Environmental Laws, Agencies, and Treaties - By Aidan Dever and Nate Weed

Lacey Act

May 25, 1900

Act to prevent hunters from illegally killing, and hunting animals.

World Bank

Jul 4, 1944

An international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the government of low- and middle-income countries for pursuing capital projects.

World Health Organization

Apr 7, 1948

Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Sep 6, 1958

Requires the FDA to ban food that cause cancer.

Clean Air Act

Dec 17, 1963

The U.S. primary federal air quality law, intended to reduce and control air pollution nationwide.

National Environmental Policy Act

Jan 1, 1970

Environmental Law that protects the enhancement of the environment.

Environmental Protection Agency

Dec 2, 1970

An independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government tasked with environmental protection matters.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Apr 28, 1971

A large regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces.

United Nations Environment Programme

Jun 5, 1972

Programme responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the U.N. system.

Clean Water Act

Oct 18, 1972

The main law in the United States governing water laws.

Endangered Species Act

Dec 28, 1973

An act designed to protect imperiled species from extinction.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Dec 16, 1974

The main rule that regulates the water we consume.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Jul 1, 1975

CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Oct 21, 1976

The act responsible for governing the disposal of solid waste.

Surface Mining and Reclamation Act

Aug 3, 1977

The primary federal law that regulates the impact of coal mining.

Department of Energy

Aug 4, 1977

A cabinet-level department of the U.S. government, concerned with matters of federal energy policy and the safe handling of nuclear material.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act

Dec 11, 1980

Established the federal Superfund program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Montreal Protocol

Sep 18, 1987

Treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out harmful production services.

Kyoto Protocol

Dec 11, 1997

An international treaty which is set to limit carbon emissions.