AP Chapter 21AP Chapter 21Environmental Environmental

PolicyPolicy

FederalismFederalism

• US environmental policy involves state co-operation in order to work

ControversialControversial

• Issue groups on the environment tend to be some of the most adversarial

• The sides of the issues are somewhat emotionally charged from the onset

• Hard to prove/determine the outcome of the policy

• Geography is a major part of it

SectionalismSectionalism

• Each region of the country face unique environmental concerns

• Earthquakes vs hurricanes

• Sun vs snow

• Floods vs drought

• Most solutions become client issues

NIMBY-ismNIMBY-ism

• No one wants the bad stuff- only the good

• Ex- nuclear waste deposits

Etrepreneurial modelEtrepreneurial model

• Few pay, all benefit

• Oil spills, global warming, protecting an endangered species (Lakeside MS)

Majoritarian modelMajoritarian model

• All pay, all benefit (must believe that the costs are relatively low)

• Clean air, EPA laws

• High cost- gas tax

(prices rise to the consumer)

Interest Group modelInterest Group model

• Few pay, few benefit

• Acid rain prevention, zoning laws

Client modelClient model

• All pay, few benefit

• Agriculture laws (low % of farmers)

• Pesticides, fertilizer, forestry

The question….The question….

• Many environmental issues are from the pro-active viewpoint

• Reactive is too late and is usually a political nightmare

(think school safety issues- too late is very bad)

The solutions…..The solutions…..

• The means justifying the ends is tough when the end is uncertain

• Uncertain is a big roll of the dice on some issues (2 headed fish)

• Usually a cost/benefit argument

• Can we measure the results/goals?

The SuperfundThe Superfund

• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 1980- President Carter

1. Taxed chemical and petroleum co’s

2. Gave US govt. power to sue co’s who polluted

The effectiveness of the Super The effectiveness of the Super FundFund

1. Hard to find a company to sue

2. Time consuming to clean up sites- some had been built on

3. The sheer # of sites overwhelmed the EPA

(Love Canal- NY)

Many issues are becoming global….. A whole-nother can of worms…

(worms by the way are now an invasive species in Ohio)