628
Clean Water Act: Federal law directed at water pollution. Existing clean water
law has been amended many times, but especially in 1970, 1972, and 1977. Changes
in 1990 incorporated provisions of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of
1978. The Act is primarily implemented through the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and State Implementation Plans (SIPs). 33 USC § 1151 et seq.
Colorado River Compact: A 1922 agreement among seven US states (Arizona,
California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) regarding the
allocation of the water rights from the Colorado River basin. Combined with several
federal laws, legal decisions, and agreements, the compact is part of the “law of
the river.”
Energy Policy Act of 2005: Legislation that established many policies to address
energy issues including a Renewable Fuel Standard, tax incentives for many types
of energy, and energy efficiency (Pub.L. 109–58) affects 42 USC. § 15801 et seq., §
13201 et seq, and 16 USC § 2601 et seq.
Farm Bill: Legislation passed approximately every 5 years on a wide range of
agricultural and food issues.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011: Legislation that impacted
the regulation of food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It shifted the
focus of regulatory efforts to the prevention of foodborne illness by addressing
multiple steps in the production and supply chain (Pub.L. 111–353) affecting 21
USC § 301 et seq.
Louisiana-Mississippi Tangipahoa River Waterway Compact: 1988 agreement between the states of Louisiana and Mississippi regarding the Tangipahoa River.
Mississippi River Interstate Pollution Phase-out Compact: Proposed interstate compact regarding the Mississippi River.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): 1970 legislation that established
the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the requirement all
federal agencies consider every significant aspect of the environmental impact of an
action before proceeding with it. This occurs through Environmental Impact
Statements. (Pub.L. 91–190) 42 USC § 4321 et seq.
National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES): Permitting system under the Clean Water Act for regulating point sources of pollution discharged
into “Waters of the USA.” 33 USC § 1342.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990: Legislation passed following the 1989 Exxon Valdez
oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It addressed many issues of liability and
responsibility for oil spills and required oil tankers to have double hulls. (Pub.L. 101–380)
33 USC § 2701.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Federal law directed at
the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. Existing law was significantly revised in
1974 (Pub.L. 93–523). The law has been amended at least seven times since 1974.
The Act is primarily implemented through the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and State Implementation Plans (SIPs). 42 USC § 6901 et seq.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Federal law directed at public drinking
water supplies. The law was developed in 1965 but was overhauled in 1976
Appendix B: Treaties, Declarations, and Laws
Clean Water Act: Federal law directed at water pollution. Existing clean water
law has been amended many times, but especially in 1970, 1972, and 1977. Changes
in 1990 incorporated provisions of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of
1978. The Act is primarily implemented through the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and State Implementation Plans (SIPs). 33 USC § 1151 et seq.
Colorado River Compact: A 1922 agreement among seven US states (Arizona,
California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) regarding the
allocation of the water rights from the Colorado River basin. Combined with several
federal laws, legal decisions, and agreements, the compact is part of the “law of
the river.”
Energy Policy Act of 2005: Legislation that established many policies to address
energy issues including a Renewable Fuel Standard, tax incentives for many types
of energy, and energy efficiency (Pub.L. 109–58) affects 42 USC. § 15801 et seq., §
13201 et seq, and 16 USC § 2601 et seq.
Farm Bill: Legislation passed approximately every 5 years on a wide range of
agricultural and food issues.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011: Legislation that impacted
the regulation of food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It shifted the
focus of regulatory efforts to the prevention of foodborne illness by addressing
multiple steps in the production and supply chain (Pub.L. 111–353) affecting 21
USC § 301 et seq.
Louisiana-Mississippi Tangipahoa River Waterway Compact: 1988 agreement between the states of Louisiana and Mississippi regarding the Tangipahoa River.
Mississippi River Interstate Pollution Phase-out Compact: Proposed interstate compact regarding the Mississippi River.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): 1970 legislation that established
the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the requirement all
federal agencies consider every significant aspect of the environmental impact of an
action before proceeding with it. This occurs through Environmental Impact
Statements. (Pub.L. 91–190) 42 USC § 4321 et seq.
National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES): Permitting system under the Clean Water Act for regulating point sources of pollution discharged
into “Waters of the USA.” 33 USC § 1342.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990: Legislation passed following the 1989 Exxon Valdez
oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It addressed many issues of liability and
responsibility for oil spills and required oil tankers to have double hulls. (Pub.L. 101–380)
33 USC § 2701.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Federal law directed at
the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. Existing law was significantly revised in
1974 (Pub.L. 93–523). The law has been amended at least seven times since 1974.
The Act is primarily implemented through the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and State Implementation Plans (SIPs). 42 USC § 6901 et seq.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Federal law directed at public drinking
water supplies. The law was developed in 1965 but was overhauled in 1976
Appendix B: Treaties, Declarations, and Laws