| The Coastal Zone Management Act and the Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants Program |
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| Congress passed the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) in 1972 to protect the coastal zones of the United States from the increasingly adverse effects of population growth and widespread development. The CZMA was amended in 1990 in order to expand the ability of states to address coastal environmental issues. Some of the amendments established the Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants Program (CZEGP). More... |
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| Oil Pollution |
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| Although petroleum is usually thought of in discussing oil spills and pollution, oil pollution legislation applies to any kind of oils, reflecting the potential environmental hazards of large spills of other types of oils such as mineral oil or even vegetable oil. The Clean Water Act (CWA) made it illegal to discharge oil into the navigable waters of the United States. The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) makes the owner or operator of a vessel or facility responsible for an oil spill liable for the cost of cleanup and removal of the oil as well as damages. More... |
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| The United Nations Environment Programme |
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| The United Nations (UN) formed the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to coordinate UN activities regarding environmental management. The UNEP's mission is to "provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations." Through its programs, the UNEP promotes the sustainable development of the global environment through the use of the world's natural resources in ways that preserve and protect the environment. More... |
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| Disposal of Transuranic Waste |
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| Transuranic waste is produced primarily from nuclear weapons development and production and consists largely of ordinary items such as rags, clothing, and tools that become contaminated by transuranic radioactive material, most prominently plutonium. More... |
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| Transportation of High-Level Radioactive Waste |
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| Because of the extreme hazard that high-level radioactive waste poses to public health and the environment, special precautions must be taken for its safe transport. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates the packaging and labeling of high-level radioactive waste for transport in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT), while DOT regulates its actual transport. In general, spent fuel is shipped by truck and by rail. More... |
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