Environmental Law History Timeline

Congress passed the first Clean Air Act, which regulated regulated air pollution and emissions.

1980

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act was established. The Act gave the EPA power to prosecute polluters.

1988

NASA warned Congress of the effects of global warming.

1980

Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act , designating over 100 million acres of park, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas throughout the state.

1989

The Exxon Valdez oil spill dumped 11 million gallons of oil , devastating Prince William sound off the coast of Alaska.

1990

The Oil Pollution Act streamlined the EPA's ability to prevent and clean up catastrophic oil spills.

1974

Congress passed the safe Drinking Water Act to be administered by the EPA, protecting Americans from contaminated drinking water.

1997

Julia Butterfly Hill lived for 735 days in the top of a 180-feet tall California Coast Redwood tree and successfully blocked its destruction.

1973

Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect what are now known as Endangered Species from extinction.

1998

David Chain was killed by a tree cut down by foresters while protesting in a forest to protect the destruction of old-growth redwood tress.

1970

The Environmental Protection Agency was established to "create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony

2005

Kyoto Protocol implemented as countries around the world pledged to reduce the emission of gasses that contribute to global warming.

1970

The first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million people across the country. Today Earth Day is celebrated across the world.

2006

1969

The National Environmental Policy Act was one of the first laws to establish the broad national framework for protecting the environment.

The EPA Issued New Air Quality Standards to control daily "small" or "fine" particulate matter. Particulate matter comes from car exhaust, smokestacks, and coal-fired power plants.

1965

President Johnson signed the Water Quality Act to strengthen federal water pollution laws and outline quality guidelines for states.

1964

Congress passed the Wilderness Act. By 2001, there were 90 million acres of preserved wilderness in the U.S.

2008

Great Lakes Compact signed by all eight Great Lakes states in an attempt to prevent distribution and sale of water to nonregions.

1963

1959

The Antarctic Treaty protected Antarctica from the dumping of nuclear waste. to date, 46 countries have signed the treaty.

1940

Congress passed the Bald Eagle Act to prevent the extinction of the national symbol.

1937

Environmental Law History Timeline

The first ethanol plant was opened in Atchison, KS. The biofuel was sold throughout the Midwest.

1926

Salt Lake City was the first U.S. city to conduct a large scale survey of air pollution.

1916

Congress established the National Park Service. There are approximately 400 national parks that cover 84.6 billion acres of land.

1872

Congress passed the Yellowstone Act. Yellowstone becomes the first national park.

BY: Matt Yanes

1681

William Penn orders one tree saved for every five cut down.