Timeline of Key Events
This timeline portrays the most pivotal moments throughout the Modern Environmental Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. There were many key events, mostly including the creation of new legislation that were pivotal moments over the course of the Environmental Movement. In addition to an abundance of new legislation being passed throughout this movement, many protest efforts were made made including marches, speeches, demonstrations, and vigilante activities. _ As a time of drastic change and consciousness that re-focused American attention on the problems surrounding and affecting the environment, the 1960's and 1970's were a turbulent time of uncertainty and concern for where the environment and its resources were headed. It is evident that through legislation and political movements following the publishing of Silent Spring, that the environment became much more of a priority in the lives of American citizens and those around the globe. Although this timeline focuses on several examples of change that occurred in the United States, in reality the movement expanded past domestic issues and focused on international environmental problems as well.
One of the key organizations that was established in 1970 was the Environmental Protection Agency. This organization was crucial in ensuring the people's cooperation of the federal regulations and legislation that had been passed in order to work towards protecting the environment and also the well-being and healthy of humanity._ Although its primary purpose was to enforce standards and regulations set by the federal government, the EPA worked and continues to work for a healthier and cleaner environment.
Elaboration of Timeline Events:
- 1960- true beginnings of the Modern Environmental Movement, it was observed that the levels of carbon dioxide in the air worldwide had expanded to over 400 parts per million (the usual range for outdoor levels is 300 ppm-400ppm_)
- 1962- Rachel Carson's Silent Spring was published, ultimately leading to the great expansion of the movement as we know it today
- 1963- Clean Air Act was passed- demonstrating the increased focus and importance of cleaning up air and water sources, Quite Crisis written by Steward Udall helped bring more attention to the growing human threat to the wilderness to our natural inheritance and culture_
- 1969- Santa Barbara oil spill - oil well spill of over 200,000 gallons of oil in the Pacific Ocean lasting for 11 days - led to a reform of the energy industry after the severe pollution of the California coastline. _This event signified the need for immediate change and reformation of human behavior and activities. In addition, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught on fire due to the high amounts of pollution that it containted.
- 1972- Finally, DDT, the controversial chemical that Rachel Carson discussed in Silent Spring, was banned from usage in the United States after much discussion and disagreement. William D. Ruckelshaus, the Administrator of the EPA at the time stated that "the continued massive use of DDT posed unacceptable risks to the environment and potential harm to human health." _
- 1976- Toxic Substances Control Act: EPA control over the chemical substances used in the United States
- 1978- Energy Tax Act: incentive for the American people to take advantage of renewable energy and fuel efficiency (tax credits to those willing to do this)_
Results of Legislation & Action
Some of the most pressing problems that existed before and during the movement included issues surrounding: "global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, biodiversity, marine mammals, and rain forests." _ Other major concerns of the movement were the quality of both air and water.
Certain regulations eventually resulted in both cleaner water and air and it was even recorded that "emissions of six major pollutants were down by 31%" and "releases of toxic materials into the environment had declined 42% since 1988." _ It was very important that action be taken to improve the quality of air, considering that sulfur dioxide emissions had led to illness and even death of people in the United States just before the Environmental Movement began, and this problem eventually resulted in the first conference on air pollution in the United States. _Regarding improvement of the quality of water, bodies of water that were once dangerously polluted, had become safer and open to swimming and fishing in areas where they had once been closed off due to their uncleanly state. _ The substantial addition of new pieces of legislation throughout the movement, that can be observed on the timeline above, was heavily influenced by Rachel Carson's efforts to protect the environment. For example, President Nixon established the National Environmental Policy Act which required an Environmental Impact Statement for federal actions that would have a significant impact of the condition of the environment. _ Overall, people became much more environmentally conscious and supportive of sustainable living as a result of legislation and environmental action.
Certain regulations eventually resulted in both cleaner water and air and it was even recorded that "emissions of six major pollutants were down by 31%" and "releases of toxic materials into the environment had declined 42% since 1988." _ It was very important that action be taken to improve the quality of air, considering that sulfur dioxide emissions had led to illness and even death of people in the United States just before the Environmental Movement began, and this problem eventually resulted in the first conference on air pollution in the United States. _Regarding improvement of the quality of water, bodies of water that were once dangerously polluted, had become safer and open to swimming and fishing in areas where they had once been closed off due to their uncleanly state. _ The substantial addition of new pieces of legislation throughout the movement, that can be observed on the timeline above, was heavily influenced by Rachel Carson's efforts to protect the environment. For example, President Nixon established the National Environmental Policy Act which required an Environmental Impact Statement for federal actions that would have a significant impact of the condition of the environment. _ Overall, people became much more environmentally conscious and supportive of sustainable living as a result of legislation and environmental action.
