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Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
. It prohibits the approval of any food additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals, regardless of the amount. Named after Congressman James Delaney, the clause aimed to ensure absolute safety in the U.S. food supply. Though groundbreaking at the time, it was later criticized for being too rigid and was partially replaced by risk-based standards in later legislation. -
Clean Air Act
Regulates air emissions from stationary sources (like factories) and mobile sources (like cars and trucks). Its goal is to ensure that all Americans have access to air that is safe to breathe by reducing air pollution and protecting public health and the environment. -
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a federal law designed to protect and recover species at risk of extinction and the ecosystems they depend on. It aims to prevent extinction, promote recovery, and protect critical habitats. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
To protect the quality of drinking water in the United States. It authorizes the EPA to set national standards for drinking water to ensure safety from contaminants. The law applies to all public water systems and requires regular testing and reporting. It also includes provisions for source water protection and infrastructure improvement to ensure long-term access to safe drinking water. -
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Agreement created to regulate and monitor international trade in wild animals and plants to ensure that such trade does not threaten their survival. To protect endangered species by controlling and prohibiting trade. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
to govern the disposal of solid and hazardous waste in the United States. It gives the EPA authority to manage waste from its creation to its final disposal, including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. The law promotes waste minimization and encourages the conservation of energy and natural resources. RCRA is a key part of ensuring public health and environmental protection through proper waste management practices. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act
To address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and pollution resulting from industrial practices. It was passed in 1980 to help manage and respond to environmental contamination, protect human health, and restore damaged ecosystems. -
Montreal Protocol
global agreement aimed at phasing out the production and use of substances that deplete the Earth’s ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). it is considered one of the most successful environmental treaties in history. The protocol has been universally ratified and has significantly reduced ozone-depleting chemicals worldwide. Its success has also contributed to climate protection, as many banned substances are also potent greenhouse gases. -
Clean Water Act
To regulate the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters and to ensure surface water quality. It made it illegal to discharge pollutants into navigable waters without a permit and funded the construction of sewage treatment plants. The law aimed to make all U.S. waters “fishable and swimmable.” Administered by the EPA, the CWA remains the foundation of water pollution control in the United States. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international climate treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was the first legally binding agreement that committed developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.