The Epa: Can It, Will It Save Our Environment? :: essays research papers

The EPA Can It, Will It fork out Our Environment?Pollution of our environment is an issue that concerns each and every angiotensin converting enzymeof us. "The threat of environmental degradation now looms greater than thethreat of atomic war." Patrick Henry said, "I know no way of judging the emerging but by the past." In the past man has trampled on the environment.     "The explicate ecology means a study of home." It means discovering whatdamage man has done, past purpose ways to mending it.The Environmental ProtectionAgency is trying to fix our home, the planet Earth.     Destruction of forests, land degradation, atmosperic contamination, and water supply scarcity are just about of the major environmental problems. In 1970, the EPAwas created by President Nixon to protect the prevalent health and environment.The cancer-causing DDT was banned in 1972 and was found accumulating in the feedchain. The use of lam in gasoline was phased out in 73 which caused leadlevels to drop 98%. In 74 the agency needed drinking water to be physicallyand chemically treated. CFCs were banned in 78 and a nation-wide unhealthful wastesite cleanup program was developed in 1980. The EPA then evacuated Times Beach,Montana for dangerous levels of dioxin in soil, which was then criticized forits heavyhandedness and arrogance. Charges of mismanagement and wild politicalinfluence caused the capitulum of the EPA to resign in 83. "The deputy coachresigns because of charges of making a hit list of employees to be hired,fired, or promoted because of political leanings. The former head of the toxicwaste cleanup is found guilty of perjury and obstructing congressional inquiry.A regulation requiring treatment of hazardous wastes before disposal resistivitywas made in 1984." The spill of the Exxon Valdez caused the EnvironmentalProtection Agency to be ctiticized for slow response in 89. Texas Eastern GasP ipeline was fined $15 million for the contamination of PCB at 89 sites in 90.They were also required to pay $750 million in cleanups. "The EPA thendevelops the new Clean ambience Act which required states to demonstrate progresstoward meeting national transfer quality standards for harmful pollutants such assmog and carbon monoxide." The EPA issued a report in 1990 ranking the mostserious threats to the environment and to clement health. The highest-riskproblems to human health are air taint, exposure to toxic chemicals, andpollution of drinking water. In 91, $25 million in fines was given by ExxonCorporation and Exxon Shipping and the U.S. and Alaskan governments received$100 million. They also estimated a $900 million redemption fund.