| Even though it's been around since the 1970's many | | | | In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water |
| people really do not know anything about Earth Day. | | | | Act, which enabled the Environmental Protection |
| They have no idea what Earth Day is or through it | | | | Agency to oversee municipal water supplies. This was |
| how many accomplishments we have made to make | | | | done to ensure that the water we drink is safe for |
| our world a better and safer place for all of us to | | | | consumption. |
| live. San Francisco has a long-standing reputation of | | | | Since the creation of Earth Day, millions of people |
| being the city with more smog than any other city in | | | | around the world have done things everyday to |
| America. In order to address the problem of pollution, | | | | conserve our resources and make the world a better |
| the first Earth Day occurred on March 21, 1970 in San | | | | place for all of us. Many states and counties have |
| Francisco. | | | | turned to recycling items such as plastic, aluminum, |
| Also in 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed the | | | | paper, and glass that can be remanufactured into |
| Environmental Protection Agency to oversee | | | | other products. Many counties also have recycling |
| environmental issues such as creating more | | | | facilities where individuals can drop off items to be |
| environmentally friendly low emission vehicles. It is | | | | recycled. Our landfills are full of waste and recycling |
| hard to imagine that in 1972 only 36 percent of our | | | | helps them not to become overfilled. Not only are we |
| nation's lakes and streams were safe to fish and | | | | reducing the amount of garbage in our landfills, but |
| swim in. Today more than 60 percent of our streams | | | | we are also creating a better world for our children. |
| and lakes are fit for swimming and fishing. | | | | |