Personal Observations of
Environmental Engineering at the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
on the Occasion of Rensselaer’s
50th Anniversary Environmental
Engineering Colloquium
K. Jack Kooyoomjian, Ph.D.
RPI Class of 1974
EPA IMPLEMENTATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
• Creating A Law Requires an Act of Congress and
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Agreement by the President of the U.S.: Events & Issues
Create Such Legislation
The Agency Operates in a “Fishbowl”: It’s A Very “Public”
Process
Creating A Regulation Implements the Legislation
The Whole Process Creates a Need for Technical
Staff/Support
Must Study & Understand Issues
Stakeholder & Public Involvement
Develop Federal Register Notices of Proposed & Final
Rules
Prepare Technical Background Docs, Preamble, Public
Docket, etc.
Effluent Guidelines Example
Superfund & RCRA Regulatory Support Examples
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
• 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act (Hazards to Navigation &
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Commerce)
1947 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
1948 Water Pollution Control Act (PL 80-845)
1955 Clean Air Act
1965 Shoreline Erosion Protection Act
1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act
1965 Water Quality Act (PL 89-234)
1966 Clean Waters Restoration Act (PL 89-753)
1969/70 National Environmental Policy Act:
Signed into Law Jan 1,1970
EPA is created as well as NOAA and CEQ
1970 Pollution Prevention Packaging Act
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
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1970 Resource Recovery Act
1970 Water Quality Improvement Act (PL 91-224)
1971 Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act
1972 Coastal Zone Management Act
1972 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
1972 Ocean Dumping Act
1972 Water Pollution Control Act (PL 92-500)
1973 Endangered Species Act
1974 Safe Drinking Water Act
1974 Shoreline Erosion Control Demonstration Act 1975
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
Environmental Legislation
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1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (PL 94-469)
1977 Clean Water Act (PL 95-217) & Its Amendments
1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
1978 Environmental Research, Development, and
Demonstration
Authorization Act (ERDDAA, 42 USC 4365)
1978 Uranium Mill-Tailings Radiation Control Act
1978 Asbestos School Hazard Detection and Control Act
1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act
1984 Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
• 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
• 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know
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Act
1987
1988
1988
1988
1988
1988
1990
1990
1990
2002
Water Quality Act (PL 100-4)
Indoor Radon Abatement Act
Lead Contamination Control Act
Medical Waste Tracking Act
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
Shore Protection Act
National Environmental Education Act
Oil Pollution Control Act
Pollution Prevention Act …others, and
Homeland Security Act
PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE
ORDERS
• Presidential Executive Orders Overlay the Process …see
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examples
Indian Tribal Governments
below
Marine Protected Areas
To Protect Migrating Birds
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution and Use
Federal Workforce, Transportation
“Greening” the Government & Transportation Efficiency
“Greening” the Government thru Leadership in
Environmental Management
Environmental Review of Trade Agreements
Developing & Promoting Bio-based & Bioengineering
“Greening” the Government thru Efficiency Management
PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE
ORDERS
• “Greening” the Government thru Waste Prevention,
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Recycling & Federal Acquisition
Coral Reef Protection
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks &
Safety Risks (Exec Order 13045 April 1997)
Energy Efficiency & Waste Conservation at Federal
Facilities (Exec Order 12902, March 1994)
Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (Exec
Order 12898, Feb 1994)
Federal Use of Alternative Fueled Cars (Exec Order 13101,
Nov. 1993)
Presidential Executive Orders Can & Have Been Issued &
Recalled, Depending on Administration Policy
CEQ Regs Implementing NEPA
• NEPA of 1969 as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42
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USC 4321-4347, Jan 1, 1970, as amended by
Pub. L. 94-54, July 3, 1975, …)
Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA & Agency Planning
Commenting
Pre-Decision Referrals to the Council of Proposed
Federal Actions Determined to be Environmental
Agency Compliance with NEPA
State/Local Government Role in
Environmental Programs
• States Administrate Many Environmental Statutes & Regulations
• State Laws, Administrative Rules, Regulations, Codes & Statutes
• Standards Cannot be Less Restrictive than the Federal Government, but May
be More Restrictive
• Localities Administer Ordinances, Codes & Statutes, Comprehensive Plan
Process
• States & Localities Deal With All Manner of Issues: e.g., Agriculture, Air
Pollution & Air Quality, Acid Deposition, Dams, Ecosystem Management,
Endangered Species, Energy Conservation, Environmental Conservation,
Environmental Remediation, Environmental Treaties, Fisheries Conservation
& Management, Environmental Health, Hazardous Waste Management,
Land-Use, Municipal Landfills, Natural Resource Management, Non-Point
Sources, Public Health, RCRA Implementation & Compliance, Solid Waste
Management, “Smart-Growth,” Storm-Water Management, Suburban Sprawl,
Sustainability, Superfund Site Cleanups, Transportation Issues, Water,
Wildlife Management – & many others.
