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8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources

3 min readjanuary 19, 2023

Robby May

Robby May

Robby May

Robby May

Environmental problems and economic concerns drove the United States to come up with a way to reliably produce energy.

Environmental Activism

In 1962, activist wrote a book called . It is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The book documented the detrimental effects of the widespread use of , particularly , on the environment and wildlife. It also argued that these chemicals were a threat to human health.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vLuXC2mxJCEa.jpeg?alt=media&token=2e45dafe-a5ae-428a-a6d1-a2bb6b55b55d

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The book's publication led to a significant public debate about the use of and their impact on the environment. As a result of the attention generated by the book, the US government banned the use of in 1972 and established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the use of .

also led to a greater awareness of the interconnectedness of the environment and the importance of protecting it for the sake of both human and non-human species. It helped to change public perception of the environment and the role of government in protecting it, and it also led to a greater focus on the long-term effects of human actions on the environment.

Oil

Massive around the world, from off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in 1969 to the Exxon Valdez oil tanker accident in Alaska in 1989, reinforced fears about the deadly combination of human error and modern technology.

The of the 1960s-1980s also resulted in significant disruptions to the global oil market and had a major impact on the global economy.

The first oil crisis occurred in 1973 when a group of oil-producing countries, known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), embargoed oil exports to countries that had supported Israel in the . This led to a sharp increase in oil prices and caused shortages in many countries.

As a result of the , Congress encated the 1975 . It set corporate standards for gas mileage. Manufacturers who failed to achieve the mandated averages faced stiff fines and other sanctions. 

Environmentalists began searching for alternative sources of energy. appealed to some, but it was very expensive. Solar panels remained underdeveloped and intermittent clouds cut off power. was more reliable but most suitable for dam sites that had already been built upon. worked in some areas but those were places where few people lived.

Nuclear Power

had its advocates, as it had been in use since the 50s. Its fuel – – was virtually inexhaustible and it produced no noxious gases or greenhouse gases. It made many nervous. The waste products of the reactors were radioactive and would remain so for thousands of years.

Occasionally, nuclear reactors malfunctioned in a terrifying way. In March 1979, a reactor at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, PA nearly melted down when cooling systems failed. Tens of thousands of people in the area fled. While the reactors didn’t explode as authorities felt it might, it inspired grave thoughts about .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-IbNHLj6CN5V8.jpeg?alt=media&token=4ea39b2e-b55f-457d-bad5-597d0e81e994

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

A more severe accident at Chornobyl in Soviet Ukraine in 1986 released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere and caused many deaths, reinforcing fears. 

Legislation

was first celebrated in April of 1970 and helped raise awareness about environmental problems. They followed the legislation in 1972 with the and the to combat industrial issues. In 1980, the was created to identify, investigate, and clean up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.

Key Terms to Review (24)

Alternative Energy Sources

: These are sources of energy that are different from traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. They often include renewable resources like solar power, wind power, and hydropower.

Chornobyl Disaster

: The Chornobyl Disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at No. 4 reactor in the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat city in Ukraine (then part of USSR). It is considered one of the worst man-made catastrophes ever.

Clean Water Act

: The Clean Water Act is a federal law enacted in 1972 that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the nation's surface waters, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas.

DDT

: DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) is a synthetic insecticide that was widely used in the mid-20th century to control mosquitoes and other insects. It was later banned in many countries due to its harmful environmental impacts.

Earth Day

: Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries.

Endangered Species Act

: The Endangered Species Act is a U.S. law passed in 1973 aimed at protecting species threatened with extinction and preserving the ecosystems upon which they depend.

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) is a United States Act passed in December 1975 aimed at establishing a comprehensive approach to meet energy demands while conserving resources. It includes measures such as setting fuel economy standards for cars and creating a strategic petroleum reserve.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

: The EPA is a U.S. governmental agency established in 1970 tasked with enforcing laws designed to protect the environment and public health.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

: The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in March 1989 when an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company struck a reef and spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil over 1,300 miles of coastline.

