8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain how and why policies related to the environment developed and changed from 1968 to 1980

INTRODUCTION

• Modern environmental conservation was bigger than progressive

  • Conservation measures received widespread support

    - driven by oil shortages & high prices

ORIGINS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

• Three biologist launched modern movement

  • Writings & activism

    - highlight chemical pollution, nuclear fallout, population concerns

RACHEL CARSON

• Biologist Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring (1962)

  • Told negative impacts of DDT (insecticide used in argiculture)

    - argued unchecked industrial growth—→ destroyed life

    - Americans questioned if chemistry was the solution or cause to environmental crisis

BARRY COMMONER

• Cancer-causing subtance was found in kids teeth from nuclear testing

  • Researcher Barry Commoner led fight to end such testing

    - US, USSR, others agreed to stop testing aboveground

PAUL EHRLICH

• Biologist Paul Ehrilch wrote The Population Bomb (1968)

  • Argued overpopulation—→environmental problems

    - contained scary prediction of starvation (did not pass)

    - sparked debate over human capacity of Earth

  • Increases in agricultural productivy & anti-povery programs helped moderate effects of population growth

PUBLIC AWARENESS

• Environmental disaster raised public awareness to environmental damage

  • Media coverage reinforced fears of human error & technology

    • Lucky Dragon Vessel

      - fishing vessel was exposed to radioactive fallout

      - fallout came from nearby hydrogen bomb test

    • Santa Barbara Bay

      - oil well blewout & spilled 200,00 gallons of oil in ocean

      - widespread pollution—→ oil industry reform

    • Ohio Cuyahoga River

      - river burst into flames bc of chemicals & oil at surface

    • Three Mile Island

      - partial meltdown occured at nuclear power plant

      - released radioactive gases into atmosphere

      - turned opinions against additional nuclear plants

EARTH DAY

• First Earth Day reflected concerns over pollution & natural environment

  • Supporters showed up for protecting the Earth

    - 1,500 colleges & 10,000 schools took part in Earth Day

    - 20 million Americans particiapte in related activities

    - movement continued to grow (became important poltiical issue)

PICTURES FROM SPACE

• Apollo crew photographs of Earth (“Earthrise”)

  • Raised awareness of humanity’s home

    - portrayed fragile planet in lifeless vaccum of space

    - gave new perspective on human condition & finite environment

    - became iconic images of environmental movement

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST

• Movement gained more strength late 1960s

  • Sierra Club expanded

    - thoudands of middle-class youth built upon ogranization

    - followed tactics of the civil rights and antiwar movement

  • Main environmental orgs established sophiscated operations

    - National Audubon Society, Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, ect

    - monitored environmental regulations by federal agencies

    - advocated for legislation, enforcement, & new regulations

GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• California became leader in auto emission standards

  • Mandated engine gasses be recycled

    - helped cut back pollution & smog

• Federal gov slowly established developing environmental protection

  • Congress passed some air & water quality legislation

    - took new interest in controlling pollution

    - often left regulation & enforcement to states

  • President Johnson signed 300 conservation & beautification bills

    - supported with $12 billion in funds

    - Wilderness Act (permanently set aside federal lands from ecnomic development to preserve their natural state)

  • President Nixon recognized issue & proposed ambitious program

    - Environmental Protection Agency (tasked with enforcing environmental laws & regulations)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • Created by Nixon to enforce federal regulations

    - included enforcing federal programs & policies on pollution

    - agency & budget grew over time

  • Enforcing regulations was diffcult & complex

    - new legislation gave agency more responsibilities

CLEAN AIR AND WATER

• Federal gov took repsonsibility for clean air & water

  • Concerns over environemtal & economic impact—→ new laws

    • Clean Air Act (1970)

      - regulated emissions from stationary & mobile sources

      - authorized epa to set standard to protect health

    • Clean Water Act (1977)

      - federal law regulating water pollution

      - aimed to restore & maintain the integrity of water

    • Superfund Act (1980)

      - cleaned up toxic waste from former industrial sities

    • Other legislation

      - Marine Protection, Research & Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

• Endangered Species Act of 1973 (“Magna Carta of Environmental Mvmt”)

  • Created to protect critally at risk species from extinction

    - helped ecosystms depended upon by wildlife

    - habitats—→ conflict between preservationist & developers

THE OIL EMBARGO AND THE FUEL ECONOMY

• US support for Israel in Yom Kippur—→ oil embargo from Arab OPEC

  • Caused worldwide oil shortage & long gas station lines

    - congress reduced speed limits to save gas

    - shift from American cars—→ Japanse (more fuel-efficient)

  • Congres enacted first standards for fuel economy

    - allowed for more fuel-efficient American cars

    - fewer harmful emissions (followed Clean Air Act regulations)

    - helped reduce greenhouses gases blamed for climate change

ANTINUCLEAR MOVEMENT

• Antinuclear movement

  • Opinion turned against power plants (Three Mile Island incident)

    - many questioned safety & disposal of radioactive waste

  • Movement helped delay contruction & strengthen safety regulations for nuclear power plants

BACKLASH TO ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

• President Reagan wanted to reduce scope of environmental protection

  • EPA’s budger was cut by 44%

    - enforcement cases declined 56%

  • 1970s were a high point in environmental movement

    - industrial & conservative groups fought back against regulations