Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

           Legislation is often implemented to meet the needs of people at large. When problems arise, distress is created, and legislation is often the result of a pressing issue or catastrophic event. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in the Oil Pollution Act (OPA). On March 4, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled almost 11 million gallons of oil, affecting 1,100 miles of shoreline. The spill occurred on the outskirts of Prince William Sound, Alaska, going from Valdez, Alaska, to Los Angeles, California. This is the largest oil spill to date. The cleanup and monitoring of the affected areas continued from April 1989 to summer of 1991 (1).


           The OPA  "improved the nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills by establishing provisions that expand the federal government's ability, and provide the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills. The OPA also created the national Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is available to provide up to one billion dollars per spill incident" (2). The OPA addressed two main issues: (1) the lack of funds for natural disasters such as this particular oil spill, and (2) the issue of compensating those affected. Additionally, new regulations were implemented on the construction of ships. The hiring and licensing of the crew had more stringent requirements as well (3). 


(1) http://www.eoearth.org/article/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill?topic=58075
(2) http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/opaover.htm
(3) http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/About_NPFC/opa.asp
Image: http://news.discovery.com/earth/exxon-valdez-110324.html

Pesticides

To learn about pesticides, click below!
http://www.mercer.edu/enp/enp305/as_fact_sheet.pdf

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

The Clean Water Act (currently the Federal Water Pollution Control Act) allows the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to regulate permits for "regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States" (1). Permits are not needed for municipal residents; however, businesses and industries must obtain these permits in order to comply with the Clean Water Act. According to a source, a permit can be obtained by submitting an application to the Regional Water Board that describes the kind of waste that will be emitted, the treatment plan for the waste, and the manner in which the waste will be eliminated (2). States monitor the distribution of these permits (1). 


1. http://www.epa.gov/compliance/monitoring/programs/cwa/npdes.html

2. http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/npdes/

Back in the Day

Throughout the last few decades, an increased interest for the environment and preserving resources has gained much popularity. In the first half of the twentieth century, laws were implemented to help stop the spread of diseases, keep litter to a minimum, and preserve forests. While formal laws certainly deserve attention, even to this day, many acts of recycling are not performed because a law told people to do so; recycling also saves money, an incentive for people to become more resourceful. My grandparents are possibly the most resourceful individuals whom I know. They recycle rain water to nourish plants, take plastic, newspaper, and magazines to the recycling location, and do not dare to throw anything away that could possibly be used. When I asked my eighty-one-year-old grandfather how he used to recycle items, he recollected the days of the Great Depression. He said that many people who did not have plumbing used old Sears magazines and corn cobs in place of toilet paper. Money was saved, and more resources were used to their fullest extent... Sounds like recycling to me. 

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