Discuss four major environmental laws enacted in the United States and how these laws are enforced.
What will be an ideal response?
The United States and most sovereign nations have passed laws making it a crime to pollute or damage the environment. The Clean Water Act of 1972 establishes and maintains goals and standards for US water quality and purity. It was amended in 1987 to increase controls on toxic pollutants, and in 1990, more effectively to address the hazard of oil spills. The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 requires companies to disclose information about toxic chemicals they release into the air and water and dispose of on land. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was designed to protect and recover endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States and beyond. The law works in part by protecting species' habitats. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was enacted in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill to streamline the federal response to oil spills by requiring oil storage facilities to prepare spill-response plans and provide for their rapid implementation. The major enforcement arm against environmental crimes is the Environmental Protection Agency, which was given full law enforcement authority in 1988. It has successfully prosecuted significant violations across all major environmental statutes, including data fraud cases, indiscriminate hazardous waste dumping, and industry-wide ocean dumping by cruise ships. Its Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) investigates allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
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In a jury trial, who determines the facts of the case?
A. the prosecution B. the defense attorney C. the judge D. the jury
Which of the following is NOT true of federal district court judges?
A. They are nominated by the President. B. They must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. C. They must reside in their district. D. They are appointed for eight-year terms.
A statute that prohibits “killing of a human being caused by operation of a motor vehicle in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of, or great bodily harm to, another” defines the offense of ______________
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word.
What type of investigation allows probation officers to produce a report as part of a negotiated plea prior to its acceptance by the presiding judge?
a. Presentencing investigation b. Post arrest investigation c. Pre-plea investigation d. PO investigation