Chapter 17 - Environmental Law

Question 1

The goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA)

Answer 1

The goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA):

(1) To achieve water quality sufficient for fish, wildlife and recreation
(2) to eliminate discharge of pollutants into navigable waters

Question 2

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Answer 2

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA):
The Superfund is designed to help clean up hazardous dumps and spills. It was created to attack those sites that are so dangerous they have been included on the National Priorities List (NPL)

Question 3

Potentially Responsible Party (PRP)

Answer 3

Potentially Responsible Party (PRP):

Current or former owners of the site

Question 4

Market incentives in environmental law

Answer 4

Market incentives in environmental law:

1. Pollution Credits
2. Taxes and Government Rebates

Question 5

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its duties

Answer 5

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its duties:
administers many of the federal environmental laws

Duties:

1. Information gathering
2. Research
3. Assisting state and local pollution control efforts
4. Administering federal environmental laws

Question 6

Five concepts for addressing environmental issues and potential solutions

Answer 6

Five concepts for addressing environmental issues and potential solutions:

1. Cost-Benefit Analysis
2. Impact on Future Generations
3. Proving Causation
4. Who pays?
5. The Impact of Politics

Question 7

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Answer 7

Clean Air Act (CAA): works toward the goal of reducing current air pollution by 50%.

Question 8

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Answer 8

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):

identify toxic chemicals, asses their risks, and control dangerous chemicals

Question 9

Resource Conservation and Recovery (RCRA)

Answer 9

Resource Conservation and Recovery (RCRA):
addresses both solid and toxic waste. Subtitle C addresses the transport and disposal of hazardous wastes, creating the requirement of “cradle-to-grave” tracking of such waste.