Professor

 Alexandratos     The  Environmental  Protection  

November  17th,  2009  
  Agency  (EPA)  was  established  in  1970  

  under  Richard  Nixon’s  presidency.      

More  environmental  legislation  soon  

followed.    Stricter  rules  regulating  

industry  were  approved  throughout  

the  70s  and  80s.    The  Clean  Water  Act,  

Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  

Act,  and  the  Hazardous  Waste  

Management  Program  armed  the  EPA  

 
with  the  ability  to  monitor  hazardous  
 
waste  producing  facilities,  and  
 
prosecute  companies  that  violated  

  national  limits.    When  the  laws  were  

  first  passed,  few  foresaw  the  obstacles  

 
the  agency  would  face  in  enforcement.    

Or  perhaps,  some  understood  the  

Fulfilling  Our   limitations  of  the  EPA,  and  preferred  
Responsibility   that  they  remain  there.    Regardless,  
Discussing  the  Impact  of  Volunteer  
Organizations  in  Environmental   environmental  protection  and  
Protection  
        remediation  has  frequently  resided  on  
  CHC  200,  By  Sameer  Khan  
    the  bottom  of  any  one  President’s  
 
agenda.      Therein  lies  the  flaw.    There  
has  never  been  a  sustained  movement   Corporations  have  a  seemingly  

to  clean  our  water  or  utilize  our   limitless  supply  of  money  compared  

resources  in  a  more  efficient  way.     to  the  EPA  whose  resources  are  

This  consistent  tendency  to  defer  our   stretched  thin.      Which  cases  then,  

attention  to  foreign  affairs,  the   should  the  agency  pursue?    Too  many  

economy,  and  civil  rights  has  resulted   companies  recognize  the  restraints  on  

in  a  depleted  governmentally   the  EPA,  and  exploit  them.    The  lack  of  

supported  environmental  agency.       reinforcement  from  lawmakers  

Simply  said,  we  have  not  made  the   suggests  our  own  government  has  

necessary  economic  investment  to   failed  to  properly  protect  our  own  

provide  for  an  effective  one.    The  EPA   ecosystems.    In  this  seeming  void  of  

faces  shortages  at  every  turn.    Their   inactiveness,  volunteer  and  non-­‐

lawyers  are  forced  to  settle  most  of   governmental  organizations  have  

their  cases.    The  Exxon  Mobil  court   risen.    At  the  forefront  of  

dispute  over  the  past  20  years   environmental  preservation,  are  

highlights  the  distinct  disadvantage   common  Americans  who  recognize  

the  EPA  faces.    Only  last  month,  a  jury   the  significance  of  establishing  

awarded  the  city  $105  million  dollars,   equilibrium  between  blind  

finding  the  corporate  giant  liable  for   consumerism  and  habitat  

water  contamination.    Yet,  even  now,   maintenance.    Their  struggles  and  

Exxon  Mobil  lawyers  explore  more   accomplishments  have  often  been  

“legal  options.”       dismissed  as  miniscule,  but  the  

combined  effort,  has  had  an  enormous   The  NRDC  has  grown  to  serve  

impact.       this  very  purpose.      Members  worked  

The  Natural  Resources  Defense   tirelessly  for  Chairman  of  the  Energy  

Council  (NRDC)  is  as  old  as  the  EPA   and  Commerce  Committee,  

itself.    The  organization  was  found  in   Congressmen  Henry  Waxman  in  

1970  by  a  group  of  law  students  and   promotion  of  the  American  Clean  

attorneys.    Today,  boasting  over  1.2   Energy  &  Security  Act.      

million  members,  the  organization  has  

a  staff  of  over  3oo  lawyers,  scientists,  

and  policy  experts.1    Among  the  

organization’s  most  important  tasks  is  

the  assistance  they  have  provided  for  

congressmen  and  senators  in  support  

of  environmental  legislation.    Special  

 
interest  groups  dominate  much  of  
Congressmen  Waxman  addressing  members  of  the  house.  

American  politics.    Whether  one   The  act  mandates  a  more  

favors  or  disfavors  this  system,  we   elaborate  cap  and  trade  system,  which  

must  accept  it  as  fact.    To  set  a  tone   would  impose  harsher  regulations  on  

that  propels  environmental  activism   companies,  and  provide  stronger  

for  sustained  periods  of  time  in  our   incentive  to  innovate  more  efficient  

Congress  and  Senate,  we  need   methods  of  using  resources2.        One  of  

environmental  lobby  groups  as  well.    

