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administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
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Speechwriting, White House Office of
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Grant, Mary Kate, Files
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Subject File, 1988-1991
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2/4/90
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19
2
7
6
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY 4, 1990
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
CHRISS WINSTON
FROM:
MARK LANGE
SUBJECT:
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Attached is an address (to be teleprompted, about 15
minutes) for the third plenary session of the I.P.C.C.
Some 50 national delegations from around the world will
attend, as well as various non-governmental organizations, for an
audience totaling about 600.
The I.P.C.C. was formed in 1988 as an initial effort to
study the science, impact, and necessary responses to global
climate change.
Your remarks outline U.S. initiatives already underway,
reiterate proposals made over the past year, and emphasize our
determination that the science be done right.
As it stands, the head table will consist of:
-- IPCC Chairman Bert Bolin [bo-LEEN], who opens the
session and introduces you
-- Secretary General of the World Meteorological
Organization, Mr. G.O.P. Obasi
-- Executive Secretary of the U.N. Environmental Program,
Dr. M.K. Tolba.
(Lange/Cawley)
February 4, 1989
3:45 P.M.
[IPCC.DOC]
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
10:15 A.M.
Thank you, Dr. Bolin [Bo-leen]. Professor Obasi. Dr.
Tolba. Delegates of the World Meteorological Organization, and
the United Nations Environment Program. Let me commend all of
you, for coming together to examine an issue of such great
importance. The recommendations this distinguished organization
makes can have a profound effect on the world's environmental and
economic policy.
By being here today, I hope to underscore concern -- my
country's, and my own -- about environmental stewardship; and to
reaffirm our commitment to finding responsible solutions. It is
both an honor and a pleasure to be the first American President
to speak to this organization, as its work takes shape.
You are called upon to develop recommendations which strike
a difficult yet critical international bargain: a convergence
between global environmental policy, and global economic policy.
A bargain where both perspectives benefit -- and neither is
compromised.
As experts, you understand that economic growth and
environmental integrity need not be contradictory priorities.
One reinforces and complements the other. Each, a partner. Both
are crucial.
2
A sound environment is the basis for the continuity and
quality of human life and enterprise. Clearly, strong economies
allow nations to fulfill the obligations of environmental
stewardship. Where there is economic strength, such protection
is possible. But where there is poverty, the competition for
resources gets tougher. Stewardship suffers.
For all of these reasons, I sincerely believe we must do
everything in our power to promote global cooperation: For
environmental protection and economic growth. For intelligent
management of our natural resources and efficient use of our
industrial capacity. And for sustainable and environmentally
sensitive development -- around the world.
The United States is strongly committed to the I.P.C.C.
process of international cooperation on global climate change.
We consider it vital, that the community of nations be drawn
together -- in an orderly, disciplined, rational way -- to review
the history of our global environment, to assess the potential
for future climate change, and to develop effective programs.
The state of the science; the social and economic impacts;
and the appropriate strategies -- all are crucial components to a
global resolution. The stakes here are very high; the
consequences, very significant.
The United States remains committed to aggressive and
thoughtful action on environmental issues. Last week, in my
State of the Union address, I spoke of stewardship: because I
3
believe it's something we owe ourselves, our children and their
children.
So we are renewing the ethic of stewardship in our
domestic programs. In our work to forge international
agreements. In our assistance to developing and East Bloc
nations. And here, by chairing the Response Strategies Working
Group.
I have just submitted a budget to our Congress for fiscal
1991. It includes over $2 billion in new spending to protect the
environment. And, underscoring our commitment to your efforts, I
am pleased to note that funding for the U.S. Global Change
Research Program will increase by nearly 60 percent, to over one
billion dollars.
That commitment, by far the largest ever made by any nation,
reflects our determination to improve our understanding of the
science of climate change.
We are working with our neighbors around the world to
enhance global monitoring and data management, improve analysis,
reduce the uncertainty of predictive models, and conduct regular
reassessments of the state of the science.
Our program allows NASA, her sister agencies, and all our
international partners, to move forward with the "Mission to
Planet Earth." That will initiate the U.S. Earth Observing
System, in cooperation with Europe and Japan, to advance the
state of knowledge about the planet we share.
4
Furthermore, even as we wait for the benefits of this
research, the United States has already taken many steps in our
country that bring both economic and environmental benefits.
Steps that make sense on their own merits in terms of
responsibility and efficiency, which help reduce emissions of
CFC's, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants now entering the
atmosphere. Let me outline them very briefly:
We are pursuing new technology development that will
increase the efficiency of our energy use, and thus reduce total
emissions.
We're crafting a revised Clean Air Act with incentives for
our private sector to find creative, market-driven solutions to
enhance air quality.
We've launched a major reforestation initiative to plant a
billion trees a year on private land across America.
And we're working out a comprehensive review and revision of
our National Energy Strategy, with initiatives to increase energy
efficiency and the use of renewable sources. These efforts,
already underway, are the heart of a $336 million Department of
Energy program, and are expected to produce energy savings
through the year 2000 of over $30 billion -- while achieving
significant pollution reduction. Quite a return on investment.
We're also working through diplomatic channels with our
colleagues in other countries, and through innovative measures
like debt-for-nature swaps, to do more than simply reduce global
5
deforestation. We hope to reverse it -- not unilaterally, but by
working with our international neighbors.
The economics of our response strategies to climate change
are getting intensive study in America. We are developing real
data on the costs of various strategies, assessing new measures,
and encouraging other nations to follow suit. And we look
forward to sharing this knowledge and technical support with our
international colleagues.
As we work to create policy and agreements on action, we
want to encourage the most creative, effective approaches.
Wherever possible, we believe that market mechanisms should be
applied -- and that our policies must be consistent with economic
growth and free market principles in all countries. Our
development efforts and our dialogue can help us reach effective
and acceptable solutions.
Last December at Malta, in my meeting with President
Gorbachev, I proposed that the United States offer a venue for
the first negotiating session for a framework convention, once
the I.P.C.C. completes its work. I reiterate that invitation
here, and look forward to your cooperation in that agenda.
We all know that human activities are changing the
atmosphere in unexpected and unprecedented ways. Much remains to
be done. Many questions remain to be answered. Together, we
have a responsibility to ourselves and the generations to come,
to fulfill our stewardship obligations. But that responsibility
demands that we do it right.
6
We acknowledge a broad spectrum of views on these issues,
but our respect for a diversity of perspective does not diminish
our recognition of our obligation -- or soften our will to
produce policies that work. Some may be tempted to exploit
legitimate concerns for political positioning. Our
responsibility is to maintain the quality of our approach, our
commitment to sound science, and an open mind to policy options.
So the United States will continue its efforts to improve
our understanding of climate change -- to seek hard data,
accurate models, and new ways to improve the science -- and
determine how best to meet these challenges. Where politics and
opinion have outpaced the science, we are accelerating our
support of the technology to bridge that gap. And we are
committed to coming together periodically, for international
assessments of where we stand.
Therefore, this spring, the United States will host a White
House conference on science and economic research on the
environment -- convening top officials from a representative
group of nations, to bring together the three essential
disciplines: science, economics, and ecology. They will share
their knowledge, assumptions, and state-of-the-art research
models, to outline our understanding and help focus our efforts.
I look forward to participating in this seminar, and to learning
from its deliberations.
Our goal continues to be matching policy commitments to
emerging scientific knowledge -- and a reconciling of
7
environmental protection to the continued benefits of economic
development. And as Secretary Baker observed a year ago,
whatever global solutions to climate change are considered, they
should be as specific and as cost-effective as they can possibly
be.
If we hope to promote environmental protection and economic
growth around the world, it will be important not to work in
conflict, but with our industrial sectors. That will mean moving
beyond the practice of command, control, and compliance -- toward
a new kind of environmental cooperation --- and toward an emphasis
on pollution prevention, rather than mere mitigation and
litigation. Many of our industries, in fact, are already
providing crucial research and solutions.
One corporation, for example, started an in-house program
called Pollution Prevention Pays, that has saved the company well
over half a billion dollars since 1975 -- and prevented 112,000
tons of air pollutants, 15,000 tons of water pollutants, and
almost 400,000 tons of sludge and solid waste from being released
into the environment. They've done it by rewarding employees for
coming up with the ideas. And they have clearly demonstrated the
benefits of doing it right.
Where developing nations are concerned, some argue we'll
have to abandon the free-market principles of prosperous
economies. In fact, we think it's all the more crucial in the
developing countries, to harness incentives of the free
enterprise system, in the service of the environment.
11
8
I believe we should make use of what we know. We know that
the future of the earth must not be compromised. We bear a
sacred trust in our tenancy here -- and a covenant with those
most precious to us: our children, and theirs. We also
understand the efficiency of incentives -- and that well-informed
free markets yield the most creative solutions. We must now
apply the wisdom of that system, the power of those forces, in
defense of the environment we cherish.
Working together, with good faith and earnest dialogue, I
believe we can reconcile vitality with environmental protection.
Let me commend you on your outstanding work -- and wish you all
deliberate speed in your efforts to address a very difficult, but
very important, human concern.
Thank you -- and God bless you.
# # #
10972755
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Decords Maynt
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FILE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE TanyDool
"a couple of chedimab"
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1990
fee Johnson
10:15 A.M.
THANK YOU, DR. BOLIN [BO-LEEN]. PROFESSOR OBASI.
DR. TOLBA. DELEGATES OF THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION, AND THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM. LET ME COMMEND ALL OF YOU, FOR COMING
TOGETHER TO EXAMINE AN ISSUE OF SUCH GREAT IMPORTANCE.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS THIS DISTINGUISHED ORGANIZATION
MAKES CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE WORLD'S
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY.
BY BEING HERE TODAY, I HOPE TO UNDERSCORE CONCERN
-- MY COUNTRY'S, AND MY OWN -- ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP; AND TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO FINDING
RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS. IT IS BOTH AN HONOR AND A
PLEASURE TO BE THE FIRST AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO SPEAK TO
THIS ORGANIZATION, AS ITS WORK TAKES SHAPE.
YOU ARE CALLED UPON TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS
WHICH STRIKE A DIFFICULT YET CRITICAL INTERNATIONAL
BARGAIN: A CONVERGENCE BETWEEN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY, AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC POLICY. A BARGAIN WHERE
BOTH PERSPECTIVES BENEFIT -- AND NEITHER IS
COMPROMISED.
- 2 -
AS EXPERTS, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY NEED NOT BE CONTRADICTORY
PRIORITIES. ONE REINFORCES AND COMPLEMENTS THE OTHER.
EACH, A PARTNER. BOTH ARE CRUCIAL.
A SOUND ENVIRONMENT IS THE BASIS FOR THE
CONTINUITY AND QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND ENTERPRISE.
CLEARLY, STRONG ECONOMIES ALLOW NATIONS TO FULFILL THE
OBLIGATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. WHERE THERE
IS ECONOMIC STRENGTH, SUCH PROTECTION IS POSSIBLE. BUT
WHERE THERE IS POVERTY, THE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES
GETS TOUGHER. STEWARDSHIP SUFFERS.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, I SINCERELY BELIEVE WE
MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROMOTE GLOBAL
COOPERATION: FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH. FOR INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT OF OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND EFFICIENT USE OF OUR INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY.
AND FOR SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT -- AROUND THE WORLD.
- 3 -
THE UNITED STATES IS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO THE
I.P.C.C. PROCESS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON GLOBAL
CLIMATE CHANGE. WE CONSIDER IT VITAL, THAT THE
COMMUNITY OF NATIONS BE DRAWN TOGETHER -- IN AN
ORDERLY, DISCIPLINED, RATIONAL WAY -- TO REVIEW THE
HISTORY OF OUR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, TO ASSESS THE
POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND TO DEVELOP
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS.
THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE; THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
IMPACTS; AND THE APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES -- ALL ARE
CRUCIAL COMPONENTS TO A GLOBAL RESOLUTION. THE STAKES
HERE ARE VERY HIGH; THE CONSEQUENCES, VERY SIGNIFICANT.
THE UNITED STATES REMAINS COMMITTED TO AGGRESSIVE
AND THOUGHTFUL ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. LAST
WEEK, IN MY STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, I SPOKE OF
STEWARDSHIP: BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING WE OWE
OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN.
- 4 -
SO WE ARE RENEWING THE ETHIC OF STEWARDSHIP IN
OUR DOMESTIC PROGRAMS. IN OUR WORK TO FORGE
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. IN OUR ASSISTANCE TO
DEVELOPING AND EAST BLOC NATIONS. AND HERE, BY
CHAIRING THE RESPONSE STRATEGIES WORKING GROUP.
I HAVE JUST SUBMITTED A BUDGET TO OUR CONGRESS FOR
FISCAL 1991. IT INCLUDES OVER $2 BILLION IN NEW
SPENDING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. AND, UNDERSCORING
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM PLEASED TO NOTE
THAT FUNDING FOR THE U.S. GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH
PROGRAM WILL INCREASE BY NEARLY 60 PERCENT, TO OVER ONE
BILLION DOLLARS.
THAT COMMITMENT, BY FAR THE LARGEST EVER MADE BY
ANY NATION, REFLECTS OUR DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND THE WORLD
TO ENHANCE GLOBAL MONITORING AND DATA MANAGEMENT,
IMPROVE ANALYSIS, REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY OF PREDICTIVE
MODELS, AND CONDUCT REGULAR REASSESSMENTS OF THE STATE
OF THE SCIENCE.
- 5 -
OUR PROGRAM ALLOWS NASA, HER SISTER AGENCIES, AND
ALL OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE "MISSION TO PLANET EARTH." THAT WILL INITIATE THE
U.S. EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM, IN COOPERATION WITH EUROPE
AND JAPAN, TO ADVANCE THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE
PLANET WE SHARE.
FURTHERMORE, EVEN AS WE WAIT FOR THE BENEFITS OF
THIS RESEARCH, THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY TAKEN MANY
STEPS IN OUR COUNTRY THAT BRING BOTH ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. STEPS THAT MAKE SENSE ON THEIR
OWN MERITS IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY,
WHICH HELP REDUCE EMISSIONS OF CFC'S, CARBON DIOXIDE,
AND OTHER POLLUTANTS NOW ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE. LET
ME OUTLINE THEM VERY BRIEFLY:
WE ARE PURSUING NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT THAT
WILL INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR ENERGY USE, AND
THUS REDUCE TOTAL EMISSIONS.
WE'RE CRAFTING A REVISED CLEAN AIR ACT WITH
INCENTIVES FOR OUR PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIND CREATIVE,
MARKET-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE AIR QUALITY.
- 6 -
WE'VE LAUNCHED A MAJOR REFORESTATION INITIATIVE TO
PLANT A BILLION TREES A YEAR ON PRIVATE LAND ACROSS
AMERICA.
AND WE'RE WORKING OUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND
REVISION OF OUR NATIONAL ENERGY STRATEGY, WITH
INITIATIVES TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE USE
OF RENEWABLE SOURCES. THESE EFFORTS, ALREADY UNDERWAY,
ARE THE HEART OF A $336 MILLION DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
PROGRAM, AND ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ENERGY SAVINGS
THROUGH THE YEAR 2000 OF OVER $30 BILLION -- WHILE
ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION REDUCTION. QUITE A
RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND THROUGH
INNOVATIVE MEASURES LIKE DEBT-FOR-NATURE SWAPS, TO DO
MORE THAN SIMPLY REDUCE GLOBAL DEFORESTATION. WE HOPE
TO REVERSE IT -- NOT UNILATERALLY, BUT BY WORKING WITH
OUR INTERNATIONAL NEIGHBORS.
- 7 -
THE ECONOMICS OF OUR RESPONSE STRATEGIES TO
CLIMATE CHANGE ARE GETTING INTENSIVE STUDY IN AMERICA.
WE ARE DEVELOPING REAL DATA ON THE COSTS OF VARIOUS
STRATEGIES, ASSESSING NEW MEASURES, AND ENCOURAGING
OTHER NATIONS TO FOLLOW SUIT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SHARING THIS KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT WITH OUR
INTERNATIONAL COLLEAGUES.
AS WE WORK TO CREATE POLICY AND AGREEMENTS ON
ACTION, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE MOST CREATIVE,
EFFECTIVE APPROACHES. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, WE BELIEVE
THAT MARKET MECHANISMS SHOULD BE APPLIED -- AND THAT
OUR POLICIES MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES IN ALL COUNTRIES. OUR
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND OUR DIALOGUE CAN HELP US REACH
EFFECTIVE AND ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS.
LAST DECEMBER AT MALTA, IN MY MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT GORBACHEV, I PROPOSED THAT THE UNITED STATES
OFFER A VENUE FOR THE FIRST NEGOTIATING SESSION FOR A
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION, ONCE THE I.P.C.C. COMPLETES ITS
WORK. I REITERATE THAT INVITATION HERE, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR COOPERATION IN THAT AGENDA.
- 8 -
WE ALL KNOW THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE CHANGING THE
ATMOSPHERE IN UNEXPECTED AND UNPRECEDENTED WAYS. MUCH
REMAINS TO BE DONE. MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN TO BE
ANSWERED. TOGETHER, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
OURSELVES AND THE GENERATIONS TO COME, TO FULFILL OUR
STEWARDSHIP OBLIGATIONS. BUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY
DEMANDS THAT WE DO IT RIGHT.
- 9 -
WE ACKNOWLEDGE A BROAD SPECTRUM OF VIEWS ON THESE
ISSUES, BUT OUR RESPECT FOR A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVE
DOES NOT DIMINISH OUR RECOGNITION OF OUR OBLIGATION --
OR SOFTEN OUR WILL TO PRODUCE POLICIES THAT WORK. SOME
MAY BE TEMPTED TO EXPLOIT LEGITIMATE CONCERNS FOR
POLITICAL POSITIONING. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF OUR APPROACH, OUR COMMITMENT TO
SOUND SCIENCE, AND AN OPEN MIND TO POLICY OPTIONS.
SO THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO SEEK
HARD DATA, ACCURATE MODELS, AND NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE THE
SCIENCE -- AND DETERMINE HOW BEST TO MEET THESE
CHALLENGES. WHERE POLITICS AND OPINION HAVE OUTPACED
THE SCIENCE, WE ARE ACCELERATING OUR SUPPORT OF THE
TECHNOLOGY TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO
COMING TOGETHER PERIODICALLY, FOR INTERNATIONAL
ASSESSMENTS OF WHERE WE STAND.
- 10 -
THEREFORE, THIS SPRING, THE UNITED STATES WILL
HOST A WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND ECONOMIC
RESEARCH ON THE ENVIRONMENT -- CONVENING TOP OFFICIALS
FROM A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF NATIONS, TO BRING
TOGETHER THE THREE ESSENTIAL DISCIPLINES: SCIENCE,
ECONOMICS, AND ECOLOGY. THEY WILL SHARE THEIR
KNOWLEDGE, ASSUMPTIONS, AND STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH
MODELS, TO OUTLINE OUR UNDERSTANDING AND HELP FOCUS OUR
EFFORTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THIS SEMINAR,
AND TO LEARNING FROM ITS DELIBERATIONS.
OUR GOAL CONTINUES TO BE MATCHING POLICY
COMMITMENTS TO EMERGING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE -- AND A
RECONCILING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THE
CONTINUED BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND AS
SECRETARY BAKER OBSERVED A YEAR AGO, WHATEVER GLOBAL
SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE CONSIDERED, THEY SHOULD
BE AS SPECIFIC AND AS COST-EFFECTIVE AS THEY CAN
POSSIBLY BE.
- 11 -
IF WE HOPE TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH AROUND THE WORLD, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT
NOT TO WORK IN CONFLICT, BUT WITH OUR INDUSTRIAL
SECTORS. THAT WILL MEAN MOVING BEYOND THE PRACTICE OF
COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMPLIANCE -- TOWARD A NEW KIND
OF ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION -- AND TOWARD AN EMPHASIS
ON POLLUTION PREVENTION, RATHER THAN MERE MITIGATION
AND LITIGATION. MANY OF OUR INDUSTRIES, IN FACT, ARE
ALREADY PROVIDING CRUCIAL RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS.
ONE CORPORATION, FOR EXAMPLE, STARTED AN IN-HOUSE
PROGRAM CALLED POLLUTION PREVENTION PAYS, THAT HAS
SAVED THE COMPANY WELL OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS
SINCE 1975 -- AND PREVENTED 112,000 TONS OF AIR
POLLUTANTS, 15,000 TONS OF WATER POLLUTANTS, AND ALMOST
400,000 TONS OF SLUDGE AND SOLID WASTE FROM BEING
RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY'VE DONE IT BY
REWARDING EMPLOYEES FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEAS. AND
THEY HAVE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THE BENEFITS OF DOING IT
RIGHT.
- 12 -
WHERE DEVELOPING NATIONS ARE CONCERNED, SOME ARGUE
WE'LL HAVE TO ABANDON THE FREE-MARKET PRINCIPLES OF
PROSPEROUS ECONOMIES. IN FACT, WE THINK IT'S ALL THE
MORE CRUCIAL IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, TO HARNESS
INCENTIVES OF THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, IN THE
SERVICE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. 11
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD MAKE USE OF WHAT WE KNOW. WE
KNOW THAT THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH MUST NOT BE
COMPROMISED. WE BEAR A SACRED TRUST IN OUR TENANCY
HERE -- AND A COVENANT WITH THOSE MOST PRECIOUS TO US:
OUR CHILDREN, AND THEIRS. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE
EFFICIENCY OF INCENTIVES -- AND THAT WELL-INFORMED FREE
MARKETS YIELD THE MOST CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. WE MUST NOW
APPLY THE WISDOM OF THAT SYSTEM, THE POWER OF THOSE
FORCES, IN DEFENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WE CHERISH.
WORKING TOGETHER, WITH GOOD FAITH AND EARNEST
DIALOGUE, I BELIEVE WE CAN RECONCILE VITALITY WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. LET ME COMMEND YOU ON YOUR
OUTSTANDING WORK -- AND WISH YOU ALL DELIBERATE SPEED
IN YOUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS A VERY DIFFICULT, BUT VERY
IMPORTANT, HUMAN CONCERN.
- 13 -
THANK YOU -- AND GOD BLESS YOU.
###
###
United States
Communications And
21K-1006
Environmental Protection
Public Affairs
May 1991
Agency
(A-107)
EPA
Environmental Stewardship
EPA's First Two Years In
The Bush Administration
CONTENTS
1
PREFACE
2 HIGHLIGHTS
4
PREVENTING POLLUTION
8
VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT
12
REDUCING RISKS
18
PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES
22
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
26
SOUND SCIENCE
30
STRENGTHENING AGENCY RESOURCES
Cover Photograph
San Juan mountains
Colorado, USA.
©1986 Kahnweiler/Johnson, Folio Inc.
PREFACE
When the Bush Administration took office in
blending traditional and non-traditional tools,
1989, the environmental concerns and
such as market incentives and voluntary action,
expectations of the American people had
to accomplish ambitious environmental goals.
reached new heights. By our words and actions
We are strengthening our ability to evaluate
over our first two years in office, we probably
progress, to integrate and focus our activities
have raised those expectations even further. As
for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and to
this report documents, the Bush Administra-
adapt to changing conditions. And as we
tion has shown itself to be serious, determined,
pursue these new directions, we also are
and dedicated to the pursuit of an aggressive
working to strengthen existing environmental
and innovative environmental agenda. President
programs and to ensure that environmental
Bush has moved the environment from the
laws and requirements are vigorously enforced.
margins of national concern to the mainstream.
Clearly, EPA cannot fulfill this ambitious
Our record of accomplishment to date is a
environmental agenda by itself. All levels of
source of great satisfaction and pride, both for
government and all sectors of society, the
the President and for all of us who work at
international community, and individual
EPA.
citizens must share in the responsibility for
Our environmental challenge as the nation
harmonizing human activities with the needs
entered the decade of the 1990s was twofold:
and constraints of nature. I invite all who have
first, to deal with a new generation of
not yet done so to join the President and EPA
problems that are both more widespread and
in actively seeking out opportunities to secure
more complex than those of the past; and
our environmental legacy for future
second, to anticipate the environmental needs
generations.
of the next century and begin to develop new
policies and directions to meet those needs.
This dual challenge has required EPA to
William K. Reilly
assume a role that is different in both scope
Administrator
and character from the past. EPA is broadening
its view to encompass concerns of the global
environment, and to embrace innovative
approaches to environmental protection. We
are elevating the role of science in decision-
making, recognizing that good science is the
basis of sound environmental policy. We are
taking steps to evaluate the relative severity of
environmental threats and harm, and to set
priorities based on the greatest opportunities to
reduce risk. We are designing new regulations
and programs that fulfill our mandates while
HIGHLIGHTS
Preventing
Vigorous
Pollution
Enforcement
Clean Air Amendments. Secured most
Reducing
Protecting
Inter-
significant air pollution legislation in
Risks
Natural
national
nation's history--Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990. Calls for permanent
Resources
Leadership
10-million-ton reduction in acid rain
emissions; improvements in urban air
quality; reductions in toxic pollutants.
Record-high Enforcement Results.
Sound
Strengthening
Past two years at EPA yielded new
Science
Agency
criminal and civil enforcement records.
Fines imposed in 1990 grew to a record
Resources
$91 million-$30 million in criminal cases
and $61 million in civil penalties. One-
quarter of all civil penalties ever collected
by EPA were obtained during 1990, and
40 percent during the past two years.
Enforcement First at Superfund Sites.
Responsible parties contributed $1.4
This report is an overview of the Bush
billion in settlements toward cleanup at
Administration's environmental themes and
Superfund sites in 1990--an almost
accomplishments during its first two years in
threefold increase from 1988. Superfund
added 500 new enforcement positions;
office. It is by no means a comprehensive
1992 budget calls for $143 million more
account of the work of the Environmental
than 1991 for site cleanups.
Protection Agency, let alone of the
Stratospheric Ozone Protection.
