国际环境标准手册Chap11.pdf

Part IV Environmental Protection in the United States 1999 CRC Press LLC 11 U.S. Laws and Regulations CONTENTS National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 Historic, Scientific, and Cultural Resources Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Clean Air Act Water Resources Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act TITLE III Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) OF 1969 NEPA is the world’s first environmental impact statute and was enacted January 1, 1970. The law was passed in response to the need for the federal government to evaluate the environmental effects of its actions and establish a national policy for the environment. Congress recognized the effects of population growth, high-density urbanization, industrial expansion, resource exploitation, and new and expanding technological advances. NEPA is a broad mandate for federal agencies to create and maintain “conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.” NEPA’s purpose was • “to declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; • to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; • to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; • and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).” NEPA applies to all agencies of the federal government and every major action taken by the agencies that significantly affects the quality of the human environment. The application of NEPA to federal actions is not limited to