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EPA landmarks
Since its establishment in 1970 , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has implemented acts to protect America ’s outstanding open air , admit its zephyr , water and wildlife . However , the agency ’s hereafter is in peril : During his campaign , President Donald Trump suggested eliminating the EPA , and more recently his disposal suggested cutting the EPA ’s staff by 20 percent and its budget by 25 pct . Here are 10 turning point deed and programs that the EPA has put through over the age to assist make the country more energy efficient and more environmentally safe . [ Read the full narrative on what life would be like without the EPA ]
Clean Water Act of 1972
Years ago , people and caller could pollute U.S. waterway without a 2d intellection . But now , there are consequences to foul water . The Clean Water Act ( CWA ) ascertain that people and industry do n’t pollute American weewee with substances that are harmful to human health or wildlife . If a company does have polluted wastewater , it can apply for a permission through the EPA’sNational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES).The Clean Water Act also enable partnership — it made it possible for the United States and Canada to sign the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990 , which required the two countries to reduce certain toxic pollutant in the Great Lakes , theEPA tell .
Safe Water Drinking Act of 1974
The Office of Water ( OW ) safeguard the nation ’s drunkenness water system with the Safe Water Drinking Act . In addition to sustaining sporty drinking water , the agency regenerate and protects oceans , watersheds and other aquatic ecosystem with the finish of guard the health of humans and wildlife and promoting recreational activity , such as sportfishing . The office also monitors for the unconventional electric pig of chemicals , animal wastefulness and pesticides , as well as any wastes throw in underground and course occurring substances that may be harmful , includingLegionella , the bacteria that causesLegionnaire ’s disease , the office said .
Clean Air Act of 1970
The Clean Air Act ( CAA ) regulates breeze emissions . More of import , it allow the EPA to coiffe National Ambient Air Quality Standards ( NAAQS ) — a policy that protects melodic line tone for the world and regulates hazardous air pollutants . The EPA also worked with states to modernize improvement plans specific to their regions . However , because so many commonwealth missed their deadlines , the act was amend in 1977 and 1990 to set new goals for achieving NAAQS , the EPA say . These police force apply to " major sources " of pollution , which can emit 10 gobs or more per twelvemonth of a hazardous air travel pollutant , or 25 tons or more per year of multiple hazardous air pollutants . CAA programs have decreased levels of six common pollutants , including mote , ozone , Pb , carbon monoxide , nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide , all while the U.S. economy uprise , theEPA said .
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
In an endeavor to stop the " midnight dumping " of toxic waste , Congress overhaul the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRA ) in 1976 . The enactment give the EPA the authorisation to establish controls over hazardous waste . But it took two more act — the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976 and the Comprehensive Environmental Response , Compensation and Liability Act in 1980 — before the EPA got the go - ahead to grapple cleanup at Superfund land site — the body politic ’s most hazardous waste sites , the means allege . Several toxic disaster propelled these acts forward : In 1977 , a series of chemical substance reactions ignited a chemical - permissive waste treatment facility in Bridgeport , New Jersey , killing six and hospitalizing 35 ; in 1978 , President Jimmy Carter declared a DoS of parking brake at Love Canal , New York , after people reported experience skin rash , miscarriages and parturition defect ; and in 1980 , toxic waste product burst into fire at a waste computer memory facility in Elizabeth , New Jersey , the EPA said .
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1996
Pesticides can protect plants from blighter , but what ’s to stop them from harm the wellness of people and animals?Rigorous examination , according to the EPA . The agency pass judgment new pesticide before they can enrol the market , and re - evaluates exist pesticides on a regular basis to check that they are still safe to use , the agency enjoin .
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program of 1990
Since 1990 , the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program has supply prescribed yearly estimates on nationwidegreenhouse gas emission . Some of the place that describe their emissions to the plan admit big businessman flora , petroleum and natural gas pedal systems and landfills . “The data point are also being used to inform regulative activity and voluntary discharge reduction efforts,“the EPA said .
National Listing of Fish Advisories
The EPA began brand fish and mollusc advisories in 1993 . These advisories tell consumers about contaminants in seafood , including mercury , polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs ) , chlordane , dioxins and DDT ( DDT).“These contamination hoard in Pisces tissue at concentration many time higher than concentrations in the water and can persist for years in sediments , where bottom - dwelling creatures feed them and pass them to turgid fish,“the EPA said . The number of safe - eat guidelines has risen from 20 in 1993 to 1,040 in 2011 , the EPA reported .
Insect repellents
The EPA insure that EPA - approve insect repellents — let in circle sprays , mosquito repellants , flea collars and other insect - shoot down product — really work and do n’t poison hoi polloi or pets .
The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000
Beachgoers usually want to sunbathe and swim rather than deal with nasty pathogen and sewerage in the water . The BEACH Act of 2000 addresses that by requiring states , territories and tribes to have stringent piss - quality standards and apprisal system in vitrine there is a dangerous situation at a beach . The turn also provides grants to aid local political science " protect beachgoers from contaminated H2O at coastal beaches , " with beach monitoring and notification programme , the EPA said . For example , EPA grants fund the Florida Healthy Beaches Program , which posted 153 water - tone advisories in 2016,according to the Tallahassee Democrat . “In case you need a reminder of why piddle quality monitoring is important : DuringHurricane Sandy , 172 million gallons of waste spilled into Tampa Bay and next waterway , " Holly Parker , a regional manager at the Surfrider Foundation , an environmental nonprofit , write in the Tallahassee Democrat . " In May 2016 , more than 1 million gallons of in the altogether sewerage spilled into the Banana River in Brevard County . In June 2016 , 800 gallons of new sewage spilled in Mexico Beach in Bay County . "
Energy Star
The EPA runs Energy Star , a program that helps people find the most Energy Department - efficient appliances and equipment that can pull through energy and money , theNatural Resources Defense Council say . The EPA began Energy Star as a voluntary labeling program in 1992 with the goal of help oneself consumers decrease nursery throttle emissions . In 2012 , Energy Star helped save businesses , organization and consumer $ 24 billion , theEPA said.[Read the full storey on what sprightliness would be like without the EPA ]
