Environmental Statutes:

STATUTE	AREA OF COVERAGE	KEY POINTS	NOTES ON EXAMPLES (YOU)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)	Hazardous and Solid Waste	Regulates the handling of wastes from “cradle to grave”: establishes rules for the handling of such waste from the time it is generated, while it is packaged, stored, while it is transported, and how it is disposed, and the disposal sites themselves Major areas of regulation include: --landfills --underground storage tanks --hazardous waste disposal --transportation manifests --permits to possess, treat, or dispose wastes --recordkeeping and reporting
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)	Hazardous Waste	Sets up a fund to clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites Establishes liability scheme for parties to collect from one another for $$ to clean up sites; EPA and others can sue to recoup cleanup $ Sets up guidelines on how to clean up sites EPA locates dumps and sets priorities of worst sites, known as National Priority List (NPL); Mining sites, nuclear sites, military sites (all government) plus industrial sites of all sorts Implemented “polluter pays principle”
Oil Pollution Act (OPA)	Oil Spills	Establishes liability for oil spills; establishes fund to clean up oil spills Mandates spill cleanup procedures
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)	Pollutant Generation	Seeks to prevent pollution through the reduced generation of pollutants at their origin Companies required to report toxic releases each year EPA tests products and works with companies mostly on voluntary basis
Clean Air Act (CAA)	Air Pollutants	Requires EPA to set and enforce rules regarding: --mobile source limits (cars) --ambient air quality standards (smog) --hazardous air pollutant discharge standards (what can come out of smokestacks) --standards for new pollution sources (invent a polluting source?: talk to EPA before it can be used) --acid rain reduction --ozone depletion protection EPA works with areas that don’t attain clean air standards
Endangered Species Act (ESA)	Animals and Plants	EPA makes a list of endangered and threatened species Violation if one “harms” such a species: “harm” includes impacting environment Hint: also remember that if question involves birds, Migratory Bird Act protects what can be done to birds
Clean Water Act (CWA)	All waters except oceans	Regulates and enforces program for discharges into U.S. waters Regulates wetland destruction/construction Establishes sewage treatment construction grants program
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)	Groundwater, lakes, and rivers used for consumption	Establishes primary drinking water standards Establishes groundwater protection program
Ocean Dumping Act (ODA)	Oceans	Regulates intentional disposal of materials into oceans
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)	Information	Requires reporting of toxic releases: the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Encourages response for chemical releases
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)	Chemicals	Regulates the testing and use of chemicals (amount produced, how handled, warning labels, limit uses) Also covers the following programs: --radon --lead in buildings --asbestos protection
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)	Pesticides	Governs pesticide use: amount and locations Creates a pesticide registry; bans some Food and Drug Administration also administers
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)	Study of Federal Projects Affecting Environment	Environmental Impact Statements must be filed for “major” federal actions Only paperwork and research need be done; no other activities mandated