User:Ikhemani/Regulation and monitoring of pollution

Light pollution[edit]
Light Pollution in the United States is not federally regulated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in charge of most environmental regulations, does not manage light pollution.

18 states and one territory have implemented laws that regulate light pollution to some extent. State legislation includes restrictions on hardware, protective equipment, and net light pollution ratings. Such legislation has been coined "Dark Skies" Legislation.

States have implemented light pollution regulation for many factors including; public safety, energy conservation, improved astronomy research, and reduced environmental effects.

Water pollution
Thermal pollution is only regulated in the United States under the Clean Water Act. Section 316(a). This allows for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to limit effluent discharge to protect the biotic life supported by a waterbody. The NPDES is empowered to issue permits for thermal variance that is differing from expected thermal limits in water waste.

Land pollution
Alongside municipal and hazardous waste the EPA is in charge of soil conservation. The EPA, often with the help of state partners, manages soil contamination through contaminant sites and facilities. An annual report on the Environment and a Toxics Release Inventory is produced as a result of these efforts.

To specifically mitigate soil pollution from fertilizers, the USDA, National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Institutue of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) monitor soil resources and provide guidelines to prevent nutrient loss.