Environmental Laws for APES

Clean Air Act (CAA)

  • Year: 1963 (US)

  • Purpose: Protect Americans from pollution-related health problems.

  • Specifics:

    • Regulates air emissions from factories and vehicles.

    • Authorizes the EPA to set limits on air pollutants.

    • Enforces standards and reduces emissions of harmful substances (e.g., smog).

  • Tip: Think of "CAA" as "Clean Air Always".

Clean Water Act (CWA)

  • Year: 1972 (US)

  • Purpose: Protect surface waters (rivers, lakes, wetlands) to keep them clean and pollutant-free.

  • Specifics:

    • Sets regulations on pollutants discharged into water sources.

    • Gives the EPA permission to implement pollution control programs.

    • Sets water quality standards for safe fishing, swimming, and other uses.

  • Tip: "CWA" sounds like "See Water Act," helping you remember it protects water bodies.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

  • Year: 1973 (International)

  • Purpose: Protect endangered plants and animals from over-exploitation through international trade.

  • Specifics:

    • Regulates international wildlife trade.

    • Requires permits and documentation for trade of species listed under its protection.

    • Helps prevent illegal trade.

  • Tip: Think of "CITES" as "Species In Trade Enforcement System".

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

  • Year: 1980 (US)

  • Purpose: Address dangers of abandoned waste sites that threaten human health and the environment.

  • Specifics:

    • Authorizes cleanup and enforces actions to respond to releases of hazardous substances.

    • Holds responsible parties liable for cleanup costs.

  • Tip: Remember CERCLA by thinking "Cleanup Environmental Releases, Costs, and Liabilities Act".

Kyoto Protocol

  • Year: 1997 (International)

  • Purpose: Address global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized countries.

  • Specifics:

    • Sets legally binding targets for industrialized countries to reduce GHG emissions.

  • Tip: Kyoto is a place; remember the protocol aims to fix climate change from a specific global meeting.

Montreal Protocol

  • Year: 1987 (International)

  • Purpose: Protect Earth’s ozone layer from depletion caused by CFCs.

  • Specifics:

    • Phases out the production and use of CFCs through a legally binding global agreement.

    • Successfully reduced CFC emissions.

  • Tip: "Montreal" sounds like "Ozone Real," helping you link it to ozone protection.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

  • Year: 1973 (US)

  • Purpose: Prevent the extinction of plants and animals at risk due to human activity and habitat loss.

  • Specifics:

    • Protects threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

    • Prohibits harming listed species.

    • Requires federal agencies to ensure their actions don’t jeopardize species' survival.

  • Tip: "ESA" as "Endangered Species are Awesome".

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

  • Year: 1972 (US)

  • Purpose: Protect public health by ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water.

  • Specifics:

    • Sets national standards for drinking water quality.

    • Requires water suppliers to monitor and treat their water.

    • Protects water sources (rivers, lakes, wells) from contamination.

  • Tip: "SDWA" helps you "Stay Drinking Water Aware" and ensures it's safe.

Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

  • Year: 1958 (US - Note: Transcript says 1985, but the Delaney Clause was enacted in 1958)

  • Purpose: Protect public health by preventing cancer-causing substances from being added to processed foods.

  • Specifics:

    • Prohibits the approval of any food additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals.

  • Tip: Delaney = "Don't Add Latent Agents, No, Ever, you get cancer".

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

  • Year: 1976 (US)

  • Purpose: Address the increasing problem of waste disposal and protect human health and the environment from hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

  • Specifics:

    • Sets regulations for safe handling, treatment, storage, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste.

    • Promotes minimizing waste and resource recovery through recycling.

  • Tip: "RCRA" is like "Reduce, Conserve, Recover Act".