Introduction to Major Environmental Laws

The first attempt for regulating the environment andpromoted by the EPA can be traced back since
creating environmental services intended to complybefore the actual agency existed, starting in 1938
with the regulations and promote awareness camewith the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
by the hand of the United Nations EnvironmentEnvironmental services that began to be regulated
Programme (UNEP), which was established by theincluded the Federal Insecticide. Fungicide, and
United Nations Assembly (UN) back in 1972.Rodenticide Act of 1947. Following this act, laws
The UN Assembly is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya,began to pay more attention to the environment, as
and provides environmental resources civil forit is demonstrate by the Federal Water Pollution
governments, scientists, journalists, business, civilControl Act of 1948, best known as Clean Water
society, children and youth. The UN has theAct, the Clean Air Act passed to bill in 1955. Ten
commitment to "provide leadership and encourageyears after the Solid Waste Disposal Act and
partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring,Shoreline Protection Act defined the new path to dig
informing and enabling nations and peoples to improvefurther for regulating the indiscriminate abuse of
their quality of life without compromising that of thenatural resources.
future generations"Today, the agency has a work force of 18,000
With this example in mind, many other environmentalpeople working in pro of our environment from coast
services began to change their approach in relation toto coast, directing important actions from its
industries that provoked the contamination of ourheadquarters in Washington, DC. The EPA offices
planet for a long time and summing efforts to stophave been witness to many other important
the devastation of endangered flora and faunaenvironmental laws that make our world a better
species.place to live in.
In the United States, the U.S. EnvironmentalAmong the most important laws issued, the 1972
Protection Agency (EPA) made a call to introduce aCoastal Zone Management Act Marine Protection,
number of laws and regulations through members ofResearch, and Sanctuaries Act, the 1973 Endangered
Congress proposing a bill that after approved becomeSpecies Act, and the 1990 National Environmental
law. The EPA is a regulatory agency committed toEducation Act and Pollution Prevention Act, have
promote awareness in environmental services.encouraged the development of new environmental
Founded in 1970 with the goal of protecting both theservices.
environment and human health, the regulations