Environmental Laws Book Companion Site – Click US Legislation

EPA = Environmental Protection Agency 1970

Forest Reserve Act Protects public lands from resource exploitation Protects public lands from resource exploitation

Lacey Act Prohibits transporting live or dead animals or their parts across state borders without a federal permit Prohibits transporting live or dead animals or their parts across state borders without a federal permit

Antiquities Act Allows the president to protect areas of scientific or historical interest on federal lands as national monuments Allows the president to protect areas of scientific or historical interest on federal lands as national monuments President Clinton used the Antiquities Act to declare the Grand Stair Case-Escalante a national monument in

Migratory Bird Act Requires waterfowl hunters to buy a duck stamp each season they hunt. Revenue goes into a fund to buy land and easements for the benefit of waterfowl Requires waterfowl hunters to buy a duck stamp each season they hunt. Revenue goes into a fund to buy land and easements for the benefit of waterfowl

Taylor Grazing Act First federal effort to regulate grazing on federal public lands. Established grazing districts and uses a permit system to manage livestock grazing in the districts First federal effort to regulate grazing on federal public lands. Established grazing districts and uses a permit system to manage livestock grazing in the districts

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate foods, cosmetics, drugs and medical devices. The law is intended to assure the consumer that foods are pure and wholesome, safe to eat, and produced under sanitary conditions; that cosmetics are safe and made from appropriate ingredients; that drugs and devices are safe and effective for their intended uses; and, that all labeling and packaging is truthful, informative, and not deceptive. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate foods, cosmetics, drugs and medical devices. The law is intended to assure the consumer that foods are pure and wholesome, safe to eat, and produced under sanitary conditions; that cosmetics are safe and made from appropriate ingredients; that drugs and devices are safe and effective for their intended uses; and, that all labeling and packaging is truthful, informative, and not deceptive.

Soil Conservation Act Established the Soil Erosion Service as part of the Dept. of Agriculture to correct the erosion problems that ruined farms in the Great Plains States Established the Soil Erosion Service as part of the Dept. of Agriculture to correct the erosion problems that ruined farms in the Great Plains States

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Requires that all commercial pesticides be approved by the EPA for general or restricted use Requires that all commercial pesticides be approved by the EPA for general or restricted use

Water Quality Act Along with the Clean Water Act, forms the basis of U.S. efforts to control pollution of the country ’ s surface waters Along with the Clean Water Act, forms the basis of U.S. efforts to control pollution of the country ’ s surface waters

Clean Air Act Empowered the federal government to set air pollution emission standards for automobiles and industries that each state required to enforce Empowered the federal government to set air pollution emission standards for automobiles and industries that each state required to enforce

Wilderness Act Authorized the government to protect undeveloped tracts of public land as part of the National Wilderness System unless Congress later decides they are needed for the national good Authorized the government to protect undeveloped tracts of public land as part of the National Wilderness System unless Congress later decides they are needed for the national good

Safe Drinking Water Act Requires EPA to establish national drinking water standards, including maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for any pollutants that may have adverse effects on human health Requires EPA to establish national drinking water standards, including maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for any pollutants that may have adverse effects on human health

Endangered Species Act Illegal for Americans to import or trade in any product made from an endangered or threatened species unless used for an approved scientific purpose/to enhance species survival Illegal for Americans to import or trade in any product made from an endangered or threatened species unless used for an approved scientific purpose/to enhance species survival

Clean Water Act Guidelines to protect surface waters for recreational purposes including swimming, fishing, boating Guidelines to protect surface waters for recreational purposes including swimming, fishing, boating % of U.S. rivers and lakes fishable and swimmable: from 36% to 62% % of U.S. rivers and lakes fishable and swimmable: from 36% to 62% Sewage treatment plants increased from 32%-74% Sewage treatment plants increased from 32%-74%

Toxic Substances Control Act Screens new substances for safety before they are widely used Screens new substances for safety before they are widely used

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) EPA identifies hazardous waste and sets standards for management by states EPA identifies hazardous waste and sets standards for management by states Firms that store, treat or dispose of greater than 100 kg of hazardous waste per month are required to have a permit Firms that store, treat or dispose of greater than 100 kg of hazardous waste per month are required to have a permit Permit holders required to keep track of waste from origin to disposal Permit holders required to keep track of waste from origin to disposal

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCA-Superfund) Through taxes on chemical materials, this law provides a fund for identifying abandoned hazardous waste dump sites, protecting and cleaning up groundwater, cleaning the site, and requiring responsible parties (if found) to clean up the site Through taxes on chemical materials, this law provides a fund for identifying abandoned hazardous waste dump sites, protecting and cleaning up groundwater, cleaning the site, and requiring responsible parties (if found) to clean up the site

Montreal Protocol Treaty to cut CFC emissions by 35% between 1989 and 2000 Treaty to cut CFC emissions by 35% between 1989 and 2000 Required developing countries to freeze out CFC consumption by mid-1999 and phase out by 2010 Required developing countries to freeze out CFC consumption by mid-1999 and phase out by

Kyoto Protocol Targeted industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Targeted industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 192 Parties Ratified US signed on but did NOT RATIFY Undue hardship on economic structures

Reclamation Act Establishes a program for the regulation of surface mining activities and the reclamation of coal mined-lands Establishes a program for the regulation of surface mining activities and the reclamation of coal mined-lands

Land and Water Conservation Act Congressional policy that “ present and future generations be assured adequate outdoor recreation resources ” Congressional policy that “ present and future generations be assured adequate outdoor recreation resources ”

National Environmental Policy Act To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and environment, promote efforts which will prevent/eliminate damage to the biosphere, establish a Council on Environmental Quality To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and environment, promote efforts which will prevent/eliminate damage to the biosphere, establish a Council on Environmental Quality region1/charles

Ocean Dumping Act Gives EPA the responsibility for regulating the dumping of all materials except dredged materials (Army Corps of Engineers does this) Gives EPA the responsibility for regulating the dumping of all materials except dredged materials (Army Corps of Engineers does this)

Energy Policy and Conservation Act Strategic Petroleum Reserve established, energy conservation programs created, improved energy efficient motor vehicles, appliances, and other products Strategic Petroleum Reserve established, energy conservation programs created, improved energy efficient motor vehicles, appliances, and other products

National Environmental Education Act Requires EPA to provide national leadership to increase environmental literacy -- Established Office of Environmental Education Requires EPA to provide national leadership to increase environmental literacy -- Established Office of Environmental Education

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 1973 Protects wildlife against over-exploitation, and to prevent international trade of threatening species

Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the "take" 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. prohibits the "take" 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.

National Invasive Species Act to prevent the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species into the waters of the United States to prevent the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species into the waters of the United States

Oil Pollution Act Improved nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills. Improved nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills. Exxon Valdez BP Oil Spill