                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                2  
1   http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111
http://www.nrdc.org/about/who_we_are.asp   /20090724/hr2454_housesummary.pdf  
the  provisions  demands  electricity   The  continuous  pumping  of  carbon  

providers  to  supply  at  least  20%  of   dioxide  into  the  environment  is  

their  energy  from  renewable  sources3.     melting  polar  caps,  rapidly  altering  

Yet,  this  is  only  one  of  many  new   ecosystems,  and  forcing  the  extinction  

requirements  insisting  on  more  eco-­‐ of  species.  

friendly  industries.    In  June  of  2009,  

the  bill  passed  the  house  in  a  

remarkably  close  219-­‐212  vote.    

Currently,  issues  of  healthcare  reform  

have  prevented  a  direct  attempt  from  

the  Senate  to  further  address  the   Melting  polar  ice  caps  in  Antarctic  

issue.    However,  pressure  from   Beyond  their  work  with  

numerous  environmental  groups,   legislators,  the  NRDC  supports  

including  the  NRDC  have  been  critical   hundreds  of  scientific  studies  

in  allowing  passage  through  the   annually.    These  facts  serve  as  the  

Senate  Environment  and  Public  Works   foundation  to  greater  environmental  

Committee  very  recently.   education,  awareness,  and  action.    In  

March  2008,  the  NRDC  released  a  

NRDC:  Realizing   report,  outlining  research  indicating  
the  Issues       that  temperatures  were  increasing  in  
Global  warming  is  one  of  the  
the  Western  United  States  more  
most  pressing  issues  of  this  decade.    
quickly  than  any  other  part  of  the  
                                                                                                               
3  Stone,  Andy,  A  Winner  in  the  New  Climate   world.    The  study  revealed  that  from  
Legislation,  June  24th,  2009,  Forbes    
Wyoming  west  to  the  Colorado  River   ecosystem,  fragmenting  the  balance  

basin,  and  then  down  South  to   that  once  existed.        

Arizona,  the  average  increase  in  

temperature  over  the  past  5  years  

compared  to  the  20th  century,  had  

been  2.0  degrees  Fahrenheit.    Globally,  

the  average  temperature  had  climbed  

1.0  degree  Fahrenheit4.    Such  a  stark  

Lake  Powell,  Arizona  
difference  in  local  versus  global  
Global  warming  is  
climate  change  was  alarming.      Further  
detrimentally  affecting  the  already  
studies  revealed  that  although  1.0  
scarce  water  supply  in  these  areas.    
degree  Fahrenheit  may  seem  
Snow  on  mountain  peaks  is  the  
insignificant,  the  effects  were  widely  
region’s  greatest  source  of  
noticeable.    The  picture  above  
precipitation.    Rising  temperatures  
manifests  a  pattern  that  has  been  
have  lead  to  a  decline  in  snowfall  and  
observed  across  Western  parts  of  the  
all-­‐time  lows  in  summer  water  flow.    
country.    The  white  “bathtub  rings”  
In  the  study,  the  NRDC  clarifies  that  
above  show  the  pre-­‐drought  water  
these  trends  are  not  limited  to  small  
level  of  Lake  Powell  in  Arizona.      The  
regions.    Forests  in  California  are  
rapid  decreases  experienced  by  the  
struggling  to  survive  as  higher  
Lake  in  water  levels  over  relatively  
temperatures  have  forced  dryer  
short  periods  of  time  have  altered  the  
                                                                                                                climates  increasing  forest  fires.    
4  Climate  Facts,  Hotter  and  Drier:  The  West’s  

Changing  Climate.    
Climate  changes  have  spurred  the   of  heat-­‐trapping  pollutants  in  our  

“proliferation  of  mountain  pine   atmosphere.    In  Colorado,  the  river  

beetles.”    The  beetle  has  destroyed   basin  is  drying  at  an  all  time  high.    

acres  of  aspen  trees  as  its  populations   Water  from  the  basin  supports  11  

bloom.      Normally  mountain  pine   states,  countless  numbers  of  

beetle  populations  are  restrained   Americans,  and  thousands  of  native  

from  spreading  by  slightly  cooler   species.    The  NRDC’s  analysis  

temperatures,  which  prevent  the   demonstrates  the  growing  necessity  

insect  from  migrating  to  forest  dense   to  modify  our  lifestyle  to  secure  not  

mountaintops.    Slightly  higher   only  the  future  of  all  life  on  earth,  but  

temperatures  have  severely  disturbed   our  own  as  well.    The  effect  of  global  

the  relative  equilibrium  that  once   warming  on  environmental  

existed.       equilibrium  is  drastic.      Through  

hundreds  of  studies  like  this  one,  the  

NRDC  is  attempting  to  demonstrate  to  

politicians  and  the  international  

community,  the  dire  need  for  an  all-­‐

inclusive  effort  to  protect  and  

maintain  environmental  stability.    

