APES LEGISLATION

Clean Air Act

A U.S. federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment by regulating emissions from stationary and mobile sources.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

These are standards set by the EPA for common air pollutants, including ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, to protect public health and welfare. Areas not meeting these standards may be designated as non-attainment areas, requiring states to develop plans to reduce pollution.

Clean Water Act

The primary U.S. federal law governing water pollution. It aims to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution of the nation's waters, setting standards for water quality and regulating the discharge of pollutants from point sources like factories and sewage treatment plants.

CITES

An international agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It offers varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of plants and animals.

CERCLA (Superfund)

Also known as Superfund, this U.S. law addresses abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. It authorizes the EPA to clean up these sites and compels responsible parties to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanups.

Montreal Protocol

A landmark international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. It is widely considered one of the most successful environmental agreements to date.

Kyoto Protocol

An international treaty that commits industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, based on the understanding that human-induced climate change exists. It sets binding emission reduction targets for participating countries, although its effectiveness has been debated.

Endangered Species Act

A U.S. law that provides protection to endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants. It prohibits the harming or harassing of listed species and provides for the designation of critical habitat necessary for their survival and recovery.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

The U.S. federal law that ensures the quality and safety of drinking water in the U.S. It authorizes the EPA to establish minimum standards to protect tap water and requires all owners or operators of public water systems to comply with these standards.