The outdoors had a significant impact on my life from a very early age. Looking back, I can see now that my early experiences in and around the woods by my home built a framework for my passion. In the environmental science department, I learned a great deal about current environmental issues of which society seems to be unaware. Most importantly, I learned that a change in public education and more protective laws are and will be crucial for the betterment of life and nature.
All information provided by this guide is for instructional purposes only and should not be construed or considered to be legal advice. You should always consult an attorney to determine your legal rights.
There are numerous environmental laws in the United States in which to provide a common purpose to protect human health and the environment. Most current major environmental statutes were passed in a time frame from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. The collective goal of United States environmental policy is to protect the environment for future generations while intruding as little as possible. Laws written by Congress give the authority to EPA and the other Federal agencies to write regulations. These regulations explain the technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement public laws. The EPA helps regulated entities to meet the federal requirements and holds them legally accountable for environmental violations. EPA also issues policy and guidance documents to assist the public and regulated entities.
A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga which is a plant-like organism. In saltwater environments specifically along Florida’s west coast and elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the species that causes red tides is Karenia brevis, often abbreviated as K. brevis. To distinguish K. brevis blooms from red tides caused by other species of algae, researchers in Florida call it “Florida red tide.”
