§ 9.2. The environmental ethic—principles to guide the Program.
(a) The development of an ecologically sensitive philosophy provides a means for incorporating a broader understanding of the natural environment and man’s relationships to the natural environment into ‘‘a master environmental plan.’’ Incorporating an understanding of and a respect for ecologic values into the existing social structure requires a rethinking of traditional man-environment relationships. There must be an attempt to challenge and change those attitudes which do not reflect an overall sensitivity for the environment. Traditional attitudes related to the environment can be characterized by the following statements:
(1) Growth is good.
(2) Technology can solve any problem.
(3) Economics is a higher concern than environmental protection.
(4) Maintaining a natural environment is not a productive use of the land.
(5) Lessening population growth eliminates resource consumption problems.
(6) Nature can be protected by setting aside small areas of the environment.
(7) The knowledge and superiority of man places him above the laws of nature.
(b) The development of the Environmental Master Plan shall be guided by a planning process providing a systematic framework for evaluating, reassessing, and changing traditional social attitudes related to the environment.
(c) Cultivating a societal environmental sensitivity is accomplished through a planning program which is based upon a recognition and respect for the values of the environment. These values of the environment may be generally defined as attributes of the biosphere which maintain the functioning of ecosystems thereby being of long term importance for human survival. Environmental values may also include values which society places on maintaining certain intrinsic qualities or characteristics of the environment such as scenic quality or pieces of the environment which may be rare, unique, or endangered.
(d) The basis of a planning program sensitive to environmental values is actually an ethic or set of principles reflecting a change in traditional attitudes toward man-environment relationships. The following principles are fundamental components of an environmental ethic to guide the development of the Commonwealth Environmental Master Plan:
(1) Man is a part of the total ecosystem and a citizen within the biotic community and is to be recognized as a trustee of the earth’s resources.
(2) The total dependency of man upon the finite air, water and land resources of the earth is to be acknowledged for the long term survival of society.
(3) Complex interrelationships and interdependencies of the natural environment are to be recognized and respected.
(4) Environmental values which maintain the quality and productivity of natural resources, processes, and systems of the environment are to be protected.
(5) Environmental resources are to be managed recognizing the natural capabilities and assimilative capacities of the total environment.
(6) The activities of man creating adverse impacts on human health and the natural environment are to be minimized.
(e) Based upon the principles set forth in this section, it shall be the environmental policy of the Commonwealth to encourage an ethic of understand- ing and respect for the natural environment by all Commonwealth citizens and throughout all levels of government.
(f) This attitude toward the environment will ensure the long term harmony between socio-economic well-being and the protection of the environment of this Commonwealth.
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