1. THE ENVIRONMENT

2. THE 1970s GO GREEN
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ] is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970, after Nixon signed an executive order.

3. National Energy Act of 1978 was a legislative response by the U. S
National Energy Act of 1978 was a legislative response by the U.S. Congress to the 1973 energy crisis. It includes the following statutes:
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)
Energy Tax Act
National Energy Conservation Policy Act
Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act
Natural Gas Policy Act
The Act required utilities to provide residential consumers with energy conservation audits and other services to encourage slower growth of electricity demand. Offered tax credits as incentives to people who conserved energy

4. Earth Day
is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

5. The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Passed in 1972, the objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.

6. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
is the principal federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. Pursuant to the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers who implement these standards.
SDWA applies to every public water system in the United States. There are currently more than 150,000 public water systems providing water to almost all Americans at some time in their lives. These water systems must be analyzed by third-party analytical laboratories. The Act does not cover private wells.
The SDWA does not apply to bottled water. Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

7. 1970: Congress passes the first major Clean Air Act, requiring a 90 percent reduction in emissions from new automobiles by Congress also establishes EPA, giving it broad responsibility for regulating motor vehicle pollution.
1973: EPA creates new transportation controls in some of the nation’s largest cities, including Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, and others. Measures include exclusive bus lanes, bypass lanes for carpools and buses, parking garages and restrictions, and a mass transit incentive plan for California employers.
1973: EPA releases a study confirming that lead from automobile exhaust poses a direct threat to public health. Later that year, EPA issues final regulations to gradually reducing lead in gasoline.
1975: The "first generation" catalytic converters are built, significantly reducing vehicle emissions. Unleaded gasoline is also introduced because lead in gasoline may cause disintegration of catalytic converters. This results in dramatic reductions in ambient lead levels and alleviates many serious environmental and human health concerns associated with lead pollution.

8. So What Happened?
Why did all of these Environmental Agencies and Laws all of a sudden show up in the 1970? What Event happened?