Administration as a whole. The report briefly
President Bush proposed that the United
describes the Administration's principal
States fully phase out, by the year 2000,
environmental themes and priorities, which
production and use of chemicals that
contribute to stratospheric-ozone
are: preventing pollution, vigorously enforcing
destruction. In June 1990, in London,
the laws, reducing environmental risks,
parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed to
protecting and restoring natural resources,
phase out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
carbon tetrachloride, and nonessential
providing leadership on international
uses of halons by the end of the century
environmental issues, enhancing the role of
and to phase out methyl chloroform by
sound science in environmental policy-making,
2005.
and strengthening the resources available for
The United States is contributing more
than any other nation to the Montreal
environmental protection. The report then
Protocol Multilateral Fund to assist
provides two or three specific examples of EPA
developing countries in making the
actions that support each theme, and spotlights
transition from ozone-depleting
chemicals.
new or innovative programs. Finally, the report
Domestically, an excise tax of CFCs and
lists additional accomplishments that have
other ozone-depleting chemicals is
helped to further the priority themes.
reducing production and increasing
recycling even faster than the phase-out
For more information on these or other EPA
requirements.
activities, please write to:
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W. (A-107)
Washington, DC 20460
or Telephone: (202) 382-4454
2
"These are our five principles: harnessing the power of the marketplace, state and local
initiatives, promoting prevention, international cooperation, and strict enforcement."
- President George Bush, Washington, D.C., June 8, 1989
Far-reaching Regulatory Decisions. In
the foreseeable future. EPA produced
Setting Priorities. At the request of
1989, EPA banned 94 percent of all future
seminal reports on climate change effects,
Administrator Reilly, the Agency's
uses of asbestos. Rules were issued
and on policy responses and their
independent Science Advisory Board
cutting 29,000 tons of cancer-causing
consequences.
prepared a report--Reducing Risk--offering
benzene annually from industrial sources.
guidance on how EPA can improve
Smog-causing pollutants were reduced in
Assistance for Eastern Europe.
efforts to reduce risks to health and
cities with air-quality problems by
Administrator Reilly opened an
natural resources.
reducing fuel volatility.
environmental center in Budapest,
Hungary to address regional pollution
Global Forest Agreement. President
Wetlands Protection. EPA vetoed the
problems through education, training, and
Bush proposed an agreement on forests at
proposed Two Forks project in Colorado,
technology transfer.
the G-7 Economic Summit in July 1990.
citing adverse environmental effects, loss
The agreement covers both temperate and
of wetlands, and viable alternatives. The
Basel Convention. EPA played a major
tropical rainforests, calling for research,
Agency also exercised its veto authority
role leading to U.S. participation in the
training, and technical assistance.
in Rhode Island and Virginia.
Basel Convention on the Transboundary
Movement of Waste, signed in March
Cutting Toxics Releases. EPA launched
1990. This 80-country treaty requires
a voluntary reductions program with
notice of proposed hazardous waste
industry--to reduce by one-third the total
shipments and prior written consent,
releases and transfers of 17 toxic
helping to ensure that waste will be
chemicals by 1992; further, to cut them in
managed in an "environmentally sound
half by 1995.
manner" by the receiving country.
Bioremediation. EPA achieved a
States, Tribes, and Localities. Despite
breakthrough to using bioremediation in
fiscal constraints, EPA grants to states
Prince William Sound, Alaska, to reduce
rose by 58 percent--to $498 million by
in half the time necessary to degrade
1991.
spilled oil on test plots.
Focus on Minorities. Sixty-nine percent
Recycling Efforts Redoubled. Over the
of net growth of 1990 professional and
past two years, national volume of
administrative positions were women and
materials recycled grew by more than 30
minorities, with minorities approximately
percent to 24 million tons. Thousands of
half the total. At management levels,
communities are starting recycling
minorities and women made up two-
programs to meet EPA goal of 25 percent
thirds EPA's net growth. Awarded a
recycling of municipal solid waste by
record number of small business contracts
1992.
to minority-owned firms.
Climate Change Research. EPA
invested $9.6 million in 1989, $15 million
in 1990 to learn about the causes and
effects of climate change. Through actions
already taken or planned, the United
States should hold its greenhouse gas
emissions at or below current levels for
3
PREVENTING POLLUTION
The "33/50" Project-
Voluntary Toxics
Reductions
Cooperative initiatives with the private
sector offer great potential for stopping
pollution before it gets started. In 1989, at
Administrator Reilly's invitation, nine
major petrochemical manufacturers
voluntarily agreed to reduce toxic air
In the past, this country's environmental programs
emissions substantially through changes
have focused almost exclusively on end-of-pipe
in processing and substituting different
pollution control and cleanup. This more traditional
materials at 40 chemical plants in 14
approach is best suited to large, easily identifiable
states. This collaborative effort, when
sources like smokestacks and sewer outlets. It is
fully implemented by December 1993,
will annually reduce selected toxic air
much less effective, however, in dealing with
emissions by almost 83 percent, or 9.5
diverse, diffuse "non-point" sources of pollution
million pounds.
such as runoff from farms and forests and streets,
Another toxics reduction initiative--the
leaky pipes and valves, and motor vehicles. As has
33/50 project--is now underway for a
been all too clearly demonstrated, treating pollution
group of especially troublesome chemicals
nationwide. Administrator Reilly has
at the "end of the pipeline" is по longer enough.
asked more than 600 U.S companies to do
Pollution can often be prevented at its point of
their part to reduce voluntarily the
origin, using the full range of options--from greater
pollution caused by 17 high-priority
energy efficiency to incentives for producing less
chemicals. These companies are
harmful substances to expanded recycling to natural
considered the largest contributors to a
resource conservation. In the certainty that
pollution prevention must become a fundamental
The 33/50 Project -
building block of the Agency's work, EPA is taking
Voluntary Toxics Reductions
steps to apply this approach to all of its programs.
Recent federal legislation echoes this theme. The
Billions of pounds
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 establishes a
-1.4
hierarchy, declaring that the first priority is to
prevent pollution or reduce it at the source
wherever feasible. Pollution that cannot be
1.2
prevented should be recycled in an environmentally
safe manner. In the absence of feasible prevention or
recycling opportunities, pollution should be treated.
1.0
Finally, disposal or other release into the
17 Priority Chemicals
environment should be used only as a last resort.
under 33/50 Project
Benzene
0.8
Cadmium
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chloroform
0.6
Chromium
Cyanide
Dichloromethane
Lead
-0.4
Mercury
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
0.2
Nickel
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
1988
1992
1995
Trychloroethylene
The 33-50 Project aims to voluntarily reduce emissions of 17
Xylenes
targeted chemicals a third by 1992 and a half by 1995. Chart
includes total releases to air, water, and land and shows the
anticipated reduction of toxic pollutants across all media given
4
full industry participation.
Green Lights
universe of 1.4 billion pounds of toxic
Lighting, especially in industry, stores,
What Can "Green Lights"
wastes at over 11,000 facilities.
offices, and warehouses, accounts for
Accomplish?
The goal: to reduce by one-third the
almost one-fourth of the electricity used
total releases and transfers of the
nationally. To help reduce air pollution
12
% saving if fully implemented
chemicals selected by 1992; and to reduce
and other forms of pollution caused by
them by one half by 1995. Meetings have
electricity generation, Administrator
taken place with officials representing
Reilly has started the Green Lights
10
industries including chemical, petroleum,
program.
paper, and transportation. EPA officials
This voluntary, non-regulatory program
also are working on pollution prevention
set up in January of 1991 is based on a
plans with 150 companies identified as
simple premise: EPA works with major
8
having good potential for success under
U.S. corporations to make certain they
this program. By April 1, 1991, more than
have the information and technical
100 companies had expressed interest in
support they need to install lighting
the 33/50 project.
designs and technologies that are both
6
energy-efficient and profitable.
1988 Toxics Release Inventory
When a corporation joins the Green
by Industry
Lights program, it signs an agreement
with EPA committing the organization to
4
300
Quantity released by media 1988 TRI data
survey all its facilities and install new
(millions of pounds)
lighting systems that maximize energy
savings, to the extent that they are
profitable and do not compromise
-2
lighting quality. EPA is compiling
Electric consumption
databases of products and contractors and
Carbon Dioxide
emissions
Sulfur Dioxide emissions
Oxides of Nitrogen
emissions
working with manufacturers and
distributors to ensure product availability.
Transportation Manufacturing
The Agency also will be promoting
Energy saving and greenhouse gas reductions if all
upgraded education of lighting installers
U.S. business and industry participated in the "Green
Chemical Manufacturing
and developing lists of financing sources
Lights" energy conservation program.
to assist in the upgrades.
200
The Green Lights program, if
implemented among all American
Primary Metals
business and industry, would reduce
annual air pollution by 235 million tons,
that is, five percent of the national total.
Fabricated Metals
Rubber and Plastics
By April 10, 1991, 50 U.S. corporations
Other
had become Green Lights partners--75
Electric Equipment
percent are in the Fortune 500.
Pulp and Paper
100
Printing and Publishing
Machinery
Petroleum Refining
Furniture
Instrument Manufacturing
5
PREVENTING POLLUTION
Recycling
The recycling ethic is strong and
growing stronger. These past two years,
Green Lights Partners
the volume of materials that were
recycled grew by more than 30 percent--
Abbott Laboratories
to 24 million tons. During 1989 alone,
America West Airlines
more than 500 new curbside recycling
American Express Company
programs were begun across the nation.
American Standard, Inc.
More than 25 states now have established
Amoco
minimum recycling goals.
Atlantic Richfield
EPA activities are helping to make
Automated Data Processing
recycling a watchword of homes and
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
workplaces alike.
Bechtel
Bell Atlantic
Recycling Agenda. EPA's "Agenda for
Boeing
Action" sets a national goal of reducing
Browning Ferris, Inc.
municipal waste by 25 percent by 1992.
The Oliver Carr Company
Citicorp/Citibank
"Green" Products. EPA has initiated,
Continental Insurance
with the U.S. Consumer Affairs Office
Crestar Bank
and the Federal Trade Commission, an
Digital Equipment Corporation
effort to develop guidelines for defining
Duracell U.S.A.
marketing terms such as "recyclable," and
First Data Resources, Inc.
First Wachovia Corporation
U.S.Recycling Rates - 1960 to 1995
"recycled content" used on product labels.
The aim is to help consumers make more
General Dynamics Corporation
30 Recycling rate in %
informed shopping choices.
Gerber Products Company
The Gillette Company
Ad Campaign. In 1990, EPA co-funded
G.M. Popkey Company, Inc.
a recycling ad campaign with the
Hasbro, Inc.
Environmental Defense Fund and the
IPS Electric and Midwest Gas
Advertising Council that generated 90,000
Divisions of Iowa
public inquiries for recycling information.
Public Service Company
Johnson and Johnson
20
Kerr-McGee Corporation
Recycling Rates for Selected
Eli Lilly and Company
Components of Municipal Solid Waste
Lone Star Steel
Maytag
40 Recycling rates in %
Memorex Telex
Fred Meyer, Inc.
3M
Nike, Inc.
-10
Phillips Petroleum Company
-30
Polaroid Corporation
Preston Trucking
Texaco Inc.
Thrift Drug Company, Inc.
Union Camp Corporation
University Corporation for
20
Atmospheric Research
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
US Bancorp
Recycling rates are growing. EPA projects national recycling of
Warner-Lambert Company
municipal solid waste to reach between 20 and 28 percent by 1995.
Waste Management, Inc.
Aluminum
Whirlpool Corporation
Paper
Wolverine World Wide
10
Xerox Corporation
Glass
Ferrous metals
Yellow Freight System, Inc.
Yard wastes
Plastics
6
"For too long, we've focused on cleanup and penalties after the
damage is done. It's time to reorient ourselves using technologies and
processes that reduce or prevent pollution--to stop it before it starts."
- President George Bush,
Washington, D.C., June 8, 1989
Environmental
Additional
Education
Accomplishments
The quest for a new era of
Reilly presented Presidential
Information Clearinghouse. The
environmental stewardship received a
Environmental Youth Awards for
Pollution Prevention Clearinghouse
strong boost with the passage of the
community cleanup, wetlands protection,
provides information on legislation,
National Environmental Education Act,
recycling, and waste reduction projects in
research, and case studies and is linked to
signed into law by President Bush in
both November 1989 and 1990. In 1990,
an international data base of 43 nations.
November 1990.
EPA and the National Governors'
Set up in 1990, the Clearinghouse has
The new law establishes a non-profit
Association co-sponsored the first-ever
received more than 6,000 calls from
national environmental education and
national environmental youth forum in
federal agencies, states, universities, and
training foundation to be funded through
Washington, D.C.; two young people
industries.
government grants and private gifts. It
from each state participated.
also authorizes and funds educational
In 1990, the Agency also formed a new
Pollution Prevention Set-Asides. Two
activities nationwide, with a special focus
Office of Environmental Education, which
percent of every EPA program budget for
on students at elementary and secondary
has been charged with helping to foster
1991 and 1992 has been set aside to fund
school levels.
science literacy as the core for
pollution prevention demonstration
At White House ceremonies, President
environmental education in elementary
projects.
Bush and EPA Administrator William
and secondary schools.
