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The Yellowstone Act
Congress made Yellowstone the first national park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. This is the beginning of many more national parks in America. -
National Park Service
Congress passed the National Park Service, creating over 400 National Parks across America. They cover 84.6 billion acres of america -
Bald Eagle Act
Congress passed the Bald Eagle Preservation Act to prevent the extinction of the national symbol. They were hunted and pushed to the brink of extinction, with only 417 nesting pairs in the wild (1963). it was made illegal to kill, shoot at, or poison the birds. -
National Environmental Policy
The National Environmental Policy Act was one of the first laws to establish the broad national framework for protecting the environment. The Act demanded that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to building airports, buildings, military complexes, highways, parks, and other activities. -
Earth Day
The first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million people across the country. Earth Day was first organized by Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin senator, and Denis Hayes, a Harvard graduate student, He was disturbed that an issue as important as our environment was not addressed in politics or by the media. Today, Earth Day is celebrated annually around the world. -
Endangered Species Act
Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect what are now known as Endangered Species from possible extinction. That provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act to be administered by the EPA, protecting Americans from contaminated drinking water. The EPA still regulates public drinking water as a result of the act.The EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. -
Exxon Oil Spill
The Exxon Valdez oil spill dumped 11 million gallons of oil off the coast of Alaska, and images of oil-soaked ocean life flood American homes. Mechanical cleanup was started shortly afterwards using booms and skimmers, but the skimmers were not readily available during the first 24 hours following the spill, and thick oil and kelp tended to clog the equipment. Despite civilian insistence for a complete clean, only 10% of total oil was actually completely cleaned -
Air Quality Standards
“small” or “fine” particulate matter—soot, dust, and particles too small to see. Fine particulate matter that comes from things like car exhaust, smokestacks, and coal-fired power plants.This Act identifies two types of national ambient air quality standards. Primary standards provide public health protection, protecting the health of children, and the elderly. Secondary standards provide public welfare protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings. -
Bald Eagle gets taken off the endangered list
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San Francisco Oil Spill
A South Korea bound container ship struck a tower supporting the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge spilling 58,000 gallons of oil in the San Francisco Bay. Dozens of dead and injured seabirds were immediately found following the spill. The spill fouled miles of coast land and according to area scientists, could threaten the lives of the bay’s birds, fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals for years. A day after the spill, oil could be spotted 15 miles north of the city. 8 beaches were closed.
