Timeline, 1970s


1970 President Nixon forms EPA EPA opens December 2, 1970 William Ruckelshaus appointed Agency Administrator Clean Air Act passed				President Nixon and Warren Burger at William Ruckelshaus's swear-in - Dec. 4, 1970 (Source: NARA) larger photo (75KB)

William Ruckelshaus tours Four Corners Air Quality Region by EPA airplane - 1971 larger photo (59KB)				1971 EPA sets Four Corners Air Quality boundaries EPA sets National Air Quality Standards EPA approves first state clean air plans EPA defines air pollution danger levels

1972 Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act passed EPA uses aircraft to study quality of lakes U.S. and U.S.S.R. sign environmental cooperation treaty Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 passed Ocean Dumping Act passed EPA bans DDT				Sulfur-dusting of grape vines - May 1972 (Source: NARA) larger photo (46KB)

Elliot Richardson and Aileen Train at Russell Train's swear-in - Sept. 1973 larger photo (74KB)				1973 Russell Train appointed Agency Administrator EPA issues first wastewater permits EPA sets auto maintenance regulations EPA sets transportation controls in major urban areas EPA starts lead gas phaseout

1974 EPA and General Mills initiate environmental education project EPA responds to Energy Crisis EPA identifies noise levels affecting health and welfare EPA demonstrates pollution control benefits EPA issues "significant deterioration" regulations Safe Drinking Water Act passed				Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Russell Train kick off environmental education campaign - Jan. 1974 larger photo (81KB)

EPA investigators discover stash of improperly removed catalytic converters while inspecting a muffler repair shop - June 1984 larger photo (92KB)				1975 EPA requires working catalysts on imported cars EPA proposes quieting jets U.N. designates EPA International Data Center Federal Government cuts aid to polluters EPA bans manufacture of Heptachlor & Chlordane U.S. and U.S.S.R. environmentalists review joint research

1976 Radiation monitoring van tours U.S. cities EPA provides environmental jobs for welfare recipients Toxic Substances Control Act passed Resource Conservation and Recovery Act passed				John Nelson attaches a microwave antenna to EPA's radiation analysis van - 1975 larger photo (87KB)

Douglas Costle - 1977 larger photo (78KB)				1977 Douglas Costle appointed Agency Administrator EPA sets safe drinking water standards EPA promotes scrubbers for coal-fired power plants Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 passed Clean Water Act of 1977 passed

1978 EPA and DOT combat transportation pollution EPA sets new air standard for lead EPA bans aerosol fluorocarbons Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement passed				Hollywood freeway traffic - May 1972 (Source: NARA) larger photo (87KB)

EPA's survey ship, The Antelope, open to the public in Washington, DC - July 1979 larger photo (72KB)				1979 EPA survey ship opens to public EPA bans PCB manufacture EPA starts Hazardous Waste Enforcement/Emergency Response System EPA issues Bubble Policy U.S. sues for Love Canal cleanup

1970s

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Timeline, 1970s

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1979

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