Glossary
Clean Air Act
A major US federal law designed to control air pollution by setting national ambient air quality standards for various pollutants. It aims to protect public health and welfare from air contaminants.
Example:
The Clean Air Act led to the successful phase-out of lead in gasoline, significantly reducing lead levels in the atmosphere and improving public health.
Clean Water Act
A US federal law that regulates discharges of pollutants into the nation's surface waters and sets quality standards for them. Its primary goal is to make all waters 'fishable and swimmable.'
Example:
A factory must obtain a permit under the Clean Water Act before discharging any wastewater into a river, ensuring the discharge meets specific environmental standards.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
A US federal law, also known as 'Superfund,' that authorizes the EPA to respond to releases of hazardous substances and clean up contaminated sites. It holds responsible parties accountable for pollution.
Example:
After discovering toxic chemicals leaching from an old landfill, the site was designated a Superfund site under CERCLA for federal cleanup and remediation.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
An international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It regulates the import and export of endangered species.
Example:
The global ban on the commercial trade of elephant ivory is a direct result of regulations established by CITES to protect elephant populations.
Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
A provision in the US Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that prohibits the approval of any food additive found to induce cancer in humans or animals. It sets a strict standard for carcinogens in food.
Example:
Due to the Delaney Clause, even if a food coloring improved taste, it would be banned if studies showed it caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Endangered Species Act
A US federal law that provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range. It also protects the ecosystems they depend on.
Example:
The protection of critical habitat for the California condor under the Endangered Species Act has been crucial for its recovery from near extinction.
Kyoto Protocol
An international agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It set binding targets for industrialized countries.
Example:
While many developed nations committed to emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, the United States did not ratify the agreement, impacting its overall effectiveness.
Montreal Protocol
An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion. It is widely considered a highly successful global environmental agreement.
Example:
The successful global phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigerants and aerosols, mandated by the Montreal Protocol, has allowed the stratospheric ozone layer to begin recovering.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
A US federal law that governs the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste, known as the 'cradle-to-grave' act. It gives the EPA authority to control hazardous waste from its generation to final disposal.
Example:
A company producing hazardous chemical waste must meticulously track its disposal from its creation to its final secure landfill, adhering to strict RCRA regulations.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
A US federal law that protects public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. It authorizes the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against contaminants.
Example:
Your local water utility must regularly test its water and meet strict quality standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act before it can be delivered to homes.