THE THE ENVIRONMENTAENVIRONMENTA

L MOVEMENTL MOVEMENTLecture 2Lecture 2

The New Environmentalism of the The New Environmentalism of the 1960s1960s

Prior to the 1960s, environmentalism focused on Prior to the 1960s, environmentalism focused on preservation of wilderness and conservation of preservation of wilderness and conservation of resources.resources.11

The environmental movement flourished in the The environmental movement flourished in the 1960s in the midst of the Civil Rights, Peace and 1960s in the midst of the Civil Rights, Peace and Women’s movements.Women’s movements.11

Rachel Carson’s Rachel Carson’s Silent SpringSilent Spring brought to public brought to public attention the dangers of environmental pollution to attention the dangers of environmental pollution to public health, such as the use of DDT, and sparked public health, such as the use of DDT, and sparked the beginning of modern environmentalism.the beginning of modern environmentalism.11

DDT and BioaccumulationDDT and Bioaccumulation

The New EnvironmentalismThe New Environmentalism of the of the 1960s1960s

As people became more aware of environmental As people became more aware of environmental issues, such as air and water pollution, radiation, issues, such as air and water pollution, radiation, pesticide poisoning and other problems, they pesticide poisoning and other problems, they demanded the federal government take more demanded the federal government take more responsibility.responsibility.11

Public concern for the environment became clear Public concern for the environment became clear during the Earth Day demonstrations of 1970.during the Earth Day demonstrations of 1970.11

The New EnvironmentalismThe New Environmentalism

In response to the environmental movement, several laws In response to the environmental movement, several laws emerged to regulate environmental pollution and protect emerged to regulate environmental pollution and protect natural resources. natural resources.

Some of the most important laws that determine how the Some of the most important laws that determine how the Mississippi River is managed are:Mississippi River is managed are:

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), 1972The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), 1972 Upper Mississippi River Management Act (UMRMA) of 1986Upper Mississippi River Management Act (UMRMA) of 1986

National Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy ActAct

(NEPA) of 1969(NEPA) of 1969

“The purposes of this Act are: To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality.” Sec. 2 [42 USC § 4321].

National Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy ActAct

Amended in 1969 Signed into law January 1, 1970 by President Nixon Congress recognized the need to create a policy to

protect the environment for present and future generations.

The law applies only to federal agencies and requires that prior to taking any “major” or “significant” action, the agency consider the environmental impact of that action.

“All agencies of the Federal Government shall include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a detailed statement by the responsible official on the action’s potential environmental impacts, adverse impacts that cannot be avoided, and alternatives to the proposed action.”

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC].The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC].http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.

National Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy ActAct

Federal agencies must analyze and disclose environmental consequences of major actions in one of these documents: Categorical Exclusion (CE) Environmental Assessment (EA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The document must be completed before action is taken. While NEPA forces Federal agencies to “think before they

act,” it does not control the final decision on an action. NEPA also established the Council of Environmental Quality

(CEQ) to ensure Federal agency compliance with NEPA.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC].The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC].http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.

National Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy ActAct

Decision-making flowchartDecision-making flowchart

National Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy ActAct

NEPA is one of the most important laws that NEPA is one of the most important laws that determines how the Mississippi River is managed. determines how the Mississippi River is managed. For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was required to file an EIS for the Mississippi’s was required to file an EIS for the Mississippi’s Nine-Foot Channel Project in the 1930s.Nine-Foot Channel Project in the 1930s.33

Location of locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River

Clean Water Act (CWA)Clean Water Act (CWA) The CWA is the primary federal law in the The CWA is the primary federal law in the

US governing water pollution. US governing water pollution. The goals of the CWA are:The goals of the CWA are:

1.1. to restore and maintain the chemical, physical to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters,and biological integrity of the nation’s waters,

2.2. To eliminate the discharge of pollutants into To eliminate the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by 1985, andnavigable waters by 1985, and

3.3. To make all waters swimmable and fishableTo make all waters swimmable and fishable33

The CWA is one of the most important The CWA is one of the most important laws protecting the quality of the laws protecting the quality of the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.

Clean Water Act (CWA)Clean Water Act (CWA)History:History: River Harbor Act (1896), also referred to as the River Harbor Act (1896), also referred to as the

Refuse Act was passed to protect navigation.Refuse Act was passed to protect navigation.44

In 1948, Congress passed the Federal Water Pollution In 1948, Congress passed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Since then, the Act was amended Control Act. Since then, the Act was amended numerous times.numerous times.66

The burning Cuyahoga River becomes a catalyst for The burning Cuyahoga River becomes a catalyst for change.change.44

1969

today

Clean Water ActClean Water Act

History, cont.:History, cont.: Following the 1972 amendments to the FWPCA, Following the 1972 amendments to the FWPCA,

this law became commonly known as the Clean this law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act. One of the critical provisions was the Water Act. One of the critical provisions was the establishment of the National Pollution Discharge establishment of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Elimination System

(NPDES) to authorize EPA issuance of discharge (NPDES) to authorize EPA issuance of discharge permits.permits.66

The CWA underwent extensive amendments in The CWA underwent extensive amendments in 1977 to include many important provisions 1977 to include many important provisions including development of the “Best Management including development of the “Best Management Practices” Program.Practices” Program.66

The Water Quality Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-4) provided The Water Quality Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-4) provided the most recent series of amendments.the most recent series of amendments.55

Clean Water ActClean Water ActOctober 18, 2007 will mark the 35October 18, 2007 will mark the 35thth anniversary of the anniversary of the

