LGST 3350 Environmental Law & Policy

provides access to full-text published documents produced during the legislative process. You can search by citation, or by keyword, public law name, etc.

The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 was the first federal legislation involving air pollution. This Act provided funds for federal research in air pollution. The Clean Air Act of 1963 was the first federal legislation regarding air pollution control. It established a federal program within the U.S. Public Health Service and authorized research into techniques for monitoring and controlling air pollution. In 1967, the Air Quality Act was enacted in order to expand federal government activities. In accordance with this law, enforcement proceedings were initiated in areas subject to interstate air pollution transport. As part of these proceedings, the federal government for the first time conducted extensive ambient monitoring studies and stationary source inspections.

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. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972.

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.

A PDF of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

Protecting America’s drinking water is a top priority for EPA. EPA has established protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, including drinking water regulations issued since the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act that strengthen public health protection. Over 92 percent of the population supplied by community water systems receives drinking water that meets all health-based standards all of the time.

Educators can create real-world connections to classroom lessons with the Digital Public Library of America’s Primary Source Sets. These easy-to-adopt lesson plans include letters, photographs, posters, oral histories, video clips and more on 100+ topics in history, literature, and culture have been selected by the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee, and are provided with suggested discussion questions and activities to guide instruction.

During the late nineteenth century, American industrialization, the expansion of railroads into the West, and the rise of large corporations led to the widespread destruction of areas of the Plains, as well as increased pollution of land and water. In response to these threats, a complex environmental movement emerged, supported by President Theodore Roosevelt. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, advocated preservation of natural resources from use, while Gifford Pinchot, a forester, called instead for conservation, the proper use of natural resources. Together, environmentalist advocacy of different types led to the establishment of the National Park Service by Congress in 1916, and the preservation of areas including Yosemite and Yellowstone. The government documents, photographs, films, and passionate appeals presented here allow one to answer the era’s critical questions about the environment. How should it be maintained? Who should take responsibility for its care?