History was sooooo boring in school. But knowing the history of your industry can help you make good decisions for your future. If you track the innovations, the company splits, the periods of innovation, etc. on a timeline, you will be able to see how your industry splits into niches, how certain kinds of innovations change the industry permanently.
And the result is that you won't get stuck manufacturing buggy whips when the world moves on to vehicles!
Timeline software is available for some computers in "information graphics" packages. But a simple timeline can be created in a document. You can use a table in a word processor, a spreadsheet, or even a blog entry that employs tabs or paragraphs or tables. As you discover more elements in the history of your niche, you can insert those dates and tags. You can even link summaries to longer explanations that delve into key metrics, key players and key terms that can also be added to your career glossary.
For example:
Environmental Industry TimelineEntries will include key environmental legislation (Such as the Clean Air Act, and AB 32) , key books that inspired the grassroots environmental movements (such as Silent Spring, and Earth Day),
2005
Energy Policy Act (EPA)
Addresses energy production in the United States, including: (1) energy efficiency; (2) renewable energy; (3) oil and gas; (4) coal; (5) Tribal energy; (6) nuclear matters and security; (7) vehicles and motor fuels, including ethanol; (8) hydrogen; (9) electricity; (10) energy tax incentives; (11) hydropower and geothermal energy; and (12) climate change technology. For example, the Act provides loan guarantees for entities that develop or use innovative technologies that avoid the by-production of greenhouse gases. Another provision of the Act increases the amount of biofuel that must be mixed with gasoline sold in the United States.
2002
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)
EPA to set tolerances, or maximum residue limits, for pesticide residues on foods. In the absence of a tolerance for a pesticide residue, a food containing such a residue is subject to seizure by the government.
2001
EO 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
For significant energy actions, the federal agency must prepare a Statement of Energy Effects and submit the Statement to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
1997
EO 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
EPA must evaluate the effects of planned regulations on children and explain why the regulation is preferable to potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives.
1996
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered (licensed) by EPA.
1996
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
Authorized by Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), the Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was enacted by Congress as the national legislation on community safety. This law is designed to help local communities protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards.
To implement EPCRA, Congress requires each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The SERCs are 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.
1996
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)
Foster commercialization of technology and industrial innovation by making it easier for companies to obtain exclusive licenses, use federal laboratories, and help develop voluntary, private sector standards.
1994
EO 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
Focus federal attention on the environmental and human health effects of federal actions on minority and low-income populations with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities.
1990
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
Focused industry, government, and public attention on reducing pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use. Source reduction is fundamentally different and more desirable than waste management or pollution control.
1990
Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
Streamlined and strengthened EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so.
1988
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act)
Prohibits (1) transportation of material from the United States for the purpose of ocean dumping; (2) transportation of material from anywhere for the purpose of ocean dumping by U.S. agencies or U.S.-flagged vessels; (3) dumping of material transported from outside the United States into the U.S. territorial sea. A permit is required to deviate from these prohibitions.
1982
Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)
Supports the use of deep geologic repositories for the safe storage and/or disposal of radioactive waste. The Act establishes procedures to evaluate and select sites for geologic repositories and for the interaction of state and federal governments. It also provides a timetable of key milestones the federal agencies must meet in carrying out the program.
1980
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)
CERCLA or Superfund -- provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. Through CERCLA, EPA was given power to seek out those parties responsible for any release and assure their cooperation in the cleanup. EPA cleans up orphan sites when potentially responsible parties cannot be identified or located, or when they fail to act.
1980
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) - See Regulatory Flexibility Act
To fit regulatory requirements to the scale of the businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions subject to the regulation.
1980
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
To minimize the paperwork burden for individuals; small businesses; educational and nonprofit institutions; Federal contractors; State, local and tribal governments; and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the federal government. Every federal agency must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before using identical questions to collect information from 10 or more persons.
1976
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
EPA can require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded from TSCA, including, among others, food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides.
1976
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes.
1974
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
EPA established minimum standards to protect tap water and requires all owners or operators of public water systems to comply with these primary (health-related) standards. The 1996 amendments to SDWA require that EPA consider a detailed risk and cost assessment, and best available peer-reviewed science, when developing these standards.
1973
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
ESA provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the Department of the Interior maintains a worldwide list which, as of Feb. 20, 2008, included 1574 endangered species (599 are plants) and 351 threatened species (148 are plants). Species include birds, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, crustaceans, flowers, grasses, and trees. Anyone can petition FWS to include a species on this list.
The law requires federal agencies, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat of such species. The law also prohibits any action that causes a "taking" of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. Likewise, import, export, interstate, and foreign commerce of listed species are all generally prohibited.
1972
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Establishes regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1977. Under the CWA, EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. EPA has also set water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters.
| 1970
| First Earth Day, April 22. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder
The idea for Earth Day evolved over seven years starting in 1962. LINK
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| 1970
| Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
To ensure worker and workplace safety. Their goal was to make sure employers provide their workers a place of employment free from recognized hazards to safety and health, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.
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| 1970
| Clean Air Act (CAA)
Federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments revised Section 112 to first require issuance of technology-based standards for major sources and certain area sources. "Major sources" are defined as a stationary source or group of stationary sources that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of a hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons per year or more of a combination of hazardous air pollutants. An "area source" is any stationary source that is not a major source.
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| 1969
| National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
One of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment.
NEPA requirements are invoked when airports, buildings, military complexes, highways, parkland purchases, and other federal activities are proposed. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), which are assessments of the likelihood of impacts from alternative courses of action, are required from all Federal agencies and are the most visible NEPA requirements.
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| 1966
| Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain access to federal agency records. All federal agencies, including EPA, are required to make requested records available unless the records are protected from disclosure by one of nine FOIA exemptions
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| 1946
| Atomic Energy Act (AEA)
Established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to promote the "utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes to the maximum extent consistent with the common defense and security and with the health and safety of the public." Since the abolition of the AEC, much of the AEA has been carried out by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy. When EPA was formed, however, the AEC's authority to issue generally applicable environmental radiation standards was transferred to EPA. Other federal and state organizations must follow these standards when developing requirements for their areas of radiation protection.
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