4.4 Protecting Resources : Notes

Keeping Water Clean and Safe

• Starting in the 1970's the governement passed several laws to prevent or decrese pollution protect resources.
• In 1972 the U.S. Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA).
• The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 help protect drinking sources.

Protecting the Air

• In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, the nation's most important air pollutiion law.
• It established National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six criteria pollutants known to cause health problems-carbon monoxide, ozone, Lead, Sulfur dixodie, Nirtrogen oxides, and particulates (fine particles).
• Todays power plants and motor vehicles use pollution control devices to reduce or elimate certain byproducts of fossil fuel combustion.

Caring For Land Resources

• Protecting Land Resourcses involves preventing pollution and managing land resources wisely.
• Farmers, loggers, manufacturers, and individuals can all take steps to care for land rosourecs
• Not always planting and letting the land rest for while.