Developing  
Mountain  Pine  Beetle  
The  study  attributes  the  
 
Solutions  
  A  comprehensive  strategy  
temperature  increase  to  the  expansion   entails  more  than  just  identifying  the  
problems  but  also  designing  solutions   recommendations  in  creating  effective  

for  them.    The  NRDC  is  using   climate  legislation.    

scientists,  policy  experts,  and    

NRDC  Global  Warming  Solution  
Recommendations  
economists  to  devise  plans  that  can  be  
1.  Set  limits  on  Global  warming  
adopted  even  as  the  government  
pollutants  
climbs  out  of  a  recession.    The  
2.  Invest  in  green  jobs  and  energy  
organization’s  goals  are  realistic  and  
3.  Drive  smarter  cars  
long-­‐term.    NRDC’s  policy  capitalizes  
4.  Create  green  homes  and  buildings  
on  a  system  of  “cap  and  invest.5”      The  
5.  Build  better  communities  and  
NRDC  recognizes  that  pollution  
transportation  networks.  
allowance  sales  can  be  optimally  used  
  These  guidelines  seem  very  
to  gradually  restructure  the  American  
general.    In  actuality  the  problem  is  far  
economy  from  its  present  state  of  
more  complex.    To  go  into  full  detail  of  
environmental  negligence  to  one  that  
the  NRDC’s  plan  would  require  
is  resource  efficient  and  places  the  
another  paper  itself.    However,  it  is  
United  States  as  a  global  leader  in  
clear  that  NRDC  policy  experts  have  
green  technology  and  innovation.      In  
adopted  a  gradual  approach.      One  in  
attempting  to  address  all  aspects  to  an  
which  noticeable  results  will  take  up  
environmental  reformation,  the  NRDC  
to  20  years  to  realize.    The  proposal  
has  developed  a  series  of  
requires  a  political  agenda  within  our  

government  that  actively  pursues  to  

                                                                                                                alleviate  our  current  environmental  

5  

http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/cap2.0
/default.asp  
condition  for  long-­‐standing  periods.    
Making  a  successful  economic   that  even  when  a  small  sector  of  

transition  is  one  of  the  greatest   energy  providers  directs  their  

uncertainties.    Policy  experts  and   attention  to  green  energy,  there  is  an  

economists  at  the  NRDC  believe  it  is   explosion  of  jobs.    Data  collected  by  

possible  only  if  we  start  early  enough.   researchers  reveals  that  the  number  

To  further  reinforce  their   of  clean  energy  jobs  grew  two  and  half  

policy,  the  Council  investigated  the   times  faster  than  job  growth  in  the  

success  of  current  early  renewable   economy  as  whole  during  the  past  

energy  investments.    Small  changes  in   decade6.    Green  jobs  pay  living  wages  

industry  are  already  occurring.    In   and  require  workers  from  every  

Texas  and  Missouri  new  companies   socioeconomic  background.    This  kind  

that  harness  wind  energy  are  growing,   of  information  is  among  the  necessary  

offering  jobs  to  previous  steel  mill   tools  to  initiate  enduring  and  effectual  

workers  and  technicians.   legislation.    

  One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  

forestalling  a  stronger  environmental  

effort  is  the  lack  of  mass  involvement  

on  the  level  of  ordinary  American  

citizens.    The  president  of  the  Natural  

Wind  Mills  in  Central  Texas  
Resources  Defense  Council,  Francis  
In  Pennsylvania,  a  hybrid  car  
Beinecke,  has  identified  the  issue  as  
company  hired  hundreds  of  workers  
one  of  NRDC’s  highest  priorities.    In  
laid  off  from  factories  during  the  
                                                                                                               
recession.    The  NRDC  has  discovered   6  http://www.nrdc.org/energy/greenjobs/  
attempting  to  address  the  growing   initiative  has  been  mind-­‐blowing.    

quandary,  staff  and  members  are   Whether  it  is  something  as  simple  as  

employing  a  multi-­‐faceted  approach  to   donating  ten  dollars  to  grow  a  tree,  

embrace  a  larger  population  of   writing  a  letter  to  those  in  charge  in  

concerned  citizens,  who  previously,   the  Obama  administration,  or  just  

were  not  aware  of  how  to  make  an   sharing  information  with  those  close  

impact.    In  2001,  the  BioGems   to  you,  the  NRDC  utilizes  the  latest  

initiative  was  launched.      The  goal  was   technological  advancements  to  make  

simple;  harness  the  power  of  citizen   it  convenient  and  easy  to  be  involved.      

