1970's
establishes air quality standards designed to minimize the air pollution found most harmful to human health. Six pollutants were specifically targeted--particulate matter, sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NOx), and lead (Pb). The standards set by the Clean Air Act were called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS - pronounced "nax"). The NAAQS were aimed at large "stationary sources" of the targeted pollutants, such as power plants and large factories. The 1970 Act required that pollution control devices be installed on all new facilities (or sources), and mandated that each state comply with the new standards by 1975.
Bottom Line- Set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants of all other industry.
What is the Clean Air Act of 1970
Nicknamed "Swampbuster", discouraged converting wetlands into nonwetlands. 1990 legislation denies federal farm supplements and subsidies to those who converted wetlands to agriculture, and provided a restoration of benefits to those who unknowingly converted lands to wetlands.
Also set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine (hormonal) effects
Food Security Act of 1985
The same year as the ESA, this agreement bans the capture, exportation, and sale of any endangered or threatened species. No species on these lists may be transported to, from, or through the United States. Other countries also agreed to this Act. This helped ensure the survival of threatened species that were previously used in trade (ie ivory from tusks). No living specimen or "wildlife product" could be traded if it came from an endangered or threatened species
CITES- Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (1973)
Establishes a review of road-free areas of 5000 acres or more and islands within the National Wildlife Refuge or the National Park System for inclusion in the National Preservation System. This act restricts activity in these areas. This means that areas (in 1964) of 5000+ acres that did not have roads built on them were reviewed for possible inclusion within the National Park System
Wilderness Act of 1964
Governs prospecting and mining of minerals on publicly owned land
Mining Act of 1872
establishes and maintains goals and standards for U.S. water quality and purity. The goal of the Act was to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into rivers, lakes, streams and other waterways, and to attain, wherever possible, waters deemed "fishable and swimmable." It has been amended several times, most prominently in 1987 to increase controls on toxic pollutants, and in 1990, to more effectively address the hazard of oil spills.
Bottom Line- set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways. The goal was to make ALL surface waters swimmable and fishable
Clean Water Act
Establishes a federal program to monitor and increase the safety of the drinking water supply. It does not apply to wells that supply less than 25 people. Sets maximum pollution and contamination levels for drinking water meant for public use.
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and 1996
Sets out principles for conservation and management of certain types of fish (International agreement)
United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982
Established a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System for the protection of rivers with important scenic, recreational, fish, wildlife, and other values.
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968
Permits the Bureau of Land Management to grant leases for development of deposits of coal, phosphate, potash, sodium, sulfur, and other leasable minerals on public domain lands (affects Mining Act)
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920
programs to aid landowners and users. Set up conditions to continue to evaluate the condition of US Soil, water, and resources.
Soil and Water Conservation Act of 1977
Ocean Dumping Act of 1972
Established both the Federal government's responsibility to provide a place for the permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and the generators' responsibility to bear the costs of permanent storage and disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and the generators' responsibility to bear the costs of permanent disposal. The US Federal government must set aside a location for long-term hazardous waste disposal- YUCCA MOUNTAIN.
Nuclear Waste Policy Act or 1982
Protected fish that live in the sea but grow up and breed in fresh water (ie limits salmon catches as they use freshwater streams to breed)
Anadromous Fish Conservation Act of 1965
Also known as the "Superfund" Act. This regulates mineral processing wastes. Hazardous wastes dumped somewhere can also be cleaned up through government funding because of this Act (provides funding to clean up abandoned hazardous wastes). A trust fund is established to help provide compensation for cleaning up these sites.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980
This act protected marine mammals from falling below their optimum sustainable population levels.
Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972
Strengthened EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. Established a trust fund (financed by tax and oil) which is available to clean up spills.
Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act of 1990
Established the Office of Environmental Education within the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and administer a federal environmental education program.
Environmental Education Act of 1990
Gave the EPA the ability to track the 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or imported into the United States. EPA repeatedly screens these chemicals and can require reporting or testing of those that may pose and environmental or human-health hazard. Allows the EPA to ban the manufacture and import of those chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA) of 1976
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
Prohibits the commerce of those species considered to be endangered or threatened. Identifies threatened and endangered species in the US, and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations. "Threatened" species are those that are at-risk because of reduced habitats or falling numbers. "Endangered" species are those that will go extinct if attempts are not made to aid in reproduction and replace lost habitat.
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Designed to promote source reduction of pollution. Requires minimal standards for air pollution and water pollution leaving factories.
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990
An international agreement to cut the emissions of CFCs (and other materials) that damage the ozone layer. Amended in Copenhagen in 1992 to include other key ozone-depleting chemicals
Montreal Accord/Protocol of 1978
Creates the Council on Environmental Quality that resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from the consolidation of various environmental agencies.
Also provides that federal agencies create and prepare environmental impact statements about any changes to infrastructure or roadways that will affect any parts of the federally protected environment.
National Environmental Policy Act of 1970
the most significant waste management legislation in American history. Among other things, delegated administrative authority to the EPA to provide technical and financial assistance to state waste management systems. The act primarily focuses on municipal and industrial non-hazardous wastes. It also helps with some mineral processing wastes. This act also controls Hazardous wastes with a "cradle to grave" system. Meaning, hazardous wastes must be transported and disposed of correctly regardless of whose responsibility they might be.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts of 1976 (RCRA)