High Impact Conservation Laws in the U.S.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act

Jun 30, 1948

Before 1948, there were few laws that dealt with water pollution. It wasn’t until WWII that congress decided to finally confront the issue. As a result of WWII, there was much pollution of the country’s rivers, streams, and lakes. This act was not well designed and in general is did not necessarily prohibit pollution, instead it gave limited authority to the federal government. There were amendments made to this act in 1972 which made it a more successful/regulated act.

National Air Pollution Control Act

Jul 14, 1955

Before this act was passed, there were several state and local legislations that were addressing the problem of air pollution. It wasn’t until 1955 when the U.S. government concluded that air pollution should be managed on a national level. This was the first federal air pollution law in the U.S. This act provided research and technical assistance to enable the control of air pollution.

Clean Air Act

Dec 17, 1963

The purpose of the Clean Air Act of 1963 was to establish a federal program within the U.S. Public Health service. This was actually the first federal legislation to actually pertain to controlling air pollution. This Act allowed researchers to more extensively look into new techniques for monitoring and controlling air pollution.

Wilderness Act

Sep 3, 1964

The 1964 Wilderness Act was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It protects nearly 110 million acres of wilderness areas from coast to coast. This Act prohibits roads, vehicles, and permanent structures on the designated wilderness area. An area of “wilderness designation” also prohibits the degradation of that habitat, which could include logging and/or mining.

National Emissions Standards Act

Jan 1, 1965

The National Emissions Standards Act of 1965 was originally known as Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Act. The purpose of this act was to establish a national automobile pollution standard. This act empowered the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate and prohibit fuel activities that endangered the public’s health and welfare.

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act

Jan 1, 1965

This Act was passed in 1965. This act allowed the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare establish the first federally mandated emission standards on light-duty vehicles. The Act called for a 72% reduction of hydrocarbons, 56% reduction of carbon monoxide, and a 100% reduction of crankcase hydrocarbons. This act also initiated the coordination of pollution control between the United States, Canada, and Mexico in an effort to decrease overall emissions.

Solid Waste Disposal Act

Jan 1, 1965

This Act is an amendment to the Clean Air Act. This Act was passed in 1965 and was the first federal effort to improve waste disposal technology. This was the first federal law that required environmentally sound methods for disposal of household, municipal, commercial, and industrial waste. The Environmental Protection Agency was is responsible for developing standards for waste disposal.

◦California Air Resources Board

Jan 1, 1967

The California Air Resources Board was formed in 1967. This is the first clean air agency in the government of California. The goals of this organization include: maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from toxic air conditions, and providing innovative ways for the public to comply with the air pollution rules and regulations.

Air Quality Act (amendment to CAA)

Jan 1, 1967

The Air Quality Act of 1967 is an amendment to the Clean Air Act of 1963. In 1967, the Air Quality Act was enacted in order to expand federal government activities. Under this Act, the government had stronger enforcement power. The government was able to conduct extensive monitoring studies and stationary source inspections. The Air Quality Act of 1967 is one of a series of steps by the national government of the United States to address air pollution.

Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act

Dec 30, 1969

The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, also known as the “Coal Act”, was passed in 1969 during Richard Nixon’s presidency. The Coal Act required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine. This Act increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines. The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations. Safety standards for all coal mines improved. This Act also provided compensation for miners who were disabled by "black lung".

National Environmental Policy Act

Jan 1, 1970

This Act requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes. Federal agencies must consider the environmental impacts that their proposed actions may have on the environment and must make reasonable alternatives to those actions. A big accomplishment of this Act is that all federal government agencies must prepare environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) if they want to propose an assignment.

Clean Air Act Extension

Jan 1, 1970

These amendments were added to the Clean Air Act in 1970. A result of this amendment is stronger state and federal requlations for industrial pollution sources as well as mobile pollution sources. Federal enforcement was expanded. The Environmental Protection Agency was established whose main goal is to protect the environemtn.

Environmental Quality Improvement Act

Apr 3, 1970

This Act is an amendment to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. A main purpose of this Act was to provide the professional and administrative staff needed for the Council on Environmental Quality. This law also assured that each federal department that supports public activities that affect the environment shall obey the policies under the existing law.

Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act

Dec 29, 1970

This Act provides a safe working environment from the employers to the employees. This Act encourages employers and employees to reduce workplace hazards. The Act also requires that employers comply with occupational safety and health standards, rules, regulations and orders issued under the Act. The Act authorizes the Department of Labor to conduct inspections, and to issue citations and penalties alleged violations.

Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act

Jan 13, 1971

The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, was passed by president Nixon in 1971. This Act restricts the lead content in household/everyday items such as paint, toys, kitchen utensils, furniture, ect. Paint that was used in housing that was built with federal dollars was restricted to the amount of lead it had in it due to this Act. This Act provided funds for states to reduce the amount of lead in paint

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Jan 1, 1972

FIFRA was originally intacted in1947. A complete revision of this law took place in 1972.The objective of FIFRA is to provide federal control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. Under this Act, pesticides used in the United States must be registered by EPA. The overall goal of this Act is to ensure that pesticides will no cause harm to the environment under strict regulations.

Clean Water Act

Oct 18, 1972

The Clean Water Act's main goal is to regulate the discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulate quality standards for surface waters. Under the Clean Water Act, it is illegal to dump any pollutant into the water unless a permit is obtained. By preventing pollution, this Act helps restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters.

