
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC4331]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                CHAPTER 55--NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--POLICIES AND GOALS
 
Sec. 4331. Congressional declaration of national environmental 
        policy
        
    (a) The Congress, recognizing the profound impact of man's activity 
on the interrelations of all components of the natural environment, 
particularly the profound influences of population growth, high-density 
urbanization, industrial expansion, resource exploitation, and new and 
expanding technological advances and recognizing further the critical 
importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the 
overall welfare and development of man, declares that it is the 
continuing policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State 
and local governments, and other concerned public and private 
organizations, to use all practicable means and measures, including 
financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and 
promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under 
which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the 
social, economic, and other requirements of present and future 
generations of Americans.
    (b) In order to carry out the policy set forth in this chapter, it 
is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all 
practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of 
national policy, to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, 
programs, and resources to the end that the Nation may--
        (1) fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee 
    of the environment for succeeding generations;
        (2) assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive, and 
    esthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings;
        (3) attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the 
    environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other 
    undesirable and unintended consequences;
        (4) preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects 
    of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an 
    environment which supports diversity and variety of individual 
    choice;
        (5) achieve a balance between population and resource use which 
    will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life's 
    amenities; and
        (6) enhance the quality of renewable resources and approach the 
    maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources.

    (c) The Congress recognizes that each person should enjoy a 
healthful environment and that each person has a responsibility to 
contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the environment.

(Pub. L. 91-190, title I, Sec. 101, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852.)


         Commission on Population Growth and the American Future

    Pub. L. 91-213, Secs. 1-9, Mar. 16, 1970, 84 Stat. 67-69, 
established the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future 
to conduct and sponsor such studies and research and make such 
recommendations as might be necessary to provide information and 
education to all levels of government in the United States, and to our 
people regarding a broad range of problems associated with population 
growth and their implications for America's future; prescribed the 
composition of the Commission; provided for the appointment of its 
members, and the designation of a Chairman and Vice Chairman; required a 
majority of the members of the Commission to constitute a quorum, but 
allowed a lesser number to conduct hearings; prescribed the compensation 
of members of the Commission; required the Commission to conduct an 
inquiry into certain prescribed aspects of population growth in the 
United States and its foreseeable social consequences; provided for the 
appointment of an Executive Director and other personnel and prescribed 
their compensation; authorized the Commission to enter into contracts 
with public agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for 
the conduct of research and surveys, the preparation of reports, and 
other activities necessary to the discharge of its duties, and to 
request from any Federal department or agency any information and 
assistance it deems necessary to carry out its functions; required the 
General Services Administration to provide administrative services for 
the Commission on a reimbursable basis; required the Commission to 
submit an interim report to the President and the Congress one year 
after it was established and to submit its final report two years after 
Mar. 16, 1970; terminated the Commission sixty days after the date of 
the submission of its final report; and authorized to be appropriated, 
out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such 
amounts as might be necessary to carry out the provisions of Pub. L. 91-
213.

                        Executive Order No. 11507

    Ex. Ord. No. 11507, eff. Feb. 4, 1970, 35 F.R. 2573, which related 
to prevention, control, and abatement of air and water pollution at 
federal facilities was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11752, eff. Dec. 17, 
1973, 38 F.R. 34793, formerly set out below.

                        Executive Order No. 11752

    Ex. Ord. No. 11752, Dec. 17, 1973, 38 F.R. 34793, which related to 
the prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution at 
Federal facilities, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12088, Oct. 13, 1978, 43 
F.R. 47707, set out as a note under section 4321 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 20 section 5604.
