Laws and Treaties - Environmental Science - page 366

Taylor Grazing Act (1934): Established to protect public lands from overgrazing. This was later replaced by
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (1976): Establishes requirements for the reporting, recording, and
testing of chemical substances, as well as restrictions on these substances. This includes the production, im-
portation, use, and disposal of specific harmful chemical substances such as radon, lead-based products, asbes-
tos, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Some substances are not included under the TSCA, including pesti-
cides, food, drugs, and cosmetics, as they are regulated under specific laws.
Wilderness Act (1964): Established the National Wilderness Preservation System with the goal of preserving
federally owned land for present and future use. This law is administered by the Bureau of Land Management
and the U.S. Forest Service.
International Treaties
Agenda 21 (1992): A program run by the United Nations (UN) to help promote sustainable development by
offering action recommendations to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by UN organizations, govern-
ments, and major groups that impact the environment.
Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregu-
lated Fishing (2009): Attempts to prevent illegally caught fish from entering international markets. Permission
to dock is required for foreign vessels, regular inspections are conducted by participating countries, and a net-
work has been created for the sharing of information.
Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) (1961): Established to encourage cooperative research and exploration of the
Antarctic while also banning any military activity there. The sharing of research information is encouraged as
well as protecting the environment and marine organisms.
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Dispos-
al (1992): Controls the transport of hazardous waste between nations, and particularly the transfer of waste
from developed to less developed countries. It also focuses on management practices and the reduction of tox-
icity of waste through monitoring of storage, transfer, reuse, recycling, and disposal of hazardous waste.
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources ( CCAMLR) (1982): Established
to conserve marine life and ecosystems in and close to Antarctica. It does not ban fishing in the included wa-
ters, but supports sustainable harvesting. It is part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (1993): Created to protect and maintain biodiversity, including
the sustainable use of resources and the sharing of newly developed genetic resources.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (1963 and
1973): Bans the international transportation of animal products taken from endangered species. The treaty en-
sures that the international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It currently
provides protection to more than 33,000 species.
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution ( CLRTAP) (1979): Aims to limit and reduce air
pollution with the long-term goal of eliminating it completely. It also includes transboundary pollution that
travels extended distances. Strategies are developed to reduce air pollution through collaboration and the shar-
ing of information.