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Laws & Regulations: United States

International

21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act
15 U.S.C. § 7510
This act establishes the goals and guidelines of federal nanotechnology research and development. It specifically requires focus on the NELSI issues.
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Clean Air Act
42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq.
The Clean Air Act is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. This Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. The goal of the Act was to set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975. The setting of maximum pollutant standards was coupled with directing the states to develop state implementation plans (SIPs) applicable to appropriate industrial sources within the state. The Act was amended in 1977 primarily to set new goals (dates) for attaining NAAQS, as many areas of the country had failed to meet the deadlines. The 1990 amendments to the Act in large part were intended to meet unaddressed or insufficiently addressed problems, such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion, and air toxics.
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Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act
42 U.S.C. § 11001, et seq.
Also known as Title III of SARA, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) was enacted by Congress as the national legislation on community safety. This Act was designated to help local communities protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards. To implement EPCRA, Congress required each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The SERCs were required to divide their states into Emergency Planning Districts and to name a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for each district. Broad representation by fire fighters, health officials, government and media representatives, community groups, industrial facilities, and emergency managers ensures that all necessary elements of the planning process are represented.
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Occupational Safety and Health Act
29 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.
Congress passed the Occupational and Safety Health Act (OSHA) to ensure worker and workplace safety. The purpose of the Act was to make sure employers provide their workers with a place of employment free from recognized safety and health hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.
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Resources Conservation and Recovery Act
42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.
The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to control hazardous wastes from "cradle to grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes. RCRA also sets forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous wastes.
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Toxic Substances Control Act
15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 was enacted by Congress to give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the ability to track the industrial chemicals in produced or imported into the United States. The EPA screens such chemicals and can require reporting or testing of those that may pose an environmental or human-health hazard. In addition, the EPA can ban the manufacture and import of those chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk.
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