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Water Legislation. APES 2007. Important legislation. What is important?. Where do these laws come from? What do they really mean? Are they effective? Is it enough? If not, then what?. Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1972.
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Water Legislation APES 2007
What is important? • Where do these laws come from? • What do they really mean? • Are they effective? • Is it enough? • If not, then what?
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1972 • Established nationwide controls for each category of major polluting industries http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fwpca.html
Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act1972 • Regulates ocean dumping • Established sanctuaries for the protection of endangered marine species
Ports and Waterways Safety Act 1972 • Regulates oil transport • Regulates operation of oil handling facilities
Safe Drinking Water Act1974 • Requires minimum safety standards for every community water supply • Provides provisions to protect groundwater aquifers
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)1976 • Regulates the storage, shipping, processing, and disposal of hazardous wastes and sets limits on the sewering of toxic chemicals
Toxic Substances Control Act1976 • Categorizes toxic and hazardous substances • Establishes a research program • Regulates the disposal of poisonous chemicals
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1984 • Provides for the sealing, excavation, or remediation of toxic and hazardous dumps
Clean Water Act(amending 1972 act)1985 • Sets as a national goal the attainment of “swimmable and fishable” quality for all surface waters in the US.
BPT and BAT BPT Best Practicable control technology BAT Best available, economically achievable technology This applies to point sources that have obtained permits.
London Dumping Convention of 1990 • Calls for an end to all ocean dumping of industrial wastes, tank washing effluents, and plastic trash.
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement1972 • Canada and the US agreed to manage the Great Lakes together! (SEE HK PROJECT)
Limits of Legislation Laws are only as good as: • The degree to which they withstand revisions, amendments, exceptions • The funding they recieve