APES Legislatures/Laws

Surface Mining Control And Reclamation Act (1977)

requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land

Madrid Protocol (1991)

Suspension of mineral exploration (mining) for 50 years in Antarctica

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, 1974)

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

Clean Water Act (CWA, 1972)

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

Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988)

bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste in the ocean.

National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

() protects rivers due to aesthetic, recreational, wildlife, historical, or cultural reasons.

Clean Air Act (CAA, 1970)

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

Kyoto Protocol (2005)

controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries.

Montreal Protocol (1987)

phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)

controls hazardous waste with a cradle-to-grave system.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
(1980)

“Superfund”, designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites.

Nuclear Waste Policy Act (1982)

U.S. government must develop a high level of nuclear waste sites by 2015 (Yucca Mtn.)

Low-Level Radioactive Policy Act

all states must have facilities to handle low-level radioactive wastes.

Endangered Species Act (1973)

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

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES)

(1973)

Magnuson-Stevens Act  (1976)

Management of Marine Species

Food Quality Protection Act (1996)

set pesticide limits in food and all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic and endocrine effects.

Lacey Act (1900)  prohibits interstate transport of wild animals dead or alive without a federal permit.

U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act

prohibits taking marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens, and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (1947)

regulates the effectiveness of pesticides

Wilderness Act (1964)

Established the national wilderness preservation system.

Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976

EPA banned or regulated deemed a risk to health to the environment.

Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) (1972)

A Federal law that provides guidance and federal assistance to voluntary state and local coastal management programs.  The goals are for the protection of natural resources and the management of land development along coasts.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) (1976)

A Federal law that outlines procedures concerning the use and the preservation of public US lands.

Food Drug and Cosmetic Act

(1906) A federal law passed in 1906 that regulates the sanitary conditions and safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics.  It includes food additives.

National Environmental Policy Act  (NEPA)(1969)

Environmental Impact Statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands can be started

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2004)

Seeks to protect human health from the 12 most toxic chemicals (Includes 8 chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides/DDT that can be used for malaria control)

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Trade alliance between the U.S, Canada, and Mexico

The World Trade Organization (WHO)

Designed to make international trade fairer and encourage development.

Earth Summit

Held in the 1970s, discussed clean water and air.  Held in South Africa.  The last summit tried to pass a world law by the year 2010, that 15% of our power was to be created by air and solar power. But the summit was shut down.