-
Founding Of EPA
Born in the wake of elevated concern about environmental pollution, EPA was established on December 2, 1970 to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. Since its inception, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is a United States federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and enforce regulations to protect the public from airborne contaminants known to be hazardous to human health. The 1963 version of the legislation established a research program, expanded in 1967. Major amendments to the law, requiring regulatory controls for air pollution, passed in 1970, 1977, and 1990. -
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972. -
Endangerd Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. The lead federal agencies for implementing ESA are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service. The FWS maintains a worldwide list of endangered species. Species include birds, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, crustaceans, flowers, grasses, and trees. -
comprehensive environmental response, compensation, liabilty
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act -- otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund -- provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. Through CERCLA, EPA was given power to seek out those parties responsible for any release and assure their cooperation in the cleanup. -
EPA oversight
In 1996, OPOG, with EPA oversight, undertook the collection and analyses of some preliminary subsurface soil and groundwater samples at the former Omega property and surrounding locations. -
Placed in National Priorities
In January 1999, EPA placed the Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site (Omega Site) on its National Priorities List. -
Indoor air samples found
n 2004, indoor air samples from buildings on and near the former Omega property were evaluated for vapor intrusion from contaminated soil and groundwater. -
Skateland Closes
Skateland closed in 2006 after 51 years. It was demolished as part of a federally mandated environmental cleanup project. Omega Chemical Corp., which was next door was ordered to clean up the site from air pollution that seeped into Skateland. Details were never made public. -
OPOG funded the purchase of Skateland property
-
Atomic Energy Act
The Atomic Energy Act (AEA) gives EPA authority to establish standards and guidance to regulate radioactive materials from the production of nuclear energy.
