4 January 2017 Currents
> continued from page 3 written by Maine Sen . Edmund Muskie and signed into law by President Nixon on Dec . 31 , 1970 , was arguably the most significant air pollution control bill in American history . It required the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency to create and enforce regulations to protect people from airborne pollution known to be hazardous to our health - specifically targeting sulfur dioxide , nitrogen dioxide , particulate matter , carbon monoxide , ozone and lead .
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
The Safe Drinking Water Act - which was proposed by Nixon and passed by Congress in 1974 but actually signed by President Gerald Ford - was a turning point in the effort to protect the nation ' s lakes , streams , rivers , wetlands and other bodies of water . The law requires actions to protect drinking water and its sources , including reservoirs , springs and groundwater wells .
Endangered Species Act of 1973
President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act on Dec . 28 , 1973 . It was created to protect species in danger of extinction as a result of human activity . President Nixon asked Congress to strengthen existing conservation laws , and they responded by writing a law that grants government agencies broad powers to save and protect species slipping down the slope to extinction by creating the Endangered Species List .
It now appears that most , if not all of work by these predecessors , will be undone by the current Republican President aided by the current Republican States governments . continued on page 5 >