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Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948
By 1948 industrial and urban growth that was fueled by World War II, lead to notorious pollution throughout the United State's streams, rivers and lakes. In 1948 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was signed, marking the nations first major law enacted by congress to combat water pollution throughout the nation. -
Cuyahoga River Fire of 1952
A large fire started on the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland Ohio, this fire cause of $1 million in damages to boats and river store fronts. The Cuyahoga River was one of the most polluted rivers in the United States, there was often large oil slicks on top of the water that would catch fire. There was at least 13 recorded fire on this river including one that killed 5 people in 1912. Video about Cuyahoga River Fires -
Clean Water Act of 1972
The Clean Water Act is an amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948. The amendment changes:
Gave EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. Made it unlawful for any person to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained under its provisions. Funded the construction of sewage treatment plants under the construction grants program. -
Shore Protection Act
the shore protection act prohibits the transport of commercial waste without a permit, the permit must be renewed within 5 years.The goal of the regulations are to minimize deposit of waste into coastal waters during loading, transport, and unloading, and to ensure that any deposited waste is reported and cleaned up. -
Oil Pollution Act
The Oil Pollution Act works to avoid oil spills from vessels or facilities by making the responsible party of the spill responsible for the financial burden of the clean up required. -
Gulf War Oil Spill
The Gulf War oil spill is one of the largest oil spills in history. It was done on purpose in an attempt to keep US forces out of Kuwait. The spill lasted for a week, dumping and estimated 4,000,000 barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf. The slick was 102 miles by 42 miles and was as think as 5 inches in some places, causing lasting damage and killing hundreds of marine life. Golf War Oil Spill -
Radioactive Waste Dumping
From 1946-1993 countries throughout the world would dump their radioactive and nuclear waste in to oceans. On February 20, 1994 dumping became totally illegal throughout the world. -
UN Fish Stock Agreement
The UN Fish Stock Agreement promotes good order in the oceans through the effective management and conservation of high seas resources by establishing, among other things, detailed minimum international standards for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks. -
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
The estimated size of the spill was 4.9 million barrels. The oil rig ignited and eventually exploded killing 11 on the workers. The environmental impact was also very large, due to the oil spill there 650 dolphins had washed up on shore. -
Flint Water Crises
In 2014 the Water in Flint was switch from Detroit water to water from the Flint river. The water was discolored and had a bad smell. General Motors made a complaint about how corrosive the water was, they stopped using the water because it was corroding car parts. Flint Water Crises