Hydropower

: Hydropower is an alternative energy source where electricity is generated by the movement of water from higher to lower elevations.

Nuclear Power

: Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant.

Oil Crises

: An oil crisis is a severe shortage or price increase in petroleum products, often due to political events or natural disasters. The most notable U.S. oil crises occurred in 1973 and 1979.

Oil Spills

: An oil spill is an accidental or intentional release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment due to human activity. This often results in pollution and can be harmful to wildlife.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

: OPEC is an international organization established in 1960 by some oil-producing nations to coordinate policies on selling petroleum products. It aims to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers, supply regular and efficient energy to consuming nations, and earn a fair return on capital for those investing in the industry.

Pesticides

: Pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, or control pests including weeds, insects, fungi, rodents and more. They can also cause harm to other non-target species and the environment.

Rachel Carson

: Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose book "Silent Spring" played a pivotal role in advancing the global environmental movement.

Santa Barbara Oil Spill

: The Santa Barbara Oil Spill occurred in 1969 off the coast of California when an oil well, operated by Union Oil, blew out. It was one of the largest oil spills in U.S. waters at that time and resulted in significant environmental damage.

Silent Spring

: Silent Spring is a 1962 book by Rachel Carson that documented the adverse effects on the environment—particularly on birds—of the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Solar Power

: Solar power is an alternative energy source that converts sunlight into electricity either directly using photovoltaics or indirectly through concentrated solar power systems.

Superfund

: The Superfund program is established by Congress in 1980 under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) designed to fund cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants.

Three Mile Island Incident

: The Three Mile Island Incident was a partial nuclear meltdown that occurred on March 28, 1979, at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania. It is considered the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history.

Uranium

: Uranium is a heavy metal used as fuel in nuclear reactors due to its ability to undergo fission and produce heat.

Wind Power

: Wind power is the use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity.

Yom Kippur War

: The Yom Kippur War was a conflict fought by Israel against a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria from October 6-25, 1973. The war began when these Arab states launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.

8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources

3 min readjanuary 19, 2023

Robby May

Robby May

Robby May

Robby May

Environmental problems and economic concerns drove the United States to come up with a way to reliably produce energy.

Environmental Activism

In 1962, activist wrote a book called . It is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The book documented the detrimental effects of the widespread use of , particularly , on the environment and wildlife. It also argued that these chemicals were a threat to human health.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-vLuXC2mxJCEa.jpeg?alt=media&token=2e45dafe-a5ae-428a-a6d1-a2bb6b55b55d

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

The book's publication led to a significant public debate about the use of and their impact on the environment. As a result of the attention generated by the book, the US government banned the use of in 1972 and established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the use of .

also led to a greater awareness of the interconnectedness of the environment and the importance of protecting it for the sake of both human and non-human species. It helped to change public perception of the environment and the role of government in protecting it, and it also led to a greater focus on the long-term effects of human actions on the environment.

Oil

Massive around the world, from off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in 1969 to the Exxon Valdez oil tanker accident in Alaska in 1989, reinforced fears about the deadly combination of human error and modern technology.

The of the 1960s-1980s also resulted in significant disruptions to the global oil market and had a major impact on the global economy.

The first oil crisis occurred in 1973 when a group of oil-producing countries, known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), embargoed oil exports to countries that had supported Israel in the . This led to a sharp increase in oil prices and caused shortages in many countries.

As a result of the , Congress encated the 1975 . It set corporate standards for gas mileage. Manufacturers who failed to achieve the mandated averages faced stiff fines and other sanctions. 

Environmentalists began searching for alternative sources of energy. appealed to some, but it was very expensive. Solar panels remained underdeveloped and intermittent clouds cut off power. was more reliable but most suitable for dam sites that had already been built upon. worked in some areas but those were places where few people lived.

Nuclear Power

had its advocates, as it had been in use since the 50s. Its fuel – – was virtually inexhaustible and it produced no noxious gases or greenhouse gases. It made many nervous. The waste products of the reactors were radioactive and would remain so for thousands of years.

