The 70's
The Environment
America was Environmentally Ignorant Leading Up to the 70's.
Earth Day
No matter what views people had politically and economically, they came together in support of this massive, philanthropic event. This day also led to the passing of several Acts that supported its cause. Below is a picture of a poster from Earth Day of 1970. The picture after is of one of the above mentioned teach-ins on Earth Day, 1970.
Environmental Acts Passed in the 70's
- National Environmental Policy Act(1970)- All federal agencies are required to give statements about projects with any major environmental consequences.
- Clean Air Act(1970)- Allowed for federal and state laws that limit emissions from factories and cars.
- Wild and Free Ranging Horse and Burro Protection Act(1971)- Wild, free-roaming horses and burros are to be protected from harassment, capture, branding, and death.
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act(1972)- Protects nation's bodies of water form pollution.
- Coastal Zone Management Act(1972)- Encourages states to protect and restore coastal zones, including coral reefs, barrier islands, dunes, beaches, estuaries, wetlands, and floodplains.
- Marine Mammal Protection Act(1972)- Prohibits the capture of marine mammals, with some exceptions, in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens. Also forbids the importation of marine mammals and their products into the U.S.
- Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act(1972)- Regulates dumping of waste in US waters
- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act(1972)- No pesticides developed after 1972 have any unreasonably harmful results on public health and the environment.
- Endangered Species Act(1973)- Protects endangered species from unauthorized possession, sale, transport, and killing.
- Safe Drinking Water Act(1974)- Regulates the nation's drinking water supply.
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(1976)- Regulates garbage and hazardous waste
- Whale Conservation and Protective Study Act(1976)- Requires the protection of whales as an endangered species.
- Toxic Substances Control Act(1976)- Requires testing of chemicals for health and environmental effects before manufacture and sale.
- Soil and Water Conservation Act(1977)- Allows for the conservation enhancement of soil, water, and other natural resources.
- Energy Tax Act(1978)- Provides tax incentives to those who substitute oil and gas for alternative energy sources.
1973 Energy Crisis
1979 Oil Spill: The Burmah Aagate
Works Cited
"70's." 70's. Middlebury College, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"1973-74 Oil Crisis." Slaying the Dragon of Debt. The Regents of the University of California, 2011. Web. 27 May 2013.
"BLM National Wild Horse and Burro Program - Legislative History." BLM National Wild Horse and Burro Program - Legislative History. Bureau of Land Management, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Burmah Agate.” IncidentNews: Burmah Agate. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce, 01 Nov. 1979. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 27 June 2012. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."Endangered Species Act of 1973. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
DiTommaso, Gina. "Key Environmental Issues in 1970." Key Environmental Issues in 1970. Global Footprint Network, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Environmental History Timeline: 1970-1980." Environmental History Timeline: 1970-1980. Radford University, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Earth Day: The History of A Movement." Earth Day Network. Earth Day Network, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"History of the Clean Air Act" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 17 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)." NOAA Fisheries. National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration, 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Natural Resources Conservation Service." Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"Social Studies and History Teacher's Blog." Social Studies and History Teachers Blog. N.p., 27 Apr. 2009. Web. 27 May 2013.