Environmental Regulations

Laws and EOs that Influence Environmental Protection 1.The following laws and EOs help to protect human health and the environment. EPA is charged with administering all or a part of each. 2.Atomic Energy Act (AEA)Atomic Energy Act (AEA) 3.Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief ActChemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act 4.Clean Air Act (CAA)Clean Air Act (CAA) 5.Clean Water Act (CWA) (original title: Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972)Clean Water Act (CWA) 6.Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund) 7.Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) 8.Endangered Species Act (ESA)Endangered Species Act (ESA) 9.Energy Indpendence and Security Act (EISA)Energy Indpendence and Security Act (EISA) 10.Energy Policy ActEnergy Policy Act 11.EO 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income PopulationsEO 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations 12.EO 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety RisksEO 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks 13.EO 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or UseEO 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use 14.Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) 15.Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 16.Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments - See Clean Water ActClean Water Act 17.Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act)Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act) 18.National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 19.National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) 20.Noise Control ActNoise Control Act 21.Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) 22.Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) 23.Ocean Dumping Act - See Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries ActMarine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 24.Oil Pollution Act (OPA)Oil Pollution Act (OPA) 25.Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) 26.Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 27.Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 28.Shore Protection Act (SPA)Shore Protection Act (SPA) 29.Superfund - See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability ActComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 30.Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) - See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability ActComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 31.Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

TSCA (1976) Since World War II, production of industrial chemicals has risen rapidly, and the U.S. generates or imports some 42 billion lb. (19 billion kg) of them per day, They're the molecules that make good on the old "better living through chemistry" promise, appearing in items like unbreakable baby bottles and big-screen TVs. Those chemicals have a habit of finding their way out of everyday products and into the environment — and ultimately into living organisms. A recent biomonitoring survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found traces of 212 environmental chemicals in Americans — including toxic metals like arsenic and cadmium, pesticides, flame retardants and even perchlorate, an ingredient in rocket fuel. The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 provides EPA with authority to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 Certain substances are generally excluded from TSCA, including, among others, food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides. TSCA addresses the production, importation, use, and disposal of specific chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, radon and lead-based paint.polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)asbestos lead-based paint

Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates — key ingredients in modern plastics — may disrupt the delicate endocrine system, leading to developmental problems. A host of modern ills that have been rising unchecked for a generation — obesity, diabetes, autism, attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder — could have chemical connections. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the 34-year-old vehicle for federal chemical regulation, has generally been a failure. The burden of proving chemicals dangerous falls almost entirely on the government, while industry confidentiality privileges built into the TSCA deny citizens and federal regulators critical information about how substances are made and what their effects are. In the years since the TSCA became law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been able to issue restrictions on only a handful of chemicals and has lacked the power to ban even a dangerous carcinogen like asbestos.

Clean Air Act CAA (1970), CAA Amendment (1977) CAA Amendment, (1990) – toxic pollutant, acid deposition, Ozone hole NAAQ: The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. One of the goals of the Act was to set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975 in order to address the public health and welfare risks posed by certain widespread air pollutants. The Act was amended in 1977 and 1990 primarily to set new goals (dates) for achieving attainment of NAAQS since many areas of the country had failed to meet the deadlines. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments require issuance of technology-based standards for major sources and certain area sources. "Major sources" are defined as a stationary source or group of stationary sources that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of a hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons per year or more of a combination of hazardous air pollutants. An "area source" is any stationary source that is not a major source. MACT: For major sources, Section 112 requires that EPA establish emission standards that require the maximum degree of reduction in emissions of hazardous air pollutants. These emission standards are commonly referred to as “maximum achievable control technology” or “MACT” standards.

RCRA (1976) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave.“ This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non- hazardous solid wastes. The 1986 amendments to RCRA enabled EPA to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances. HSWA - the Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments - are the 1984 amendments to RCRA that focused on waste minimization and phasing out land disposal of hazardous waste as well as corrective action for releases. Some of the other mandates of this law include increased enforcement authority for EPA, more stringent hazardous waste management standards, and a comprehensive underground storage tank program.

Clean Water Act (1972, 1977) The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters :Federal Water Pollution Control Act, significantly reorganized and expanded in "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in Under the CWA, EPA has implemented pollution control programs – such as setting wastewater standards for industry and also – set water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained. EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls discharges.National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. – Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; – industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was established to protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. The Act authorizes EPA to establish minimum standards to protect tap water and requires all owners or operators of public water systems to comply with these primary (health-related) standards. The 1996 amendments to SDWA require that EPA consider a detailed risk and cost assessment, and best available peer-reviewed science, when developing these standards. Under the Act, EPA also establishes minimum standards for state programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by underground injection of fluids.

CERCLA or Superfund Act (1980) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act -- otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund -- provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. Through CERCLA, EPA was given power to seek out those parties responsible for any release and assure their cooperation in the cleanup. EPA cleans up orphan sites when potentially responsible parties cannot be identified or located, or when they fail to act. EPA also recovers costs from financially viable individuals and companies once a response action has been completed. EPA is authorized to implement the Act in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Superfund site identification, monitoring, and response activities in states are coordinated through the state environmental protection or waste management agencies.