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● Federal Water Pollution Control Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act is authorized by the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. The act helps eliminate and reduce the pollution of interstate waters and improve the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. These improvements are necessary to conserve waters for public water supplies, increase of fish and aquatic life, recreational purposes, and agricultural and industrial usages. This also provide Federal Works Administrator to assist states, municipaliti -
● National Air Pollution Control Act
The National Air Pollution Control Act is the first federal air pollution law in the United States. The main purpose of the act is to provide research and technical assistance to enable the control of air pollution. This act will help recognize the dangers for public health and welfare, agriculture, livestock, property from Congress to control the growing problems. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is first federal legislation involving to address air pollution. This act established a federal program within the U.S. Public Health Service and authorized research into techniques for monitoring and controlling to minimize air pollution. Later on, this act passed on to Clean Air Act 1970. -
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act created the National Wilderness Preservation System. The purpose of the act is to protect wildlands for future generations. To protect the wildlands, there will no roads, vehicles buildings are allowed in designated wilderness. And also wildland prohibits activities like logging or mining. Congress now preserve and protect 106 million acres of land as wilderness. 44 million of acres are in 47 parks and 53% of lands are National Park System. -
National Emissions Standards Act
The National Emissions Standards Act is to regulate hazardous air pollution from the vehicles. This hazardous air pollution might cause cancer or serious health effects such as reproductive effects or birth defects. The National Emissions Standards Act is required to inspect performance test to check to see any emissions are coming from the vehicles in every two years. -
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act
United States Congress pass this act in 1965 regulate air pollution in auto vehicle for future pollution control effect. This act also helps pollution control between the United States, Canada, and Mexico in an effort to decrease overall emissions. This act also control sulfur dioxide from vehicle emissions in an effort to achieve emission reductions while keeping automobile prices low. The Act is to help 72% reduction of hydrocarbons, 56% reduction of carbon monoxide, and a 100% reduction of c -
Solid Waste Disposal Act
The purpose of Solid Waste Disposal Act is to protect human health and the environment, to reduce wastes, and to limit the generation of hazardous waste. To improve waste disposal there were research projects, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies. This act aim to regulate better disposal technology while recognized the solid waste is the main issue and develop standards for waste disposal. -
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. This board is to attain and maintain healthy air quality. It is also to protect the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants, by making rules and regulation of air pollution. This board is made up of 11 members (usually experts in science fields) appointed by the state’s governor. -
Air Quality Act (amendment to CAA)
The Air Quality Act is one of the next series of steps of clean air act by the federal government of the United States to address air pollution. This act is established to take control of air pollution to protect public health and welfare. This act authorizes the enforcement procedures involving interstate transport of pollutants. And this act expanded research activities by funding US$428.3 million for federal pollution control over three year period and established 15 member advisory board. -
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act was also known as Coat Act, was to set stricter safety standards and developing healthy standards for coal miners. This act was issued because of respiratory disease pneumoconiosis, or "black lung", caused by the inhalation of fine coal dust. This act require two annual inspections at every surface mine, and four annual inspections at every underground mine. And this act also require specific procedures for the development of improved mandatory health and -
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act is the first law to establish to protect the environment. National Environmental Policy Act is established for government to give proper consideration to environment before they do any federal action that might affect the environment. These federal activities include airport, military complexes, highways, parkland purchases and other activities. -
Clean Air Act (Extension)
The Clean Act 1970 is next series of step of Clean Air Act. This act was major shift in federal government’s role in air pollution control. This act made federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities into one act that ensures environmental protection. This legislation will regulate to limit emission from stationary sources and mobile sources. This act established four major programs: the National Ambient Air Quality Standards , State Implementation Plans, New Source P -
Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act
William-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act give safe and free from hazardous that will likely to cause death or physical harm to employees. The act requires employers to have safety and health standards under the Act, and employees to follow standards, rules,regulations and orders issued under the Act. And also the act authorized the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to inspect and to question employers and employees that relates to safeness. -
Environmental Quality Improvement Act
The Environmental Quality Improvement Act is environmental law to establish to work with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The purpose of this act is to authorize and create Office of Environmental Quality to provide staffs for Council of Environmental Quality. The second purpose of this act is to support public activities for Federal department which affect the environment. -
Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act
The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act is established by federal government for the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to prohibit lead-based paint in residential structures. It was issued when many of house paint contained lead that would lead to lead poisoning. Now a day, Consumer Product Safety Commission, prohibit any lead-paint that are used in furniture and toys as well. -
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act is federal regulation of pesticide. All pesticides that are distributed or sold in United States must be registered by EPA. It is required for all pesticides will not affect on the environment which includes no risk for humans, such as result of using pesticide in any of food will risk human dietary risk. -
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act establishes to regulate discharges of pollutants into waters and quality standard for surface waters. This act enables EPA to establish pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry, and set water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program controls discharges and makes industrial facilities to obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. -
Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act is to provide conservation of species that are threatened or endangered. There are many concern that many of nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct. The purpose of ESA is to protect and recover species and the ecosystem. All the species of plants and animals are eligible for listings as endangered or threatened except pest insects. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act is to protect the the quality of drinking water in the U.S. This act focuses on all water but mostly on drinking usage from aboveground or underground sources. The Act authorized EPA to establish primary standards (health-related) and secondary standards (nuisance-related). The act also allows EPA to establishes minimum standards for state programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by underground injection of fluids. -
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
