Environmental Legislation Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing environmental legislation.

Clean Air Act (1970)

Set emission standards for cars and limits for the release of air pollutants.

Clean Water Act (1972)

Set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable.

CITES (1975)

Lists species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products.

CERCLA (1980)

Also called the Superfund act, designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites.

Montreal Protocol (1989)

Phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.

Kyoto Protocol (2005)

Controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries (The U.S. did not participate).

Endangered Species Act (1973)

Identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S. and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (1974)

Set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water that may have adverse effects on human health.

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (1958)

Cancer-causing substances cannot be used as food additives.

RCRA (1976)

Controls hazardous waste with a 'cradle-to-grave' system, meaning for the entire lifespan of the hazardous material.