Environmental Legislation Flashcards

Flashcards about Environmental Legislation

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Set up the basic U.S. system of pesticide regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment. Regulates pesticide effectiveness.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

One of the first pieces of environmental legislation in the United States. It was written to promote the idea of sustainability. Environmental Impact Statements must be written before any project affecting federal lands can be started. Resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Clean Water Act

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

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

Set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine effects.

Madrid Protocol

Related to mining activities.

Montreal Protocol

Lead to the phasing out of ozone destroying substances (Chlorofluorocarbons - CFCs).

Mining Control & Reclamation Act

Requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land they destroy.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Focuses on maintaining the purity of any water source that may potentially be used as drinking water, including both surface and groundwater. Set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants that may adversely affect human health.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

Bans ocean dumping of industrial waste and sewage

Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Deals with nuclear waste.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA)

Also known as the Superfund Act, designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites. Set aside money for waste cleanup and remediation.

Kyoto Protocol

Deals with emissions.

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)

Also called the cradle to ask grave act, sets specific regulations concerning the manufacture, transport, storage, use, and disposal of host hazardous chemicals. Its major provision requires extensive documentation at every step to ensure the hazardous wastes are disposed of properly

Clean Air Act

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

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

A multilateral treaty ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild and accords varying degrees of protection for more than 33,000 species.

Water Quality Act (WQA)

Deals with water quality.

Endangered Species Act

Identifies threatened and endangered species in the US, and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations.