Four cornersImportant organizations/Economic

effects

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

• Is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970

• EPA enforcement powers include fines, sanctions, and other measures. The agency also works with industries in a wide variety of pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts.

National Parks System• Is an agency of the United States federal government that

manages all U.S. national parks, many American national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations.

• Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has managed each of the United States' national parks, which have grown in number over the years to 59. Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States.

• Uniformed Law Enforcement Rangers, Park Police Officers and Special Agents enforce Federal laws and regulations governing NPS lands and resources. These personnel can also enforce some or all state laws on NPS lands.

Endangered Species Act

• Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.“

• The ESA's primary goal is to prevent the extinction of imperiled plant and animal life, and secondly, to recover and maintain those populations by removing or lessening threats to their survival.

• As of October 28, 2012, there are 2,052 total (foreign and domestic) species on the threatened and endangered lists.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and maintaining natural habitats.

• Among the service's responsibilities are enforcing federal wildlife laws, protecting endangered species, managing migratory birds, restoring nationally significant fisheries, conserving and restoring wildlife habitat, such as wetlands, helping foreign governments with their international conservation efforts, and distributing money to states' fish and wildlife agencies through the Wildlife Sport Fish and Restoration program.

Matching quiz• A: Maintain animal

habitats • B: Protects national

monuments• C: Protects the

environment• D: Goal of preventing

extinction

• 1: National Park System

• 2: Endangered Species Act

• 3: Fish and Wildlife Service

• 4: EPA

Quick write• (4 to 6 sentences)• Based on these organizations what roles and

responsibilities does the government and private citizens have in protecting our environment?

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

• Is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970

• EPA enforcement powers include fines, sanctions, and other measures. The agency also works with industries in a wide variety of pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts.

OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries• Is an international oil cartel whose mission is to

coordinate the policies of the oil-producing countries. The goal is to secure a steady income to the member states and to secure supply of oil to the consumers.

• In the 1970s, OPEC began to gain influence and steeply raised oil prices during the 1973 oil crisis in response to US aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

NRA (National Rifle Association)

• Is an organization founded in 1871 that promotes firearm competency, safety, and ownership, as well as police training, marksmanship, hunting and self-defense training in the United States.

• The NRA's political activity is based on the civil right to keep and bear arms. The group has a nearly century long record of influencing as well as lobbying for or against proposed firearm legislation on behalf of its members. Observers and lawmakers see the NRA as one of the top three most influential lobbying groups in Washington.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade

Agreement)• Is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the

United States, creating a trilateral rules-based trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994.

• Between 1993 and 2006, trade among NAFTA partners climbed 197%, from $297 billion to $883 billion.

• It has made many U.S. companies and investors rich - and their managements richer. But it has also cost many U.S. manufacturing workers their jobs while failing to raise living standards for most Mexicans.

Matching quiz• A: A Trade agreement• B: Controls oil prices• C: Protects the

environment• D: Gun rights lobbying

group

• 1: OPEC• 2: NAFTA• 3: NRA• 4: EPA

Quick write• (4 to 6 sentences)• Which of these organizations have a positive

impact on the US economy and which have a negative impact? Explain your reasoning…