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Federal Water Pollution Control Act
This act was enacted in June 1948 but recognized and expanded in 1972. This acts is also known as the Clean Water Act and regulates discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. This is done by regulating the quality standards for surface waters to maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s water. -
National Air Pollution Control Act
National Air Pollution Control Act was enacted in July 14, 1955 but officially established in 1970. The goal was to address and target air pollution problems such as acid rain and damages to stratospheric ozone layer. This law tries to minimize pollution increases caused by industrial plants that emit toxic chemical pollutants into the air that are hazardous and increase risk of human health. -
Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act was enacted in December 17, 1963 and the goal was to regulate and monitor air emission from any mobile or industrial source on a national level. The standards implemented are to protect public health and public welfare in order to regulation the emission of toxic pollutants using ambient and control techniques. -
Air Quality Act
Air Quality Act (amendment to CAA) was established in 1963 to regulate all sources of air emission. The purpose was to address problems such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion, visibility, and air toxics. It seeks to protect human health and the environment as well as prevent pollution in areas with clean air. This act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish standards for air quality and assure compliance to the standards. -
Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act was written in 1964 and created the National Wilderness Preservation System to protect wild areas that preserve its natural conditions and strictly prohibits the construction of road and commercial enterprises as well as any other type of disturbance to the habitat for wildlife and plants including endangered and threatened species. -
Water Quality Act
Established in 1965 in order to develop water quality standards to monitor water quality and control pollution and protect the uses of water. Water needs to be used properly either for agricultural purposes, industrial, wildlife, public and protect public health and the environment by enhancing water quality and maintains biological, chemical and physical integrity of water. -
National Emissions Standards Act
Established in 1965, and was originally known as Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Act. The goal is to establish standards and control national automobile pollution. This law also regulates and prohibit the use of fuel additives that endangered health and welfare. As a result, cleaner engines were build and refiners produced cleaner fuels to reduce damage to bodily functions and organs as well as to the environment. -
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act was passed by the U.S congress in 1965 to established emission standards on light duty vehicles. This act goal is to reduce to 72% of hydrocarbons, 56% of carbon monoxide, and 100% of crankcase hydrocarbons use. This act would control the emission of pollutants and other chemicals into the air. The Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965 was later amended with the Clean Air Act of 1970. -
Solid Waste Disposal Act
Solid Waste Disposal Act was passed by the U.S Congress in 1965 as part of the amendments to the Clean Air Act. This was the first federal law that require environmentally methods for disposal of household, municipal, commercial, and industrial waste. Since the rapid growth of population in our nation, this act new methods tries to protect human health and the environment by reducing the amount of waste and use of hazardous materials. -
California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board was enacted by Californian government and established in 1967 with the purpose of maintaining healthy air quality. This act provided new approaches and ways to deal with toxic air contaminants and implemented rules and regulations for air pollution affecting the metropolitan area. The act targets large trucks that operate in California that are a bigger source of air pollution. It also imposes to use few truck in rural areas and cleaner models or install filters -
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act established in Dec 1969 and designed to establish nationwide health and safety standards for the coal-mining industry. It also provides compensation to coal miners who are totally disabled because of pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) and for their dependents and survivors. The acts also conducts research and inspects underground coal mines to reduce accidents, violations and danger to the workers. -
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Signed into law in January 1, 1970 to protect the environment. NEPA’s policy is makes sure that all branches of government think and provide proper consideration to the environment before any federal action is passed that will affect the environment. -
Environmental Quality Improvement Act
Established in April 3 1970 to enhance environmental quality. This act prevents, supports and control environmental pollution, water resources, land resources, transportation and economic development. The purpose was also to assure that federal government and agencies implemented policies for protection to the environment and support public activities such as planting trees to increase air quality -
Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act
established in 1970 and requires employers to not expose employees to work in hazardous areas that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees. This act also implies that employees need to comply standards, rules and regulations under the act which are applicable to their own actions and conduct. In addition, this act proposes penalties to alleged violations. -
Clean Air Act (Extension)
The amendments of 1970 focused on the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and maintain air quality in different geographic areas. The amendment of 1990 focused on regulatory programs for control of acid deposition (acid rain) and for the issuance of stationary source operating permits. This act increased authority and responsibility of federal government to revise and protect the stratospheric ozone. -
Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act
Established in January 13 1971 with the goal of prohibiting the use of lead-based paint in residential areas as well as applications in any cooking, drinking or eating utensils and on any toy or furniture items. The goal was to protect families, the environment and any surrounding living matter that could be poisoned by use of lead. -
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Enacted in 1910, revised by congress in 1972 and amended again in 1996 provides regulation of pesticide distribution, sale and use. This law requires that all pesticides distributed or sold in the United States are licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To register pesticides, the distributor needs prove that the pesticide will not affect the environment. -
Clean Water Act
Reorganized and expanded in October 18 1972 to regulate the discharge of any type of pollutants that disrupt the environment and contaminate surface waters. This act implemented standards and require industry, municipal and other type of facilities obtain a permit for discharges directly to surface waters. It also implemented standards and programs to control wastewater and contaminants in surface waters. -
Endangered Species Act
Established in December 28 1973 and provides protection to the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened in their natural habitats. It was also signed to protect species that are critically endangered and prompt to extinction. The focus is on conservation of habitat for plants, terrestrial and aquatic species. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
Federal law passed by U.S Congress in 1074 and amended in December 17 1986 and 1996 to regulate public drinking water supply and protect human health. The act also protect water resources such as river, lakes, springs and ground water wells. The act also sets up national health standards for drinking water to protect against contaminants that may be found in water. -
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
