The Government and the Environment

National Park service Act, 1916

Aug 25, 1916

Created the National Park Service.

Soil Conservation Act 1935

Apr 27, 1935

Imposes a duty upon landowners to take measures to prevent soil loss and deterioration and to fill in areas where it has occurred.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act 1947

Jun 25, 1947

Created basic U.S. system of pesticide regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment.

Clean Air Act 1955

Jul 14, 1955

Provide control over air pollution.

Fish and Wildlife Act 1956

Aug 8, 1956

Establishes an aquatic wildlife resources policy with emphasis on the fishing industry but also to the inherent right of every citizen and resident to fish for pleasure, and enjoyment, and to maintain and increase public opportunities for recreational use of fish and wildlife resources

Price-Anderson Act 1957

Sep 2, 1957

Ensures funds are available to compensate for property damage and personal injury in the event of a nuclear meltdown.

Wilderness Act 1964

Sep 3, 1964

Provides criteria for determining the sustainability of land, and places restrictions on activities that can be undertaken on the designated area.

Land and Water Conservation Act 1965

Jan 1, 1965

An act to establish a land and water conservation fund to assist the states and federal agencies in meeting present and future outdoor recreation demands and needs of the American people and other purposes.

Water Resources Planning Act 1965

Jul 22, 1965

Implements principals and standards for federal participants in the preparation of river basin plans and in evaluating federal water projects.

Water Quality Act 1965

Oct 2, 1965

Established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water and stopping water pollution by 1985, as well as insuring that surface waters could be used and for human sports and recreation by 1983.

Freedom of Information Act 1966

Jul 5, 1966

Allowed citizens access to information known by the government.

Species Conservation Act 1966

Oct 15, 1966

Provides a means for listing native animal species as endangered and giving them limited protection.

National Trails System Act 1968

Oct 2, 1968

Authorized a national system of trails to provide additional outdoor recreation opportunities and to promote the preservation of access to the outdoor areas and historic resources of the nation.

National Environmental Policy Act 1969

Dec 23, 1969

Federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decisions and think of the possible environmental impact and think of alternative solutions.

Clean Water Act 1972

Oct 18, 1972

Goal of reducing pollution of bodies of water.

Marine Mammal Protection Ac 1972

Oct 21, 1972

Prohibits the removal of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.

Renewable Resources Planning Act 1974

Jul 30, 1974

Requires the assessment planning and motitering of national forest resources with displays that will allow the selection of goods and services that could be produced form the nations forests.

Safe Drinking Water Act 1974

Dec 16, 1974

Allows the EPA to set standards for water quality and implement them upon water suppliers.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 1975

Jul 1, 1975

To protect endangered plants and animals.

National Forest Management Act 1976

Sep 9, 1976

Called for the protection of renewable resources such as trees inside of National Parks. (Precise date not found)

Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 1976

Oct 1, 1976

Required proper governing administration of national forests as well as management of renewable resources on national forest lands.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976

Oct 21, 1976

Gives the EPA control over hazardous waste.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act 1976

Nov 1, 1976

Governs how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages public lands.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 1977

Aug 3, 1977

Creates a program for the regulation of surface mining whose duty it is cause minimal disturbances and adverse impact on the environment.

Soil and Water Conservation Act 1977

Nov 18, 1977

Allows the USDA to have planning authority for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related natural resources.

Arctic Conservation Act 1978

Oct 28, 1978

Establishes Antarctica as an international reserve for the peaceful conduct of science, education, and human experience.

Energy Tax Act 1978

Nov 9, 1978

To shift from oil and gas supply to a more conservative energy source by implementing taxes and tax credits, which then promotes fuel efficiency and renewable energy.

Endangered Species Act 1978

Nov 10, 1978

Began the basis of biodiversity and endangered species conservation in the U.S.

Low Level Radioactive Policy Act 1980

Jan 1, 1980

Each State is to be responsible for providing disposal capacity for commercial LLW generated within its borders by January 1, 1986.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act 1980

Sep 29, 1980

Financial and technical support to the States for the development, revision, and carrying out of conservation plans and programs for fish and wildlife that are being protected.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 1980

Dec 11, 1980

Formed a tax on the chemical/petroleum industries and provided Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of dangerous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.

Nuclear Waste Policy act 1982

Nov 22, 1982

Nuclear waste policy act 1982: Provides the development of storage areas for the deposal of nuclear waste and creates a program to create research and develop disposal techniques for highly radioactive waste.

International Environmental Protection Act 1983

Jul 1, 1983

Amended the natural resource provisions of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act by authorizing the President to assist other countries in wildlife and plant protection efforts in order to preserve biological diversity.

Food Security Act 1985

Dec 23, 1985

Establishes a comprehensive framework within which the Secretary of Agriculture will administer agricultural and food programs from 1986 through 1990.

Emergency Wetlands Resources Act 1986

Nov 10, 1986

Allowed the purchase of wetlands from Land and Water Conservation Fund monies, removing a prior prohibition on such charges,

Montreal Protocol 1987

Sep 16, 1987

Designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth’s fragile ozone Layer.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act 1988

Nov 18, 1988

Prohibits all municipal sewage sludge and industrial waste dumping into the ocean after December 31, 1991.

Madrid Protocol 1989

Jun 27, 1989

An international treaty that allows a trademark owner to seek registration in any of the countries that have joined the Madrid Protocol by filing a single application.

Waste Reduction Act 1990

Jun 25, 1990

Reduces and prevents the production and disposal of waste in the province consistent with the principles of sustainable development and to this end.

Pollution Prevention Act 1990

Nov 5, 1990

Reduces the amount of pollution caused by industry by implementing cost effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use.

Environmental Education Act 1990

Nov 16, 1990

Requires the EPA to provide national leadership to increase environmental literacy, and awareness.

Lacey Act 1990

Dec 1, 1990

It is unlawful to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants that are taken, possessed, transported, or sold violating state or federal law.

California Desert Protection Act 1994

Oct 31, 1994

Made the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave National Preserve in the California desert.

Food Quality Protection Act 1996

Aug 3, 1996

Provides safety from pesticides in foods.

Kyoto Protocol 1997

Dec 11, 1997

Aimed to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming.