Environmental Policy

1862 : Homestead Act

-Signed into law on May 20, 1862 by Pres. Abraham Lincoln -Encouraged western migration by providing 100 acres of public land to those who moved west. -Led to distribution of 80 million acres of public land by 1900 -The land could be bought after 6 months for $1.25 an acre or they could live there for 5 years and own it.

1934 : Taylor Grazing Act *

A United States federal law that provides for the regulation of grazing on the public lands (excluding Alaska) to improve rangeland conditions and regulate their use.

1976 : RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) *

Gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave" Includes generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes Focus on waste minimization, and management standards

1984 : Bhopal, Island *

Accident in which Union Carbide pesticide plant released over 30 tons of methyl isocyanate Around 600,000 people exposed Low lying gas caused burning throats and eyes, nausea, and many deaths Death toll estimates 3,800 - 16,000 Toxic material remains 30 years later and caused many birth defects

1994 : California Desert Protection Act*

Act establishes the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave National Preserve in the California desert desert wildlands have unique scenic, historical, archeological, environmental, ecological, wildlife, cultural, scientific, educational and recreational values California desert public land resources are threatened by adverse pressures which impair their public and natural values Public wildland resource of extraordinary and inestimable value for current and future generations

1992 : Energy Policy Act*

Addresses energy production within the U.S. Includes mention of energy efficiency, renewable energy, oil and gas, coal, Tribal energy, nuclear matters and security, vehicles and motor fuels (ethanol), hydrogen, electricity, energy tax incentives, hydropower & geothermal energy, climate change technology Provides loan guarantees entities that develop or use innovative technologies that avoid the by-production of greenhouse gases

275 years ago: Industrial Revolution

Agrarian and rural societies became industrial and urban

1969 : Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire *

An oil slick on the Cuyahoga River - polluted from decades of industrial waste - caught fire on a Sunday morning in June 1969 near the Republic Steel mill, causing about $100,000 worth of damage to two railroad bridges. Helped bring about positive change.

1933 : Civilian Conservation Corps founded

CCC enrollees throughout the country were credited with renewing the nation's decimated forests by planting an estimated three billion trees between 1933 and 1942.

1905 : Aldo Leopold *

Considered by many the father of wildlife ecology and the United States' wilderness system. Attended Sheffield Scientific School at Yale Entered forestry at a pivotal time in the profession His book A Sand County sparked modern conservation

1973 : FIFRA -Federal, Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Control Act * (revised 72, 75, 78,88)

Created federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. Pesticides must be licenced by the epa. Unreasonable effects on the environment if (1) any unreasonable risk to man or the environment, taking into account the economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the use of any pesticide, or (2) a human dietary risk from residues that result from a use of a pesticide in or on any food inconsistent with the standard under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.''

1973 : OPEC and Oil Embargo*

During Arab - Israeli war, Arab members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) banned (embargo) US from their exports Cuts in oil production Strained US economy (that had become growingly based around foreign oil importation) Nixon produced new energy strategy to lessen foreign dependence

1987 : Montreal Protocol*

Global agreement to protect ozone layer (stratospheric) by ending ozone-depleting substances Hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contribute to ozone depletion Implementation of Protocol will help ozone return back to pre industrial level Assumed by 2035, vast majority of ozone depleting substances will be no longer used

1838 : John Muir - why was he important? *

Earliest advocate of national park idea, his writing made people pay attention to a few locations that became national parks Muir was a founder and the first president of the Sierra Club; Muir Woods National Monument, a grove of redwoods north of San Francisco, is named in his honor.

1905 : US Forest Service founded *

Established in 1905 by congress to provide quality water and timber to the nation Manages "sustained yield of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood, and recreation."

2007 - 2008: IPCC Report on climate change

Every six years, the United Nations-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases a massive and influential study detailing the state of Earth's climate.

1900 : Lacey Act founded *

First federal law protecting wildlife signed into law by Pres. William McKinley on May 25, 1900 Under the Lacey Act, it is unlawful to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants that are taken, possessed, transported, or sold: 1) in violation of U.S. or Indian law, or 2) in interstate or foreign commerce involving any fish, wildlife, or plants taken possessed or sold in violation of State or foreign law.

1977 : Clean Water Act*

First major law to talk about water pollution Established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the United States. Gave EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. Funded the construction of sewage treatment plants under the construction grants program

1892 : Sierra Club founded *

Founded by John Muir in 1892 Nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization

1854 : Walden by Henry David Thoreau *

Henry David Thoreau lived for two years, two months, and two days by Walden Pond in Massachusetts where he modeled deliberate and ethical living.

