Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

Which responsibility is NOT prescribed for Federal agencies under Executive Order 12898?

1. Creation of an interagency working group

2. Development of agency strategies

3. Mandate for the polluters-pay principle

4. Federal agency responsibilities for Federal programs

The correct answer is: Mandate for the polluters-pay principle

The correct answer indicates that the "polluters-pay principle" is not a responsibility prescribed for federal agencies under Executive Order 12898. This executive order, signed in 1994, primarily focuses on addressing environmental justice in minority and low-income populations. It directs federal agencies to promote fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental laws and policies. The responsibilities outlined in the executive order include the creation of interagency working groups to facilitate collaboration, development of strategies to examine and address the impacts of federal actions on communities, and the specification of federal agency responsibilities for implementing programs that enhance environmental justice. The polluters-pay principle, while a relevant concept in environmental policy advocating for those responsible for pollution to bear the costs of managing it, is not explicitly mandated in Executive Order 12898. Instead, the order emphasizes equity and justice in environmental decision-making without directly enforcing economic mechanisms like the polluters-pay principle.