Clean Air Act (CAA)
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air
emissions from stationary and mobile sources in order to control air pollution.
Under the CAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes limits
to six criteria pollutants through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS). Standards are established to protect public health and public
welfare. The CAA also gives the EPA the authority to limit emissions of air
pollutants originating from sources such as chemical plants, utilities, and steel
mills. Individual states may have more stringent air pollution laws, but they
may not have weaker pollution limits than those set by EPA. Under the law,
states have to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline how
each state will control air pollution under the CAA.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA)
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
was designed to assist in the clean‐up of sites with hazardous contaminants
and to respond directly to the release, or the threatened release, of
hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act:
Establishes prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and
abandoned hazardous waste sites.
Provides for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous
waste at these sites.
Establishes a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible
party could be identified.
Clean Water Act (CWA)
The Clean Water Act (CWA) governs the management of water resources and
controls and monitors water pollution in the United States (U.S.). The CWA
establishes the goals of eliminating the release of toxic substances and other
sources of water pollution to ensure that surface water meets high quality
standards. In doing so, the CWA prevents the contamination of nearshore,
underground, and surface water sources.
This law has relevance as a potential JLUS tool through the Superfund
environmental program, established to address hazardous waste sites.
Hazardous waste is sometimes present in or around military installations,
particularly where munition and ordnance are stored and used for training
purposes. If not disposed of properly, hazardous waste could be potentially
harmful to the installation tenants and surrounding communities. While the
Superfund cleanup process may be complex, it protects communities and the
environment from further contamination.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA)
The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 (16 U.S.C. § 1451, et seq.,
as amended) encourages states, in cooperation with federal and local
agencies, to develop land and water use programs in coastal zones. The
CZMA was initially created in 1972 and is administered by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management. The CZMA provides a procedure for states to review
federal actions for consistency with their own approved coastal management
program. It also provides approved states with matching federal funding to
administer their programs. The CZMA provides programs and assistance to
address a wide range of issues including climate variability, energy facility
siting, water quality, and habitat protection. Public access to the shore is also
a primary CZMA objective.
Background Report
Department of Defense Conservation Partnering Initiative
In 2003, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) gave the DoD
authority to enter into agreements with eligible entities to address
incompatible development or habitat protection. Eligible entities may be a
state, political subdivision of a state (e.g., counties, cities, or soil and water
conservation districts), or a private entity with a main purpose or goal to
conserve, restore, or preserve land and natural resources. This authorization
has been codified as 10 United States Code (USC) § 2684a (as amended in
2012), “Agreements to limit encroachment and other constraints on military
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