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Federal Water Pollution Control Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, established a set of guidelines to regulate what was considered a pollutant and whether it can and can NOT be discharged into United States waters. Quality control for all surface water was the main emphasis. -
National Air Pollution Control Act
The Air Pollution Control Act, recognized that air pollution was dangerous to the citizens of the United States and therefore provided funding for research on controlling air pollution. The act however, left each individual state to be accountable for controlling air pollution in their environment. -
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act, reserved 9.1 million acres of federal land that should not and could not be disturbed. To do so, the act established a definition for wilderness found in the United States. -
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act
The Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act, set the standards for emissions starting with vehicle models 1968 and newer. The goal was to have a positive impact on future air quality by reducing the carbons being produced by motor vehicles. -
Solid Waste Disposal Act
The solid Waste Disposal Act, was a direct response to the open air burning of trash in many cities. In turn, the act established regulations on how trash across the United States should be disposed of in environmentally safe ways. -
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resource Board, is responsible for bettering the air quality of California citizens. To attain and maintain a reduced exposure to airborne pollutants, they propose new approaches to the existing rules and regulations. -
Air Quality Act
The Air Quality Act, granted the responsibility of controlling air quality to state and local governments in each state. -
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
• The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, introduced an increased presence of governmental involvement in coal mines. There was now two required inspection annually for mines on the surface and four inspections for those underground. Furthermore, monetary penalties were also introduced for any violations as well as jail time for those violations that were intentional. Safety and health standards were fortified in the process. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act, is a national effort by the United State to regulate air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency, develops such regulations to protect the citizens from contaminants that can be found in the air. -
National Enviromental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act, states that federal agencies must make decisions with the environment in mind and the possible impact those decisions might have on the environment, and therefore must provide alternatives to those proposed actions. -
Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act
The William-Steiger Occupational Saftey and Health Act, requires that employers provide a place of employment safe for the employees. The occupational safety standard must also be followed to provide a hazard free zone. -
Environmental Quality Improvement Act
The Environmental Quality Improvement Act, created an Office of Environmental Quality in order to have the proper staff to enforce all existing policies. The main focus was the implementation of said regulations during public work activities that could affect the environment. -
Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act
The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, offered funds to reduce the lead content in paint as well as restricted the lead content in paint that was being used on federal owned housing. -
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodentcide Act
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, allowed the control of pesticides in the United States. The act requires all pesticide to be registered by EPA to ensure that the labeling on them is within the required specifications. All pesticide had to be within certain conditions to ensure that there was no extra harm to the environment if used correctly. -
Water Quality Act
The Water Quality Act, the main focus of this act was to protect the nation’s water through the restoration and maintenance of all chemical, physical, and biological properties. -
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act, was implemented to protect all species that were in danger of becoming extinct. This act was a direct response to the lack of concern towards wildlife due to the delopment of human populations. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act, was an effort to maintain public health by implementing regulations on our supplies of drinking water. Some of the water sources protected and looked after include: springs, lakes, and rivers, water wells that serve less than 25 people are not included. -
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, implemented a set of regulations when transporting certain materials that can pose a serious threat to human health. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, looks after the citizens’ welfare by regulating the disposal of waste and the conservation of energy and natural resources are the main focus. Hazardous wastes must also be disposed of in environmentally safe ways. -
Toxic Substance Control Act
The Toxic Substance Control Act, enables EPA to actively regulate new and existing chemicals in the market. New chemical must be tested before enter the market and existing can undergo extensive research if the pose any risk to human health or any danger to the environment, the distribution and usage can also be regulated. -
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, focuses on actively regulating coal mines to ensure environmental laws are being followed as well as reusing the land that old mines used to occupy -
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
The National Energy Conservation Policy Act, was an effort to reduce the consumption of nonrenewable sources in typical conditions. They also provided a loans so that families could install solar panels as well as public facilities would also get grants for doing so. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, implemented taxation on chemical and petroleum industries to fund quicker responses to the release of hazardous substances that put human health and the environment in danger. Also implemented prohibitions on abandoned waste sites. -
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, funded the development of state implementations of conservational plans for wildlife. -
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act, evaluates and selects sites used to store radioactive waste allowing the storage of radioactive waste in deep repositories. -
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, made public the access to information regarding the chemicals found in certain facilities in efforts to minimize the risk of chemical disasters happening and therefore protecting the health of humans and the environment. -
Superfund Amendments and ReauthorizationAct
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, increased the government involvement at the state level in efforts to come up with more permanent solutions to clean hazardous waste. As well as trying to get the citizens involved in the process. -
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention, called for the protection of human health as well as the environment from hazardous wastes, household waste, and incinerator ash. -
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol, was a treaty signed in efforts to protect the ozone layer by stopping the production and use of substances that depleted the ozone layer such as Freon. -
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, held sellers, landlords, and agents renting/selling a house accountable for providing potential buyers/renters with the data showing the lead content found in the home. -
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
The North America Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, got rid of “borders” in trade therefore facilitating the movement of goods between Canada, United States, and Mexico. -
Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice
The Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, was an effort to have environmental protection in all communities by addressing all the environmental and health issues that had risen in low income communities due to discriminating federal actions. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol, was a treaty to try and reduce the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming with carbon dioxide emissions by humans being the main cause. -
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, was an effort to increase the safety of transportation systems while increasing accessibility and connectivity between systems yet while making an effort to conserve energy and promote quality of life. -
Safe, Accountable, Flexible. Efficient Transportation Equitty Act: A Legacy for Users
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, created a facility that could be funded through tax-exempt bonds which is in charge of major transportation projects. -
Energy Independence and Security Act
The Energy Independence and Security Act, increased the production of renewable fuels therefore moving the United States closer to energy independence. This act was an effort to protect the consumers while increasing the efficiency of vehicles and research alternatives to prevent greenhouse gases.
