In 1970 the ________ was given broad authority to clean up oil spills and to ______ the cost of cleanup.

In 1970 the ________ was given broad authority to clean up oil spills and to ______ the cost of cleanup.

• A. Federal Government; Make the Polluter Pay
• B. State Government; Bear the Cost
• C. Local Government; Fund Cleanup
• D. Federal Government; Cover the Cost

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who has the power to respond to oil spills and who pays for cleanup. In 1970, the federal government was given broad authority to act in oil spill cleanups and to pursue recovery of cleanup costs from the party responsible for the spill. This embodies the polluter pays principle—that those whose activities cause pollution should bear the cleanup expenses, not the public. The federal setup provides nationwide, uniform authority and accountability, which is essential for spills that cross state lines or affect federal waters. While state or local governments handle many local tasks, oil spill response and cost recovery are best managed at the federal level to ensure consistent standards and rapid action.

The key idea is who has the power to respond to oil spills and who pays for cleanup. In 1970, the federal government was given broad authority to act in oil spill cleanups and to pursue recovery of cleanup costs from the party responsible for the spill. This embodies the polluter pays principle—that those whose activities cause pollution should bear the cleanup expenses, not the public. The federal setup provides nationwide, uniform authority and accountability, which is essential for spills that cross state lines or affect federal waters. While state or local governments handle many local tasks, oil spill response and cost recovery are best managed at the federal level to ensure consistent standards and rapid action.