In the states, government authority to regulate for environmental public health is based on:

The basis for government authority to regulate for environmental public health stems from the concept of police powers. Police powers refer to the inherent capacity of the state to enact legislation and regulation to protect public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. This authority allows state and local governments to establish regulations that can include everything from environmental protections to sanitation and public health standards.

While the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights establish various rights and limitations on government power, they do not explicitly grant states the authority to regulate environmental health. The United States Code of Federal Regulations provides a framework for federal regulations but is not the source of state authority.

Thus, the reliance on police powers highlights the state’s ability and responsibility to create laws and regulations that ensure the environment is safe and conducive to public health, thus making this answer correct.