Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/746403
W EEKLY EDITION NOV 2, 2016 Portable Sanitation and the EPA …continued Part III At the most basic level, Congress passes the laws that govern the country. Within any law it passes, Congress designates an agency to be responsible for implemen ting and enforcing it. It the case of environmental laws, Congress has authorized the EPA and other federal agencies to help put those provisions into effect, and EPA does this creating and enforcing regulations. Below, you'll find a basic description of h ow laws and regulations are developed at the federal level. You'll also see the role the public plays in helping agencies like the EPA "get it right. Creating a law that affects the portable sanitation industry. Laws do not appear from thin air beautiful ly written and delivered to the nation with a bow on top. While some statutes are mandated by the Constitution, most of them come about because of somebody's ideas and a groundswell of support from people who care about those ideas. How long it takes for a n idea to become a law varies widely based on circumstances and politics. For example, it took only a month or two to drastically change laws governing airline security after 9/11 - and it took women 132 years to get the vote. Regardless of the timeline or the subject matter, though, the essential steps are the same. P AGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Level of Government Regulation Types Federal • Environmental limits (EPA) • Commercial driving rules and limits for inter state commerce (DOT) • Accessibility requirements for public events and buildings (ADA) • Taxation (IRS) • Employment requirements and fairness (DOL, EEOC) • Health and safety (OSHA) • Emergency management (DHS/FEMA) State • Environmental limits (possibly more string ent than federal), disposal regulations, and methods of documenting/reporting compliance; most enforcement • Business licensing, insurance requirements, and taxation • Professional licensing for individuals, including ongoing requirements for continuing educat ion and demonstration of competence • State and local taxes including business taxes, property taxes, use taxes, surcharges • State - level emergency planning • State - level employment laws and worker safety regulations • State - level accessibility requirements • Speed and weight limits on most highways • Disposal regulations • Ordinances pertaining to agricultural practices Local (County / Parrish / Watershed District / Township / City or MSA) • Ordinances related to local streets, roads, and parks • Ordinances related to soun d levels • Disposal regulations (possibly more stringent than the state level) • Ordinances pertaining to agricultural practices (possibly more stringent than the state level) • Emergency management planning • Local speed limits and tolls • Local taxes and fees