Model Community Plan. A model
community pollution prevention plan is
being developed for the Chesapeake Bay
area through a cooperative agreement
between EPA and Department of Defense
facilities--Langley Air Force Base, Fort
Spotlight
Eustis Army Base, and Norfolk Naval
Base.
Public Empowerment
EPA is taking steps to ensure
store, and emit into the
Sustainable Agriculture. EPA
environment. EPA has compiled
contributed $1 million to a joint
that individuals and groups
throughout our society have the
this information into an annual
competitive grant program with the
skills and knowledge they need to
report called the Toxic Release
Department of Agriculture to support
work productively with us. We are
Inventory. Thus far, the Agency
sustainable agriculture projects.
giving the public new tools--
has issued two of these reports,
information that communities can
which detail emissions of more
use to work collaboratively with
than 300 toxic chemicals
their local industries to prevent
nationwide.
chemical accidents and reduce
For the first inventory, which
pollution.
documents 1987 emissions, 74,000
Several programs have been
reports were submitted by 19,000
especially effective in bringing
manufacturing facilities. The
about this public empowerment.
second inventory is based on
The Emergency Planning and
83,000 reports submitted by 22,000
Community-Right-To-Know Act,
manufacturing facilities for 1988
passed in 1986, requires
emissions. Data for 1989 currently
communities across the country to
are being evaluated.
set up local committees to make
Making this sort of information
plans for responding to chemical
public is yielding tangible results:
emergencies. EPA has helped to
many companies have announced
establish these citizen committees,
voluntary reductions of emissions.
which involve more than 50,000
Monsanto Company, for example,
people nationwide.
has pledged a 90-percent reduction
The same law requires certain
in air emissions by 1992.
manufacturing plants and other
Moreover, new laws requiring
facilities to submit information
reductions in chemical releases
about the chemicals they use,
have been passed in several states
and are pending in several others.
7
VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT
Record-High
Results
Criminal Enforcement. The past two
record-breaking years have yielded new
criminal enforcement records. EPA seeks
criminal sanctions against responsible
corporate officers as well as the
corporation itself. Federal judges
In 1989, EPA set new records in the enforcement of
increasingly have been willing to sentence
environmental laws. Last year, we broke our own
criminal defendants to large fines and
records-including collecting a major increase in
substantial prison or probationary terms.
responsible parties' contributions to clean up
One noteworthy criminal case last year
involved sentencing a Wall Street trader
hazardous waste sites-$1.4 billion, up almost
to a $2 million penalty for filling wetlands
threefold from 1988. We also sent more criminal
without a permit under the Clean Water
and civil referrals to the Justice Department,
Act--the largest environmental monetary
obtained more convictions, and levied and collected
penalty ever assessed against an
individual. Also, the first conviction
more penalties than any previous Administration.
under the Clean Water Act's "Knowing
In fact, in 1990, EPA obtained 25 percent of all
Endangerment" section was achieved
civil judicial penalties imposed in the Agency's 20-
against the president of a metal finishing
year history, and the $96 million levied in 1989-
company. The individual was sentenced
1990 represents almost 40 percent of all civil
to 26 months' imprisonment, a $400,000
penalty dollars obtained since 1970.
fine, and two years of supervised
probation for exposing employees to toxic
pollutants through illegal disposal
practices.
EPA Enforcement Budget
500 $ millions
400
-300
200
100
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
8
Other criminal enforcement highlights
Civil enforcement highlights for 1990
New records also were set in enforcing
for 1990 included the following:
include the following:
specific statutes:
Record Referrals. EPA referred 65
Referrals. EPA referred 375 civil cases
Resource Conservation and Recovery
criminal cases to the Justice Department,
to the Department of Justice, surpassing
Act. In 1990, Formosa Plastics
surpassing the previous year's record
1988's previous record total of 372 and
Corporation, Point Comfort, Texas agreed
total of 60.
1989's total of 364 cases.
to pay a $3.4 million penalty--the largest
ever collected by EPA for violations of the
Defendants Charged. One hundred
federal hazardous and solid waste law--
defendants (individuals and corporations)
Penalties. The Agency imposed $61.3
and establish a $1 million trust fund for
were charged last year, the largest
million in civil penalties, an all-time
environmental education.
number in EPA's history.
record--this included $38.5 million in civil
judicial penalties and $22.8 million in
Clean Water Act. In one of the largest
Guilty Verdict. Thirty-two
administrative penalties, both records.
clean water law civil penalty settlements
investigations successfully resulted in
ever obtained against a privately-held
finding at least one defendant per case
corporation, a $2.1 million penalty
guilty.
settlement was reached in July 1990 with
a pulp and paper company for federal
Convictions. Fifty-five defendants were
pretreatment and permit violations.
convicted and sentenced for
In the largest civil penalty against a
environmental crimes in 1990; more than
EPA Civil Referrals to
municipality, EPA assessed the City of
half of those convicted were given prison
Department of Justice - 1982 to 1990
Philadelphia $1.5 million in May 1990 for
sentences, and three-quarters of those are
100 Referrals
polluting the Delaware River with illegal
actually serving time. Jail terms averaged
discharges from the city's Southwest
a record 1.8 years; the longest term was
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
12 years.
350
Fines. Fines imposed for all federally-
investigated environmental crimes
300
increased from $13 million in 1989 to $30
million in 1990.
250
Civil Enforcement. Record results were
achieved in civil enforcement as well.
They included the largest single
200
settlement for a U.S. suit against one
entity charged with violating a federal
environmental statute: Texas Eastern
150
Transmission Corporation paid a $15
million penalty and agreed to perform
$400 million in cleanup work at 89
-100
polluted sites in 14 states.
50
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
9
VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement First
Additional
at Superfund Sites
Accomplishments
Efficient, effective clean-up of a
Major Enforcement Initiative. In an
hazardous waste site can be an extremely
October 1989 enforcement initiative,
expensive undertaking. To move ahead
Guidelines for Action
announced jointly by Administrator Reilly
steadily, given limited public funds, it is
critical that the parties responsible for
at Superfund Sites
and Attorney General Thornburgh, EPA,
the Department of Justice, and several
creating the pollution are also held
responsible for clean-up costs.
The Administrator's Superfund
states brought actions against 61 cities
Management Review, which he
charged with violations of the Clean
In June 1989, Administrator Reilly
promised at his Senate confirmation
Water Act's requirements for
established a new "Enforcement First"
hearing, and unveiled in June 1989
pretreatment of industrial wastewaters.
priority for Superfund to maximize
private party contributions to clean up
spells out the enforcement-first theme
Federal Facilities Cleanup. The
Superfund sites. He created 500 new
and calls for these actions:
Administration requested a 21-percent
Superfund enforcement positions
Enforcement First. Aggressively
increase in funds for 1992 for cleaning up
throughout the nation. In 1990, for the
toxic waste at federal facilities.
use enforcement to compel more
second year in a row, EPA secured more
than $1 billion in private party
private response.
Appropriation bills provide $440 million
for non-defense cleanups and $2.7 billion
contributions, up almost threefold from
Make Sites Safer. Eliminate
for defense-related cleanups.
1988.
quickly all immediate threats to public
The President's 1992 budget request for
health or the environment.
Compliance Agreements at Federal
Superfund provides $1.75 billion, an
Facilities. One hundred thirty-five
increase of $143 million-or 8 percent-
Set Priorities. Address worst
cleanup and compliance agreements
over the 1991 appropriated level. This
valued at over $60 billion have been
problems at the worst sites. Pursue
increase recognizes EPA's continuing
reached since 1987 with federal facilities.
incremental cleanup of problems
progress in addressing Superfund
Agreements were reached for 32 facilities
posing the greatest risk.
problems and fuels its stepped-up
in 1989 and 45 more in 1990--including
emphasis on enforcement.
Harness Technology. Bring new
agreements to clean up federal hazardous
Statistics on responsible party activities
waste sites and bring federal sites into
technology to bear on cleaning up
show a renewed emphasis on "polluter
hazardous waste contamination.
compliance with hazardous waste and
pays":
water quality regulations.
Orders Issued. One hundred thirty-one
Hanford, Washington. In Hanford,
orders were issued requiring responsible
Washington a multi-billion dollar cleanup
parties to perform cleanup activities in
agreement was reached in 1989 with the
Dramatic Increase
1990--a 31-percent increase over 1989.
Department of Energy and the State of
in Responsible Party Payment
Washington to begin the thirty-year
Clean-Up. Sites where responsible
1400
Cost of work $ millions
chemical and radioactive waste cleanup
parties have started cleanup work is up
effort there. Similar agreements are in
from 46 percent in 1989 to 59 percent in
place at DOE's Fernald, Ohio, Lawrence
1200
1990.
Livermore National Labs, and Mound
facilities in Miamisburg, Ohio.
Referrals. In 1990, EPA referred 79
cases worth an estimated $185 million to
1000
Rocky Flats, Colorado. EPA, the
the Department of Justice to recover
Department of Energy, and the Colorado
government cleanup costs from
Department of Health agreed to a cleanup
responsible parties. The Agency also won
process for the Rocky Flats nuclear
800
the first jury trial of its type awarding
weapons plant in Golden, Colorado.
punitive damages of $2.3 million--triple
the cost of government cleanup--in a
federal court in Georgia.
600
400
200
1987
1988
1989
1990
10
"The final principle is that existing environmental laws will be vigorously and firmly
enforced. Our message about environmental law is simple: polluters will pay."
-- President George Bush, Washington, D.C., June 8, 1989
EPA directed enforcement activities to
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
correct particular pollution problems:
Act. Imposed 331 administrative
Rodenticide Act. In 1990, EPA began a
compliance orders and $2.5 million in
comprehensive program to enforce the
Chesapeake Bay. EPA and the states of
penalties in 1989. In 1990, 302 orders were
export provisions of FIFRA, the law that
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia
issued with $2.8 million in penalties.
regulates pesticide use. Twenty-six
levied penalties in May 1990 totalling
States also are increasing RCRA
pesticide producers were targeted for
$230,000 against public and private
enforcement activities--794 in 1988, 1181
inspection and complaints already have
facilities charged with violating water
in 1989, 1331 in 1990.
been filed against nine for unlawful
discharge permits protecting the
export of pesticides.
Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Toxic Substances Control Act. In 1989,
EPA issued 415 administrative actions
PCB Contamination. In enforcing the
and collected $4.2 million in penalties; in
Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA and
1990, 531 actions brought over $25 million
the Department of Justice in 1990
in penalties.
negotiated a $66 million settlement for
cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyls
Community Right-To-Know. EPA issued
(PCB) contamination and restoration in
134 administrative complaints under the
New Bedford Harbor.
Emergency Planning/Community Right-
To-Know Act (EPCRA) with proposed
The Agency also achieved significant
penalties of $6.9 million in 1989. Last
results with administrative compliance
year, the Agency filed 237 administrative
orders under federal statutes:
complaints with proposed penalties of
$12.5 million--representing a 77-percent
increase in filings and an 81-percent
increase in penalties.
Spotlight
New Approaches to Enforcement
The Agency is exploring new
Lawsuits drawing on the Clean
show: in August 1990, a company
strategies for enforcement to
Air Act, Clean Water Act, and
paid a reduced penalty for new
obtain maximum environmental
Resource Conservation and
chemical violations in exchange for
benefits from each action taken.
Recovery Act were filed by EPA's
the purchase and installation of a
For instance, rather than enforcing
Chicago regional office as part of
solvent recycling system that
a violation in only one
the Great Lakes Action Plan. The
halves emissions of an unregulated
medium-such as water or
charges, against two steel
stratospheric ozone-depleting
air-EPA is applying the concept
manufacturers and a metal
substance and a human
of multi-media enforcement. In
finishing company, were for air,
carcinogen. In another case, an
October 1990, the Agency
water, and land pollution affecting
administrative penalty for failure
announced that it was establishing
the Grand Calumet River area near
to report a new chemical was
a major initiative to consolidate
Gary, Indiana.
reduced in June 1990 in exchange
air, water, and hazardous waste
The Agency also has begun a
for installation of a pollution
violations into a single complaint.
new pollution prevention
prevention project for filtration
Moreover, its initial efforts would
enforcement initiative under the
and recycling of wastes.
be targeted at protecting a specific
Toxic Substances Control Act.
ecosystem--the Great Lakes.
Here, too, there are results to
11
REDUCING RISKS
Relative Risk
Report
Shortly after he took office early in 1989,
EPA Administrator Reilly asked the
Agency's independent Science Advisory
Board to take on a seminal task: assess
the problems that pose the most serious
threats to human health and the
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Congress passed a
environment using the risk concept.
number of important environmental laws--for air
Moreover, he asked the Board to suggest
and water, pesticides, radiation, medical waste,
how EPA can improve its efforts--with
Superfund, drinking water, and many more. Under
Congress and the rest of the country--to
these laws, environmental progress has been
reduce these environmental threats.
The results are contained in Reducing
significant, measurable and indisputable.
Risk: Setting Priorities and Strategies for
The limits to this piecemeal approach to
Environmental Protection, released in
environmental protection were less apparent during
September 1990. The report's first and
the early years of EPA. Then the problems were
most basic recommendation is that we
belching smokestacks, dirty cars, filthy streams and
must do a better job of setting priorities.
