Changes

It tries to play a mediating role in the debates between [[Conservation and environmentalism]].

It tries to play a mediating role in the debates between [[Conservation and environmentalism]].

==Budget==

==Budget==

Since 2000 the budget has held fairly steady at $7.6 to $8.4 billion (with no adjustment for inflation). In terms of objectives, 13% is budgeted for clean air and global climate change, 36% for clean and safe water, 24% for land preservation and restoration, 17% for healthy communities and ecosystems, and 11% for compliance and environmental stewardship.<ref>See  [http://www.epa.gov/budget/2009/final_09_bib%20.pdf 2009 EPA Budget]</ref>  In 2008 it has a staff of about 18,000 people in headquarters and departmental or divisional offices, 10 regional offices, and over 25 laboratories located across the nation. More than half of the staff are engineers, scientists and environmental protection specialists. The others include legal counsel, financial, public affairs and computer specialists.

Since 2000 the budget has held fairly steady at $7.6 to $8.4 billion (with no adjustment for inflation). In terms of objectives, 13% is budgeted for clean air and global climate change, 36% for clean and safe water, 24% for land preservation and restoration, 17% for healthy communities and ecosystems, and 11% for compliance and environmental stewardship.<ref>See  [http://www.epa.gov/budget/2009/final_09_bib%20.pdf 2009 EPA Budget]</ref>  In 2008 it has a staff of about 18,000 people in headquarters and departmental or divisional offices, 10 regional offices, and over 25 laboratories located across the nation. More than half of the staff are engineers, scientists and environmental protection specialists. The others include legal counsel, financial, public affairs and computer specialists.

On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions.  This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution]</ref>

On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions.  This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution]</ref>

==Mercury==

==Mercury==

On 8 February 2008, a federal appeals court struck down a [[mercury]]-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The court ruled that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_go_ot/epa_mercury_pollution Court strikes down EPA's plan on mercury ]</ref>  

On 8 February 2008, a federal appeals court struck down a [[mercury]]-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The court ruled that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_go_ot/epa_mercury_pollution Court strikes down EPA's plan on mercury ]</ref>  

==Global Warming==

==Global Warming==

The EPA has ruled that CO₂ is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated.<ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref>

The EPA has ruled that CO₂ is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated.<ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref>

===DDT===

 

==DDT==

An influential early act of the EPA was to ban [[DDT]] in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food.

An influential early act of the EPA was to ban [[DDT]] in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food.

Russell (1997) shows that from 1970 to 1993, the EPA devoted more of its resources to human health issues, notably cancer prevention, than to the protection of nonhuman species. The limited scope of environmental protection was due to a variety of reasons. An institutional culture favored human health issues because most employees were trained in this area. The emphasis on cancer came from the legal division's discovery that judges were more persuaded by arguments about the carcinogenicity of chemicals than by threats to nonhumans. The views of the agency leaders, who followed politically realistic courses, also played an important part in shaping the EPA's direction. Those supporting ecological issues acquired a new tool in the 1980s with the development of risk assessments so that advocates of ecological protection could use language framed by advocates of human health to protect the environment.

Russell (1997) shows that from 1970 to 1993, the EPA devoted more of its resources to human health issues, notably cancer prevention, than to the protection of nonhuman species. The limited scope of environmental protection was due to a variety of reasons. An institutional culture favored human health issues because most employees were trained in this area. The emphasis on cancer came from the legal division's discovery that judges were more persuaded by arguments about the carcinogenicity of chemicals than by threats to nonhumans. The views of the agency leaders, who followed politically realistic courses, also played an important part in shaping the EPA's direction. Those supporting ecological issues acquired a new tool in the 1980s with the development of risk assessments so that advocates of ecological protection could use language framed by advocates of human health to protect the environment.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Conservation and environmentalism]]

*[[Conservation and environmentalism]]