8.1.5. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 U. S. C. §§ 6901 et. seq.), also 
known as the Solid Waste Disposal Act, was enacted in 1976 and substantially changed the 
federal regulations for solid waste disposal and control of hazardous waste. 
8.1.6. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 U. 
S. C. §§ 9601 et. seq.), unofficially known as the Superfund Act, was enacted in 1980 and it 
established a federally-directed program to clean up the nation's most hazardous waste and 
chemical contamination sites. CERCLA enabled the federal government to respond to actual or 
threatened releases of hazardous substances and to recover damages for the destruction or 
harm to natural resources. The original Superfund legislation was disappointing because EPA, 
which was responsible for the administration of the Act, was only able to begin clean up of a 
few sites of the thousands identified nationwide. The Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986 amended CERCLA and expanded and toughened the cleanup authority 
of the federal government. 
8.1.7. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U. S. C. §§ 11001 et. seq.) was 
part of CERCLA and established emergency planning, reporting and notification requirements 
that were meant to protect the public in the event of a release of hazardous substances. 
8.1.8. The Endangered Species Act 
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 US §§ 1531 - 1543) was approved in 1973 and last 
amended by PL 100-707 in 1988. The purpose of this Act is to provide a program for the 
conservation of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals, and the habitats in 
which they are found. The Act provides the legislative authority to implement the treaties and 
conventions on endangered species to which the US is signatory. The endangered and threatened 
species found in Florida Bay are listed in Table 2. 
8.1.9. National Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
The National Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act was approved in 1972 and last 
amended in 1988 (Marine Sanctuaries §§ 1431 - 1445). The purposes and policies of this 
chapter of the Act are to identify marine areas of special significance, provide for their 
management, support research, enhance public awareness, and to promote all public and private 
uses of the marine environment to the extent that these issues are compatible with resource 
protection. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1990 under this Act 
and implemented in 1994. 
8.1.10. Marine Mammal Protection Act 
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was approved in 1972 and last amended in 1992 
(16 US §§ 1361 - 1384; §§ 1401 - 1407). The purpose of this Act is to protect, conserve, 
and encourage international research on marine mammals. 
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