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Audubon Society Founded
The Audubon Society is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of nature. It currently has over 60,000 members and it's priority endeavors include the protection and restoration of wetlands and forests. This organization was named after the naturalist John James Audubon. -
Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The Delaney Clause regulates carcinogens and prohibits the FDA from approving the use of any food additives that have a link to cancer. Most people criticize this amendment as too restrictive due to the fact that it does not define any safe level of risk, so the FDA can only approve the use of additives with zero risk. -
Publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Calling for greater moderation and care in regards to the use of pesticides, this book began a push for regulations on pesticides. In the book, Carson documents the effects of pesticides on humans, the environment, and possible long-lasting repercussions from unmoderated use of them. -
First Earth Day
Designed as a way to educate the masses about protecting the environment, the first Earth Day had millions of participants around the country. The first Earth Day was instrumental in passing such acts such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act -
Clean Water Act
This act was designed to protect wildlife and surface water. However, groundwater was not included in this act. -
The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
The ESA provides a program to allow the conservation of endangered animals and plants, as well as their habitats. the leading agencies for implementing this are the FWS and NOAA. -
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The goal of the convention is to prevent trade from risking animal and plant species with extinction. Since it's creation, over 5,800 animal and over 30,000 plant species have been listed. -
The Safe Drinking Water Act
This act protects public water supplies throughout the country. The EPA partners with various agencies to set and maintain water quality standards -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
This act gives the EPA the ability to control the production, transportation, use, and disposal of hazardous chemicals. The 1986 amendments also allow the EPA to regulate underground tanks storing hazardous substances. -
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The SMCRA prohibits surface coal mining within the boundaries of a national park and gives the NPS permitting responsibilities. If a mining proposal might adversely affect a nearby park, then the NPS will jointly operate with the OSMRE in order to protect the park and make decisions regarding the mining proposal. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
This act established the Superfund, who's purpose is to clean up environmental hazards. This act also required listing of sites posing an established or possible risk to the environment and outlined disposal procedures. -
Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)
The NWPA supports the disposal of nuclear waste in deep geologic repositories. The act outlines procedures for selecting and evaluating new sites as well as a timetable for the disposal of material. -
Chernobyl
in 1986, the nuclear power plant north of Kiev, Ukraine, had a melt down due to poor reactor design and poor safety training. As a result, various areas downwind of the reactor were contaminated to various degrees and the nearby town of Pripyat became inhabitable. Thyroid cancer diagnoses rose soon after, yet cannot be conclusively linked to the disaster. Despite Reactor 4 having a meltdown, the rest of the plant was in use until 2000 when Reactor 3 was decommissioned. -
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal limited CFC production and hastened the development of alternatives. If the Montreal Protocol was not created, then CFC's would be the primary greenhouse gas and the ozone layer would be far more damaged. -
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
The oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, ran aground and released 11,000,000 gallons of crude oil into the surrounding water, polluting 1,300 miles of the coast. As a result, Exxon granted 2.1 billion dollars for the cleanup and thousands of volunteers helped control the pollution. despite their efforts, vast amounts of wildlife were killed due to the pollution. -
Clean Air Act
The newest amendments were added in 1990. The act addresses acid rain, ozone depletion, and auto exhaust. The goal to reduce emissions by 50% to 10 million tons a year by 2000 was reached. -
Kyoto Protocol
Designed to limit and reduce carbon levels in comparison to 1990 levels. The U.S. rejected this proposal due to it being too costly,, being one of only three nations to not sign. -