Endangered Species Act

Dec 28, 1973

This act was passed in 1973 to protect criticallyly endangered species from extinction. This act recognized that humans are the main reason for the decline of many species. Under this Act, species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. Endangered, meaning a species is in danger of extinction. Threatened, meaning a species is likely to become endangered in the future. All species of plants and animals, except pest insects, are eligible to be listed as endangered or threatened.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Dec 17, 1974

The main goal of this Act is to ensure safe drinking water for the public. This Safe Drinking Water Act applies to every public water system in the U.S. This Act authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect the public from contaminants that may be found in drinking water. This Act does not apply to bottled water.

Hazardous Materials Transportation Act

Jan 3, 1975

The main purpose of this Act is to regulate the transport of hazardous materials. This Act provides adequate protection against the risk of life and property, as well as damage to the environment by improving the regulatory and enforcement authority of the Secretary of Transportation.

Toxic Substances Control Act

Oct 11, 1976

The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 provides the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. The main goal of this Act is to assess and regulate new chemicals before they enter the market, regulate chemicals that could possibly pose a risk to human health or the environment, and regulate the distributions of these chemicals.

Resourse Conservation and Recovery Act

Oct 21, 1976

Under this Act, the government regulated the disposal of solid and hazardous waste. The main goal is to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally safe manner. This Act regulates the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, and underground storage tanks holding petroleum products or certain chemicals.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

Aug 3, 1977

This Act regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States. SMCRA created two programs. One is for regulating active coal mines, and the other is for reclaiming abandoned mines. This law sets requirements for all coal surface mining on Federal and State land.

National Energy Conservation Policy Act

Oct 14, 1978

Under this Act, the United States Department of Energy set minimum energy performance standards to replace those set by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in 1975. Under this Act, energy standards were changed from voluntary to mandatory.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

Sep 29, 1980

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980 was designed to support state efforts to protect a large portion of fish and wildlife species that were neglected under a prior law. Under this law, States were given financial assistance for the development, revision, and implementation of conservation plans and programs for fish and wildlife.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Dec 11, 1980

This law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries. It also provides Federal authority to respond directly to release of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. This Act also holds those liable those responsible for the releases of hazardous waste at abandoned sites.

Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Jan 7, 1983

This Act established a national program for the safe, permanent disposal of radioactive waste. This Act also enables research, development, and demonstration regarding the disposal of high level radioactive waste andnuclear fuel.

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

Oct 17, 1986

This Act was passed because of the 1984 disaster in Bhopal, India, which was caused by an accidental release of methylisocyanate. The release killed/ injured more than 2000 people. To reduce the likelihood of a disaster, like the one in India, from occurring in the U.S., Congress imposed requirements for federal, state and local governments,These requirements covered emergency planning and Community Right-to-Know, which reports hazardous and toxic waste.

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

Oct 17, 1986

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act was an amendment to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. This Act: provided new enforcement authorities and settlement tools;
increased State involvement, and increased the focus on human health problems posed by hazardous waste sites. This Act also encouraged the community to participate in decisions on how hazardous sites should be cleaned up.

Water Quality Act

Feb 4, 1987

This Act was an addition to the Water Quality Standards program. This Act is an amendment to the Water Quality Act, which aims to improve water quality standards. This Act puts emphasis on the idea that toxic pollutants in water are the main cause of water pollution.

Montreal Protocol

Sep 16, 1987

This is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. This treaty helps eliminate damage to the ozone by regulating numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. This treaty opened the eyes of the public in order to see the eminent risks associated with ozone depletion.

Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act

Jan 1, 1992

This Act requires that potential homeowner and renters prior to 1978 receive certain information about lead and lead hazards in the residence. The house may not be eligible for the potential owner/renter until all the lead information is given to them . Sellers, landlords, and agents must comply with this Act.

Basel Convention

May 15, 1992

The Basel Convention is an international treaty which was signed in 1989 and effective in 1992. The main goal of the Basel Convention is to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations. It also prevents the transfer of hazardous waste from developed countries to less developed countries. Another goal of this convention was to minimize the amount of toxic waste generated.

North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

Jan 1, 1994

The North American Free Trade Agreement was made between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, The main purpose of this Act was to increase the efficiency and fairness of trade among the three nations.The simple goal behind NAFTA is to eliminate the taxes each nation imposes on the others.

Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice

Feb 16, 1994

This Executive Order addresses environmental justice in minority populations and low income populations. A main goal of this executive order was to achieve environemntal protection for all communities. It directs federal agencies to identify and address problems involving human health/ environmental effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations.

Kyoto Protocol

Dec 11, 1997

The Kyoto Protocol was signed in Japan in 1997 and took effect in 2005. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which focuses on climate change. Since developed nations contribute the most to pollution, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)

Jun 9, 1998

The Transportation Equity Act authorizes federal surface transportation programs for highways and highway safety between 1998-2003. This Act must increase the safety and security of the transportation system, protect and enhance the environment, emphasize the use of transportation systems, and support economic vitality.

◦Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

Jun 5, 2005

This was a Bill that was signed in 2005 and ended in 2009. This Bill gave funding and authorization to the United States federal surface transportation. A goal of this Bill was to make provisions to improve and maintain the surface transportation infrastructure in the United States (highways, transit systems, bicycle/pedestrian facilities).

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)

Dec 19, 2007

This Act focuses on the energy policy of the United States. Some goals of this Act include: increase the production of clean, reusable fuels; protect consumers; promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options; improve the energy performance of the Federal Government; and most importanylty move the United States towards greater energy independence and security.

California AB 1493

Jun 5, 2009

California's AB 1493 is the first legislation in the world to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. This legislation helps control car smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The new approach also promotes eco-friendly cars in order to reduce the emission in California.