Gvmnt Reg of Business: Chapter 41 Flashcards
(31 cards)
externality
a term used by economists to describe the situation in which people do not bear the full cost of their decisions
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency - to consolidate environmental regulation under on roof, issues regulations to implement laws among other things
What are the four major provisions of the Clean Air Act?
Primary Standards, Secondary Standards, State Implementation Plans, and Citizen Suits
Primary Standards
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for pollution that harms public health (without regard to cost)
Secondary Standards
established NAAQS for pollution that may not be a threat to health but has other unpleasant effects like obstructing visibility and harming plants or other amterials
SIPs
State Implementation Plans - to meet the primary standards within 3 years and 2ndary standards within a reasonable time
Citizen Suits
permits anyone to file suit against a polluter or against the EPA for failing to enforce the statute
PSD
Prevention of Significant Deterioration - no one may undertake a building project that will cause a major increase in pollution without first obtaining a permit from the EPA
What are power plants 4 options for meeting emissions standards?
1 - installing scrubbers, 2 - using low-sulfur coal, 3 - switching to alternative fuels like natural gas or 4 - trading emissions allowances
new source review
companies are required to upgrade pollution devices anytime they renovate a plant ( but not when they undertake routine maintenance)
technology forcing
industry is forced to develop the technology
low-emission vehicles
cars powered by electricity or natural gas
MACT
Maximum Achievable Control Technology - 2 step process meant to create an incentive for polluters to continue to develop better technology
CWA
Clean Water Act - set goals with no regard to cost, leaves enforcement to states with (EPA) and permits citizen suits
non-point sources
pollutants with no single source, such as water runoff from agricultural land or city streets
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
requires EPA to set national standards for contaminants potentially harmful in drinking water, prohibits lead, requires communities to send consumer confidence report
Ocean Dumping Act of 1972
prohibits the dumping of wastes in ocean water without a permit from the EPA
Oil Pollution Act of 1990
sets design standards for ships operating in US waters, and requires shipowners to pay for damage caused by oil discharge from their ships
CERCLA or?
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or Superfund - focuses on cleaning up existing hazardous waste sites
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - establishes rules for treating both hazardous wastes and other forms of solid waste such as ordinary garbage
FDA
Food and Drug Administration - foods drugs cosmetics
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration - protects workers from exposure to toxic chemicals
NRC
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - regulates radioactive substances
EPA
pesticides and other toxic chemicals
