1. The Environment and America

2. Early Environmentalism in the US 1850s and 60s: Common interest in pure drinking water and sanitation is spurred by epidemics of typhoid and cholera. “Mother of the Forrest: 2,520 year-old tree is destroyed in 1854, causing outrage amongst Americans. 1890’s: A number of conservationist organizations are formed. Newlands reclamation act of 1902: placed 230 million acres (360,000 mi² or 930,000 km²) under federal protection. Roosevelt set aside more Federal land for national parks. 1906: US Forrest Service is established.

3. US Government and Environmentalism Clean Air act passed in 1963 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is established in 1970 Clean Water act passed in 1972 Superfund established in1980 Green Party established in 1985 Emission standards being set in 1990’s

4. US Environmental Disasters in the 20 th Century The Dust bowl 1930-36 Bikini Atoll disaster 1969 Cuyahoga river fire 1969 Love Canal 1976 Three Mile Island 1979 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 1989 Gulf Oil Spill 2010

5. Main Environmental Issues in the US Climate Change Conservation Deforestation Energy/fossil fuels Nuclear Invasive Species Mining Soil Erosion Deep Well Drilling Natural Gas Collection (fracking) Pesticides Landfills Pollution

6. American Environmental NGO’s Earth First Izaak Walton League National Audubon Society Green Peace National Geographic Society Sierra Nevada Club