Embedded Files
"The Santa Barbara event was a catalyst. There was a period of time, the ’70s, when there was an explosion of environmental law at all levels of government."
Marc McGinnes Environmental attorney; co-founder, Santa Barbara Citizens for Environmental Defense, as told to Pacific Standard magazine
President Richard Nixon and the first lady, “Pat” Nixon, plant a tree on the White House South Lawn to celebrate the first Earth Day
A rally in New York on first day of Earth Day
In Denver, Colorado, people bike to work while sporting Earth Day signs
The Santa Barbara Oil Spill captured the country's attention, including Senator Gaylord Nelson, creator of Earth Day. Denis Hayes, the coordinator of the first Earth Day, recalls to Pacific Standard Magazine that "Senator Gaylord Nelson was flying from Los Angeles up to Seattle for a meeting while the spill was going on. He was horrified by the extent of it from the plane window. So Santa Barbara played a key role in prompting him to develop the idea for Earth Day." Inspired by protests of the war in Vietnam, a student protest movement, and the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, he believed creating a day to discuss environmental issues would lead to it becoming a national agenda. He chose April 22, 1970, for the first day between college spring break to maximize student participation and involvement. Millions of Americans participated in various demonstrations showing support for protecting the environment and contributing to the conservation by focusing on environmental issues.
Major Environmental Policies Were Passed After the Oil Spill
Major Environmental Policies Were Passed After the Oil Spill
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), passed in 1969, effective January 1, 1970
California Environmental Quality Act, passed in 1970
Environmental Protection Agency, established December 2, 1970
Clean Water Act, amended October 18, 1972
California Coastal Commission, established in 1972 by voter initiative (via Proposition 20)
Clean Air Act, amended in 1970 (and 1990)
Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund), passed 1980
Image credits:
Left: Wikipedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nixons_plant_a_tree_C6311-11a.jpg
Right Top: Source Environmental Action Coalition
Right Left: Photographed by Bill Peters
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