Environmental Laws, Agencies, and Treaties-Charlotte Farrelly

Lacey Act (US)

May 25, 1900

This law bans trafficking in fish, wildlife, or plants that are illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (US)

Jun 25, 1938

This law requires the FDA to ban food additives that are found to cause or induce cancer in humans or animals

World Bank

Jul 4, 1940

This agency is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.

World Health Organization

Jul 22, 1943

This agency of the United Nations is responsible for international public health.

Safe Drinking Water Act (US)

Dec 16, 1965

This law authorizes the EPA to establish minimum standards to protect the quality of drinking water in the US.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US)

Oct 21, 1967

This law governs the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste in the United States.

National Environmental Policy Act (US)

Jan 1, 1970

This law promotes the enhancement of the environment and established the president's council on environmental quality.

Environmental Protection Agency (US)

Dec 2, 1970

This agency is an independent executive agency of the US federal government tasked with environmental protection matters.

Clean Air Act (US)

Dec 31, 1970

This law is the primary federal air quality law in the United States, intended to control air pollution nationwide. It allows the government to create regulations on pollutant emissions.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)

Apr 28, 1971

This agency provides free safety and health assistance to employers, with the goal of preventing occupational injuries.

United Nations Environment Programme

Jun 5, 1972

This agency is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.

Clean Water Act (US)

Oct 18, 1972

This law restores and maintains the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water in the US and governs water pollution and contamination.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Mar 3, 1973

This treaty is a global treaty to protect endangered plants and animals everywhere on Earth.

Endangered Species Act (US)

Dec 28, 1973

This law provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad.

Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (US)

Aug 3, 1977

This law prohibits surface coal mining within the boundaries of any unit of the National Park System.

Department of Energy (US)

Aug 4, 1977

This agency is a cabinet-level department of the US government concerned with matters of federal energy policy and the safe handling of nuclear material.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act (US)

Dec 11, 1980

This law allows the government to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites as well as accidents or spills. It also allows the government to hold the guilty party responsible.

Montreal Protocol

Sep 16, 1987

This treaty is for the purpose of saving the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous harmful substances responsible for the hole in the ozone layer.

Kyoto Protocol

Dec 11, 1997

This treaty operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change by giving industrialized nations individual targets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.