Environmental & Natural Resources Law
Major Federal Statutes
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4312-70.
- Establishes federal environmental policy
- Requires all federal agencies to prepare environmental impact statements (EIS) for any proposed action (§ 102(c)).
- NEPA website
- Public law
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.
- Directs EPA to set national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)
- Requires states to submit state implementation plans (SIP) to EPA as to meeting NAAQS
- CAA website
- Public law
- Plain English guide
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
- Establishes structure for regulating water pollutants
- CWA website
- Public law
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (1980), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.
- Known as "Superfund"
- Establishes regulation of hazardous waste sites
- CERCLA website
- Public law
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (1986), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.
- Amended CERCLA to emphasize permanent solutions to hazardous waste.
- Directed EPA to revise the Hazard Ranking System which is used in determining which sites are placed on the National Priority List
- SARA summary
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (1973), 7 U.S.C. § 136, 16 U.S.C.§§ 1531 et seq.
- Protects and recovers imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend
- ESA website
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (1976), 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901-6992k
- Governs transport, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes and toxic substances
- Amended by Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984
- RCRA summary
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (1976), 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.
- Allows the EPA to track indsutrial chemicals produced or imported into the US
- TSCA summary
- TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory