<P> The two major policy tools for protecting the environment are rules and inducements . The United States has chosen to use rules, primarily through regulation . Such regulations can come in the form of design standards and performance standards . Performance standards specify emission levels and let those covered by the rules decide how those levels will be met . Design standards specify exactly how performance standards will be met . </P> <P> Alternatively, the government can use inducements, or "market reform". Inducements are rewards and punishments used to influence people or groups . The two major types of market reforms are charge systems, such as emissions taxes, and "tradable permit systems". One type of tradable permit system is an "auction of pollution rights" in which the amount of allowed pollution is set and divided into units, which are then auctioned, giving environmental organizations the opportunity to buy the units to create a cleaner environment than originally planned . Such a plan was implemented for SO emissions in the 1990 Acid Rain Program and has been undertaken for greenhouse gases on a regional scale as a way to mitigate global warming . </P> <P> Governmental authority on environmental issues in the United States is highly fragmented . While the EPA is the most comprehensive environmental agency, its authority on these matters is not absolute . Virtually all of the executive branch's departments have some area of environmental authority . This contributes somewhat to the cost and questionable efficacy of the United States' environmental regulation . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Federal Agency </Td> <Td> Environmental Responsibilities </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> White House Office </Td> <Td> Overall policy, Agency coordination </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Office of Management and Budget </Td> <Td> Budget, Agency coordination and management </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Council on Environmental Quality </Td> <Td> Environmental policy, Agency coordination, Environmental impact statements </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Health and Human Services </Td> <Td> Health </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Environmental Protection Agency </Td> <Td> Air and water pollution, Solid waste, Radiation, Pesticides, Noise, Toxic substances </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Justice </Td> <Td> Environmental litigation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of the Interior </Td> <Td> Public lands, Energy, Minerals, National parks </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Agriculture </Td> <Td> Forestry, Soil, Conservation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Defense </Td> <Td> Civil works construction, Dredge and fill permits, Pollution control from defense facilities </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nuclear Regulatory Commission </Td> <Td> License and regulate nuclear power </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of State </Td> <Td> International environment </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Commerce </Td> <Td> Oceanic and atmospheric monitoring and research </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Labor </Td> <Td> Occupational health </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Housing and Urban Development </Td> <Td> Housing, Urban parks, Urban planning </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Transportation </Td> <Td> Mass transit, Roads, Aircraft noise, Oil pollution </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Energy </Td> <Td> Energy policy coordination, Petroleum allocation research and development </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tennessee Valley Authority </Td> <Td> Electric power generation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard </Td> <Td> Maritime and environmental stewardship, National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who regulates the amount of pollution emitted into the environment