Issues in the Environment

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10This book looks at our government's environmental policies regarding the protection of endangered species, management of federal wilderness areas, and the disposal of garbage. Chapters with such titles as "Should the Endangered Species Act Be Repealed?" "Is America's Garbage Really a Problem?" and "Can Americans Afford Environmentalism?" present some problems with present-day legislation, followed by arguments in favor of government intervention. Netzley concludes with a short discussion of the ozone layer, citing the assertion by various scientists that government banning of CFCs was unnecessary. She relates the proposal by a professor of ecology calling for the establishment of an independent National Institute for the Environment that would identify and evaluate problems, but would have no regulatory powers. The author presents both sides of the political argument but because her account is based primarily on newspaper and magazines articles, the scientific information is sketchy. She quotes extensively but uses few of the government documents or scientific reports that might be expected in a series that touts its reliance on primary sources. Black-and-white photographs, cartoons, and graphs supplement the text. Not a first purchase, but this title could be useful for balance and support in libraries serving students researching these controversial questions.Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC