Envirothon Aquatics legislation quizlet

What does CERCLA stand for?

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also called superfund act

When was CERCLA created?

1980

What is CERCLA?

Federal Law to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants

What does CERCLA give the EPA the right to do?

-Gives EPA right to track down companies responsible for abandonment/spill/release of toxic substances and can require that they must clean it up.

-If refused, the EPA can sue

-A fund is set up for cleanup in the case that the company will not or can not pay (Initially around 1.6 billion)

What 2 types of actions does CERCLA authorize?

Removal: short term response. Addresses localized and acute risks (ie threaten of release). Example: oil drum

Classified as emergency, time critical or time non critical

Remedial: long term response. Seeks to permanently and significantly reduce the risk. Example: treating/neutralizing substance, prevent pollution migration

Only can occur @ EPA national Priorities List sites (NPL) (aka Superfund sites) with fed funding. With non-fed funding, can do non-NPL sites (aka Superfund Alternative Sites)

When was the Clean Water Act created?

1972

What was the goal of the Clean Water Act?

Primary US law governing surface water quality: goal of making all surface waters swimmable and fishable

What does the Clean Water Act do?

Establishes standards (maximum contaminant levels, MCLs) for pollutants. Regulates discharge of pollutants into water.

Which law regulates national public drinking water supply, with EPA setting standards for drinking water quality

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)

Which law created commissions to create plans to formulate and evaluate water related land projects, and maintain assessment of US water supplies

Water Resources Planning Act (1965)

When was the Ocean Dumping Ban Act created?

1988

What does the Ocean Dumping Ban act do?

Bans Ocean Dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste

When was the Wetlands Protection Act created?

1972

What chapter of MA law is the Wetlands Protection Act?

Ch131, Section 40

What does the Wetlands Protection Act do?

-Protects wetlands and the public interests. Prevents removal, fill, dredging or alteration without a NOI (notice of intent)

-Flood control, prevention of pollution and storm damage, protection of water supplies, groundwater recharge, fisheries, shellfish industries and wildlife habitat.

-Also protects land subject to flooding (100yr within floodplains) & riverfront areas (1996 amendment)

Administered by local conservation commissions

Which law known as the "Magna Carta", mandates Environmental Assessments & Impact Statements

National Environmental Policy Act (1969)

CERCLA amendments

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA):

gave it more money, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Both in 1986

Who was the mother of CERCLA

Lois Cibbs

Which law focused on reducing pollution @ source (point-source)

Pollution Prevention Act (1990)

Which law aimed to reduce nonpoint source pollution

Water Quality Act (1965)