Environmental Laws from the 1990s-2009

By Hudson Smith

Energy Policy Act

• This act addresses energy production in the US including– Energy efficiency Renewable energy– Oil and gas, coal Tribal energy– Nuclear energy Hydrogen– Vehicles and motor fuels, including ethanolFirst omnibus legislation enacted in more than a decadeProvides loan guarantees for innovative technologies

Children and • the Environment

Federal Actions to address Environmental Justice in minority pop. And low income pop. 1994

• Purpose– Focus federal attention on the environment and

human health effects of federal actions on minority and low-income populations, with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities

Protection of children from environmental health risks and safety risks

• Economically significant rules under E.O. 12866 that concern an environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may disproportionately affect children

WATERAND FOOD QUALITY

Safe drinking water act

• Ensures the quality of Americans’ drinking water

• Issued 1996

Food Quality Protection Act

• Requirements– Stricter safety standards– Complete reassessment of all existing pesticide

tolerances– Issued 1996

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

• Authorizes EPA to set maximum residue limits, for pesticide residue on foods

• Issued in 2002

ENVIRONMENTAL WASTES

Waste Reduction Act

• Reduce and prevent the production and disposal of waste

• Issued March 15, 1990

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

• Provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use

• Issued 1996

POLLUTION

Oil Pollution Act

• Helped EPA’s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills

• Issued in 1990

Oil spill prevention and liability act

• Required new reforms for oil transportation, cleanups, and response capabilities

• Issued in 1990 because of the huge oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska (Exxon Valdez oil spill)

Exxon Valdez oil spill

• 11 million gallons of oil spilled• 20% of cargo leaked out into surrounding

waters• oil spread out 1300 miles along the Alaskan

coast• 1604 birds rescued– 803 died– 801 put back into the wild

Pollution Prevention Act

• Focused industry, government, and public attention on reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes

• Issued in 1990

PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Education Act

• Developing and supporting programs to improve understanding of the natural and developed environment

• Relationships between humans and their environment

• issued November 16, 1990

Great Lakes Critical Programs Act

• Establish and implement a fishery resources restoration, development and conservation program including hatchery production at a specified minimum level

• Conduct a wildlife species and habitat assessment survey in the lake’s basin

California Desert Protection Act

• Federally owned lands of southern California constitute a wild land resource of extraordinary and inestimable value for current and future generations

• Issued 1994

Coastal Development Act

• EPA is responsible for making any decisions that have to do with development along the coast

• Issued 1995

Work cited page

• www.epa.gov/