Environmental Laws, Agencies, and Treaties - Jason Ma and Yash Rajpal

Lacey Act (US)

May 25, 1900

This bans trafficking in fish, wildlife, or plants that were illegally purchased or sold.

World Bank

Jul 1, 1944

The world bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants globally.

World Health Organization

Apr 7, 1948

The world health organization is a specialized agency of the UN responsible for public health.

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Sep 6, 1958

It requires the FDA to ban food additives that are found to cause or induce cancer in humans and animals as indicated by testing.

National Environmental Policy Act (US)

Jan 1, 1970

This law was signed into law and requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US)

Apr 28, 1970

A large regulatory agency of the Department of Federal Labor that originally had federal power.

Environmental Protection Agency (US)

Dec 2, 1970

An independent executive agency of the United States tasked with environmental protection that matters.

Clean Air Act

Dec 31, 1970

This was signed by Richard Nixon to better protect the nation's air quality.

United Nations Environment Programme

May 16, 1972

This agency is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues.

Clean Water Act (US)

Oct 18, 1972

The clean water act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants in the waters of the United States and regulating quality for surfaces.

Endangered Species Act (US)

Dec 28, 1973

It provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered species and their habitats globally.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Jan 18, 1974

This law sets the standards for drinking water quality and monitor states, local authorities, and water suppliers who explore those standards.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Jul 1, 1975

A multilateral theory to protect endangered plants and animals. it was drafted as a result of the International Union.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US)

Oct 21, 1976

This is the primary federal law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste.

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (US)

Aug 3, 1977

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States.

Department of Energy

Aug 4, 1977

This is concerned with matters of federal policy and safe handling of energy.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liablity Act

Dec 11, 1980

This is the US federal superfund law, officially the Comprehensive Environmental Resource.

Montreal Protocol

Sep 15, 1987

An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of resources responsible for ozone depletion.

Kyoto Protocol

Dec 11, 1997

This is a treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse emissions.