Environmental Legislation

Clean Air Act

Air: 1970 -regulates the emissions of pollutants into the air

-CO2 is not regulated under the CAA

Criteria Air Pollutants:

N - NOx - Nitrogen Dioxide (released from fossil fuel combustion)

O - Ozone (O3) (formed due to NOx breakdown in sunlight)

S - SOx - Sulfur Dioxide (released from coal combustion)

C - CO - Carbon Monoxide (released from incomplete combustion)

L - Lead - formerly found in gasoline — heavy metals like mercury also included

P - Particulate Matter (released from construction and mining)

Clean Water Act

Water: 1972 -regulates how water looks and dumping of pollutants into waterways as point pollution

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Endangered Species: 1975 -regulates the trade of endangered species internationally

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Waste: 1980 -created superfund account in which businesses contribute to cleanup costs of contaminated sites

-regulates the closure and cleanup of contaminated sites

Montreal Protocol

Air: 1989 -international agreement

-phase out CFC’s for use of HCFC’s then eventually banned their use to repair ozone layer (stratospheric ozone)

Kyoto Protocol

Air: 2005 -international agreement that aimed to lower Greenhouse Gas emissions

Endangered Species Act

Endangered Species: 1973 -USA law to protect at-risk species

-species placed on the Endangered Species List are overwhelming protected from extinction

Safe Drinking Water Act

Water: 1974 -regulated how water tastes and aims to protect the drinking water of the USA

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic

1958 -banned cancer causing additives in food

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Waste: 1976 -regulates hazardous waste and creates a “cradle to grave” monitoring system

-also regulates and monitors sanitary landfills