activism  to  preserve  the  invaluable   This  is  not  a  minute  feat.    Information  

remnants  of  wildlife  in  the  United   cannot  spread  when  the  medium  

States7.    The  NRDC  focuses  more   through  which  it  is  introduced  to  

heavily  on  wildlife  habitats  that  are   people  is  too  antiquated.    The  NRDC  

the  most  susceptible  such  as,   brought  the  environmental  movement  

protecting  old  forests  from   up  to  speed.      The  effectiveness  of  

deforestation  or  pristine  coastlines   their  approach  is  imminent.    In  

from  industrial  ports8.      One  of  the   January  of  2009,  as  a  result  of  

most  dynamic  aspects  of  this   thousands  of  letters  sent  to  a  judge  by  

movement  is  that  it  capitalizes  on   students,  teachers,  farmers,  and  other  

using  the  Internet,  allowing  people  to   members  of  the  initiative  and  a  

contribute,  without  having  to  leave   lawsuit  filed  by  the  NRDC,  a  federal  

their  office.    The  success  of  the   judge  ruled  that  110,000  acres  of  Utah  
                                                                                                               
7  http://www.savebiogems.org/about/   wilderness  would  be  protected  from  
8  ibid.  ,    
oil  companies.      This  is  land  that  the   more  significant  number  of  people  to  

Bush  Administration  had  previously   begin  contributing.    Schools  are  one  of  

held  a  public  auction  for.       the  best  places  start.  

  Education  is  necessary.    

History  repeatedly  informs  us  that  the  

most  important  issues  often  do  not  

gain  traction  until  an  extensive  

portion  of  the  population  is  aware  of  

  the  problem  and  the  direct  effects  on  
Utah  wilderness  preserved  by  Biogems  
Similar  victories  are  being  
them.    There  is  negligible  
reported  around  the  country.    What  is  
environmental  education  in  schools.    
most  impressive  is  that  the  movement  
We  cannot  expect  an  aroused  
has  leaked  into  an  internationally  
environmental  campaign  when  the  
supported  one.    In  December  of  2008,  
pillars  supporting  such  a  framework  
20,000  messages  were  sent  from  
are  nonexistent.    Unfortunately,  as  a  
NRDC  members  to  the  Chilean  
non-­‐governmental  organization,  the  
government  to  prevent  consideration  
NRDC  is  limited  in  the  influence  they  
of  a  mega-­‐dam  that  would  be  
can  have  in  schools.    Legislation  and  
ecologically  devastating.    Chilean  
policy  proposals  are  the  only  source  of  
officials  submitted  to  the  pressure,  
an  impactful  amendment  to  our  
agreeing  to  delay  further  
current  education  curriculum.    
consideration  for  at  least  nine  months.      
Beyond  the  scope  of  governmentally  
These  actions  can  be  emulated,  and  
instituted  education  systems,  the  
the  results,  amplified.    We  need  a  
NRDC  has  made  an  enormous  effort  to   education  has  not  been  prioritized  

become  a  part  of  high  profile  social   enough.    NGOs  are  not  enough  to  

networks  such  as  Facebook  and   cultivate  and  environmental  

Twitter.    Their  hopes  are  to  expand   awareness  effort  strong  enough  to  

their  influence  using  new  media.    In   permit  a  more  complete  

2008,  the  NRDC  created  an  online   transformation.    Some  governmental  

community  website  known  as   involvement  is  required.    Waste-­‐

Switchboard.    The  website  was  part  of   producing  industries  are  frequently  

an  investment  to  use  cutting-­‐edge   cited  as  the  major  sources  of  

technology  to  connect  people  to  the   opposition  to  effective  legislation.    

environment  and  invite  new   Corporate  lobby  groups  complain  that  

audiences  to  plug  in9.    Their  blog  has   government  regulations  will  spark  a  

been  a  huge  success,  allowing  experts   downward  spiral  that  could  

to  become  available  to  a  growing   potentially  lead  to  an  economic  

number  of  concerned  citizens.    Since   recession.    It  has  been  proven  over  

the  creation  of  the  blog  in  2008,   and  over  again  that  our  government  

visitors  to  the  website  have  increased   cannot  directly  control  industry.    If  we  

threefold.    Despite  the  impact  the   understand  this  than  we  must  seek  

NRDC  already  has  on  the  separate   means  that  can.    Educated  consumers  

crucial  fronts  of  securing   can  radically  transform  our  economy.    

environmental  sustainability,   Capitalism  functions  in  a  way  to  

reward  companies  that  best  meet  

                                                                                                               
9  

http://www.nrdc.org/about/annual/action.p consumer  demands.    Democracy  

df3  
similarly  operates  such  that    
 
politicians  who  best  meet  their    
 
constituents  needs  get  reelected.    The    
 
conclusion  is  a  basic  one.    The  regular    
 
American  citizen  actually  dictates  the    
 
outcome.    However,  without  education    
 
we  cannot  properly  utilize  these  tools.      
 
The  challenges  overcome  by  the  NRDC    
 
and  multiple  non-­‐governmental      

organizations  serve  to  remind  us  of  

the  power  “people”  possess  when  

united  towards  meeting  essential  

goals.