Other recommendations call for devoting
rivers. Progress could readily be achieved, for
more attention to risk reduction and
example, by targeting facilities with obvious
pollution prevention and placing stronger
problems.
emphasis on the protection of natural
Today the environmental challenges are more
systems. Because the report's findings
daunting and the sources of pollution more diffuse,
will help set the course for EPA action in
from pollution in the household to pesticide residues
years to come, the Agency is conducting
an aggressive outreach program
in food to growing threats to the planet's
nationwide to publicize its
atmosphere, climate, and natural systems. These
recommendations.
challenges call for new approaches that target scarce
resources to the greatest risks to natural systems
and to human health.
12
Clean Air Act
Amendments
In the summer of 1989, President Bush
offered a sweeping legislative proposal to
Reducing Risk:
clean the nation's air. Besides breaking a
Highlights of the new
Setting Priorities and Strategies
13-year Congressional deadlock, the
Clean Air Act:
for Environmental Protection
proposal sought to integrate
environmental and economic objectives.
Acid Rain. 10-million-ton annual
Recommendations to EPA
Approximately one and a half years later,
reduction of sulfur dioxide from 1980
the President signed the Clean Air Act
levels, primarily from utilities; caps
Target environmental
Amendments of 1990 into law.
annual utility SO2 emissions
protection efforts to opportunities
The new law is the most significant air
permanently at approximately 8.9
for the greatest risk reduction.
pollution legislation in our nation's
million tons by 2000; reductions
Give as much importance to
history. Its successful implementation is a
accomplished in two phases--1995 and
reducing ecological risk as to
priority for the President and the Agency.
2000; nitrogen oxides reduced by 2
reducing human health risk.
While the task is formidable, the benefits
million tons from projected year 2000
are enormous: healthier air for all to
levels.
Improve methodologies that
breathe, reduced respiratory illnesses and
support the assessment,
Urban Air Pollution. All areas of
cancer, cleaner factories, fuels, and cars,
comparison, and reduction of
the country with air quality
improved visibility, more efficient energy
problems will have to show steady,
different environmental risks.
use, and restored and preserved natural
tangible progress on attaining air
Strategic planning and the
systems.
quality standards. Most cities will
budget process should reflect
meet these standards in 10 years.
risk-based priorities.
Autos, Light Trucks. New
restrictions to reduce tailpipe
The nation as a whole should
emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon
make greater use of all the tools
monoxide and nitrogen oxides by
available to reduce risk.
40 percent from current levels,
beginning with 1994 model year;
Pollution prevention should be
new carbon monoxide standards
emphasized as the preferred
option for reducing risk.
Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Cut
required in cold temperature
conditions.
by Ten Million Tons
Integrate environmental
Clean Fuels. Pollution reductions
considerations as well as
30
Millions of tons SO2
from gasoline and diesel fuels also
economic concerns into the
required. Cities with worst ozone
broader aspects of public policy.
problems in 1995 to require cleaner
"reformulated" gasoline, with other
Improve public understanding
cities allowed to "opt in"; cities
of environmental risks and train
with carbon monoxide problems
a professional workforce to help
required to sell oxygenated fuels
reduce them.
such as gasohol during winter
20
months starting in 1992; pilot clean
Develop improved analytical
fuels program in California and
methods to value natural
other problem cities; requires
resources and to account for
percentage reductions each year to
long-term environmental effects
assure tangible progress.
in economic analyses.
Air Toxics. Toxic air reductions of
over 75 percent within 10 years;
Science Advisory Board
EPA to establish technology
September, 1990
standards for 41 industrial source
10
categories by the end of 1992;
toughter standards required later if
significant residual risk remains.
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Acid Rain Program: Under the new Clean Air Act,
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired electric
utilities, the main contributor to acid rain, will be cut
by 10 million tons by the turn of the century.
13
REDUCING RISKS
Regulations
to Reduce Risk
In the last two years, EPA has built a
chlorinated organics and to restrict land
record of steady, far-reaching regulatory
application of pulp and paper sludge.
decisions to reduce risk under almost
every environmental statute:
Pesticide Actions. In the past two
years, EPA built on progress already
Asbestos Ban. In 1989, EPA broke a 10-
initiated by industry to reduce risk from
year stalemate to ban almost all uses of
pesticides and took additional steps:
asbestos in the U.S., in stages, over the
next six years, including new product
Alar. In 1989, the Agency negotiated an
manufacture, imports, and processing.
agreement to withdraw daminozide
The action affects at least 94 percent of
(trade name, Alar) from the market
U.S. production and imports of asbestos,
voluntarily. In 1990, EPA proposed
a known human carcinogen.
prohibition on all sales and distribution
of Alar products labeled for use on food
Benzene Emissions. Two new rules
crops.
were issued in 1989 and 1990 to cut
29,000 tons of cancer-causing benzene
R-11, Compound 1080, EBDC,
annually from industrial sources,
Diazinon. In June 1990, an active
reducing their emissions by more than 90
ingredient in insect repellents--R-11--
percent.
was canceled. All uses of Compound
1080 except livestock protection collars
Gasoline Volatility. EPA set final rules
were canceled in September 1990. EPA
in 1990 to lower gasoline volatility levels
proposed canceling 45 food crop uses
during summer months to reduce smog
for three EBDC pesticides and all food
formation. This single action will cut
uses for a fourth in December 1989,
emissions of volatile organic compounds--
and, in July 1990, reaffirmed an earlier
prevalent in urban smog--by almost 7
decision to cancel diazinon use on golf
percent nationally. Administrator Reilly
courses and sod farms.
indicated his intention to require a second
Asbestos Use Decline
reduction with similar benefits in 1992.
Cutting Sulfur in Diesel Fuel. Last
265,000
(U.S. Asbestos Consumption in Tons)
year, the Agency required an 80-percent
Lead Emissions
(1984)
reduction of sulfur in diesel fuel,
beginning in 1993, to make diesel vehicles
60 Thousands of metric tons
including buses and trucks operate more
cleanly.
Dioxin in Paper. In April 1990, EPA
announced a program that would include
rulemaking to establish industrial
discharge standards for dioxin and
-40
84,000
(1987)
70,000 est
(1993)
-20
Asbestos use has declined dramatically in recent years and will fall even
6,000.est
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
further as EPA has banned 94 percent of all future asbestos uses by 1996. (1996)
Total lead emissions in thousands of metric tons
from all sources including transportation, fuel
14
combustion, industrial processes and solid waste.
"Through millions of individual decisions--simple, everyday personal choices--we are
determining the fate of the Earth. So the conclusion is also simple: we are all responsible and it's
surprisingly easy to move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution."
-- President George Bush, Spokane, Washington, September 1989
Spotlight:
Market Incentives
The traditional approach to
control; they also included
introduction of alternative
environmental protection has
provisions to supplement
chemicals and processes. EPA
brought us a long way; but by
traditional command-and-control
believes the tax was in part
themselves, technology-based
regulations with flexible, market-
responsible for domestic
prescriptive regulations are no
based programs. Under the law,
production of CFCs being 23
longer sufficient to do the job at
economic incentives are
percent below the allowable level
hand. In some cases, they may
encouraged such as marketable
in the first freeze-control period.
actually be counterproductive,
permits to limit overall sulfur
EPA will not shy from setting
inhibiting innovation and
dioxide emissions--a precursor of
societal goals and standards; but,
discouraging regulated industries
acid rain. Thus, the nation can
increasingly, the Agency will defer
from going beyond minimum legal
achieve significant improvements
to businesses, to company
requirements.
in air quality in the most cost-
executives and to plant managers,
Incentives harnessing the
effective way possible. Other
to decide upon technologies and
power of the marketplace on
measures allow utilities the
the allocation of resources. These
behalf of environmental protection
flexibility to choose the most
are business decisions, and so long
can effectively complement
economic means to reduce sulfur
as they are made with due regard
traditional regulations. The Bush
dioxide emissions, and the ability
for the needs and constraints of
Administration is committed to
to bank and trade permits.
the environment, they should be
pursuing more integrated ways to
Another excellent example is
made by business executives.
link continued economic growth
the excise tax placed on most sales
Experienced technical people can
and environmental improvement.
of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
find ways to improve products,
Perhaps the clearest expression so
other chemicals which deplete the
cut waste, and achieve
far of this link between
ozone layer. The tax, which began
environmental advantages at a
environmental protection and
in 1990, limits production and
lower cost than anyone could
economic health is the new Clean
consumption by increasing the
predict. That is the best way to
Air Act.
costs of the substances. This, in
link competitiveness and economic
The new 1990 law is largely
turn, offers incentives for firms to
growth on the one hand, and
based on President Bush's
shift away from these chemicals,
environmental quality on the
proposals, which were not only
increases recycling activities, and
other.
sensitive to the costs of pollution
provides market incentive for the
Wells in the United States
Community Water System Wells
Rural Domestic Wells
Without Nitrate or Pesticides
44.6%
With Nitrate Only - 53.8%
With Nitrate
With Nitrate Only
and Pesticides
Without Nitrate
With Nitrate and
45.0%
7.1%
or Pesticides
Pesticides - 3.2%
42.0%
With Pesticides Only
With Pesticides Only
3.3%
1.0%
15
REDUCING RISKS
Additional
Accomplishments
Urban Air Pollution. EPA took several
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks.
other actions to reduce urban air
More than 5 million underground tanks
pollution from industrial and
across the nation store petroleum and
transportation sources:
other hazardous chemicals beneath gas
stations and other facilities. Leaking tanks
Chemical Plants. Issued rules in June
can cause fires and explosions and
1990 to reduce by 70 percent smog-
contaminate drinking water supplies.
forming emissions from new or
modified synthetic organic chemical
Corrective Actions. During 1989 and
plants.
1990, states and private parties began
corrective actions at over 30,000 sites
Hazardous Waste Facilities. Issued
and completed them at almost 10,000
rules in June 1990 to reduce volatile
sites.
organic compound emissions from
process vents and equipment leaks at
Funds for Cleanups. States spent $34
hazardous waste treatment, storage, and
million in 1989 and $46 million in 1990
disposal facilities by over three-quarters,
from the Leaking Underground Storage
or by about 29,000 tons per year
Tank trust fund to pay for corrective
nationally.
actions.
Carbon Monoxide Emissions. Proposed
Other Pesticides Actions.
new auto emission standards in
September 1990 to reduce carbon
Survey of Drinking Water Wells. In
monoxide emissions from automobiles
1990, EPA completed the first national
in cold temperatures by up to 29
survey of 127 pesticides and nitrates in
percent.
drinking water wells. This information
is being used to evaluate regulatory and
Volatile Organic Compounds.
state-specific approaches to protect
Proposed new rules in January 1990 to
drinking water from pesticide pollution.
cut volatile organic compound
emissions by about 5 percent nationally
New Rules Affecting Drinking Water.
from autos and light trucks by reducing
In 1990, the Agency issued rules to
running loss and evaporative emissions.
regulate 26 pesticides and 36 other
contaminants in drinking water. When
Toxic Air Pollutants. EPA took several
effective, the rules will more than
actions to reduce public exposure to toxic
double the number of pollutants subject
air pollutants:
to federal standards.
Municipal Incinerators. Set new
Cancellations, Dinoseb. During 1989
standards in January 1991 to cut air
and 1990, EPA canceled approximately
emissions by 90 percent from both new
20,000 pesticide products for failure to
and existing municipal waste
pay new annual registration
incinerators by placing limits on toxic
maintenance fees or to supply required
metals, toxic organics, and acid gases.
scientific data. The Agency also
destroyed one-half million gallons of
Radionuclide Emissions. Set new rules
dinoseb as well as the last remaining
in December 1989 for controlling
stocks of EDB.
radioactive emissions from certain
industrial facilities, weapons plants, and
Alternatives. Registered 10 new
uranium mines.
biologically-based pesticides in 1989 and
1990--representing almost one-third of
Chromium Use Eliminated. In January
all new registrations within last two
1990, EPA eliminated the use of
years.
hexavalent chromium, a known
carcinogen, in an estimated 37,000
Certification and Training Regulations.
commercial air conditioning units;
Proposed revisions in October 1990 to
preventing 34 tons of chromium air
strengthen rules governing certification
pollution emissions annually.
and training of "restricted use"
pesticides applicators.
16
"The significant new progress we need is with ourselves--our lifestyles,
our energy use, the goods we buy and use, and the waste we generate."
-- William K. Reilly, National Press Club, September 26, 1990
Food Safety Reform.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). EPA
Corrective Action. New health-based
put into effect new regulations in
standards and corrective procedures
Food Safety Plan. EPA collaborated
December 1989 that establish a "cradle-
were proposed in July 1990 for
with the Food and Drug Administration
to-grave" tracking and reporting system
designing remedies and cleanup at
and the Department of Agriculture on
to ensure safe storage and disposal.
approximately 4,000 operating
the President's plan for food safety
hazardous waste facilities nationwide,
reform. The plan would enhance EPA's
Asbestos. In the two-year period 1989-
including federal sites.
ability to take swift action to cancel
1990, EPA awarded $88 million to help
problem pesticides by cutting in half the
495 needy primary and secondary
Tracking Medical Wastes. EPA
time it takes to cancel a bad pesticide;
schools abate serious asbestos hazards.
continued the two-year pilot tracking
imposing tougher penalties and
program to assure proper disposal of
increased record-keeping requirements;
Mercury in Paint. A voluntary
medical wastes and awarded $2.5
and establishing national uniformity for
agreement was negotiated in June 1990
million in grants to nine states for
new pesticide tolerances unless local
with the paints and coatings industry to
implementing medical waste programs.
circumstances argued otherwise.
eliminate mercury from interior paints
and to label mercury-containing exterior
Blueprint for Superfund Cleanups.
