Environmental Acts

Endangered Species Act:

1. First enacted in December 28, 1973. Amended: 1982, 1985, and 1988

2. Enacted to replace the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. Purpose is to protect the wildlife animals and plants from going extinct because the loss of even a single species can cause drastic outcomes on the food chains and ecosystems they are a part of.

3. Controversies: - how going to enforce around the world? –hunters and gatherers everywhere would lose jobs but will keep continuing to do that so that they don’t lose their income - offenses on private land (fining and imprisoning offenders) (most of the species [in US] live on private land)

4. Gist of the law as a whole: Book: designed to identify and protect endangered species in the US and abroad

5. Impacts this law has had (broad and one specific example): at least in the US, federal agencies cannot carry out, fund, or authorize any projects that would risk the habitat of any endangered species or the species themselves.

The bald eagle, grey wolf, American alligator, peregrine falcon

Sources: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/esa/ , book

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

1. First enacted on October 21st, 1976 Amended in 1984, 1992, 1996

2. Enacted because: so much waste is being disposed of in ecologically harmful/inefficient ways

3. Controversies: this act only covers 5% of the hazardous and toxic wastes produced in the US - not good. Even less waste is regulated in other countries, especially developing countries

4. Gist of the law as a whole: encourages resource conservation and to track waste transfer from where it’s generated to the approved disposal facility (cradle to grave) . to protect human health and environment from hazardous waste disposal by ensuring wastes are managed in a safe way

5. Impacts this law has had (broad and one specific example): led to other laws and programs (ex: comprehensive environmental...