April 22, 2002

Environmental Progress Since the First Earth Day

Air Quality:

The nation's air quality has significantly improved over the last 30 years due to decreases in emissions of the six major air pollutants. Between 1970 and 1999: carbon monoxide (CO) emission levels declined by 29%; sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions declined 40%; volatile organic compounds (VOC), major contributors to smog, declined 43%, and lead (Pb) emissions sharply declined by 98%. For the two other major pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions fell 25% between 1980 and 1999 while particulate matter (PM) emissions, or soot, decreased 16% between 1990 and 1999. There has been progress in reducing other pollutants. Benzene, a toxic air pollutant emitted by cars, oil refineries and other chemical processes, showed a 39% drop between 1993 and 1998. The number of unhealthy air days experienced by Los Angeles fell from 173 in 1990 to 27 in 1999.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Latest Findings on National Air Quality: 1999 Status and Trends, Office of Air Quality.

Water Quality and Oil Spills:

In 1997, the latest year that Coast Guard statistics are complete, the volume of oil spilled in U.S. waters declined by two-thirds compared to 1996, the lowest amount of oil spilled in the nation's waters since the Coast Guard began publishing data in 1973. More than three-fourths of those spills were under 10 gallons - less than a car's fuel tank holds. Since 1990, there have been no spills over one million gallons. The average number of oil spills over 10,000 gallons dropped 50% from pre-1991 levels.

Source: United States Coast Guard.

Aircraft Fuel Efficiency:

The Boeing 757 consumes 43% less fuel than older trijets, such as the 727. The Boeing 777 has nearly the same passenger capacity and range capability as the 747, but burns one-third less fuel.

Source: Boeing Corporation.

Automobile Emissions:

Between 1970 and 1999, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants decreased 31% even though the number of vehicle miles traveled increased 140% and gross domestic product increased 147%.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality.

Forests:

In 1995, U.S. forests produced 37 percent of global wood pulp, 30 percent of paper and paperboard, 26 percent of wood-based panels, and roughly 25 percent of other wood products. Despite such production, since the 1950s, net tree growth has exceeded net harvest every year. According to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, in 1995 the United States planted 2.4 million acres of trees, up 1 million acres from 1970.

Source: 1999 Index of Leading Environmental Indicators, Pacific Research Institute.

Wetlands:

The U.S. is no longer losing wetlands at an alarming rate. Between 1954 and 1974, 690,000 acres of wetlands were lost annually, mainly due to cropland conversion. Yet from 1982 to 1992, annual wetland losses dropped to 156 acres each year, and agriculture accounted for only 20 percent of that conversion. For every 60 acres of wetlands converted to cropland annually from 1954 to 1974, only 3 acres were converted annually from 1982 to 1992. The United States has experienced no net loss of wetlands since 1980.

Source: 1999 Index of Leading Environmental Indicators, Pacific Research Institute.

Hazardous Waste:

Since 1970, land disposal of hazardous waste has declined, both in tons stored a year and in number of landfills. The amount of hazardous waste stored declined from 2.9 million tons in 1985 to 1.3 million tons in 1995. During the same period, the number of active storage facilities fell from 249 to 68.

Source: The National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report, EPA (Reports 1987 to 1997).