Legal Terms
the laws created or refined by judges or cases in the court system
Common Law
FDCA
Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act
a 1958 amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) that strictly prohibits the FDA from approving any food additive found to induce cancer in humans or animals.
The Delaney Clause
The year of the international agreement signed by 172 countries set goals for achieving lower than 1990 levels of emissions of six greenhouse gases
1997: Koyoto Protocol
A land owner in Washington state has spotted an endangered Bald Eagle on his land, he contacts the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who negotiate a Safe Harbour Agreement.
Endangered Species Act
a lawsuit brought before the court seeking a legal remedy when there has been a wrong or tort against an individual
Civil Action
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Protects the drinking water supply from groundwater contamination and requires that all tap water distributed to the public meet federal standards
Safe Drinking Water Act
In this year, the act that prohibits the killing, harassing or destruction of endangered and threatened species or their habitat
1973; Endangered species act
A plastics factory is releasing production waste directly into a local river, this is reported to the Federal Works Administrator who works with the company to rectify the situation.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act)
a law that is written by an authority in the executive or legislative branch of\ government in response to a need to clarify an existing law
Statutory Law
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act
international agreement signed by 172 countries prohibits the sale, transport or trade of more than 33,000 species of plants and animals that may be threatened for survival?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
In this year, the international agreement signed by 191 countries set goals for reducing ozone-depleting chemical emissions by 50% and phasing out the use of nearly all ozone-depleting chemicals by 1996.
1987; Montreal Protocol
Automobile manufacturers are forced to install catalytic converters in all their vehicles and older vehicles must come in for emissions testing ever year under this act.
Clean Air Act
the common law tort term used to describe conduct that is risky or harmful to other members of society in an intentional or unlawful way
Negligence
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Requires the EPA to develop regulations for and enforce monitoring of six criteria air pollutants
Bonus: The 1990 amendment to the act allowed for permit trading on what air pollutant?
Clean Air Act
Bonus: Sulfur Dioxide
In this year, the act gave the EPA the authority to control the creation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste
1976 (1989); Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts (RCRA)
Apple computer products are monitored from their manufacturing, their transportation, use and their disposal by the EPA.
Resources Conservation and Recovery Act
the term for an environmental organization that has a team of lobbyists and lawyers to represent its agenda in the political arena.
Mainstream Environmental Organization
SMCRA
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Provides a fund of money that that can be used to clean up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites under the direction of the EPA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability (aka Superfund) Act (CERCLA)
In this year, the act that establishes a system of wild land areas that are set aside as preserves and may not be used for timber harvesting, hunting, fishing, grazing or mineral extraction
1964; Wilderness Act
East Troy aquifer in county , Ohio was contaminated by volatile organic compounds, including the common industrial chemicals PCE and TCE, have contaminated ground water, soil and the indoor air in basements. EPA and Ohio EPA data also shows that VOCs have contaminated ground water below the city of Troy, as well as a local drinking water well field.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act “CERCLA/Superfund”