ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Environmental Law

Environmental Law

Introduction

The world is facing severe environmental issues in 21st century and considering the current trend, these issues will tend to grow further. There are numerous environmental issues, but the crucial ones include, water pollution, air pollution, waste management and global warming. Environment can be protected by reducing the degradation of natural resources and conservation of Eco-system, but most importantly the focus should be on the major factor that is contributing to the environmental crisis; which is growth in population. Some of the priority environmental issues include creating the clean Energy future, defending endangered wildlife and wild places, ensure safe and sufficient water, curbing Global Warming reviving the world's oceans, protecting our healthy by preventing pollution, fostering sustainable communities (Percival, Schroeder, Miller & Leape, 2009). Environmental crises can be also be categorized in terms of global economic standing of a country. In Developed countries, the main concern leading to environmental crises is consumption of resources whereas in developing countries, the primary concern is ever growing rate of population. The overall analysis of ecosystem for past 50 years show that it has dramatically changed mainly due to increasing demand of natural resources to meet basic needs, which is again a resultant of increasing population.

Chemical industries are the major contributors of hazardous waste products in our society. The waste product is created by the manufacturing industries are involved in using different processes through which a large number of hazardous waste is created. These wastage materials are not only an alarming sign for the environment but also a threat to the human health. Chemical industries are due to this particular reason, the most targeted industry by the Federal Regulations for environmental safety and quality maintenance.

The regulations in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act(FIFRA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) defines the scope of chemical waste and its proper disposal methods.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration are responsible for enforcing federal regulations related to the hazardous waste in the chemical manufacturing industry. These major agencies along with the state and local regulatory agencies clearly define whether a chemical waste is hazardous or not. The key area of concern is the procedure of collecting chemical waste and its disposal methods.

Discussion

Air and Water Pollution

Almost all the countries suffer from such problem and are struggling to keep their heads over the water. This essay will cover two types of air pollutants and two water pollutants that affect our health. The two major elements that are essential to the survival of any living organism are clean water and air. Pollution is a major threat to these elements which in turn has made water and air pollution serious problems that are endangering the lives of people worldwide. Pollution is caused by contaminants being introduced into an environment which have very harmful effects on the environment as a ...