 293
Causes of Action 293
Causation Problems in Toxic Tort Litigation 301
Scientific Evidence 303
Scientific Evidence in the Courtroom 307
Mass Litigation 309
Pushing the Envelope 310
Glossary 315
Acronyms 331
Resources and Additional Reading 335
Index 339
