Environmental Law
| Safe Drinking Water |
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| In 1974, Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act for the purpose of regulating public water systems throughout the country and ensuring the safety of public drinking water, as well as protecting sources of drinking water such as lakes, rivers, springs, reservoirs, and groundwater. More... |
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| The Clean Air Interstate Rule |
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| The Clean Air Interstate Rule focuses on the 29 eastern states, plus the District of Columbia, which have failed to attain national air quality standards for the emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides. The Clean Air Interstate Rule calls for a reduction in the emission of sulfur dioxide by 3.6 million tons starting in 2010 and by an additional 2 million tons per year starting in 2015. More... |
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| Ground-level Ozone |
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| Ground-level ozone is one of the six common pollutants--referred to by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "criteria pollutants"--for which the EPA sets air quality standards under the mandates of the Clean Air Act. Although ground-level ozone is the same substance as the stratospheric ozone that blocks out much of the sun's harmful radiation, at ground level any benefits that ozone may provide in blocking radiation are substantially offset by its negative health and environmental effects. More... |
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| The United Nations Environment Programme |
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| The United Nations (UN) formed the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to coordinate UN activities regarding environmental management. The UNEP's mission is to "provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations." Through its programs, the UNEP promotes the sustainable development of the global environment through the use of the world's natural resources in ways that preserve and protect the environment. More... |
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| Endangered Species Act and Land Use Planning |
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| The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was enacted to conserve endangered and threatened species and their ecosystems. Construction and land use are directly impacted by the Act. With respect to construction contracts with the federal government, the Act directs that a biological assessment be made to ensure that no action will be taken that would jeopardize the existence of a threatened or endangered species or would harm their habitat. More... |
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