Established in January 3 1975 and the purpose was to provide protection for people’s life and ensures the proper transportation of hazardous material intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce. Hazardous material is defined as any type of material that might pose an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property. It also provides regulations to prevent spills and illegal dumping that may cause any harm to the public or to the environment. -
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Passed in October 11 1976, this act regulates existing and commercial chemicals that enter the market to prevent risk to human health or to the environment. This act also regulates the use and distribution of any chemicals. The term chemical is an organic or inorganic substance that contains molecular particles or uncombined radical. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Established in October 21 1976 and amended in 1986 requires the appropriate generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of any type of hazardous material. It also focuses on minimizing waste and as well as imposing management standards and programs to handle hazardous waste. The purpose is to protect human health, environment and natural resources from deadly chemicals. -
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Established in August 3 1977, is in charge of regulating surface mining activities and the regulation of coal mined lands. The activities include exploration and surface effects of underground mining. The act is also concerned about contaminant issues and requires mine operators to mitigate any type of disturbance to wildlife and related environmental values. -
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
Established in November 9 1978, the act changed the energy standards from voluntary to mandatory and required federal agencies to perform any type of surveys to reduce the consumption of nonrenewable energy sources in several types of operations such as buildings, cars. This acts also allows families to buy any type of solar equipment such as heaters or coolers. The act also requires to develop any type of energy conservation technique -
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Enacted in September 29 1980 and the goal is protect fish, birds, mammals and all type of aquatic and land vegetation that depends on wildlife. This act supports and promotes the increase of wildlife and resources and studies and regulates the impact of pollution, waste and domestic sewage to the environment. This act also plans, develops and maintain programs for the conservation and protection of wildlife -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
known as Superfund and established in December 11 1980 requires petroleum and chemical industries to release information of hazardous substances that may endanger public health and the environment. This act also establishes prohibition to closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites, provides liability of persons responsible for release of hazardous waste material and provides fund for cleanup of waste material. -
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Established in 1983 to build safe places for disposal of radioactive waste and nuclear fuel. In 1985 this act developed plans to monitor waste that could be kept for more than 100 years and later on be removed for disposal or reprocessing. The waste program cost billions of dollars but was funded by nuclear generated electricity. -
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRKA)
Created in 1986 lets the community know about hazardous and toxic chemicals, notifies the community when hazardous chemicals are released and develops plans for chemical emergencies. It also requires to notify the federal government when hazardous materials are being storage, used and released with the aim of reducing a disaster and ensure the safety and protect the public and the environment. -
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
Established in October 17 1986 to solve problems related to hazardous waste sites and developed emergency plans to monitor the release of dangerous substance. The hazardous substances include a broad pollutants and contaminant. The superfund also supports the protection of human health, community involvement and authorities to find solutions to hazardous-waste cleanup. -
Montreal Protocol
Agreed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989 but amended in 1990 and 1992 was designated to reduce the use and consumption of substance that damage the atmosphere and protect the earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. Chemical compounds that were stop from being used and caused severe damage to the ozone layer included chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform -
Basel Convention
Signed March 22, 1989 and effective on May 5, 1992 in order to protect the environment and public health against any toxic or hazardous substance. The act covers several types of hazardous waste but the two main waste are household waste and incinerator ash. The act was also designated to reduce the generation of hazardous waste, minimize its movement and monitor its movement. This act also requires training and management of wide range of hazardous waste. -
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
Established in 1992 was designated to inform buyers and renters of housing build before 1978 about lead and paint-lead hazards. The purpose of the act is to protect families from lead paint, dust and soil. Sellers need to conduct lead inspection prior to selling a house and the buyer needs to receive a pamphlet about lead hazardous information. -
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Came into force in 1994 and signed by Canada, United States and Mexico. This act was designated to eliminate tax when doing legal trading. The act also agreed to reinforce labor and environmental laws and established monetary sanctions for violations. The act requires to monitor imports from outside of the United States and controls domestic products that are at disadvantage. -
Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice
Established in February 16 1994 and designated to provide attention on the environmental, economic, social and human health effects of federal actions on minority and low-income populations. The act goal is to minimize pollution and contamination from industrial plants in poor neighborhoods. The act enforces that everyone needs to have access to clean air, clean water and uncontaminated land. -
Kyoto Protocol
Established in 1997 and is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the goal is work with other countries to reduce the effects of global warming and find a solution to the increase of temperature after many years of industrialization. The main goal is to decrease the use and emission of six main types of green gases that are highly associated with global warming; carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs and PFCs. -
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
Enacted in1998 and the goal was to authorize federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety and transit for 6 year period 1998-2003. TEA-21 provides funding of 198 billion dollars for federal highways, highway safety and transit programs. This act supports the economy of metropolitan areas by providing efficient and productive transportation and promoting the conservation of energy, protection of the environment and emphasizes in increase of transportation accessibility -
California AB 1493
Enacted in 2002 in California and was designated to limit the emission of green gasses by the use of any mobile transportation but mainly for private vehicles, SUV’s and pickup trucks. Having this law, manufactures had to build cleaner vehicles and light trucks. The goal is to expand and strengthened exiting energy efficiency programs. -
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA)
Established in 2005 and expired in 2009 was designated to maintain and improve surface transportation infrastructure which included the highway and transit system, bicycling and pedestrian facilities and freight rail operation across the United States. This act also provided finance to project such as construction of international bridges and tunnels as well as surface transportation. -
Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)
Established in 2007 in order to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, its efficiency, protect consumers, improve energy performance and decrease the emission of greenhouse gasses. This law also reduce United States the dependence of petroleum by improving vehicle fuel economy. The law also encourages buyers to drive and own hybrid electric vehicles that will reduce contamination and emission of pollutants to the environment.
