Natural Resources Legislation Flashcards
Clean Water Act
passed in 1972, with a major amendment in 1977. requires anyone wanting to discharge pollutants into a body of water to obtain a permit. It also regulates the amount of water that can be discharged and the types of pollutants that can be released. Section 404. Army corps of engineers, Fish & Wildlife Service, EPA
Clean Air Act
1970 and made major revisions in 1977 and 1990. The act includes provisions that cut off federal funding for metropolitan areas not in attainment. In non-attainment areas, new pollution sources are allowed only if there is a reduction in pollutants greater than the pollutants contributed by the source.
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
relates to air quality and requires that a project will not increase emissions above a specified PSD increment.
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
resulted in the creation of the Council on Environmental Quality. NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for all major federal actions that could significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Not all federal actions require a full EIS. Agencies can first prepare a smaller, shorter document called an Environmental Assessment (EA). The finding of the EA determines whether an EIS is required. If the EA indicates that no significant impact is likely, then the agency can release a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and carry on with the proposed action. Otherwise, the agency must then conduct a full-scale EIS. Most EAs result in a FONSI.
Ambient Air Quality Standards
set the maximum air contaminant concentrations allowed in the ambient air.
The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
(considered the oldest environmental law in the United States) prohibited the construction of any bridge, dam, dike, or causeway over any navigable waterway in the country without Congressional approval. The act also required Congressional approval for all wharves, piers, jetties, and the excavation or fill of navigable waters.
The Water Pollution Control Act of 1948
allowed the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, in cooperation with other governmental entities, to prepare a comprehensive program for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. The act allowed the Federal Works Administrator to assist government agencies in constructing treatment plants that could help to prevent discharges of inadequately treated sewage and other wastes into interstate waters or tributaries.
The Water Quality Act of 1965
established the Water Pollution Control Administration within the Department of the Interior. This was the first time water quality was treated as an environmental concern rather than a public health concern.
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
later amended in 1990, focused efforts to reduce polluted runoff in 29 coastal states.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
amended the Water Pollutant Act of 1948. The amendments broadened the government’s authority over water pollution and restructured the authority for water pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency. The act changed the enforcement from water quality standards to regulate the number of pollutants being discharged from particular point sources.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973
provides protection of animal and plant species that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates as threatened or endangered. This act was later amended in 1988.
The Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) of 1978
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.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
SUPERFUND - passed 1980 created a $1.6 billion Superfund to clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites and requires major industries to report annual releases of toxic wastes into the air, water, or ground. Superfund is the common name for CERCLA. There are more than 1,200 superfund sites across the United States. A tax on the petroleum and chemical industries provides funding to help pay for the cleanup of superfund sites.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976
provided EPA with the ability to control hazardous waste from the “cradle-to-grave.” This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, as well as the management of non-hazardous solid wastes. The 1986 amendment covered environmental issues associated with underground storage tanks for fuel and other hazardous substances.
The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
provided EPA with responsibility for reporting, record-keeping, testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded, including food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides.
