Major Federal Environmental
Legislation: A Chronology
1960 Air Quality Act
1963 Clean Air Act
1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act
1965 Water Quality Act
1966 Clean Water Restoration Act
1967 Air Quality Act
1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
1970 Clean Air Act
1972 Consumer Product Safety Act
1972 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act
1972 Noise Control Act
1972 Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act
1972 Costal Zone Management Act
1973 Endangered Species Act
1974 Safe Drinking Water Act
1974 Strip Mining Act
1976 Toxic Substances Control Act
1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
1976 Solid Waste Disposal Act
1977 Clean Air Act Amendments
1977 Clean Water Act Amendments
1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act Superfund)
1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
1986 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
1987 Clean Water Act Reauthorization
1989 North American Wetlands Conservation Act
1990 Oil Pollution Act
1990 Pollution Prevention Act
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments
1992 Energy Policy Act
Source: Council on Environmental Quality, 1979, updated by the
author.