Timeline, 1980s


1980 EPA supervises Three Mile Island cleanup EPA and New York relocate Love Canal residents EPA presses for passage of Superfund Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) passed				Three Mile Island - April 11, 1979 (Source: NARA) larger photo (51KB)

Valley of the Drums Superfund site larger photo (79KB)				1981 Superfund pays for Valley of the Drums cleanup Anne Gorsuch appointed Agency Administrator EPA authorizes first state hazardous waste programs EPA identifies first 114 top priority Superfund sites

1982 EPA announces National Contingency Plan for Superfund cleanups Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act passed Superfund pays for Love Canal cleanup				Anne Gorsuch and Christopher DeMuth announce the National Contingency Plan - March, 1982 larger photo (56KB)

President Reagan at William Ruckelshaus's swear-in - May 18, 1983 larger photo (56KB)				1983 William Ruckelshaus reappointed Agency Administrator EPA relocates Times Beach residents EPA orders DDT cleanup in Triana, AL EPA starts "Fishbowl Policy" EPA bans EDB

1984 EPA supports Chesapeake cleanup EPA and DOD sign Chesapeake Agreement Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 passed				William Ruckelshaus addresses Chesapeake Bay Commission - Dec. 1983 larger photo (76KB)

Love Canal residents discuss revitalizing their neighborhood with Lee Thomas - Sept. 1985 (Source: Niagara Gazette) larger photo (56KB)				1985 Lee Thomas appointed Agency Administrator EPA responds to Bhopal disaster EPA sets new limits on lead in gasoline EPA expands air toxics program EPA approves first use of gene-altered bacteria

1986 EPA responds to Chernobyl disaster U.S. and Canada cut toxics to Niagara River Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 passed EPA commits to wetlands protection Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act passed Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act passed				Following the Chernobyl disaster, Vicki Lloyd tests dairy milk for byproducts of nuclear fallout at EPA radiation lab, Montgomery, AL - 1986 larger photo (81KB)

Contaminated furniture from Times Beach dumped in pits larger photo (79KB)				1987 EPA researches dioxin contamination EPA mandates sanctions for states not meeting air standards Hazardous chemical reporting rule passed EPA authorizes thermal destruction of dioxin at Love Canal

1988 EPA sets standards for underground storage tanks Montreal Protocol ratified EPA approves incineration of dioxin at Times Beach Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Amendments of 1988 passed Indoor Radon Abatement Act passed Ocean Dumping Ban Act passed				Rows of underground storage tanks awaiting proper disposal larger photo (62KB)

President Bush, Russell Train, Senator John Chafee and the Reilly family at William Reilly's swear-in - Feb. 8, 1989 larger photo (60KB)				1989 William Reilly appointed Agency Administrator EPA tracks medical waste EPA and DOT respond to Exxon Valdez oil spill EPA publishes first Toxic Release Inventory Daminozide (Alar) banned for food uses

1970s

1980s

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2000s

Timeline, 1980s

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

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