1990 Farm Bill. With the Department of
paints with a warning.
Finalized the National Contingency Plan
Agriculture and Congress, EPA
in February 1990, emphasizing quick
developed strategies to establish
Indoor Air Pollution. Growing
action to control immediate dangers,
landmark legislation that integrates
scientific evidence indicates that air
expanded use of in-place treatment
environmental and agricultural goals:
within homes and other buildings can be
technologies, increased public
more seriously polluted than outdoor air,
participation, and improved processes
Wetlands. A wetlands reserve program
even in the largest and most
for selecting cleanup remedies.
of one million acres providing long-
industrialized cities.
term and permanent asements on
Evaluating Superfund Sites. In
farmland restored to wetlands;
Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
November 1990, EPA revised the
Prepared risk assessment proposing
Hazard Ranking System--the criterion
Pesticide Registrations. Increased
passive smoking as a known carcinogen
used to evaluate potential Superfund
funding for the program to support
for review by Agency's Science
sites--to include factors on biological
registrations of pesticides used on
Advisory Board.
and soil contamination impacts.
"minor" or specialty crops; and
State Radon Surveys. Released survey
Citizen Grants. EPA streamlined
Management Practices. A water quality
results in October 1990 for California,
procedures for awarding citizen grants
incentive program to provide funding
Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska,
to community groups to help them
and technical assistance to farmers to
Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
participate in Superfund cleanup
improve pesticide and nutrient
and South Carolina showing elevated
activities.
management practices and reduce run-
radon levels in each of the nine states.
off and leaching problems.
One in five homes has elevated
screening levels in the 34 states tested
Improving Water Quality.
Reducing Exposure to Toxic
so far.
Substances.
Storm Water Permits. Finalized Clean
Public Education. Set up national
Water Act rules in November 1990
Lead. In February 1991, EPA announced
hotline, 1-800-USA-RADON, and made
describing how 100,000 industrial
a comprehensive strategy to reduce lead
available a list of over 1,000 EPA-
facilities, 173 cities and 47 counties can
exposure through a series of actions and
approved radon contractors nationwide.
obtain permits for discharging storm
regulatory initiatives that will be phased
With the Advertising Council, EPA
water into municipal sewage systems.
in over this next year.
organized a national media campaign to
urge homeowners to test and fix radon
Guidelines and training courses on lead
problems.
Protecting Drinking Water Supplies.
paint abatement are being developed
EPA set new standards in June 1989 to
with the Department of Housing and
Managing Hazardous Wastes.
limit pollutants in public drinking water
Urban Development.
through monitoring and application of
Restricting Land Disposal. Finalized
additional treatment technologies.
Awarded $300,000 grant to Alliance to
regulations in May 1990 that restrict
End Childhood Lead Poisoning for
land disposal of hundreds of untreated
development of model community
wastes. Treatment standards are
primary prevention program.
designed to reduce toxicity of wastes,
prevent future ground-water
contamination, and assure safe
management.
17
PROTECTING
NATURAL RESOURCES
Wetlands
Approximatel half of the wetlands
originally in the contiguous United States
have been lost since the time of the
European settlement. In the two decades
between 1955 and 1975 alone, more than
11 million acres were lost and other
Protecting the nation's natural resources--estuaries
wetlands have been so degraded by
and wetlands, forests, soils, water bodies, and the
pollution and hydrological changes that
like-is a priority for the Bush Administration. The
they no longer perform many of their
deterioration of these ecosystems became all too
natural functions.
apparent in the summers of 1988 and 1989, when
Nebraska's Rainwater Basin, a vital link
newspapers and television carried stories of
in America's migratory flyway, has lost
over 90 percent of its wetlands. And in
swimmers fleeing beaches littered with medical
North Dakota, the prairie potholes that
waste and contaminated with bacteria.
remain are crowded with ducks and
One-third of the nation's shellfish beds are closed
geese battling for nesting sites, struggling
due to pollution, wreaking economic as well as
to survive against the onslaught of
environmental hardships. Twenty-five percent of
disease and predators that find easy sport
in the cramped breeding grounds. Today
monitored estuaries contain elevated levels of toxic
the terrible toll of generations of
substances, and eutrophication-excessive plant
uninformed, unthinking, and incremental
growth due to the presence of run-off nutrients--is
destruction of wetlands is all too clear.
increasing the number of "dead zones" where fish
This year, EP1
has increased its
spending for wetlands programs 44
cannot survive. Coastal fisheries, wildlife, and
percent--for early identification of
waterfowl populations have declined while
valuable wetlands areas, for enhancing
population and industrial growth along the coasts
state and local grassroots programs, and
have increased dramatically. More than 120 million
for developing the knowledge and
Americans now live within 50 miles of the shore.
Recognizing the grave and sometimes
irreversible price being paid, EPA has intensified its
efforts to safeguard these critical ecosystems. Within
Top Ten Pollutants in Estuaries
its broad plan to institute policies and practices that
-50
% impaired sq. miles affected by each pollutant
reflect respect for the fragility of ecosystems
everywhere, the Agency has targeted several
systems for special attention: the Great Lakes,
Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and several
-40
others. In these areas-which may become models for
actions elsewhere-we are working in partnership
with local government officials, businesses, and
concerned citizens to use our new risk-based, multi-
-30
media approach to take action and get solid, lasting
results.
-20
NUTRIENTS
PATHOGENS
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT
OIL & GREASE
METALS
SILTATION
-10
UNKNOWN TOXICS
PRIORITY ORGANICS
PESTICIDES
PH
18
technical know-how to prevent further
Rhode Island. EPA prohibited the use
deterioration.
of Big River, Mishnock River, their
The Agency also is working with the
tributaries, and adjacent wetlands as a
Army Corps of Engineers to better
site for the proposed Big River water
administer Section 404 of the Clean
supply reservoir in Kent County. The
Water Act, the major federal program
decision saved 575 acres of exceptional
protecting wetlands for which we share
wetlands, 17 miles of free-flowing cold
responsibility. In February 1990, EPA and
water streams, 10 ponds and 2,500 acres
the Corps signed an agreement aimed at
of primarily forested uplands.
mitigating wetlands loss, and last
September, the Army Corps issued new
Colorado. EPA vetoed the proposed
regulatory guidance removing "prior
Two Forks dam and reservoir project on
converted" croplands from permitting
the South Platte River, citing adverse
requirements.
environmental effects and viable
EPA has veto authority to stop projects
alternatives. This action saved over 14
moving ahead that could endanger
miles of a recognized world-class trout
wetlands. This power is not exercised
stream and a prime recreation area within
lightly--when it has to be used, it is a sign
one hour of downtown Denver.
the system is not working. In fact, over
10,000 permits are issued each year, and
Florida. EPA negotiations led to
EPA has vetoed only 11 applications since
revisions of a proposed permit to fill
1972. But when it is a question of
wetlands at the Old Cutler Bay site near
protecting high-value wetlands from
Biscayne National Park, preventing the
irreparable harm or loss, the Agency will
destruction of several acres of important
not hesitate to use its statutory authority,
mangrove wetlands while allowing the
as Congress intended. Several recent
project to go forward.
actions illustrate this resolve:
EPA Coastal Initiatives
Puget Sound
Great Lakes
Oregon Coast
Casco Bay
Massachusetts Bay
Buzzards Bay
Narragansett Bay
San Francisco Bay
Peconic Bay
Salinas River
Long Island Sound
NY/NJ Harbor
New York Bight
Delaware Bay
Santa Monica Bay
Delaware Inland Bays
Chesapeake Bay
Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds
Perdido Bay
Galveston Bay
Indian River Lagoon
Barataria- Louisiana Gulf Wetlandsy of Mexico
Bay
Sarasota Bay
19
PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES
Additional
Great Lakes
Accomplishments
A vast interdependent body of water, the
The new Clean Air Act will help to curb
Oil Pollution Act of 1990. EPA and the
Great Lakes are an especially vulnerable
a major problem the Great Lakes face--
U.S. Coast Guard will be lead agencies for
ecosystem. In this unsurpassed
toxic and acidic air pollutants. But EPA
implementing this August 1990 law to
watershed, EPA is pursuing restoration
also intends to go beyond traditional
facilitate oil-spill prevention activities,
through an assortment of methods. The
regulatory control and enforcement,
improve federal and state preparedness,
need for flexibility is dictated by the
fashioning voluntary agreements with the
set strict liabilities for cleanup costs, and
immense variety and complexity of the
major sources of air pollution to protect
expand oil-pollution research and
watershed itself: Lake Superior, for
these magnificent waters.
development.
example, is remote and relatively
Cooperation is becoming stronger. EPA
underpopulated. Lake Erie, bordering
has drawn up an action plan emphasizing
Pesticides. EPA proposed a new
major urban areas and once choked by
pollution prevention. The plan includes
program in July 1989 to protect
excess vegetation resulting from runoff
targeted reduction in release of toxic
endangered wildlife from effects of
nutrients, is now sporting a variety of fish
chemicals and conventional pollutants in
pesticide use. With help from the Fish
life. But now it is plagued by new
the Great Lakes basin. The plan was
and Wildlife Service and the Department
invaders such as the zebra mussel, an
unveiled in Chicago in April 1991 with
of Agriculture, the program ranks species
exotic species with as yet no predator to
support from Great Lakes governors.
on status, vulnerability, and recovery
check its numbers.
potential.
In this region, a model approach based
on ecological perspectives is taking shape.
EPA is trying to use the most advanced
technology available, including satellite
imagery, to identify the hot spots in the
Great Lakes ecosystem. Through crafting
solutions tailored to local circumstances,
it is addressing persistent problems such
as the deposition of toxic pollutants
through the air and runoff from
agricultural, urban, and other nonpoint
sources of pollution.
Great Lakes Areas of Concern
LAKE SUPERIOR
CANADA
CANADA
US
LAKE HURON
NU
WI
LAKE MICHIGAN
US
CANADA
AKE ONTARIO
MI
NY
MN
LAKE ERIE
IL
IN
OH
PA
More than 40 areas of concern have been identified in the Great Lakes
Region, including loss of habitat, beach closings and restrictions on fish and
wildlife consumption.
20
"Pollution prevention has become the slogan for all EPA programs, from municipal wastewater
treatment to toxic air pollution to stronger, carefully targeted multi-media enforcement strategies to
integrated ecosystem-wide programs, such as our new initiative to clean up the Great Lakes.
William K. Reilly, National Press Club, September 26, 1990
Coastal and Estuary Initiatives.
Nonpoint Source Pollution. In 1990,
Chesapeake Bay to institute pollution
EPA awarded $40 million in first-ever
prevention practices, improve training,
National Estuary Program. On Earth
state grants to implement nonpoint-
establish inspections, and to allocate $50
Day 1990, President Bush announced
source-management programs under
million in Defense Department funds
the addition of Barataria-Terrebonne
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
toward cleanup of facilities on the
Estuarine Complex in Louisiana, Casco
Chesapeake Bay.
Bay in Maine, Indian River Lagoon in
Chesapeake Bay Protection. In
Florida, Massachusetts Bay in
December 1989, Administrator Reilly
Visibility in the Grand Canyon. EPA
Massachusetts, and Tampa Bay in
became chairman of the Chesapeake
proposed rules in 1990 to cut pollution
Florida to EPA's National Estuary
Bay Executive Council. Significant
from a northern Arizona power plant that
Program. A cooperative process has
reductions in phosphorus discharges
contributes significantly to winter
started to develop comprehensive
have been reported and progress has
pollution haze in the Grand Canyon. The
conservation and management plans.
been made in restoring the striped bass
2,250 megawatt coal-fired plant, the
population.
Navajo Generating Station, is one of the
Ocean Dumping. EPA secured 1989
largest electric utilities in the country.
consent agreements to end the practice
The Chesapeake Bay Program's citizen
This marks the first time that the Clean
of ocean dumping of municipal waste
monitoring project has doubled in size
Air Act was invoked to protect visibility.
and debris. Six New Jersey
over the past two years. More than 150
municipalities agreed to end the
trained volunteers collect data for over
Contaminated Fish Advisories. In
practice by March 1991, two New York
100 sites.
November 1990, EPA provided
areas by the end of 1991, and New York
information about fish contamination to
City by June 1992.
In April 1990, Administrator Reilly and
health, fishery, and environmental
Secretary of Defense Cheney signed a
agencies in all states and territories.
cooperative agreement on the
Included were descriptions of federal
procedures for assessing risks, a
bibliography of fish contamination
reports, a list of advisories in effect, and a
draft EPA plan for assisting states with
fish consumption advisories.
