The Most Important Environmental Legislation

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Any major federal agency must submit this for any activity that may have a harmful impact on the environment. The agency must outline all possible environmental effects, steps it has taken to avoid environmental harm, and justification for why any unavoidable harm may be necessary. All of these are reviewed and revised, and must be approved before any proposed project may proceed.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (1970)

One of the first pieces of environmental legislation in the US, this was written to promote the idea of sustainability

Montreal Protocol (1987)

One of the greatest environmental success stories to date, this is proof that global problems can be solved by a combination of international cooperation and scientific advances. The provisions of this require participating nations to phase out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals in favour of less harmful alternatives

Clean Water Act (CWA)

Originally passed in 1972 and revised several times since, the mission of this act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of America's waterways to support wildlife and recreation activities. The provisions of this act are intended to reduce and prevent both point and non-point sources of water pollution in the nation's surface waters. There are no provisions specific to groundwater protection.

Air Quality

The Clean Air Act, Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol

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

The act also created a trust fund for cleaning hazardous waste sites when no responsible party could be identified

The Clean Air Act: cap and trade program for SO2

- Cap and Trade is a system in which maximum allowable emissions are set for each industry - Businesses that can reduce their emissions below the standards are awarded credits. They can the sell their credits to other businesses that cannot meet the limits. - This makes economic sense bc it creates a huge financial incentive for industry to reduce emissions quickly. Allowing business firms to sell emissions credits means that many groups can rapidly recover the costs associated with reducing emissions.

The Clean Air Act

Beginning in 1955, the need became evident for some type of national legislation to reduce air pollution. Regulations were passed that in 1963 became this act. This legislation has been modified several times throughout the years

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)

Commonly called the "Cradle-to-Grave Act," this legislation sets specific regulations concerning the manufacture, transport, storage, use, and ultimate disposal of a host of hazardous chemicals.

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

Commonly known as the Superfund Act, it was enacted to handle industrial contamination in sites where no direct individual party could be held responsible.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976)

Its major provision requires extensive documentation at every step to ensure that hazardous wastes are disposed of properly.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Passed in 1973, this is a far-reaching act that provides protection for any species that is determined to be threatened or endangered with extinction.

The Provisions to the Clean Air Act

SRMPC - (Seriously, Real Mothers Parent Constantly) (Study, Regulations, Monitor, Phase out, Cap+trade) i. Authorisation and funding to study air quality in order to learn more about the presence and effects of atmospheric pollutants ii. Setting enforceable regulations to limit emissions from stationary sources (factories and power plants) as well as mobile sources (cars, trucks, and ships). iii. Developing programs to monitor and reduce acid deposition and the primary pollutants that cause its formation. iv. Establishing a program to phase out the use of chemicals that deplete stratospheric ozone. v. Establishing a cap and trade program for SO2

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Soon after NEPA was set into law, President Nixon realised that a federal agency would be needed to implement its goals. Later in the same year (1970), this organisation was founded. Its primary purpose is to protect human health and the environment and enforces standards under a variety of state and local environmental laws.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974

The focus of this act is to maintain the purity of any water source that may potentially be used as drinking water. This includes both surface water and groundwater.

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

The law imposed a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and authorised the federal government to respond to the release of hazardous substances that might endanger public health or the environment.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The provisions of this act include strict enforcement of habitat protection, a ban on any activity that disturbs or endangers the life of a listed species, and a ban on the import or export of any individual organisms or product derived from an endangered species.

Kyoto Protocol

This was developed at a world summit in 1997 to address measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Many promises were made by many nations, but no real progress was made. The United States announced that it would not sign, and soon after, the whole movement lost support.