During the rise of industrial buildings and big
manufacturing plants there was a drastic increase in pollution. Air, water, and
trash pollution littered America. People were getting sick easier, the streets
were filled with trash, and also lakes were setting on fire from so many
different chemicals being dumped into the water. Change was needed, so the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was passed on January 1, 1970. This
was one of the first laws that established national awareness and standards for
big waste companies in America. The basis of NEPA was to make sure the
government gave proper consideration and helped the sustainability of the environment
and also to take legal action against companies that did not respect the rules
and comply. The Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) is the group that
governs what standards and laws are put into place for the companies to follow.
The council is made up of scientists and former CEO’s. Some constructions and
buildings with high restrictions are military bases, highways, airports,
parkland purchases, and government buildings. Companies are required to give
annual reports and also have to pass several inspections. Federal agencies have
to turn in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which lets the government
know about any possible damage done to the environment through air, water, or
any other types of waste. Companies that break these rules are forced to pay
hefty fines and may even be shut down depending how harsh the damage was. New
chemicals are not allowed to be placed into the environment without first being
tested and considered harmless to the environment by the government. The goal
of the NEPA is ensure the safety of the earth: air, water, and plants and also
guarantee sustainability. NEPA also aims to keep the inhabitants healthy and
free from unnecessary toxins caused from excess pollution.
