What are the federal environmental laws?
Environmental laws are laws that aim to protect and conserve the environment. In the United States, federal environmental laws are created and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the environment and human health. The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the most prominent of the federal environmental laws and was created to reduce air pollution and its effects on the environment and human health. The CAA addresses the emissions of hazardous air pollutants, sets standards for vehicle emissions, and promotes the use of renewable energy resources. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was created to protect the quality of surface and ground water to ensure there is an abundant supply of clean water for humans, animals, and plants. The CWA also sets standards to minimize the amount of pollutants entering waterways and sets limits on the amount of pollutants that industrial and municipal facilities can release into water bodies. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was created to protect the environment and public health from hazardous waste and to ensure the safe storage and disposal of waste. The RCRA prohibits the disposal of hazardous waste in landfills and sets standards for hazardous waste management. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was created to protect the drinking water supply from contamination by setting standards for public water systems and protecting underground sources of drinking water. The SDWA also sets standards for water testing and monitoring and provides funding for states to enforce the standards. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) was created to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and to prevent future releases of hazardous substances. The CERCLA sets deadlines for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and requires those responsible for the contamination to pay for the cleanup. These are just some of the federal environmental laws that protect and conserve the environment in California and throughout the United States.
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