environmental acts timeline

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (US)

Sep 6, 1958

this law prohibits the FDA from approving food additives that have been found to cause cancer in humans and animals.

Clean Air Act

Dec 17, 1963

The US's primary federal air quality law. It's goal is to control and reduce air pollutants.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Dec 31, 1970

Authorizes the development of a national program to address water pollution, specifically fresh drinking water.

Clean Water Act

Oct 18, 1972

The primary federal law in the US governing water pollution.

Endangered Species Act

Dec 27, 1973

The primary law in the US for protecting and conserving threatened species.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Jul 1, 1975

CITES is an international trade agreement hat ensures the trade of plants and animals does not threaten their well being.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Oct 21, 1976

RCRA is our nation's primary law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act

Dec 11, 1980

CERCLA authorizes cleanup and enforcement actions and enforcement actions to respond to the actual or possible release of toxic waste.

Montreal Protocol

Sep 16, 1987

A global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production of ODs.

Kyoto Protocol

Dec 11, 1997

An international treaty that intended to reduce the release of greenhouse gases.