Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

“ SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS § 4361 Repealed. § 4361a Repealed. § 4361b Implementation by Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency of recommendations of “CHESS” Investigative Report; waiver; inclusion of status of implementation requirements in annual revisions of plan for research, development, and demonstration. § 4361c Staff management. § 4362 Interagency cooperation on prevention of environmental cancer and heart and lung disease. § 4362a Membership of Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease. ”

“ The competent departments of ecology and environment under local people's governments shall exercise unified supervision over and administration of the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid wastes within their respective administrative areas. ”

“ In this case, however, the arguments against placing environmental protection activities under the jurisdiction of one or another of the existing departments and agencies are compelling.
In the first place, almost every part of government is concerned with the environment in some way, and affects it in some way. Yet each department also has its own primary mission—such as resource development, transportation, health, defense, urban growth or agriculture—which necessarily affects its own view of environmental questions. ”

“ Roles and Functions of EPA The principal roles and functions of the EPA would include:
—The establishment and enforcement of environmental protection standards consistent with national environmental goals.
—The conduct of research on the adverse effects of pollution and on methods and equipment for controlling it, the gathering of information on pollution, and the use of this information in strengthening environmental protection programs and recommending policy changes.
—Assisting others, through grants, technical assistance and other means in arresting pollution of the environment. ”

“ The Administrator, in cooperation with other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities is authorized to enter into agreements with any State, political subdivision, interstate agency, or other public agency, or combination thereof, to carry out one or more projects to demonstrate new methods and techniques and to develop preliminary plans for the elimination or control of pollution, within all or any part of the watersheds of the Great Lakes. ”

“ Each agency shall ensure that its environmental regulatory compliance funding policies promote the use of pollution prevention to achieve and maintain environmental compliance at the agency's facilities. Agencies shall adopt a policy to preferentially use pollution prevention projects and activities to correct and prevent noncompliance with environmental regulatory requirements. ”

“ Industrialized countries also need greatly strengthened environmental protection and resource management agencies. Most face a continuing backlog of pollution problems and a growing range of environment and resource management problems too. In addition, these agencies will be called upon to advise and assist central economic and sectoral agencies as they take up their new responsibilities for sustainable development. Many now provide institutional support, technical advice, and assistance to their counterpart agencies in developing countries, and this need will grow. ”

“ Each agency shall strive to reduce or eliminate harm to human health and the environment from releases of pollutants to the environment. Each agency shall advance the national policy that, whenever feasible and cost-effective, pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source. Funding for regulatory compliance programs shall emphasize pollution prevention as a means to address environmental compliance. ”

“ There are thousands and thousands of children across this country that are affected each and every day.
This new era also puts the EPA at the center of President Obama's highest priorities: securing America's energy independence and securing the future of our planet by combating climate change. ”

“ By doing so, the President, the EPA, and other agencies working on energy and the environment are going to start to champion bold policies and make smart investments that are going to do a lot of things: first, create more energy-efficient buildings -- (cheering) -- see, now that's exciting -- (laughter) -- you know you're at the EPA -- (laughter) ; make our cars and trucks more fuel efficient -- (applause) ; and double the nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years. (Applause.)
Your work will not only save our planet and clean up our environment ”

“ From unobligated balances to carry out projects and activities funded through the State and Tribal Assistance Grants Account, $10,000,000 are permanently rescinded. Of the funds provided in the Environmental Programs and Management Account, not less than $6,500,000 shall be used for activities to develop and publish a final rule not later than June 26, 2009, and to begin implementation, to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions above appropriate thresholds in all sectors of the economy of the United States, as required by Public Law 110-161. ”

“ As no disjointed array of separate programs can, the EPA would be able—in concert with the States—to set and enforce standards for air and water quality and for individual pollutants. This consolidation of pollution control authorities would help assure that we do not create new environmental problems in the process of controlling existing ones. Industries seeking to minimize the adverse impact of their activities on the environment would be assured of consistent standards covering the full range of their waste disposal problems. ”

“ Upon the request of a project sponsor, a lead agency may adopt a document that has been prepared for a project under State laws and procedures as the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for the project, provided that the State laws and procedures under which the document was prepared provide environmental protection and opportunities for public involvement that are substantially equivalent to NEPA . ”

“ It is the policy of the Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, to plan the development and use (including restoration, preservation, and enhancement) of land and water resources, and to consult with the Administrator in the exercise of his authority under this Act. ”

“ To ensure that governmentwide goals for pollution prevention are advanced, each agency is encouraged to incorporate its environmental leadership goals into its Strategic and Annual Performance Plans required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, Public Law 103-62, starting with performance plans accompanying the FY 2002 budget. ”

“ In offices of state organs, enterprises and public institutions, etc., products, equipment and facilities that are conducive to environmental protection shall be used, and the use of disposable office supplies shall be reduced. ”