Occasionally, nuclear reactors malfunctioned in a terrifying way. In March 1979, a reactor at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, PA nearly melted down when cooling systems failed. Tens of thousands of people in the area fled. While the reactors didn’t explode as authorities felt it might, it inspired grave thoughts about .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-IbNHLj6CN5V8.jpeg?alt=media&token=4ea39b2e-b55f-457d-bad5-597d0e81e994

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

A more severe accident at Chornobyl in Soviet Ukraine in 1986 released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere and caused many deaths, reinforcing fears. 

Legislation

was first celebrated in April of 1970 and helped raise awareness about environmental problems. They followed the legislation in 1972 with the and the to combat industrial issues. In 1980, the was created to identify, investigate, and clean up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.

Key Terms to Review (24)

Alternative Energy Sources

: These are sources of energy that are different from traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. They often include renewable resources like solar power, wind power, and hydropower.

Chornobyl Disaster

: The Chornobyl Disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at No. 4 reactor in the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat city in Ukraine (then part of USSR). It is considered one of the worst man-made catastrophes ever.

Clean Water Act

: The Clean Water Act is a federal law enacted in 1972 that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the nation's surface waters, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas.

DDT

: DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) is a synthetic insecticide that was widely used in the mid-20th century to control mosquitoes and other insects. It was later banned in many countries due to its harmful environmental impacts.

Earth Day

: Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries.

Endangered Species Act

: The Endangered Species Act is a U.S. law passed in 1973 aimed at protecting species threatened with extinction and preserving the ecosystems upon which they depend.

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) is a United States Act passed in December 1975 aimed at establishing a comprehensive approach to meet energy demands while conserving resources. It includes measures such as setting fuel economy standards for cars and creating a strategic petroleum reserve.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

: The EPA is a U.S. governmental agency established in 1970 tasked with enforcing laws designed to protect the environment and public health.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

: The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in March 1989 when an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company struck a reef and spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil over 1,300 miles of coastline.

Hydropower

: Hydropower is an alternative energy source where electricity is generated by the movement of water from higher to lower elevations.

Nuclear Power

: Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant.

Oil Crises

: An oil crisis is a severe shortage or price increase in petroleum products, often due to political events or natural disasters. The most notable U.S. oil crises occurred in 1973 and 1979.

Oil Spills

: An oil spill is an accidental or intentional release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment due to human activity. This often results in pollution and can be harmful to wildlife.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

: OPEC is an international organization established in 1960 by some oil-producing nations to coordinate policies on selling petroleum products. It aims to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers, supply regular and efficient energy to consuming nations, and earn a fair return on capital for those investing in the industry.

Pesticides

: Pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, or control pests including weeds, insects, fungi, rodents and more. They can also cause harm to other non-target species and the environment.

Rachel Carson

: Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose book "Silent Spring" played a pivotal role in advancing the global environmental movement.

Santa Barbara Oil Spill

: The Santa Barbara Oil Spill occurred in 1969 off the coast of California when an oil well, operated by Union Oil, blew out. It was one of the largest oil spills in U.S. waters at that time and resulted in significant environmental damage.

Silent Spring

: Silent Spring is a 1962 book by Rachel Carson that documented the adverse effects on the environment—particularly on birds—of the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Solar Power

: Solar power is an alternative energy source that converts sunlight into electricity either directly using photovoltaics or indirectly through concentrated solar power systems.

Superfund

: The Superfund program is established by Congress in 1980 under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) designed to fund cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants.

Three Mile Island Incident

: The Three Mile Island Incident was a partial nuclear meltdown that occurred on March 28, 1979, at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania. It is considered the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history.

Uranium

: Uranium is a heavy metal used as fuel in nuclear reactors due to its ability to undergo fission and produce heat.

Wind Power

: Wind power is the use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity.

Yom Kippur War

: The Yom Kippur War was a conflict fought by Israel against a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria from October 6-25, 1973. The war began when these Arab states launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.