ENVS final

What is the “tragedy of the commons?”

When individuals overuse a shared resource for personal gain, depleting it and harming the group.

What are the four property forms in environmental policy?

Private, Public, Common, Open Access

Which constitutional amendment involves just compensation for taken property?

The 5th Amendment (Eminent Domain)

What is NEPA and what does it require?

The National Environmental Policy Act requires Environmental Impact Statements for major federal actions affecting the environment.

Which law regulates point source pollution into waterways?

The Clean Water Act (CWA)

What does the Clean Air Act authorize the EPA to set?

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQA) for pollutants

What does the endangered species Act protect?

Listed species and their critical habitats

What is an animal unit month (AMU)?

The amount of forage needed for one cow and calf for one month on public rangeland

What federal law regulates grazing on public lands?

The Taylor Grazing Act

What are the three stages of wastewater treatment?

Primary (solids removal), Secondary (biological treatment), Tertiary (nutrient/ pollutant removal).

What kind of pollution is most associated with agriculture under the Clean Water Act?

Nonpoint source pollution

What did the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act Support?

Clean energy incentives (solar, wind, EV’s), domestic manufacturing, and climate mitigation

What is the dual mission of the National Park Service

Preserve natural resources and provide for public enjoyment, without impairment for future generations

What branch of government confirms Supreme Court justices and ratifies treaties?

The Senate (legislative branch)

What is the role of the administrative procedure act (APA)?

To govern how federal agencies propose and enforce regulations

What is a public good?

A good that is non-rival and non-excludable, meaning use by one does not reduce availability to others and no one can be easily excluded (e.g., clean air).

What is a rival good?

A good where one person’s use reduces the availability for others (e.g., fish in a lake).

What is a congestible good?

A non-rival good that can become rival with overuse (e.g., roads during rush hour).

What is the function of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)?

Manage public lands for multiple uses, including grazing, mining, recreation, and conservation.

What is the Federal Land Policy and Management Act? (FLPMA)?

Requires land use planning and environmental review (NEPA) for BLM lands

What does the Mining Law of 1872 allow?

U.S. citizens to explore, claim, and extract minerals from federal lands with minimal fees or oversight.

What did the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 establish?

A leasing system with royalties and competitive bidding for extraction of resources like oil and gas on public lands.

What is a point source of water pollution?

A discrete, identifiable source like a pipe or treatment plant.

What is a nonpoint source of water pollution?

Diffuse pollution from runoff, especially from agriculture or urban areas

What is the role of the EPA?

Enforce environmental laws and set standards for air, water, and pollution control.

What’s the significance of the 10th Amendment in environmental policy?

It reserves powers not delegated to the federal government for the states, leading to variation in state-level environmental regulation.

Three main functions of administrative agencies

Rulemaking, adjudication (resolving disputes), and enforcement

14th amendment

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

What is “Eminent Domain”?

Legal power of the government to take private property for public use, as long as the property owner receives just compensation. Examples: schools, roads, utilities, etc

What is the public trust doctrine?

Assigning air, water and wildlife as essentially public resources, as opposed to land, which is most often private property.

What are downsides of agriculture to the environment?

Soil erosion, fertilizer runoff, pesticides runoff, wetland drainage, stream channelization, water consumption

What pollutants are regulated under NAAQS?

Ozone, Carbon monoxide, Lead, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter

Technology based standards

“What can you reasonably control?”

Ambient/ health based standards

What level is safe/ healthy in the environment?