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True/False: The federal government's role in reclaiming natural resources that have been destroyed, damaged, or threatened is wholly operated by state organizations receiving federal funding.

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Final answer:

The federal government's role in reclaiming natural resources is not solely operated by state organizations with federal funding; both federal and state entities play significant roles in the process. Federal laws and agencies, like the EPA and the Superfund Act, empower the federal government to act directly in environmental management and restoration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the federal government's role in reclaiming natural resources is wholly operated by state organizations receiving federal funding is false. The federal government and state organizations collaborate in managing and restoring natural resources, but they operate under different jurisdictions and authority levels. Initiatives may be funded by the federal government, but the implementation can be directed by either the states or the federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Moreover, various federal laws and regulations empower federal agencies to reclaim damaged natural resources directly.

An example of this is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, which allows the EPA to clean up contaminated sites. Additionally, the federal government has control over certain lands and resources, such as national parks and offshore resources, which are managed by federal entities like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

The relationship between the federal government and state governments in environmental management is thus characterized by a mix of cooperative and competitive federalism. While the states have significant power in deciding how to best utilize block grants for environmental purposes, the national government also retains authority and responsibility in areas such as national security, immigration, and environmental protection.

User Paul Mignard
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