Environmental Protection Agency
• A Decentralized Organization: 10 Regions, Labs & Field
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Offices
“Stove Pipe” Legislation Still Does Heavily Drive
Programs
Work With the States in Implementation of Programs
(e.g., RCRA Permitting, NPDES Permits, Wetlands issues,
etc.) is Essential
Other Agencies, Dept., Commissions are Involved [e.g.,
CDC, HDS, DOD (includes U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers), DOE, DOI, NIH, NRC, NIST, USDA, etc.]
Need for More Integrated Cross-Media Problem-Solving
and Issue Management, as Risk Assessment/Risk
Management Coordination
Emphasis on Risk Reduction, Harmonization, Integrated
Risk, Benchmarking & Sustainability
Since 9/11, More Emphasis on Homeland Security Issues
(Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment Plants,
Information Security, Web Access, etc)
SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD
• Established by Congress in 1978 by the Environmental
Research, Development, and Demonstration
Authorization Act (ERDDAA, 42 USC 4365)
• Emphasis on Providing the Administrator & the U.S.
Congress with outside, independent advice on scientific,
engineering &, economics & social science issues that
impact the technical basis for EPA positions, regulations,
research plans, etc.
• Since It’s Inception, the SAB has Published over 600
Reports, Commentaries, Advisories, Consultations, etc.
• Among Many of the SAB “Messages” is that Ecosystem
Health is as Important as Public Health, More Attention
Needs to be Paid to Cross-Media Issues, and Integrated
Risk Assessment is Difficult to Achieve, but is to be
Encouraged.
SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD
• The Board (Currently around 35 members)
• Standing Committees Include DWC, EPEC, EEAC, EEC,
EHC/IHEC, RAC, & Separately Chartered CASAC &
COUNCIL (totals around 100)
• Many Ad Hoc Panels: (Includes Approx. 300)
(e. g. Children’s Health, Regulatory Environmental
Models, Second Generation Model, etc.)
For SAB Reports, Meetings, etc. go to www.epa.gov/sab
Fresh Water Institute Beginnings
• 1965- 1975 Time-Frame
• “Gull Bay” on East Side of Lake George (Town of
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Putnam) leased from Mr. Harold Strang (RPI Trustee &
VP GE, Retired)
Dr. Richard Folsom, President of RPI &
Dr. Clayton Dohrenwend, Provost of RPI
Obtained NY State Science & Technology Foundation
Grant to purchase Specialty Laboratory Equipment
Research Theme was discussed with & endorsed by Dr.
C. Mervin Palmer, Dr. Cornelius Weber & Mr. Kenneth
Mackenthun of the US PHS/ FWPCA
RPI’s Proposal for the FWI was taken to Wash., DC and
received funding through US DOI’s OWRR & US PHS
FWPCA (later FWQA – the pre-US EPA Organization)
Fresh Water Institute Beginnings
• Multi-Disciplinary, multi-institutional Proposal to US
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National Committee of the International Biological
Program (IBP)
Lake George was Selected as a Study Site in the Eastern
Deciduous Forest Biome (EDFB) within the US IBP
Management for the EDFB resided with the Oak Ridge
National Lab, with Dr. Stanley I. Auerbach as the Biome
Director
The US IBP Received Multi-Year Funding from NSF’s
Ecosystem Analysis Division
Many Graduate Students were supported by the FWI,
not only at RPI, but also at other district-area
universities
Fresh Water Institute Beginnings
• Dr. Alfred E. Emerson. Noted Pioneering (retired)
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Ecologist from the University of Chicago was “Honorary
Advisor” to the IBP Research at Lake George, where he
Resided
Mr. David M. Darrin Visited “Gull Bay” Lab & become
benefactor (and later Mrs. Peggy Darrin) for the Lake
George Water Research Center (LGWRC), later named
the Fresh Water Institute, which continues today
Dr. Ruth Patrick (noted Limnologist) & President of the
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences visited the
FWI & favorably received its mission
An Endowment was Obtained for the FWI from the UPS
Foundation (formerly the 1907 Foundation), and
continues today. UPS Funded Workshops at Lake
George with Acadame, Gov’t & Industry. These
Workshops were hosted by Dr. Emil. Mrak, Chancellor
Emeritus, UC Davis
THANKS TO PROF. KILCAWLEY &
THOSE THAT FOLLOWED, & THOSE
THAT CONTINUE THE LEGACY,
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT
RPI HAS A LEGENDARY, NOBLE &
COMMENDABLE PAST, AS WELL AS
A BRIGHT & SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
!
– End of Talk
Identification of Future Problem, Initiating Event,
or Public Policy Mandate
RISK MANAGEMENT
Formulate the Problem
Define Risk Management
Objectives
RISK ASSESSMENT
Dose-Response
Assessment
Hazard
Identification
Identify and Evaluate
Risk Management Options
Risk
Characterization
Risk Management
Decision
Implement
Decision
Exposure
Assessment
Develop Environmental
Indicators
Measure Environmental and
Public Health Improvement
Reduced Environmental
and/or Public Health Risk
• Public Health Considerations
• Statutory/Legal Considerations
• Social Factors
• Economic Factors
• Political Considerations