Foundational Legislation of the Environmental Movement

During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the environmental movement in the United States saw a range of grassroots activism and increased public awareness about ecological issues. As a result, several significant pieces of legislation were enacted to address environmental degradation and pollution. Among these laws, one became a cornerstone of environmental protection and was established to create a systematic approach to regulating water and air pollutants.

Which of the following pieces of legislation is often credited with establishing the foundation for the modern environmental regulatory framework in the United States?