1980
The Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA) of 1980 established ATSDR as an agency for the Public
Health Service with mandates to 1) establish a National Exposure and Disease
Registry, 2) create an inventory of health information on hazardous substances,
3) create a listing of closed and restricted-access sites, 4) provide assistance
in hazardous substances emergencies, and 5) determine the relationship
between hazardous substances exposure and illness.
1984
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended
in 1984, mandated that ATSDR work with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to 1) identify new hazardous wastes to be regulated, 2) conduct health
assessments at RCRA sites at EPA’s request, and 3) consider petitions for
health assessments from the public or states.
1986
The Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986
broadened ATSDR’s responsibilities in the areas of health assessments,
establishment and maintenance of toxicologic databases, information dissemination,
and medical education.
1988
The Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 required ATSDR to prepare
a report on the health effects of medical waste and mandated that the report
be submitted to Congress by November 1, 1990.
1990
The Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990 required EPA,
in cooperation with ATSDR to report to Congress on the adverse health effects
of water pollutant on people, fish, shellfish, and wildlife.
1990
The Clean Air Act of 1990 designated ATSDR as one of the eight
members of a task force to coordinate research on methods to identify and
assess the risks to human health from exposure to air pollutants.
1992
The Housing and Community Development (Lead Abatement ) Act
of 1992 mandated that EPA, in conjunction with ATSDR and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development, sponsor public education and outreach
activities to increase public awareness of the scope and severity of lead
poisoning from household sources. |