Spotlight
Bioremediation
EPA achieved a breakthrough in
hazardous waste sites. Use of
In 1990, the Agency established
using bioremediation--
enzymes for detoxifying
the Bioremediation Action
microorganisms that detoxify soil
organophosphate pesticides in
Committee comprised of
or water--along the shorelines of
soils has also been demonstrated.
government, industry, academic,
Prince William Sound, Alaska after
Research and actual cleanup of
and other representatives to
the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The
soils and aquifers contaminated by
remove barriers to and stimulate
objective of its Alaska
hydrocarbons, phenols, cyanides,
opportunities for uses of
Bioremediation Project was to
and chlorinated solvents such as
bioremediation. Administrator
demonstrate the feasibility of
trichlorethylene have taken place.
Reilly spoke to the biotechnology
cleaning up shorelines through a
In 1988, EPA established a
industry and convened a day-long
focused approach: accelerating the
Biosystems Technology
meeting with top EPA officials to
degradation of oil by applying
Development program which
consider needs and opportunities
fertilizers which, in turn, enhance
addresses groundwater and oil-
to use biotechnology for cleanups.
naturally occurring microbes.
spill cleanup methodology. In
Reilly challenged the
Results on test plots were
addition, several developers of
biotechnology industry to place a
significant: the time of degradation
commercial-scale biological
major new priority through
was cut in half.
processes have applied to the
investment and other business
Microbial treatment also has
Superfund Innovative Technology
plans to "help clean this country
been successfully used both in the
Evaluation program for
up" faster and more cost-
United States and abroad for on-
demonstration evaluation on
effectively than current treatment
site treatment of organic
Superfund wastes.
achieves.
contamination of soils at
21
INTERNATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
Enterprise for the Americas,
Debt-for-Nature Swaps
Public debt renegotiation is a central
element of President Bush's Enterprise-
for-the-Americas initiative, an imaginative
undertaking that links reduction of debt
with investment, trade, and commercial
debt reform. A debt-for-nature component
International leadership is urgently needed to solve
of this project provides a key opportunity
the most pressing global environmental problems.
to focus on the valuable and fast-
Stratospheric ozone depletion, ocean pollution,
disappearing ecosystems of the region.
species extinction, habitat loss, and climate change
The initiative is premised on resuming
are only a few of the complex issues that transcend
economic growth in Latin America and
the Caribbean, where countries owe the
national boundaries. Although по one country can
United States some $12 billion. Linking
singlehandedly solve these problems, the United
the environment to debt renegotiation
States is helping lead the way.
seeks to strengthen the basis for
The Bush Administration is working to safeguard
sustainable growth in these nations.
Participating countries will be able to use
fragile natural resources at home and abroad by
interest payments on the reduced debt to
providing much-needed technical assistance and
fund environmental projects. EPA was
fostering regional and multi-lateral solutions.
appointed the Secretary of the
Together with other nations and international
Environment for the Americas Board,
development organizations, this country is working
which oversees the application of local
currencies generated from debt reduction
to fully phase out ozone-destroying CFCs, negotiate
for environmental purposes.
a framework convention on climate change, and
Debt-for-nature swaps involve
establish a new East European environmental
converting--at a discounted rate--official
center. These cooperative projects reach all corners
or commercial debt payable in foreign
of the globe. At the same time, EPA is training
currency into local currency obligations
and dedicating the resulting local
Peace Corps volunteers to do their part throughout
currency proceeds to environmental
the world in appropriate pesticides management,
projects. Swaps can involve projects such
ground-water protection, and environmentally-
as acquisition or management of land for
sound forestry practices.
parks or nature reserves to protect fragile,
valuable, or endangered ecosystems. They
also may be used for pollution prevention
or cleanup.
To date, nongovernmental organizations
in the United States have successfully
negotiated 15 swaps in eight countries
involving commercial debt with a face
value of nearly $100 million--in Latin
America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
22
Budapest Center -
Protecting
Addressing Problems of
Stratospheric Ozone
Eastern Europe
In March 1989, President Bush proposed
Environmental conditions in Eastern
that the United States fully phase out
Europe provide clear confirmation of the
production and use of chemicals that
relationship between a healthy
contribute to the destruction of the
environment and a healthy economy.
stratospheric ozone layer, which shields
Polish officials estimate that
the earth from ultraviolet radiation's
environmental contamination represents a
harmful effects on humans and the
drag on Poland's GNP of as much as 15
environment.
percent. That country's Vistula River is so
The United States is taking an active
corrosive it is useless over 80 percent of
part in international efforts to strengthen
its length even for cooling machinery.
the Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Sulfur dioxide levels in Krakow are so
Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Protocol
high that 500-year-old statues and
was adopted in 1987 and has been ratified
monuments have crumbled in just 40
by almost 70 nations. During a June 1990
years. The nation is plagued by high rates
meeting in London, the Protocol Parties
of infant mortality, lung disorders, worker
agreed to phase out chlorofluorocarbons
absenteeism, and premature deaths, with
(CFCs), carbon tetrachloride, and
Global CFC Production 1931 - 2010
vast land areas contaminated by heavy
nonessential uses of halons by the end of
metal pollution.
the century, and to phase out methyl
1400 Weighted CFC Production Million kg
Delivering on a commitment by
chloroform by 2005.
President Bush to take action on
To help developing countries finance
addressing the environmental problems
the transition from ozone-depleting
-1200
not only of Poland but all of Eastern
chemicals, the United States is
Europe, EPA Administrator Reilly opened
contributing to the Montreal Protocol
an independent, nongovernmental
Multilateral Fund. The U.S. contribution
-1000
regional center in Budapest, Hungary in
will be 25 percent of the total $160 to
September 1990. This project represents a
$240-million fund, more than double that
new venture in institution-building for
of any other country. EPA represents the
emerging East European democracies, and
United States on the executive committee.
800
it promises to strengthen greatly the
environmental policies of the region's
countries. Regional problems are being
600
dealt with through education, training,
data collection and dissemination, and by
strengthening existing environmental
-400
protection networks.
Implementation
of London
200
Amendments
to the
Montreal Protocol
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
23
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Spotlight
Global Forest Agreement
New data suggest tropical forests
EPA is working with the State
are being lost twice as fast as had
Department, the Department of
been believed; many forests will
Agriculture, and other agencies to
have disappeared within 10 to 15
carry the proposal forward with
years at present rates of
the goal that the agreement be
destruction. Concern for the rapid
signed at the United Nations
loss of the great forest systems
Conference on Environment and
worldwide led the President to
Development in Brazil in 1992. At
propose an agreement on forestry
a preparatory meeting for the
at the G-7 Economic Summit in
conference held in February 1991,
July of 1990. The agreement
participants discussed the merits
addresses world deforestation of
of market incentives and debt-for-
both temperate and tropical
forest swaps as possible tools for
rainforests, mapping and
forest protection.
monitoring research, training, and
technical assistance.
Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure*
2888
Original
Present
08
*Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, 1988
24
"President Bush has moved the environment from the margins to the mainstream. As a result, the
opportunities for genuine environmental progress have never been greater than they are today."
-- William K. Reilly, National Press Club, September 26, 1990
Additional Highlights
Basel Convention. In March 1990, the
Czech and Slovak Federated Republic.
Trade Initiatives and Global
United States signed the Basel Convention
EPA, the Agency for International
Standards.
on the Transboundary Movement of
Development (AID), the World Bank,
Waste, sponsored by the United Nations
and U.S. private-sector officials joined
Pesticides Precautions Abroad. An
Environment Program. This 80-country
the Czech government in a joint study
expanded EPA program was proposed
initiative requires notice of proposed
assessing environmental conditions in
for notifying other countries of U.S.
hazardous waste shipments and prior
the country. The goal is to determine
pesticide regulatory actions. New
written consent, thus helping to ensure
priorities for action.
labelling requirements for exported
that waste will be managed in an
pesticides also were proposed.
"environmentally sound manner" by the
Thailand. EPA and AID released a
receiving country.
study comparing a number of
Food Safety. Through negotiations
environmental health risks facing
sponsored by the General Agreement on
Canada. EPA helped the State
Bangkok. The project was the first-ever
Tariffs and Trade, the United States
Department negotiate and finalize an air
application abroad of EPA's comparative
helped develop an international
quality accord that will fight acid rain by
risk technique--used to help set priorities
proposal to harmonize food safety
reducing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
given limited resources.
standards, and to work for both healthy
oxide emissions. President Bush and
trade conditions and a safe U.S. food
Prime Minister Mulroney signed this
Morocco. Dispatched technical advisors
supply.
historic agreement in March 1991.
to Moroccan government to assist in
dealing with a February 1990 oil spill
International Organizations.
Mexico.
threatening the Morocco coast.
OECD. The United States played a
Environmental Issues a Priority. At
Soviet Union.
major role in bringing about an
Secretary of State Baker's invitation,
international cooperative effort to share
EPA is now part of the annual
New Projects. During 1990, the
responsibilities for testing chemicals.
binational meeting with Mexico.
U.S./U.S.S.R. Environmental Agreement
The agreement was signed by 24
was expanded to include more than 55
member countries of the Organization
Mexico City. EPA participated in the
projects focusing on issues such as
of Economic Cooperation and
1989 Mexico City Metropolitan Zone
pollution prevention, halon reduction,
Development in April 1990.
Agreement, which calls for EPA's help
and Arctic accumulation of air toxics.
in protecting and improving the
World Bank. In November 1990, the
environment in Mexico City.
Chemical Spill Assistance. The United
United States announced its support for
States dispatched hazardous-spill
the World Bank Global Environment
Border Issues. EPA is collaborating
experts to Latvia in quick response to a
Facility, known as the "Green Fund."
with its Mexican counterpart, SEDUE,
chemical spill that threatened drinking
The fund will help developing countries
on border issues including response to
water supplies in November 1990.
address global environmental problems.
chemical emergencies. The two
Soviet officials called the EPA
A contribution of up to $150 million
countries have proposed funding
assistance, "The most important
over three years has been pledged by
construction of new wastewater
American visit since Lindbergh."
the Administration.
treatment plants for Tijuana, Mexico
and Nogales, Arizona.
Conference. EPA helped support the
first-ever U.S.-Soviet conference for
Eastern, Central Europe.
non-governmental environmental
organizations in Moscow in March 1991.
Technical Assistance. The United States
initiated technical assistance programs
Brazil. Administrator Reilly and Brazil's
to improve wastewater treatment and
Secretary of Environment Lutzenberger
air quality monitoring in Krakow,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Poland and helped establish energy
on Environmental Cooperation in
efficiency centers in Warsaw and
November 1990.
Prague.
Emergency Preparedness. A U.S.-
Hungarian Workshop took place on
Chemical Emergency Preparedness,
Response, and Prevention in Veszprem,
Hungary in September 1990. All Eastern
and Central European countries
participated.
25
SOUND SCIENCE
Climate Change Research
EPA has carried out some of the seminal
research on the effects of climate change
and possible responses to it. The Agency
is a major participant in the U.S. Global
Change Research program, set up to
Science can lend much-needed coherence, order, and
provide a sound scientific basis for
developing national and international
integrity to the often costly and controversial
policy on global change, including climate
decisions that EPA must make. Science also can
change. Together with the Department of
offer solutions-technologies that achieve low
Energy and the Council of Economic
emission rates through the application of pollution-
Advisors, EPA is analyzing possible
prevention principles, or technologies that achieve
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
under existing federal programs.
high levels of control at minimal energy and
The Agency's primary focus is on the
economic cost.
assessment, evaluation, and prediction of
EPA's research laboratories located throughout
ecological and environmental
the country perform research and development
consequences of global change. EPA
activities across the environmental spectrum. The
scientists evaluate processes and quantify
relative contributions of man-made and
Agency's research program is being strengthened to
biological sources of trace gases, quantify
ensure decisions are based on scientifically sound
and model the consequences of climate
data and analyses. Major budget increases are
change on ecosystems and their
planned for strengthening research into areas most
closely associated with reducing health and
ecological risk-indoor air pollution, electromagnetic
radiation, and bioremediation of wastes. Research is
Federal Funding
also being intensified in other areas, such as
for Global Change Research
assessing exposure and determining neurotoxic and
1200 $ millions
reproductive effects of exposure to different types of
pollutants.
1000
800
600
400
200
1989
1990
1991
1992
Source: U.S. Office of Management & Budget
In Fiscal Year 1992, the Administration plans to
invest almost $1.2 billion in global change research,
doubling what was committed to the research
program in 1990. EPA plays a vital role in the overall
research effort.
