F: Legislation

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• Authorized US Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which species are threatened/endangered

• Prohibits harming/trading these species

• Gov can purchase critical habitats

Kyoto Protocol

• Adopted in 1997

• International agreement to reduce industrialized greenhouse gas emissions to 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012

Clean Air Act (CAA)

• Developed national program to address air pollution, authorized research (1963)

• Enforcement procedures authorized 1967

• National Ambient Air Quality standards established 1970

Clean Water Act (CWA)

• EPA implemented pollution control programs, wastewater standards, water quality criteria for pollutants

• Illegal to discharge pollutant from point source

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

• Also called Superfund Act

• Federal fund to clean hazardous waste sites, spills, and other emergency contaminent release

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

• Regulations for pesticide sale and use

• Pesticides must be registered by EPA by proving no unreasonable adverse effects on environment

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• Required federal agencies to assess environmental affects before making decisions on permits, land management actions, highway construction, etc

Oil Pollution Act (OPA)

• Funded oil spill cleanup when those responsible were unable/unwilling

• Required contingency plan development

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Enabled EPA to control hazardous waste cradle-to-grave

• Includes generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• Sets standards for drinking water quality (max contaminant levels, treatment requirements)

• Monitors authorities and water suppliers to enforce

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

• Gives EPA authority for reporting/record-keeping/testing requirements

• REstrictions for chemical substances and/or mixtures

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

• International agreement to ensure that trade of endangered plant/animal species doesn’t threaten their survival

Montreal Protocol

• Global agreement to protect stratospheric ozone levels

• Slowly stopping production/consumption of ozone depleting substances

Wilderness Act

• Establishes national network of over 800 wilderness areas managed by federal gov

Lacey Act

• Prohibits interstate shipping of illegally harvested plants and animals