_10-+It's+the+Law

Write a brief summary of this law, treaty, protocol. What, when, where, who, how, why should direct your writing.

Clean Air Act - Fatmeh The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the federal law regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. It was established in 1963 and further expanded until the 1990’s .The act defines the EPA’s responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation’s air quality and the stratosphere. The Clean Air Act was the first major environmental law in the United States to include a provision. The act addresses the issue of acid rain, which is caused by nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions resulting from electric power plants powered by fossil fuels and other industrial sources.

Clean Water Act - Nathalie Clean Water Act – 1972 The Clean Water Act establishes the structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into US bodies of water and regulating quality standards for surface water. Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry and also setting water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. The Clean Water Act made it unlawful to dump any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained.

Safe Drinking Water Act - Courtney

Safe Drinking Water Act-1974 This law focuses on water that is designated or potentially designated for drinking, regardless of the source. It allows the EPA to set standards for the drinking water or Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL’s).Maximum contaminant levels regulate the 77 different substances in surface and groundwater, including microorganisms, disinfectants, organic chemicals, and inorganic chemicals. MCL’s are subject to political and economic consideration. If it costs too much to reduce the contaminant to the set level, then the contaminant may not be reduced in water sources. An amendment made in 1996 requires that a detailed risk and cost assessment is presented when the standards are developed. State governments often present these reports to the EPA, and set the rules for the regulation of water. Under this act, the EPA is also required to set minimum water regulation standards on the local and state levels.

RCRA - Logan Basically what the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is, is a law that gives the EPA the authority to take control of hazardous wastes and stop them from reaching the “cradle-to-grave”. The EPA is able to control generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste with this law and it also gives the EPA a framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes. The act also addresses environment problems that could involve underground tanks fill with petroleum that would and many other hazardous substances that would affect the environment around it.

CERCLA - Crystal

The Endangered Species Act - Anthony Endangered Species Act of 1973 The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973. The Endangered Species Act was created to design to protect species from becoming extinct. This act is an addition to the environmental impact statement (EIS). This ac t also help preserve biodiversity in an ecosystem by preserving and protecting a specific organism. To do this, the government creates a list of low populated species which will be protected in the future. To protect a specific species, the government uses water conservation funds to preserve land. Also, the government punishes anyone who kills or threatens the organism.

FIFRA - Linda FIFRA stands for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. This law was put in place in order to control the distribution, sale, and use of pesticides. The EPA regulates the law and requires that all of pesticides used in the United States must be registered by the EPA. Each pesticide product is labeled with specifications that include their own directions, that must be followed consistently. This law was primarily aimed at protecting consumers from ineffective products and misleading labeling. During the Second World War, the use of pesticides was at an all time high due to the higher crop yield. However, consumers were not aware of the potential environmental damage and biological health risks associated with widespread use. FIFRA has constantly been revised numerous times to address the dangers of using pesticides

TOSCA- Toxic Substance Control Act- 1976 TOSCA requires the premarket testing of toxic substances. Upon the release of toxic substances, producers must notify the EPA. If the data collected by the agency is inadequate, then the EPA will require further testing of the substance. If it's determined that the chemical is present at a level that presents a public and environmental risk,or if there is still insufficient data to determine the chemical's effects, the manufacturer must evaluate the characteristics and risks of the chemical. If the EPA labels the chemical as a public or environmental risk, sale and distribution of the substance can be prohibited.

CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora -1973 CITES was developed by the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals. Today the influence of CITES has reached 175 countries around the world. Due to the fact that international trade of threatened animals is difficult to monitor, international cooperation is requires to uphold this legislation. The U.S. implementation of CITES is the Endangered Species Act (1973). Under the Endangered Species Act the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to list species as threatened or endangered, and prohibit the harming and trade of the species. Under the Endangered Species Act, the goverment can also buy land that is critical to the maintenance of species listed as endangered or threatened.

Kyoto Treaty- 1997 In 1997, the representatives of nations of the world met in Kyoto Japan to discuss the control of emissions contributing to global climate change. Under an agreement known as the Kyoto protocol, global emissions from industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2 percent under their 1990 levels by 2012. Due to political issues, some industrialized countries increased the amount that they were going to decrease their emissions. Developing nations such as China and India did not have limits proposed by the protocol. Later the protocol was amended to include more nations. Montreal Protocol -1987 In 1987 24 nations signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that reduce the ozone layer of the atmosphere. Nations that signed agreed to deplete the amount of CFC(Clouroflourocarbons) produced by 50 percent by the year 2000. More stringent amendments were signed by 180 countries to eliminate production and use of CFC's in the developed world by the year 1996. The treaty adressed 96 ozone depleting compounds.

Lacey Act- 1900 The Lacey ACT was passed in the U.S. to prevent interstate transport of illegally harvested game animals (birds and mammals) across state lines. Penalties of the violation of the law involve fines, forfeiture of the animals or plants involve and any vehicles used to transport them.