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 >