The Modern US Environmental Policy consisted basically on Acts that focused on cleaning up the environment. After the 1970s the government created more regulations - like the toxic substances control act, food security act, food quality protection act - and environmental protection laws - Pollution prevention Act, Superfund, and others -.
All started with the National Environmental Policy Act that was signed by President Nixon in 1970, since then government agencies and businesses had to evaluate the impact of a project on the environment.
The public demand for a clean environment resulted in the other listed laws. After the 1980s there was some backlash against those policies, many businesses felt that those laws imposed a great economic burden on businesses and individuals.