Environmental Laws & Treaties: Quiz
Comprehensive Env. Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, 1980)?
"Superfund," designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites.
Soil Conservation Act?
Allowed the government to pay farmers to reduce production so as to conserve soil and prevent erosion.
Rio Earth Summit?
Also, known as The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3th to 14th June 1992.
Paris Agreement (2015)?
An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020.
Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988)?
Bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste in the ocean.
Lacey Act?
Conservation law in the US that prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, 1976)?
Controls hazardous waste with a cradle-to-grave system. Disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste.
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)?
Covers most private sector employers and their employees in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. Coverage is provided either directly by the Federal OSHA or by an OSHA-approved state job safety and health plan.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 1969)?
Environmental Impact Statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands can be started. Established the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2004)?
Global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, Seeks to protect human health from the 12 most toxic chemicals.
Endangered Species Act (1973)?
Identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S., and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations.
Convention on Ozone Depletion (Montreal Protocol, 1987)?
International treaty, adopted in Montreal on Sept. 16, 1987, that aimed to regulate the production and use of chemicals that contribute to the depletion of Earth's ozone layer.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)?
Is a US federal law that set up the basic U.S. system of pesticide regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment.
Migratory Bird Act?
Is a US federal law, first enacted in 1916 to implement the convention for the protection of migratory birds between the United States and Great Britain.
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)?
Is a set of laws passed by Congress in 1938 giving authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics.
Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol, 2005)?
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.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES, 1973)?
Lists species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products.
Magnuson-Stevens Act (1976)?
Management of marine fisheries. Governing marine fisheries management in United States federal waters.
Madrid Protocol (1991)?
Moratorium on mineral exploration for 50 years in Antarctica. Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed. It designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science"
Wilderness Act?
Preserving wilderness preserves natural ecosystems, wild areas and opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation.
Taylor Grazing Act?
Provides for the regulation of grazing on the public lands (excluding Alaska) to improve rangeland conditions and regulate their use.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA)(1977)?
Regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States. Two programs: one for regulating active coal mines and a second for reclaiming abandoned mine lands. Requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land Madrid Protocol: (1991) Suspension of mineral exploration (mining) for 50 years in Antarctica.
Clean Air Act & Amendments (1970, 90)?
Set emission standards for cars and limits for release of air pollutants.
Energy Policy Act?
Set goals, created mandates, and amended utility laws to increase clean energy use and improve overall energy efficiency in the United States.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)(1974)?
Set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water that may have adverse effects on human health. Protects public drinking water supplies.
Clean Water Act (1972)?
Set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable.
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA, 1996)?
Set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine effects.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA)?
Streamlined/strengthened EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so.
Solid Waste Disposal Act?
The US Environmental Protection Agency described the Act as "The first federal effort to improve waste disposal technology".
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act?
To preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Nuclear Waste Policy Act (1982)?
U.S. government must develop a high level nuclear waste site (Yucca Mtn).
Antarctic Treaty?
Was signed in Washington on 1th Dec. 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58. It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded to by many other nations.
