Safe Drinking Water Act
Date Ratified: 1974International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: unsafe drinking water in AmericaDescription of legislation or treaty: established to ensure safe drinking water for people across the country. The law focuses on all different sources of water or any potential water sources.Agency responsible for enforcement: EPA
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Date Ratified: 1975International Treaty or US Law: International TreatyIssue addressed: regulating wildlife trade and especially endangered speciesDescription of legislation or treaty: an agreement made amongst global governments to limit or regulate the trade of endangered species.Agency responsible for enforcement: USDA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Date Ratified: 1976International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: disposal of hazardous wasteDescription of legislation or treaty: to protect human health and the environment by conserving energy and natural resources, and by reducing the amount of harmful waste that is released into the environment.Agency responsible for enforcement: EPA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Date Ratified: 1988International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: harmful pesticide useDescription of legislation or treaty: pesticides used by farmers and consumers are to be regulated and checked for unsafe components that could hurt people/environment.Agency responsible for enforcement: EPA
Endangered Species Act
Date Ratified: 1973International Treaty or US Law: A US Law but it also involves international governments because endangered species from other countries are listed in this act.Issue addressed: endangered speciesDescription of legislation or treaty: regulates activities such as trade, commercial activity, interstate commerce and foreign commerce, that may harm the population of any species listedAgency responsible for enforcement: US Fish and Wildlife Service ((FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS).Describe an event that lead to the creation of the Endangered Species ActPresident Nixon's focus on the environment was partially impacted by a major oil spill on the coast of California. Furthermore, new environmental activism across the country sparked new light on protecting animals and wildlife.
Montreal Protocol
Date Ratified: 1987International Treaty or US Law: International TreatyIssue addressed: the depletion of the ozone layerDescription of legislation or treaty: a global agreement to monitor the depletion of the ozone layer and to take action in limiting the production of harmful substances that hurt it.Agency responsible for enforcement: EPA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund Act)
Date Ratified: 1980International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: released hazardous waste being left untreated.Description of legislation or treaty: enacted policies to treat and clean areas with hazardous waste that has been released.Agency responsible for enforcement: EPADescribe an event that helped lead to the creation of the Superfund ActToxic waste sites across the country risked contaminating the environment. Specifically the Love Canal landfill in Niagara Falls, NY was a factor in enacting this bill.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Date Ratified: 1977International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: Over mining in areas and harming the natural resources in US National ParksDescription of legislation or treaty: Policies enforced that oversee the mining industry to minimize environmental impact and reclaim unused coal mines.Agency responsible for enforcement: Energy and Minerals Management (U.S. National Park Service)
Kyoto Protocol
Date Ratified: 1997International Treaty or US Law: International TreatyIssue addressed: limiting greenhouse gas emissionsDescription of legislation or treaty: committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.Agency responsible for enforcement: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Clean Water Act
Date Ratified: 1972International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: water pollutionDescription of legislation or treaty: helps regulate the amount of pollution that goes into the surrounding oceansAgency responsible for enforcement: EPA
Clean Air Act
Date Ratified: 1970International Treaty or US Law: US LawIssue addressed: Air PollutionDescription of legislation or treaty: Enforces that states create strategies to regulate their emission levels to stay below or at a baseline level.Agency responsible for enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Describe an event that helped lead to the creation of the Clean Air ActDuring the mid to late 1900s, plummeting air quality resulted in more health issues for American citizens. Poor visibility and harmful smog became too regular in largely populated cities.
Ocean Dumping Act
Date Ratified: 1988International Treaty or US Law: US lawDescription of legislation or treaty: Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (Ocean Dumping Act) The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), prohibits the dumping of material into the ocean that would unreasonably degrade or endanger human health or the marine environment.Issue affected: Water pollution