42 U.S.C. § 4371 : US Code - Section 4371: Congressional findings, declarations, and purposes

Search 42 U.S.C. § 4371 : US Code - Section 4371: Congressional findings, declarations, and purposes

(a) The Congress finds -
(1) that man has caused changes in the environment;
(2) that many of these changes may affect the relationship
between man and his environment; and
(3) that population increases and urban concentration
contribute directly to pollution and the degradation of our
environment.
(b)(1) The Congress declares that there is a national policy for
the environment which provides for the enhancement of environmental
quality. This policy is evidenced by statutes heretofore enacted
relating to the prevention, abatement, and control of environmental
pollution, water and land resources, transportation, and economic
and regional development.
(2) The primary responsibility for implementing this policy rests
with State and local government.
(3) The Federal Government encourages and supports implementation
of this policy through appropriate regional organizations
established under existing law.
(c) The purposes of this chapter are -
(1) to assure that each Federal department and agency
conducting or supporting public works activities which affect the
environment shall implement the policies established under
existing law; and
(2) to authorize an Office of Environmental Quality, which,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, shall provide the
professional and administrative staff for the Council on
Environmental Quality established by Public Law 91-190.