CWA. CWA. Because of the CWA, nearly two-thirds of U.S. rivers Because of the CWA, nearly two-thirds of U.S. rivers

and lakes and lakes are safe for swimming and fishing, compared with 36% are safe for swimming and fishing, compared with 36%

in in 1972.1972.77

Illinois Accomplishments:Illinois Accomplishments: Since 1972, assessed stream miles rated “good” has Since 1972, assessed stream miles rated “good” has

increased from 11% to more than 62%.increased from 11% to more than 62%.88

Between 1992 and 2000, there has been a 20% Between 1992 and 2000, there has been a 20% increase in the number of assessed streams and increase in the number of assessed streams and rivers.rivers.99

Over 100 watershed groups are working to protect Over 100 watershed groups are working to protect local rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater.local rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater.88

Upper Mississippi River Upper Mississippi River ManagementManagement

Act (UMRMA) of 1986Act (UMRMA) of 1986 Congress declared the UMR system Congress declared the UMR system

to be both a nationally significant to be both a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally ecosystem and a nationally significant commercial navigation significant commercial navigation system.system.1010

The main objectives of UMRMA are:The main objectives of UMRMA are: comprehensive planning for the comprehensive planning for the

use, protection, growth and use, protection, growth and development of the UMR system, development of the UMR system,

habitat rehabilitation and habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects enhancement projects

long-term resource monitoring, long-term resource monitoring, data inventory and analysisdata inventory and analysis33

SourcesSources1.1. Environmental Movement in the United States. Environmental Movement in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement_in_the_United_States 2.2. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC]. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. [42 USC].

http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/nepa/nepaeqia.htm.3.3. Fremling, Calvin R. Immortal River: the Upper Mississippi in ancient and modern times. Madison, Fremling, Calvin R. Immortal River: the Upper Mississippi in ancient and modern times. Madison,

Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2005. Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2005. 4.4. Of Time and the River http://www.oftimeandtheriver.orgOf Time and the River http://www.oftimeandtheriver.org5.5. Federal Water Pollution Control Act. http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest//fwatrpo.htmlFederal Water Pollution Control Act. http://www.fws.gov/laws/laws_digest//fwatrpo.html6.6. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fwpca.html.Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fwpca.html.7.7. Sierra Club. Clean Water. http://www.sieraclub.org/cleanwater.Sierra Club. Clean Water. http://www.sieraclub.org/cleanwater.8.8. Annual Environmental Conditions Report. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. October 2003. Annual Environmental Conditions Report. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. October 2003. 9.9. Illinois EPA 2003-2004 Biennial Report. June 2005. Illinois EPA 2003-2004 Biennial Report. June 2005. 10.10. Upper Mississippi River Management. Title 33, 652. Cornell University Law School.Upper Mississippi River Management. Title 33, 652. Cornell University Law School.

http://ww.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/usc_sec_33_00000652----000-.htmlhttp://ww.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/usc_sec_33_00000652----000-.html

Photo and Illustration Credits:Photo and Illustration Credits: Silent Spring book jacket. http://www.booksamillion.comSilent Spring book jacket. http://www.booksamillion.com Rachel Carson. csc.gallaudet.edu Rachel Carson. csc.gallaudet.edu DDT bioaccumulation diagram. DDT bioaccumulation diagram.

http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/envicon/pim/reports/Olympia/OlympiaImages/Hood%20Canal/http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/envicon/pim/reports/Olympia/OlympiaImages/Hood%20Canal/DDT.jpgDDT.jpg

Earth Day 1970. www.environmental-action.org/ Earth Day 1970. www.environmental-action.org/ Earth Day. http://ecosofia.org/files/earth_day_1970.jpgEarth Day. http://ecosofia.org/files/earth_day_1970.jpg The National Environmental Policy Act book jacket. The National Environmental Policy Act book jacket.

http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2001/biglindstrom.jpg.http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2001/biglindstrom.jpg. Richard Nixon. http://presidency.ucsb.edu/images/37.jpgRichard Nixon. http://presidency.ucsb.edu/images/37.jpg NEPA Decision-making Flowchart. http://Walter.arizona.edu/society/policy/neap/nepa2.asp.NEPA Decision-making Flowchart. http://Walter.arizona.edu/society/policy/neap/nepa2.asp. Lock and Dams on Mississippi River. http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/corps.htmLock and Dams on Mississippi River. http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/corps.htm Cuyahoga River burning. www.oftimeandtheriver.org/resourcesCuyahoga River burning. www.oftimeandtheriver.org/resources Cuyahoga River today. http://homepage.mac.com/patholleran/ParkVision/CuyahogaValley/cv-088.jpgCuyahoga River today. http://homepage.mac.com/patholleran/ParkVision/CuyahogaValley/cv-088.jpg NPDES logo. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/copubs/env/water/006/npdes_logoFeb20b.jpg NPDES logo. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/copubs/env/water/006/npdes_logoFeb20b.jpg Conditions of Illinois Rivers and Stream. Annual Environmental Conditions Report. Illinois Conditions of Illinois Rivers and Stream. Annual Environmental Conditions Report. Illinois

Environmental Protection Agency. October 2003. Environmental Protection Agency. October 2003. Upper Mississippi River map. http://www.emtc.usgs.gov/documents/reports/1999/status_and_trends/Upper Mississippi River map. http://www.emtc.usgs.gov/documents/reports/1999/status_and_trends/

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