APES Legislation

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 1976 - EPA is given the ability to track the 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or imported into the United States. EPA repeatedly screens these chemicals and can require reporting or testing of those that may pose an environmental or human-health hazard. EPA can ban the manufacture and import of those chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk.

Kyoto Protocol 1997 - Agreement among 150 nations requiring greenhouse gas emission reduction (especially CO2).

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969 - Authorized the Council on Environmental Quality [became EPA] as the oversight board for general conditions; directs federal agencies to take environmental consequences into account in decision making; requires EIS statement be prepared for every major federal project having environmental impact.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA Superfund) 1980 - Established federal authority for emergency response and clean-up of hazardous substances that have been spilled, improperly disposed, or released into the environment.

Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) 1990 - Requires facilities to reduce pollution at its source. Reduction can be in volume or toxicity.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 1974 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allowed to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversees all of the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement these standards.

Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) 1972 - Purpose is to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products.

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) 1996 - Set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine effects.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1970 - Created to protect worker and health. Its main aim was to ensure that employers provide their workers with an environment free from dangers to their safety and health, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 1973 - Controls the exploitation of endangered species through international legislation. Bans hunting, capturing, and selling of threatened species and bans the import of ivory.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) 1977 - Requires restoration of abandoned mines. Restore original contour, avoid acid mine drainage, revegetate.

Montreal Protocol (MP) 1987 - Banned the production of aerosols and initiated the phase-out of all CFC's.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1972 - Requires that all pesticides are registered and approved by the FDA and creates a pesticide registry.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1976 - Management of non-hazardous and hazardous solid waste including landfills and storage tanks from "cradle to grave”. Set minimal standards for all waste disposal facilities and for hazardous wastes.

Lacey Act 1900 - A conservation law prohibiting the transportation of illegally captured or prohibited animals across state lines. It was the first federal law protecting wildlife, and is still in effect, though it has been revised several times. Today the law is primarily used to prevent the importation or spread of potentially dangerous non-native species.

Wilderness Act (WA) 1964 - Allowed congress to set aside federally owned land for preservation.

Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) 1986 - Requires reporting of toxic releases: the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI); Encourages response for chemical releases.

Oil Pollution Act (OPA) 1990 - It states "A company cannot ship oil into the United States until it presents a plan to prevent spills that may occur. It must also have a detailed containment and cleanup plan in case of an oil spill emergency."

Clean Water Acts (CWA) 1972 - Regulates and enforces all discharge into water sources and wetland destruction/construction.

Clean Air Act (CAA) 1970 - Established primary and secondary air quality standards. Required states to develop implementation plans. Sets limits and goals to reduce mobile source air pollution and ambient air quality standards.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1973 - Protects species that are considered to be threatened or endangered. Includes migratory birds and their habitats.