AP Envi Legislation Summary

Question 1

Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, 1990

Answer 1

1970: Designed to lower air pollution in the United States.
1990: Designed to lower acid pollution in the United States.

Question 2

Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972

Answer 2

Law created to regulate water pollution and maintain the quality of water in the United States.

Question 3

Convention of International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Answer 3

An international agreement between nations that ensured that international trade of organisms did not threaten those species’ survival.

Question 4

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974

Answer 4

Established standards for safe drinking water in the United States.

Question 5

Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) of 1980

Answer 5

Grants a government “superfund” to clean up hazardous waste sites.

Question 6

Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Answer 6

Required the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban cancer-causing food additives.

Question 7

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976

Answer 7

Governs the disposal of solid and hazardous waste in the United States.

Question 8

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 8

Committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 9

Montreal Protocol

Answer 9

International treaty created to stop the production of substances that deplete the ozone.

Question 10

Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973

Answer 10

Protects endangered species and ecosystems that are home to endangered species.

Question 11

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986

Answer 11

Emphisized the importance of permanent solutions and technologies for cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

Question 12

Toxic Substance Control Act (TOSCA) of 1976

Answer 12

Gave the EPA the authority to require reporting, recording, testing requirements, and restrictions regarding chemical substances and mixtures.

Question 13

Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972

Answer 13

A national policy that was created to prevent marine animal populations from declining to the point where they were insignificant in their respective ecosystems.

Question 14

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 1947

Answer 14

Established Federal Regulation of Pesticides in the United States.

Question 15

National Energy Act (NEA) of 1992

Answer 15

Created to increase the use of clean energy and improve energy efficiency in the United States.

Question 16

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

Answer 16

Created a national policy for the environment and established the Council on Environmental Quality.

Question 17

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970

Answer 17

Gave the federal government authority to establish and enforce standards for safety and health for workers in the United States.

Question 18

Wilderness Act of 1964

Answer 18

Legally defined wilderness and protected 9.1 million acres of federal land.

Question 19

Lacey Act of 1900

Answer 19

Prevented hunters from illegally killing game in one state and crossing state lines to escape prosecution.

Question 20

Agenda 21

Answer 20

A non-binding action plan for sustainable development in the United States.

Question 21

Helinski Convention

Answer 21

Protected the Baltic Sea from pollution from land, air, and sea.

Question 22

London Dumping Convention

Answer 22

Agreement to control sea dumping and encouraged national agreements that coincided with the convention.