APES Big 10 Laws and Legislations:Key Terms and Definations
Clean Air Act (CAA) - ansUS Policy, controls air pollution, authorizes EPA to establish air quality standards to
protect public health/welfare, regulates emmisions of hazardous air pollutants
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ansUS Policy, Regulates discharges of pollutants and sets quality standards for surface
water and wastewater standards.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Reliability Act (CERCLA) "Superfund" - ansUS
Policy, Funded program to clean up the nation's most grossly polluted sites. Funds used to clean up
uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of
pollutants/contaminants. EPA is allowed to find the people/companies involved and force their cooperation in
the cleanup. Costs are super high
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - ansInternational
Policy, ensures that the trade of animal/plant across borders will not threaten the survival of the species. You
can't sell, trade, or transport endangered/protected species or their parts
Endangered Species Act (ESA) - ansUS Policy, Protects endangered species. People can't jeopardize the
continued existence of listed species. Drastic modifications of habitats for such species can't be done on public
or private land. No taking, importing, exporting, or selling of protected species is allowed
Kyoto Protocol - ansInternational Policy, Reduce emissions of 6 greenhouse gases to extremely low levels. US
did not agree to treaty, most scientists agree it wouldn't have made a difference anyway
Montreal Protocol - ansInternational Policy, Decrease emissions of substances that deplete the ozone layer by
restricting and phasing out their production (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs (aerosols, refrigerants, air conditioners.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - ansUS policy, forces branches of govt. to consider the
environmental impacts of their actions. Required Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)(think about actions,
possibly choose other options, cost-benefit analysis, $ incentives) on all projects. Formed EPA - Protects
health/environment, research, monitor environmental quality, set standards for pollution, assist states,
educate public
Clean Air Act (CAA) - ansUS Policy, controls air pollution, authorizes EPA to establish air quality standards to
protect public health/welfare, regulates emmisions of hazardous air pollutants
Clean Water Act (CWA) - ansUS Policy, Regulates discharges of pollutants and sets quality standards for surface
water and wastewater standards.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Reliability Act (CERCLA) "Superfund" - ansUS
Policy, Funded program to clean up the nation's most grossly polluted sites. Funds used to clean up
uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of
pollutants/contaminants. EPA is allowed to find the people/companies involved and force their cooperation in
the cleanup. Costs are super high
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - ansInternational
Policy, ensures that the trade of animal/plant across borders will not threaten the survival of the species. You
can't sell, trade, or transport endangered/protected species or their parts
Endangered Species Act (ESA) - ansUS Policy, Protects endangered species. People can't jeopardize the
continued existence of listed species. Drastic modifications of habitats for such species can't be done on public
or private land. No taking, importing, exporting, or selling of protected species is allowed
Kyoto Protocol - ansInternational Policy, Reduce emissions of 6 greenhouse gases to extremely low levels. US
did not agree to treaty, most scientists agree it wouldn't have made a difference anyway
Montreal Protocol - ansInternational Policy, Decrease emissions of substances that deplete the ozone layer by
restricting and phasing out their production (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs (aerosols, refrigerants, air conditioners.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - ansUS policy, forces branches of govt. to consider the
environmental impacts of their actions. Required Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)(think about actions,
possibly choose other options, cost-benefit analysis, $ incentives) on all projects. Formed EPA - Protects
health/environment, research, monitor environmental quality, set standards for pollution, assist states,
educate public
