Earth Day Facts
by Cecilia Gonzalez, posted on 2009-05-07 23:35:09
Earth Day is upon us. On April 22 of every year, the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) utilizes the enormity of the message of that day to emphasize the importance of protecting our planet. I have always known about Earth Day and what it represents, but as I read through the www.earthday.gov website, I found the timeline of the agency and found it absolutely fascinating. I really wanted to share my new found knowledge with all of you.
The following are the highlights I found the most interesting. To view the entire timeline, visit www.earthday.gov.
- 1970 - Twenty million people celebrate the first Earth Day.
- 1971 - Congress restricts use of lead-based paint in residences and on cribs and toys (Que bueno, I think I was spared).
- 1972 - The United States and Canada agree to clean up the Great Lakes, which contain 95 percent of America’s fresh water and supply drinking water for 25 million people. Congress passes the Clean Water Act, limiting raw sewage and other pollutants flowing into rivers, lakes, and streams (Was this when “only rain in the drain” was born?).
- 1973 - EPA begins phasing out leaded gasoline.
- 1974 - Congress passes the Safe Drinking Water Act, allowing EPA to regulate the quality of public drinking water (Funny thing is people didn’t even use bottled water back then, yucky!)
- 1985 - Scientists report that a giant hole in the earth’s ozone layer opens each spring over Antarctica.
- 1986 - Congress declares the public has a right to know when toxic chemicals are released into air, land, and water (Yeah, you think?!).
- 1988 - Congress bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste.
- 1991 - Federal agencies begin using recycled content products.
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