Legislations

Question 1

EPCRA: Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act

Answer 1

Requires states to establish an office to plan for emergencies

Question 2

Montreal Protocol 1987

Answer 2

Established a plan to reduce ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons. Later strengthened by the Copenhagen Protocol which went a step further to include other ozone depleting chemicals.

Question 3

Food Quality Protection Act

Answer 3

Required the EPA to force food procedures to decrease pesticide residue by a factor of 10

Question 4

CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Answer 4

Creates a list of identified environmental sites, then prioritizes them for clean up

Question 5

IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change

Answer 5

Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro. Attempts to establish a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels.

Question 6

Wilderness Act of 1964

Answer 6

Established the National Wilderness Preservation System which protects primitive areas in the US.

Question 7

NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act

Answer 7

Requires that all branches of government consider the environment prior to taking major action. So, if a new building is to be erected, an environmental impact study must be completed prior to construction.

Question 8

NOAA: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

Answer 8

Established to monitor ocean ecosystem quality.

Question 9

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (revised the 1948 Act) amended in 1977 to become Clean Water Act

Answer 9

Grants the EPA authority to set water pollution standards. It also made point-source (from a discrete conveyance) discharge unlawful.

Question 10

Clean Air Act: Initially passed 1970 Amended in 1977 and 1980

Answer 10

Allows the EPA to regulate air emissions

Question 11

Marine Mammal Protection Act

Answer 11

Protected all marine mammals from hunting, capture, and harassment.

Question 12

The Ocean Dumping Act

Answer 12

Prohibits the dumping of sewage or industrial waste into open waters.

Question 13

OPA: Oil Pollution Act

Answer 13

Established a fund to clean up oil spills

Question 14

Energy Star Program

Answer 14

Introduced in 1922, the EPA introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Computers and monitors were the first labeled products.

Question 15

National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Answer 15

Protection for unique and beautiful river sections

Question 16

PPA: Pollution Prevention Act

Answer 16

Placed a focus on preventing waste through efficiency and reduced raw material use versus the prior focus on cleanup. If we concentrate on eliminating the problem, we won’t have clean up to worry about.

Question 17

RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Answer 17

Have the EPA the authority to regulate hazardous waste from “cradle to grave”. Meaning, from the people who produce the resource to the people who purchase, following all the way to disposal

Question 18

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

Answer 18

Promotes the development of alternative energy sources. National tailpipe emissions standards set by Congress

Question 19

Endangered Species Act

Answer 19

Prohibits the taking of, or habitat disruption of species on the endangered list

Question 20

TSCA: Toxic Substances Control Act

Answer 20

Gives EPA the authority to track industrial chemicals

Question 21

Eastern Wilderness Area Act

Answer 21

Protected over 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of forest

Question 22

FIFRA: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

Answer 22

Provided for the federal control of the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides. Banned the DDT in the US

Question 23

CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Answer 23

Prohibits the international trade of species that are threatened with extinction

Question 24

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Answer 24

Regulates the harvesting of whaling. Only allowed for the purpose of scientific research/ or some native groups due to their tradition

Question 25

SDWA: Safe Drinking Water Act

Answer 25

Protects waters that are used, or potentially used for drinking water sources. For example, lakes or aquifers that will feed into municipal water sources

Question 26

OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Act

Answer 26

Protects workers from hazards on the job

Question 27

FFDCA: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

Answer 27

Allows the EPA to set acceptable levels of pesticides that are used in foods

Question 28

NWPA: Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Answer 28

Regulates the disposal of nuclear waste

Question 29

MPRSA: Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

Answer 29

Deals with ocean waters and keeping them clean and protected

Question 30

Soil and Water Conservation Act

Answer 30

Set national standards for controlling the soil erosion and water waste

Question 31

Atomic Energy Act

Answer 31

Regulates the civilian and military use of nuclear materials. Specifically a US law

Question 32

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 32

International agreement to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The US withdrew during the Bush presidency.