Environment & Society
APES Review Sheets
Based on Miller's 11th Edition of Living in the Environment from Ben Smith, Palo Verdes High School
Conserva
-"Controlled Use", "Scientific Management" of natural resources. "Greatest good for the greatest number of people.
tion
Preservati
-Remaining wilderness areas on public lands should be left untouched
on
Restorati -To bring back to former condition (Former Natural State/.Condition), active restoration seeks to reestablish a diverse, dynamic
on community at sited that have been degraded.
Remediat
-Most often used with cleanup of chemical contaminants in a polluted area.
ion
Mitigatio -Repairing/Rehabilitating a damaged ecosystem or compensation for damage, Most often by providing a substitute or
n replacement area; frequently involves wetland ecosystems.
Reclamati -Typically used to describe chemical or physical manipulations carried out in severely degraded sites, such as open-pit mines or
on large-scale construction
Environmental Legislation/Agreements
Name Abbr. Description
Protects species that are considered to be threatened or endangered. Includes migratory birds
Endangered Species Act ESA and their habitats.
The Act originally publicizes radiation protection standards for the Yucca Mountain
Energy Policy Act EPA repository.
Authorizes the president to draw from the petroleum reserve as well as established a
Energy Policy and Conservation EPCA permanent home-heating oil reserve in the Northeast. Clarifies when the president can draw
Act from these resources.
Federal Food, Drug, and Assures the safety, wholesomeness, efficacy, and truthful packaging and labeling of food,
FDA
Cosmetic Act drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide Requires that all pesticides are registered and approved by the FDA and creates a pesticide
FIFRA
and Rodenticide Act registry.
Authorized the surgeon general of the Public Health Service, with others, to prepare
Federal Water Pollution Control FWPCA comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and
Act tributaries and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters.
Set pesticide limits in food, & all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for
Food Quality Protection Act FQPA estrogenic/endocrine effects
The bill provides that the secretary of the interior will establish a royalty rate of from 2% to
Hardrock Mining and HMA 5% of the value of locatable mineral production from any new mines on federal mineral
Reclamation lands.
Hazardous Material HAZMA
Governs the transportation of hazardous materials and wastes.
Transportation Act T
International Environmental Authorized the president to assist countries in protecting and maintaining wildlife habitat and
IEPA
Protection Act provides an active role in conservation by the Agency for International Development.
Kyoto Protocol KP Agreement among 150 nations requiring greenhouse gas emission reduction.
A conservation law prohibiting the transportation of illegally captured or prohibited animals
across state lines. It was the first federal law protecting wildlife, and is still in effect, though it
Lacey Act LA has been revised several times. Today the law is primarily used to prevent the importation or
spread of potentially dangerous non-native species.
International agreement that sets rules for the use of the world's oceans, which cover 70
Law of the Sea Convention LOSC percent of the Earth's surface.
Low Level Radioactive Policy
LLRPA All states must have facilities to handle low level radioactive wastes
Act
Madrid Protocol Moratorium on mineral exploration for 50 years in Antarctica
Marine Plastic Pollution Research MPPRC
Regulates the dumping of wastes into oceans and coastal waters
and Control Act A
Requires purchase of a stamp by waterfowl hunters. Revenue generated is used to acquire
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp MBHSA wetlands. Since its inception, the program has resulted in the protection of approximately 4.5
Act million acres (18,000 km²) of waterfowl habitat.
United States federal law that authorizes and governs prospecting and mining for economic
Mining Act of 1872 MA minerals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, on federal public lands.
Montreal Protocol MP Banned the production of aerosols and initiated the phase out of all CFC's.
National Appliance Energy Act NAEA Set minimum efficiency standards for numerous categories of appliances.
Authorized the Council on Environmental Quality as the oversight board for general
National Environmental Policy conditions; directs federal agencies to take environmental consequences into account in
NEPA
Act decision making; requires EIP statement be prepared for every major federal project having
environmental impact.
National Park Act NPA Created Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks.
Promotes a national environment free from noise that jeopardizes health and welfare.
Noise Control Act NCA Establishes research, noise standards, and information dissemination.
Established a site to identify for, and construct, an underground repository for spent nuclear
Nuclear Waste Policy Act NWPA reactor fuel and high-level radioactive waste from federal defense programs.
Created to protect worker and health. Its main aim was to ensure that employers provide their
Occupational Safety and Health workers with an environment free from dangers to their safety and health, such as exposure to
OSHA
Act toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary
conditions.
Makes it unlawful for any person to dump or transport for the purpose of dumping sewage,
Ocean Dumping Act ODA sludge, or industrial waste into ocean waters.
It states "A company cannot ship oil into the United States until it presents a plan to prevent
Oil Pollution Act OPA spills that may occur. It must also have a detailed containment and cleanup plan in case of an
oil spill emergency."
Pollution Prevention Act PPA Requires facilities to reduce pollution at its source. Reduction can be in volume or toxicity.
Provides for the coordination of federal research and activities in noise control. Authorized
Quiet Communities Act QCA FAA funds for development of noise abatement plans around airports.
Resource Conservation and Management of non-hazardous and hazardous solid waste including landfills and storage
RCRA
Recovery Act tanks. Set minimal standards for all waste disposal facilities and for hazardous wastes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allowed to set the standards for drinking
Safe Drinking Water Act SDWA water quality and oversees all of the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement
these standards
Provides for a continuing appraisal of US soil, water, and related resources, including fish
Soil and Water Conservation Act SWCA and wildlife habitats, and a soil and water conservation program to assist landowners.
Established the soil conservation service, which deals with soil erosion problems, carries out
Soil Conservation Act SCA soil surveys, and does research on soil salinity.
To find better and more efficient ways to dispose of solid waste; promotes shredding and
Solid Waste Disposal Act SWDA separation of waste and burning of remaining materials to produce stream or generate
electricity; promotes recycling.
United Nations Conference on Human Environment having considered the need for a
Stockholm Declaration SD common outlook and principles to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the
preservation and enhancement of the human environment.
Surface Mining Control and
SMCRA Requires restoration of abandoned mines.
Reclamation Act
A United States federal law that regulates grazing on federal public land. The Secretary of the
Interior has the authority to handle all of the regulations, and he became responsible for
Taylor Grazing Act TGA establishing grazing districts. Before these districts are created there must be a hearing held
by the state.
EPA is given the ability to track the 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or
imported into the United States. EPA repeatedly screens these chemicals and can require
Toxic Substances Control Act TSCA reporting or testing of those that may pose an environmental or human-health hazard. EPA
can ban the manufacture and import of those chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk.
Water Resources Planning Act WRPA Provides for a plan to formulate and evaluate water and related land resources.
Selected rivers in the United States are preserved for possessing outstandingly, remarkable
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act WSRA scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values.
Wilderness Act WA Allowed congress to set aside federally owned land for preservation.