1986 : Chernobyl*

Known as chernobyl disaster Result of flawed nuclear reactor and under-trained personnel 2 nuclear plant personnel died during the explosion, and over 100 others died from radiation poisoning over the next months Increased thyroid cancer following the event Developed more safety rules and regulations

1978 : Love canal, NY *

Known as the love canal tragedy According to EPA "one of the most appalling environmental tragedies" Ditch to make the canal created a chemical and waste dumpsite Nature died because of rainfall that caused chemicals to seep into the ground High percentages of cancer, miscarriages, birth defects (such as eye defects and an extra row of teeth in once case) Evacuations resulted

1986 : CERCLA (Superfund)*

Law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries Provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment Established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites Provided for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites

1970 : Clean Air Act established * (Revised 63,65,70,77,90)

Regulation of harmful air pollutants to protect civilians' health. Comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Technology based standards for "major sources" that emit (or have potential to emit) 10 tons of hazardous pollution a year.

1989: Exxon Valdez*

Tanker was grounded in shallow water, hull was breached and almost 11 million gallons of oil was spilled into the water Oil spread in the months that followed, but also had a huge clean up response NOAA provided operational and scientific response with the spill Emergency responses built a foundation for working with other spills

1979 : Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident*

Most serious commercial nuclear accident in US Changed emergency response planning, reactor operator training, radiation protection, etc Chain of events caused for primary reactor fuel overheating, melting of over half the core Containment building remained intact and held most of the hazardous materials

1875 : American Forestry Association founded

Oldest group (in North America) organized to promote forest conservation.

1903 : First National Wildlife Refuge established *

Pelican Island in the Indian River Lagoon Established by Theodore Roosevelt First federal bird reservation (sparks National Wildlife Refuge System)

1999 : World population hits 6 billion

Population growth is exponential through late 1990's and early 2000's United Nations Population Fund determined 1999 population reached 6 billion Population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030

1890 : Yosemite plus Sequoia National Park founded

Pres. Benjamin Harrison signed legislation in 1890 declaring America's second national park, Sequoia national park.

1977 : Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act*

Program established to regulate surface mining and reclamation of coal-mined lands Sets minimum requirements for surface mining on federal and state lands Minimize disturbances to fish and wildlife Contaminant issues included with permits

1973 : Endangered Species Act *

Provides conservation of threatened species and protection of their ecosystems A species is endangered if endangered if it is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, or threatened if it is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future

1974: Roland and Molina (UCI) announce that CFC's are depleting the ozone layer*

Roland and Molina were chemists made announcement that CFC's might be creating less ozone Received nobel peace prize for their announcement Pointed out that aerosol can products were depleting the ozone Caused controversy that led to ban of those products

1901-1909 : Golden Age of conservation

Roosevelt made conservation a major part of his administration He wanted to protect land and animals from businesses that posed threats to them By the end of his time as president, he had created five national parks, four game refuges, fifty-one national bird reservations as well as the National Forest Service

1906 : Antiquities Act *

Signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906. Gives the President of the United States the authority to, by presidential proclamation, create national monuments from federal lands to protect significant natural, cultural, or scientific features.

1962 : Silent Spring published by Rachel Carson*

Silent Spring is an environmental science book by Rachel Carson.[1] The book was published on 27 September 1962 and it documented the detrimental effects on the environment of the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation and public officials of accepting industry claims unquestioningly.

1997 - 2006 : Kyoto Protocol ***

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."

1934 : Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act*

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, or the "Duck Stamp Act," as this March 16, 1934, authority is commonly called, requires each waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older to possess a valid Federal hunting stamp. Receipts from the sale of the stamp are deposited in a special Treasury account known as the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and are not subject to appropriations.

1905 : Audubon Society founded *

The National Audubon Society (Audubon) is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission

1969 : National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)*

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The range of actions covered by NEPA is broad and includes: -making decisions on permit applications, -adopting federal land management actions, and -constructing highways and other publicly-owned facilities. Using the NEPA process, agencies evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of their proposed actions. Agencies also provide opportunities for public review and comment on those evaluations.

1916 : US National Park Service founded

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

1968 : Wild and Scenic Rivers Act *

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

2012: Rio+20 Earth Summit

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20 ], or Earth Summit2012 was the third international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals of the global community. Major outcomes of the conference include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) —a climate-change agreement that led to the Kyoto Protocol, Agenda 21, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It also created new international institutions, among them the Commission on Sustainable Development, tasked with the follow-up to the Rio Conference and led to the reform of the Global Environment Facility.

1970 : Environmental Protection Agency established

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress

1940 : Fish plus Wildlife Service founded*

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency of the federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats.

1963 : Wilderness Act *

The Wilderness Act, signed into law in 1964, created the National Wilderness Preservation System and recognized wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

1970 : First Earth Day

The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda.

10,000 years ago: Agricultural Revolution

Transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle

1905 : Gifford Pinchot *

Went to Yale but studied Forestry after graduation because it wasn't offered as a field of study Chief of the division of forestry, Chief of Forest Service (1905)

1872 : Yellowstone National Park founded

World's first national park Ulysses S. Grant