ACTS

Question 1

The Ordinance of 1785

Answer 1

Is the largest national act of planning in US history. It provided for the rectangular land survey (PLSS - Township, Range, Section) of the old Northwest in a 36-square-mile grid - virtually all land west of Appalachian Mtns. It also established a minimum price for this land.–

Question 2

Homestead Act, 1862

Answer 2

Enacted in 1862, this opened the lands of the public domain to settlers for a nominal fee and 5 years of residence. The Free-Soil Party involved in this saw it as a means of stopping spread of slavery to territories.

Question 3

General Land Law Revision Act, 1891

Answer 3

Enacted in 1891, this gave the president power to create forest preserves by proclamation.

Question 4

Morrill Act, 1862

Answer 4

Enacted in 1862, this authorized the proceeds of land sales to be used to found land grant colleges.

Question 5

RLUIPA, 2000

Answer 5

Enacted in 2000, this Act places strict limits on local governments’ power to regulate religious land uses. Declares that no gov may implement land use regs that impose a substantial burden on religious assembly.

Question 6

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Answer 6

This Act added provisions entitled “Preservation
of Local Zoning Authority” to the principal federal

telecommunications statute, the Communications Act of 1934. It basically preserves local zoning while adding
some additional federal requirements. It creates
procedural and shot clock requirements (90 or 150 days) for cell tower zoning applications.

Question 7

CERCLA, 1980

Answer 7

AKA Superfund Bill. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, enacted in 1980, requires secondary containment for hazardous substances.

Question 8

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1984

Answer 8

RCRA provided EPA with the ability to control hazardous waste from the “cradle-to-grave.”

Question 9

ARRA ,2009

Answer 9

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enacted in 2009 and signed by pres Obama to create jobs, invest in infrastructure, education, health and renewable energy.

Question 10

Indian Reorganization Act , 1934

Answer 10

Enacted in 1934, this Act is often referred to as the “Indian New Deal.” It increased Tribal self-governance by restoring land management and mineral rights. Remains basic legislation concerning Indian Affairs.

Question 11

Coastal Zone Management Act, 1972

Answer 11

Enacted in 1972, the CZMA established the Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

Question 12

Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) 1978

Answer 12

PURPA promotes alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, and reduced dependence on foreign oil. It also created a market for non-utility power producers and requires competition in the utility industry.

Question 13

CCA, 2002

Answer 13

The Community Character Act provided incentives for states and localities to implement smart growth planning.

Question 14

Secretary’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation

Answer 14

Outlines federal guidelines for the renovation of National Register-listed properties, and is a benchmark for what can/can’t be done to receive tax credits for historic rehab.

Question 15

Antiquities Act of 1906

Answer 15

First law to institute federal protections for preserving archaeological sites, and establishing National Monuments.

Question 16

Standard State Zoning Enabling Act, 1926

Answer 16

Model zoning legistlation that laid the basic foundation for land development controls in the U.S. Established the rezoning process

Question 17

Standard City Planning Enabling Act, 1928

Answer 17

Model planning enabling legislation that established a process for local zoning predicated on a plan and police power.

Question 18

Forest Management Act, 1897

Answer 18

Authorized some control by the Secretary of Interior over use and occupancy of forest preserves.

Question 19

US Reclamation Act, 1902

Answer 19

Created fund from sale of public land in arid states to supply water there through the construction of water storage and irrigation works.

Question 20

Taylor Grazing Act, 1934

Answer 20

Regulates the use of the range in the West for conservation purposes.

Question 21

Social Security Act, 1935

Answer 21

Safety net for elderly - promoted by Frances Perkins Secretary of Labor.

Question 22

GI Bill, 1934

Answer 22

Guaranteed loads for homes to veterans

Question 23

Civil Rights Act, 1964

Answer 23

Outlaws discrimination on race, creed, and national origin

Question 24

Appalachian Regional Planning Act, 1965

Answer 24

Established a region comprising all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states, plus a planning commission with power to frame plans and allocate resources.

Question 25

NAFTA, 1994

Answer 25

North American Free Trade Agreement among US, Mexico and Canada.

Question 26

1975 Energy Policy Conservation Act

Answer 26

Est CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards in response to Arab oil embargo of 70s. (National

Question 27

Highway Revenue Act of 1956 – Highway Trust Fund

Answer 27

source of tax revenue for the interstate highway system and other federal-aid highway programs, was created by the Highway Revenue Act of 1956. The motor fuel tax (currently 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon on diesel fuel) is the best known highway user tax.

Question 28

Federal Aid Act of 1962 – Founding of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)

Answer 28

created the federal requirement for urban transportation planning largely in response to the construction of the Interstate Highway System and the planning of routes through and around urban areas. The Act required, as a condition attached to federal transportation financial assistance, that transportation projects in urbanized areas of 50,000 or more in population be based on a continuing, comprehensive, urban transportation planning process undertaken cooperatively by the states and local governments — hence Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) quickly came into being because of the growing momentum of the highway program and the federal financing of the planning process.

Question 29

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)

Answer 29

“National Intermodal Transportation System that is economically efficient and environmentally sound, provides the foundation for the nation to compete in the global economy, and will move people and goods in an energy- efficient manner.” This was brand new. Instead of focusing on just highway transportation, ISTEA emphasized inter-modalism - the seamless linking of highway, rail, air, and marine transportation. The act included many provisions designed to chip away barriers that had separated modes of transportation in legislation and practice for many years.

Question 30

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

Answer 30

improving safety, protecting public health and the environment, and creating opportunity for all Americans. It provides record levels of investment to continue rebuilding America’s highways and transit systems, doing so within a balanced budget and without cutting education, Social Security, and other vital Presidential priorities. Key goals included rebuilding America, improving safety, protecting the environment, and creating opportunity.

Question 31

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A legacy for Users (SAFTELU)

Answer 31

focused on the many challenges facing our transportation system in 2005 – challenges such as improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, improving efficiency in freight movement, increasing intermodal connectivity, and protecting the environment. promoted more efficient and effective Federal surface transportation programs by focusing on transportation issues of national significance, while giving State and local transportation decision makers more flexibility for solving transportation problems in their communities.

Question 32

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21)

Answer 32

was a milestone for the U.S. economy and the Nation’s surface transportation program. By transforming the policy and programmatic framework for investments to guide the system’s growth and development, MAP-21 created a streamlined and performance-based surface transportation program and built on many of the highway, transit, bike, and pedestrian programs and policies established in 1991.

Question 33

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)

Answer 33

maintained focus on safety, kept intact the established structure of the various highway- related programs, continued efforts to streamline project delivery and, for the first time, provides a dedicated source of federal dollars for freight projects.