Laws Regulated by the EPA

Environmental Protection Agency History The history of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dates back to 1970 under the Nixon Administration and it was created in order to protect people and the planet by enforcing the laws and regulations passed by Congress. The EPA has ten stations and nearly 30 labs with which it assesses the environment, conducts research and takes part in educating the public. The EPA was formed in response to growing public pressure regarding the dangerous and negative impact that human actions were having on the planet.

Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring in which a world bereft of natural life was envisioned as a result of deadly pesticides and chemicals released into the environment (EPA History, 2018). The book had a big impact on Senators and the EPA was formed in response to serve as an agency that would ensure the protection of the environment in the U.S. From an economics perspective, this agency is responsible for compelling automotive manufacturers to develop more fuel efficient cars.

So every time the gas pump allows a driver to save a few dollars because the car that is being driven gets more miles to the gallon, one has the EPA to thank. It is estimated that the EPA has saved Americans anywhere from $82 billion to $533 billion as a result of its enforcement of environmental regulations (Hunter, 2011).

Thus, the EPA is justified from an economics perspective because it actually saves more money in the long run for Americans than it costs to regulate industries to ensure they are following the law. A Law That Falls Under EPA Regulation The EPA is responsible for overseeing radiation and protecting the public from harmful radiation.

There are a number of laws that the EPA is responsible for enforcing on this topic, and these touch upon Nuclear Power Operations, Air Standards, and Drinking Water Standards—all of which can be impacted by radiation. For example, Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations (40 CFR Part 190) sets standards that “limit radiation releases and doses to the public from the normal operation (non-emergency) of nuclear power plants and other uranium fuel cycle facilities” (Regulations for Specific Radiation Sources, 2018).

This law falls under EPA regulation because radiation is a by-product of some industries—especially in the nuclear industry, and it can be harmful for people and the planet if released in toxic amounts. Therefore, the EPA has been tasked with overseeing the handling of radiation and of processes that release radiation.

Without this oversight, the country is more at risk of having a dangerous radiation leak or nuclear meltdown as happens from time to time in other countries—such as in Japan, where the Fukushima plant released tons of radiation into the environment. Current Event Safe drinking water is an issue that affects millions of Americans and the EPA is charged with overseeing the water processing plants that are meant to comply with safety regulations established by Congress.

A current event that is presently impacting the lives of Americans concerns the safety and efficiency of its public water processing plants. These plants are supposed to take the water that flows from nearby areas and clean it up before sending it out into the city where it is consumed by the people through their water fountains.

In Ohio, a recent case of lack of regulation by a Cleveland water processing plant raised the attention of the EPA, which has asked the plant to bring itself into conformity with the law. Specifically the issue is: “Cleveland Water was called out by the Ohio EPA for a number of issues at Nottingham, from failing to keep up with daily record keeping and system checks, to deficiencies with the sludge tanks there” (Brookbank, 2018).

The water plant is supposed to be more organized in how it checks its tanks, but is failing to do so in accordance with regulations. This issue is related to the law that the EPA is meant to enforce under the Clean Water Act, which gives the EPA the regulatory authority to monitor water processing plants across America.

As the EPA is ultimately organized to protect people and the planet, it is vital that it focus on water processing conditions so that drinking water is deemed safe for people to use. If plants are not properly treating the water or caring for their sludge tanks, pollution can get through or contaminate the drinking water supply which can harm people and cause damage to the environment if it leaks into the ground water supply.

Conclusion The EPA is an organization that was brought into existence under the Nixon Administration in response to public pressure for the government to do something about harmful chemicals, toxins and pollutants.