
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: 42USC4371]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
              CHAPTER 56--ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
 
Sec. 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.

(Pub. L. 91-224, title II, Sec. 202, Apr. 3, 1970, 84 Stat. 114.)

                       References in Text

    Public Law 91-190, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 91-190, 
Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, as amended, known as the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which is classified generally to 
chapter 55 (Sec. 4321 et seq.) of this title. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
under section 4321 of this title and Tables.


                               Short Title

    Section 201 of Pub. L. 91-224 provided that: ``This title [enacting 
this chapter] may be cited as the `Environmental Quality Improvement Act 
of 1970'.''
