What are the federal environmental laws?

Federal environmental laws in Virginia are laws found in the United States Code that protect the environment and the public’s health and safety. These laws are managed and enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most important federal environmental laws in Virginia include the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Wilderness Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as Superfund). The Clean Air Act is a set of laws that regulate air pollution in the United States, including in Virginia. The act requires the EPA to establish national standards for emissions from automobiles, power plants, and other sources of air pollution. It also provides incentives for businesses to invest in new technologies that reduce air pollution. The Clean Water Act is designed to protect the quality of the country’s rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water from pollution. The act requires the EPA to establish water quality standards and to regulate polluting discharges into waterways. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is the primary federal law governing hazardous waste management. It requires hazardous waste generators to properly store, transport, treat, and dispose of hazardous waste. The Wilderness Act protects vast acres of land in United States by designating them as wilderness areas. In Virginia, the Wilderness Act has protected more than 700,000 acres of pristine lands. The Toxic Substances Control Act is the primary federal law governing the regulation and use of toxic chemicals. It requires manufacturers to test the safety of chemicals prior to their use and sets limits on their use and disposal. The Endangered Species Act is a landmark law that protects animals and plants on the brink of extinction. In Virginia, the Endangered Species Act has protected animals such as bald eagles and piping plovers. Finally, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as Superfund) is a law that requires the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. This law requires polluters to pay for the cleanup of contaminated sites, even if the company that polluted the site is no longer in business.

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