26
The Science Advisory Board -
EPA's Objective Advisor
subsequent feedback to the atmosphere,
For more than a decade, the Science
and examine the interaction of these gases
Advisory Board (SAB) of EPA has
in the atmosphere. This research will
provided the Agency with unbiased
assist in providing process-level
critical thinking on a variety of scientific
understanding and modeling capabilities
issues related to the environment. Its job
to predict effects on regional scales.
is to provide the best technical and
The United States has been spending
scientific knowledge available on the
hundreds of millions of dollars a year to
relative risks posed by environmental
learn more about the scope, causes,
problems and the options available to
effects, and responses to potential climate
reduce these risks.
change. EPA has invested $9.6 million in
The Board is comprised of
1989 and $15 million in 1990--more than a
approximately 60 full-time members and
50-percent increase--in major research
250 consultants from outside the Agency
efforts to examine the causes and effects
and the U.S. government--scientists,
alone of climate change and the
engineers, and other experts. Its role has
implications for future policy. This year,
become more essential as the number and
the Bush Administration will spend $1
complexity of demands on EPA have
billion in research and monitoring to
grown. Perhaps its most significant
reduce scientific and economic
undertaking in recent years was the 1989-
uncertainties relating to global change--up
1990 study to determine which issues
57 percent from 1990 levels.
should be environmental priorities for the
Nor is the Administration just waiting
Agency. Results are published in a
for the science to jell. In February 1991,
capstone report, Reducing Risk: Setting
President Bush hosted the opening
Priorities and Strategies for Environmental
session of international negotiations on a
Protection.
framework climate-change convention.
The SAB has played a critical role in
Domestically, the Administration already
several other EPA initiatives during the
Projected U.S.
is committed to a series of actions that
past several years. Based on Board
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
make sense for a number of reasons and
recommendations in the late 1980s, the
will yield benefits whether or not climate
Agency reevaluated its environmental and
2500
change proves to be a problem of serious
health research programs, which lead to a
Millions of metric tons carbon equivalents
consequence.
major new "core research" approach in
By passing a new Clean Air Act,
1989 for building the Agency's
phasing out CFCs, carrying out the
information base in four key areas--
2000
President's reforestation initiative to plant
ecological risk assessment; health risk
a billion trees a year over the next
assessment; risk reduction; and
decade, and other measures, including
exploratory grants and research centers.
those in the National Energy Strategy--
In 1990, the SAB reviewed an EPA
that is, as a result of actions already taken
report on electromagnetic fields that
-1500
or planned--the United States should hold
evaluates data on the relationship
its greenhouse gas emissions
between exposure to this phenomenon
approximately at or below current levels
and cancer in humans. In separate
for the foreseeable future. In 2030, these
projects, the SAB is reviewing reports on
actions will reduce emissions by one-third
1000
the potential carcinogenicity of
of what they would otherwise be.
perchloroethylene--a common dry
The United States is taking a
cleaning chemical--and the risks of
comprehensive approach to potential
environmental tobacco smoke, or cigarette
climate change, considering all
smoke to nonsmokers.
-500
greenhouse gases, sources and sinks. Such
an approach is more effective and less
costly than focusing on a single
greenhouse gas or on a single set of
sources. It provides flexibility for each
nation to develop a diverse, innovative,
1987
2000
cost-effective mix of measures tailored to
Includes carbon dioxide, methane, volatile organics,
its own domestic circumstances. It uses
oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide
scientific and economic knowledge
and chloroflorocarbons.
comprehensively, leaving no important
variable omitted.
27
SOUND SCIENCE
Spotlight
Harnessing Technology
EPA continues to play an
To promote new technology,
instrumental role in collaborative
EPA has established cooperative
Number of Innovative
efforts to develop technologies that
arrangements with industry
combat environmental problems.
through the Federal Technology
Technologies Selected
To shorten the learning curve on
Transfer Act and maintains close
50
how and where technology can
links with federal, industrial, and
best be applied, the Agency has
academic laboratories
created a National Advisory
demonstrating new technologies.
Council for Environmental
During 1990, the Agency entered
Technology Transfer (NACETT).
into 17 agreements with the
-40
This diverse group of 37 members
private sector to research and
offers expertise from government
commercialize innovative
agencies, business and industry,
environmental technology. Projects
academia, and public interest
included oil-spill remediation,
groups.
water purification, and controls on
-30
The Agency's Center for
emissions.
Environmental Research
EPA's Superfund Innovative
Information complements the work
Technology Evaluation (SITE)
of NACETT. The Center publishes
demonstration program has been
information about technological
especially effective in finding and
-20
tools and presents seminars,
applying technological solutions to
workshops, and training courses
a particular type of problem--the
across the United States. During
elimination of hazardous waste
1989 and 1990, it responded to
sites. At present, there are 56
125,000 requests for science and
Superfund sites in which an
-10
engineering documents and
innovative treatment technology is
sponsored 104 seminars and
being used for actual cleanup jobs.
workshops for 17,000 participants
Fifty-nine percent of all cleanup
from state and local governments
remedies undertaken in 1990
and the private sector.
employed innovative technologies.
82-83
84
85
86
87
88
89
EPA's Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation program has grown
rapidly as new technological solutions are applied to eliminating hazardous
waste sites.
EPA Research Laboratories
DULUTH
CORVALLIS,
NARRAGANSETT
Types of EPA Research Facilities
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory Cincinnati
Air and Energy Engineering Laboratory - RTP
CINCINNATI
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
LAS VEGAS
Laboratory RTP
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory Cincinnati
ADA
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Las Vegas
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory - Ada
ATHENS
Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens
Environmental Research Laboratory Corvallis
GULF
Environmental Research Laboratory Duluth
BREEZE
Environmental Research Laboratory Gulf Breeze
Environmental Research Laboratory Narragansett
Health Effects Research Laboratory RTP
28
"The surest path to protecting human health and the environment, and to gaining the
public's trust, lies in our ability to point to a steadily decreasing volume of, and exposure to,
hazardous substances in our environment."
-- William K. Reilly, American Enterprise Institute, June 12, 1990.
Additional
Accomplishments
Pollution Prevention Research. The
Technology to Fight Acid Rain. The
Agency's pollution-prevention research
Agency successfully completed a
program has grown from about $2 million
demonstration project on the Limestone
in 1987 to more than $9 million in 1991.
Injection Multistage Burner in May 1990.
Research covers how to prevent pollution
The burner can be used as low-cost
not only during production but also
retrofit sulfur dioxide control technology
during use, repair, and disposal.
for many coal-fired utility boilers, helping
users comply with the acid rain
Clean-up at Federal Facilities. EPA is
provisions of new Clean Air Act.
working with the Departments of Defense
and Energy to develop cooperative
Biotechnology Research. EPA
demonstrations of innovative treatment
continued its research into finding
technologies for cleanup and waste-
methods for assessing the potential risk
minimization assessments at sites in
resulting from the introduction of
Georgia, California, Texas, Colorado, and
microorganisms into the environment.
Montana.
This program supports regulation of the
products of biotechnology under federal
Survey of Ecological System Health.
toxics and pesticides laws.
The Agency started a ground-breaking
project designed to create a
Ecological Institute. Responding to an
comprehensive, continually updated
SAB recommendation, EPA has begun
survey of the status of ecological
efforts with the National Research
resources in the United States. The
Council and the academic community to
Environmental Monitoring and
explore the benefits of a National
Assessment Program (EMAP) works by
Institutes of Health-like organization for
linking EPA's monitoring capabilities to
basic research in the environmental
counterparts in the Department of
sciences.
Agriculture, NOAA, and the Fish and
Wildlife Service. EMAP data make it
possible to assess changes in specific
ecosystems and determine whether these
changes are human-induced stresses.
Already it is providing information on the
health of estuaries from Cape Cod to
Cape Hatteras and on stresses to
northeastern forests.
Data Systems. EPA researchers are
developing better measurement
technology and designing new methods
to determine exactly what people breathe
and consume through food and water.
These data systems help the Agency focus
on the right questions--who is being
exposed to what, and what does that
mean in terms of health risk?
Great Lakes Monitoring. To monitor
water quality and carry out pollution
surveillance in the Great Lakes, EPA
acquired the 180-foot research vessel, Lake
Guardian. It joins EPA's other vessel, The
Peter W. Anderson, which collects data and
performs analyses on ocean and coastal
activities.
29
STRENGTHENING
AGENCY RESOURCES
The United States as a whole now spends more
than $100 billion a year on environmental
protection, over triple the amount the nation spent
in 1972. That figure will continue to grow in the
next 10 to 15 years as the new Clean Air Act
Amendments take effect and the nationwide cleanup
of hazardous waste sites proceeds-reaching about
2.7 percent of the GNP by the year 2000. Given
this level of expenditure-and its implications for
productivity and international competitiveness--the
nation must pay more attention than it has in the
past to meeting its environmental commitments in
the most cost-effective ways.
EPA is promoting cost-effectiveness by
strengthening its own workforce, using tools such
as Total Quality Management and strategic
planning methods. And thanks to President Bush's
commitment, EPA's numbers and financial base are
growing. Staff has increased 15 percent and
Pollution Control Costs
operating funds have increased 26 percent in the
200
past three budgets. In 1991, EPA was appropriated
Billions of 1986 Dollars
$6.1 billion, a 9 percent increase over 1990. If the
1992 budget request is approved, the Agency's
budget for operating programs and trust funds will
have increased by $1 billion and the Agency
-150
workforce will have grown by more than 2,900
workyears during the Bush Administration.
To provide expertise from outside the Agency,
EPA has set up a financial advisory board whose
members include senior executives from business,
industry, finance, banking, and government. At the
-100
same time, the Agency has set up a special team to
explore alternative financing mechanisms. Essays
exploring a range of ideas and possible models-for
e pue Air
instance, the role of banks in environmental
protection and California's approach to managing
50
waste-were published in a November 1990 EPA
report, Paying for Progress: Perspectives on
Water
Financing Environmental Protection.
Chemicals
Multi-Media
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
2000
30
Working with States,
Tribes, and Localities
Much of the burden of environmental
Small communities may face a
EPA has moved forward aggressively
management falls upon state and local
particularly difficult challenge meeting
with implementing President Bush's
governments. To help lighten the load,
environmental mandates. To address
policy of dealing with federally-
EPA is building environmental
these circumstances, EPA set up a Small
recognized Indian tribes on a
partnerships with these other levels of
Communities Coordinator project in 1989.
government-to-government basis. In 1989
government and with Indian tribes. The
The aim is to ensure that the particular
and 1990, $27 million was awarded to
goal is to help boost limited financial and
burdens EPA actions may place on small
tribal governments for constructing or
human resources and allow the Agency to
communities are borne in mind during
modifying 30 wastewater-treatment
leverage its own limited federal funding
regulatory decision-making. Technological
systems to serve reservations and Alaskan
into more effective environmental
assistance to small communities was
native villages. Clean lakes grants
programs.
bolstered during 1990, when the Agency
increased from three grants totalling
State grant programs are an integral
established a subcommittee for small
$200,000 in 1989 to 12 grants totalling $1
part of this process. Despite severe federal
communities under the National Advisory
million in 1990.
fiscal constraints, grants to states during
Committee on Environmental Policy and
the Bush Administration have risen by 58
Technology.
percent. In Fiscal Year 1989, EPA
awarded $315 million in grants to states.
By 1991, that figure had grown to $498
million.
Growing EPA Dollars
EPA Workforce is Growing
State and Local Grants
7
$ billions
20
Workyears in Thousands
500 $millions
-6
400
-15
5
-4
300
10
3
200
2
-5
-100
1
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1989
1990
1991
1992
1989
1990
1991
1992
The Agency's workyear ceilings continue to grow to
meet the President's commitment to improving
environmental protection. EPA's 1992 request
represents a workforce growth of 2,900 workyears
during the Bush Administration.
31
Ф
STRENGTHENING AGENCY RESOURCES
Other Accomplishments
Strategic Planning. EPA is putting into
place a four-year strategic planning and
budgeting process. The goal is to focus
Spotlight
attention and resources on the areas of
Public-Private Partnerships
greatest risk and identify the greatest
potential for risk reduction.
Public--private partnerships offer a
Focus on Minorities.
promising, alternative-financing
mechanism to help state and local
EPA Workforce. Within EPA, 69
governments construct and operate
environmental facilities. In such
percent of the net growth of 1990
partnerships, EPA and state
professional and administrative
governments facilitate the activities
positions were women and minorities,
with minorities approximately half the
and provide technical support.
Communities are the implementers
total. At management levels, minorities
of the partnerships, with banking
and women made up two-thirds of
and business interests offering
EPA's net growth. Hispanic and Asian-
Pacific Americans both increased by
financial and technical resources.
Associations, foundations,
over 50 percent in this category during
1990.
academia, and interest groups
provide expertise and support for
Environmental equity workgroup. The
outreach to the public.
Agency established an environmental
EPA's Public--Private
Partnerships Initiative provides
equity workgroup to address the
information and assistance to local
concern that minority and low-income
communities may bear a
governments on how they can
disproportionate share of environmental
work with the private sector to
risk. The group is working with a
finance environmental protection.
university-based equity organization as
Demonstration projects are being
carried out to illustrate how
informal advisor to gather data and
communities can successfully
draw up a plan for action.
initiate public--private
Business contracts. EPA awarded a
partnerships. Special emphasis has
record number of small-business
been placed on projects that help
contracts to minority-owned businesses
small communities achieve
during the past two years. Direct
compliance with environmental
contract and grant awards totalled $485
standards and regulations.
million for Fiscal Year 1989 and $492
million for Fiscal Year 1990.
"We must go beyond compulsion and laws and incentives to ensure the environmental
integrity of our nation and our planet. we must engage the heart, which is seldom reached
by appeals to law or economics, in the task of bringing our habits, our choices, and our
lifestyles into harmony with the needs of nature."
-- William K. Reilly, Shipley Commencement, June 15, 1990
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