Let's look how people pressured local governments to make local industry think about the environment.
Let's look how people pressured local governments to make local industry think about the environment.
Embedded Files
Clean Water Act (1972)
Clean Water Act (1972)
People couldn’t swim in the lake and were worried about drinking the water as industry boomed in Northwest Indiana.
People couldn’t swim in the lake and were worried about drinking the water as industry boomed in Northwest Indiana.
The citizens of these communities:
The citizens of these communities:
Rallied (got together).
Rallied (got together).
Held demonstrations (protests).
Held demonstrations (protests).
Invited scientists to test the water.
Invited scientists to test the water.
Met with the government to demand regulations (rules).
Met with the government to demand regulations (rules).
Other places started demanding clean water too all around the country
Other places started demanding clean water too all around the country
The Cuyahoga River in Ohio would catch on fire due to pollution often.
A fish begs President Lyndon B. Johnson for help.
What did the Clean Water Act accomplish?
What did the Clean Water Act accomplish?
Rules
Rules
Regulates what people and industries can discharge into the surface water.
Regulates what people and industries can discharge into the surface water.
Factories used to be able to dump whatever they wanted into the rivers and lakes.
Factories used to be able to dump whatever they wanted into the rivers and lakes.
A permit is needed for dumping anything or else it is illegal.
A permit is needed for dumping anything or else it is illegal.
Quality Standards
Quality Standards
Water must meet quality standards.
Water must be tested everyday for things like chemicals, dangerous metals, and bacteria.
Water must meet quality standards.
Water must be tested everyday for things like chemicals, dangerous metals, and bacteria.
Funding
Funding
Created a source of money for sewage treatment plants.
Created a source of money for sewage treatment plants.
Sewage treatment plants are buildings that turn dirty water into safe water for drinking before pumping it back into the community.
Sewage treatment plants are buildings that turn dirty water into safe water for drinking before pumping it back into the community.
They were not done yet...This big start was continued by more regulations and rules being made!
They were not done yet...This big start was continued by more regulations and rules being made!
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1978)
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1978)
US and Canada signed to limit release of 29 toxic pollutants into the Great Lakes.
US and Canada signed to limit release of 29 toxic pollutants into the Great Lakes.
President Nixon and Canadian Prime Minister signing the agreement to fight Great Lakes pollution.
American and Canadian areas part of the Great Lakes watershed.
Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990
Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990
This act was directed at improving the quality of life for the animals of the Great Lakes.
This act was directed at improving the quality of life for the animals of the Great Lakes.
Looking closer at the health of the wildlife within the lakes.
Looking closer at the health of the wildlife within the lakes.
Removing invasive species like mussels and lampreys from the lake.
Removing invasive species like mussels and lampreys from the lake.
This act establish a fishery restoration program (safely hatch and introduce native fish for habitat restoration and sport).
This act establish a fishery restoration program (safely hatch and introduce native fish for habitat restoration and sport).
Addressing Air Pollution
Addressing Air Pollution
A human breathes more than 3,000 gallons of air a day!
A human breathes more than 3,000 gallons of air a day!
The man on the left is standing next to a 3,000 gallon tank.
The man on the left is standing next to a 3,000 gallon tank.
What does it mean for us when the air is dirty and polluted?
What does it mean for us when the air is dirty and polluted?
Breathing issues like asthma are common in areas with a lot of pollution.
Breathing issues like asthma are common in areas with a lot of pollution.
The graph shows in the 1970s, the people of Indiana noticed many more people started to develop breathing issues.
The graph shows in the 1970s, the people of Indiana noticed many more people started to develop breathing issues.
Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act
People again demanded change as breathing issues were on the rise.
People again demanded change as breathing issues were on the rise.
A lot of people began to develop asthma.
A lot of people began to develop asthma.
Passed in 1970 to create a system to regulate National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or a set of limits for pollutants in our air.
Passed in 1970 to create a system to regulate National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or a set of limits for pollutants in our air.
In the 1990s, the Clean Air Act was updated
In the 1990s, the Clean Air Act was updated
Updated to cover new threats like:
Updated to cover new threats like:
- Acid rain
- Urban air pollution
- Toxic air emissions
- Stratospheric ozone depletion
These threats were always present, but the more science improves, the quicker we can discover the issues.
These threats were always present, but the more science improves, the quicker we can discover the issues.
You can check the quality of the air in your town using the web.
You can check the quality of the air in your town using the web.
Map tracking ozone depletion from 1979-2011. Blue and purple means there is less protective ozone in the air.
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