Environmental Engineering

Front 1

Signed Jan 1, 1970
Before undertaking a major project by a federal agency, requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which is still a law today
Smaller projects only require an Environmental Assessment (EA)

Back 1

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Hint 1

1969

Front 2

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Back 2

Single, independent agency from a number of smaller departments of different federal agencies
Has 10 regions, TN is in region 4, Headquarters in Atlanta

Hint 2

1970 (Pres. Nixon)

Front 3

o The first comprehensive federal program designed to reduce pollutant discharges into nature’s waterways, with a zero discharge goal
o Make bodies of water safe for swimming, fishing, and recreation (swimmable/fishable)
o Established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program
o Requires any point source of pollution to obtain a permit
 Permits set limits or require installation of specific pollutant treatment
 Permit holders must monitor discharges, collect data, and keep records of the pollutant levels of their own

Back 3

Clean Water Act

Hint 3

1972

Front 4

o Directs EPA to develop drinking water regulations to protect public health
 Recommended maximum contaminant levels (RMCLs) for chemicals
 No adverse health impacts with a margin of safety
 Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) as close to RMCL’s as feasible

Back 4

Safe Drinking Water Act

Hint 4

1974

Front 5

o Established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for maximum concentrations in ambient air of CO, Pb, NO2, O3, particle matter, and SO2

Back 5

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Hint 5

1970

Front 6

Cradle to Grave” record keeping
o Must keep track of hazardous waste
 Generated, where the waste was sent for treatment, storage, or disposal, and file this data in biennial reports to the EPA.
 Transporters and disposal facilities must also do the same

Back 6

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Hint 6

1976

Front 7

o CERCLA began a identifying and cleaning up hazardous waste sites
o National Priority List (NPL) – list of most hazardous sites of contamination
o Amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) in 1986 (money to clean up waste sites when found)

Back 7

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) – Background

Hint 7

1980

Front 8

o States must have local emergency units with a plan to respond to chemical release emergencies
o Required by the EPA to inventory of toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and soil

Back 8

Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)

Hint 8

1986