Department of Environment and Natural Resources Act

Summary

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Act - Establishes an executive Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Establishes, under the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the offices of Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Assistant Secretary for Administration, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Science and Research. Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Recreation, Assistant Secretary for Land and Water Resources, and a General Counsel. Establishes Assistant Secretaries for Air Quality, Water Quality, Atmospheric Services,and Oceans. Abolishes the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior. Transfers all functions of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior to the new Department. Establishes within the Department a Bureau of Coastal Zone Management to carry out all functions of the Coastal Zone Act. Transfers authority currently vested in the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to coastal zone activities to the Bureau. Establishes within the Department on Air Quality Administration, a Water Quality Administration, and a Waste and Hazardous Materials Administration to exercise authorities previously vested in the Environmental Protection Agency. Establishes an Atmospheric Services Administration within the Department to exercise authorities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Weather Service. Directs the Assistant Secretary of the Atmospheric Services to assume responsibility for all weather modification programs except those which lie solely within the Department of Defense. Establishes an Oceans Administration within the Department to exercise various authorities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce. Establishes an Office of Ocean Vessel and Facilities Safety within the Department to coordinate Federal regulations concerning pollution from vessels, parts, and offshore facilities. Stipulates that the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Maritime Commission must obtain concurrent approval of the Director of the Office prior to exercise of regulatory authority with respect to vessel and facility discharges. Establishes procedures governing general operation of the Department. Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make such additional transfers of authority as required to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

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1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 10 May 1977

  Open at official source

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