The Hazardous Material Transportation Act is to provide protection against the risks of life and property during the transportation of hazardous material by improving the regulation and enforcement authority of the Secretary of Transportation. There are two packing regulations for hazardous materials, the packing material should be strong enough to withstand normal transportation, and label the level of risks. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is to control hazardous waste. This act includes generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The act enables EPA to address underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substance could lead to environmental problems. The act also focuses on corrective action on disposing hazardous waste. -
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
The Toxic Substances Control Act requires reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and mixtures. Certain substances are excluded in food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides. But TSCA addresses the production, importation, usage, and disposal of specific chemicals such as asbestos, lead-based paints, chlorofluorocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls. -
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act is established under the administration of the Office of Surface mining, Reclamation and Enforcement for the regulation of surface mining activities and take control of coal-mined lands. The act enables for mine operators to minimize disturbances and prevent impact on fish, wildlife, and other related environmental values. This act also needs permits for mine operators for contamination issues to the environment. -
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
The National Energy Conservation Policy Act is directed under the United State Department of Energy to set Minimum Energy Performance Standards. This act changed energy standards from voluntary to mandatory. Department of Energy establishes procedures for monitoring the residential energy conservation plans by state utility regulatory authorities. This act also require federal government to perform energy surveys in order to reduce consumption of nonrenewable energy resources in buildings, vehic -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act provides a Federal government to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites including accidents, spills, and other emergency release of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. The act enables EPA to find out parties who are responsible for any release and to cleanup. If EPA can’t find parties, then it’s their duty to clean up the messes. EPA is authorized in all 50 states and U.S. territories, monit -
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act authorizes State for the development for conservation plans and programs for fish and wildlife. The act allows to monitor the migratory birds and fish, and determine the effects of environmental changes and human activities. And identify which species are endangered and report to Congress. -
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act issued for safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste. The act establishes procedures to evaluate and select sites for safe place for radioactive. This act assigns Department of Energy to be responsible to the site, build, and operate deep place for the disposal of high-level waste. -
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRKA)
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act was passed by Congress concerning regards to environmental and safety hazards of storage and handling of toxic chemicals. This act was issued when there accidental release of methyl isocyanate, killing more than 2000 people. To reduce this disaster, Congress made required emergency planning and “community right-to-know” reports of toxic chemicals. The “community right-to-know” help increase the public’s knowledge and access to information o -
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act was passed by Congress to help solve the problems of hazardous-waste sites and well as emergency plans to follow in case of toxic substances release. This act was issued when pesticide plant exposed to 550,000 people of methyl isocyanate gas. This act will provide federal government power to respond directly release of hazardous chemicals that could be harmful to the public health and environment. -
Water Quality Act
The Water Quality Act was passed by Congress when toxic pollutants in water is most important issue in water pollution such as stormwater. Industrial wastewater will flow to surface water as stormwater that will pollute the water. The act enables Nonpoint Source Management Program that provides grants to states, territories and Indian tribes to support demonstration projects, technology transfer, education, training, technical assistance and related activities that will help reduce water polluti -
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention goal is to protect human health and environment from hazards from movement of hazardous wastes. Basel conventions also wants to reduce in production of waste, reduction of waste movements, and have a standard to set control for waste movements. The Convention requires exporting country to notify the receiving country. It’s also important for them to label and follow international rules. -
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is international agreement to protect the ozone layer. This Protocol was issued when substances that deplete the ozone layer. There are several treaties to stop depleting the ozone layers: Chlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan , Hydrofluorocarbons. Each treaty is structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons that have been shown to play a role in ozone depletion. All of these ozone depleting substan -
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act is passed by Congress to protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil. The act enables EPA to provide information pamphlet on identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards, “ Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home.” It is required for seller 10-day period of paint inspection before selling a home to buyer. -
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
The North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and United States of America. The goal of this act is to eliminate tariffs and legal barrier to trade which helps goods and services move freely. This act also includes each nation enforces its own labor and environmental laws. -
Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice
The Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice was issued by President Clinton. The purpose of this order is to focus federal attention on the environmental and human health effects to minority and low-income populations. This order is also intended to promote nondiscrimination in federal programs that affect human health and the environment. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is international treaty linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for industrialized countries to reduce emissions of green gas. The goal of this protocol is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs. -
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century authorizes the Federal highway, highway safety, transit and other surface transportation programs for 6 year period 1998-2003. There are several planning factors including increase in safety and security of the transportation system, protect the environment by promoting energy conservation, promote efficient system management and operation. -
California AB 1493
The California AB 1493 was issued by Governor Gray Davis to limit and regulate the greenhouse gas from the mobile vehicles beginning from 2009. This bill will help vehicle buyers to save money by saving fuel expenses. After bill has been introduced, other states such as Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington are interested in adopting California's automobile emis -
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA)
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users is issued by the President Bush to fund for highways, highway safety, and public transportation. This act is the largest surface transportation investment in nation’s history. This act enables to improve safety, reducing traffic congestion, improving efficiency in freight movement, increasing intermodal connectivity, and protecting environment. -
Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)
The Energy Independence and Security Act is issued by President Bush to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security. The Act also provide increase the production of clean renewable fuels, protect consumers increase the efficiency of products, building, and vehicles, and to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable fuel producti
