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Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
It prohibits the approval of any food additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals, establishing a zero tolerance policy for carcinogenic substances in processed foods. It does not even allow any small amounts of it within foods and marked a significant step in food safety regulation. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is a federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. It authorizes the EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect public health and the environment. It has been pivotal in reducing smog, acid rain, and toxic air pollutants in the U.S. -
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act aims to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of U.S. waters. It also regulates the discharge of pollutants into water and sets water quality standards. This act has led to significant improvements in the health of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. -
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
This is an international treaty that was meant to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants doesn't threaten their survival. It provides varying degrees of protection to over 35,000 species of animals and plants. The countries participating agree to regulate trade through permits and monitoring systems. -
Endangered Species Act
The ESA is a legislation for both domestic and international conservation of threatened and endangered species. It prohibits the unauthorized act on endangered species. The act also provides for the designation of critical habitat and the development of recovery plans. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
This act protects public drinking water supplies throughout the United States. It authorizes the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against contaminants. It covers both naturally occurring and man-made contaminants and requires regular monitoring. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
This governs the disposal of solid and hazardous waste in the United States. It provides the framework for proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. It also emphasizes waste minimization and promotes recycling and safe waste handling. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
This was enacted to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. It allows the federal government to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances. This also gives the EPA power to seek out those responsible and ensure their cooperation in cleanup. -
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. It is widely considered one of the most successful environmental treaties. Its implementation has led to significant recovery of the Earth’s ozone layer overall. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that committed its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was based on the premise that global warming exists and human-made CO₂ emissions have caused it. This treaty set binding emission reduction targets for industrialized countries.