Laws

• In the United States, environmental legislation is often reactive, meaning it is typically put in place in response to a disaster or environmental catastrophe. This is in contrast to the precautionary principle, which is practiced in Europe, where laws are put in place to prevent environmental problems before they occur.
• Superfund Act (CERCLA)


  Also known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, enacted in response to the Love Canal toxic waste dump. Imposes taxes on petroleum and chemical industries to fund toxic site cleanup, designates abandoned sites as Superfund sites where no one takes responsibility for the cleanup.
• Antarctica Treaty (Madrid Protocol)

  Sets aside the continent of Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity, recognizes the unique environment of Antarctica and aims to protect it for scientific research.
• Clean Air Act


  Sets standards for six criteria air pollutants: Socks (sulfur oxides), NOx (nitrogen oxides), Particulate matter (PM), Carbon monoxide (CO), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Lead (Pb). Monitors and regulates air quality to prevent pollution.
• Clean Water Act


  Governs the pollution of the nation's surface waterways, including lakes, streams, ponds, estuaries, and marshes. Monitors and regulates water quality to prevent pollution.
• Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol)

  Aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% below 1990 levels, limit emissions from signatory nations with developed nations taking the lead. The United States and Australia did not sign the Kyoto Protocol.
• Montreal Protocol


  Aims to ban the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which deplete the ozone layer. Successfully reduced CFC concentrations and increased ozone levels in the stratosphere.
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)


  Regulates and bans international trade of endangered species, prevents overexploitation of species in international trade, protects biodiversity and prevents species extinction.
• Stockholm Declaration


  A non-binding international agreement that recognizes the importance of environmental protection and conservation, encourages countries to work together to preserve the environment and promote sustainable development.
• Endangered Species Act (ESA)


  Protects and conserves endangered species and their habitats, prohibits government activities that may harm endangered species, prevents extinction and promotes species recovery.
• Lac Act (Lacey Act Amendments)


  Prohibits the transportation of illegally captured animals across state lines, regulates the trade of wildlife and prevents species extinction.
• Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)


  Protects marine mammals, including sea otters, manatees, dolphins, and whales, prohibits the taking, capturing, or harassing of marine mammals by US citizens.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

  Establishes requirements for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and environmental assessments, ensures that federal agencies consider environmental impacts when making decisions on projects and activities.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

  Purpose: To ensure that federal agencies consider the environmental impact of their actions
• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

  Purpose: To regulate the use of toxic substances and protect human health and the environment. Allows the EPA to regulate existing chemicals and new chemicals before they reach the market, recognized that chemical companies are always producing new chemicals either known to be dangerous or could possibly be dangerous.
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

  Purpose: To ensure the quality of municipal water supplies. Gives the EPA the power to set national drinking water standards, allows the EPA to regulate and assess municipal water supplies, enables the EPA to fine cities that violate the standards.
• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA)

  Purpose: To reduce the environmental impact of mining. Requires mining operations to minimize environmental damage, mandates the reclamation of land after mining operations cease.
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

  Purpose: To protect the public from harm caused by waste disposal. Implemented a cradle-to-grave tracking system of waste, recognized that a lot of times waste (solid waste, toxic waste) is not disposed of properly. Sets guidelines for the disposal of specific types of waste, establishes a framework for tracking chemicals and toxic substances from production to disposal, enables the EPA to track waste from "cradle to grave".