Which environmental law was the first in the U.S. to establish a permit system?

The Rivers and Harbors Act is recognized as the first significant environmental law in the United States to establish a permit system. Enacted in 1899, this law was primarily designed to regulate activities related to the navigability of waters, primarily aimed at preventing obstructions that could hinder navigation and commerce. The permit system included regulations that required individuals or entities to obtain federal permission from the Army Corps of Engineers before carrying out activities that could affect waterways, such as dredging and filling.

While other laws, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, introduced more comprehensive frameworks for environmental protection and regulation, they came later and built upon the foundational ideas established by the Rivers and Harbors Act. Each of these subsequent laws involved more complex regulatory systems for managing pollution and environmental impacts but were not the first to establish a permit requirement within the broader context of environmental law in the U.S. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act also focuses on hazardous waste management but does not trace back to the original permit systems in U.S. environmental legislation like the Rivers and Harbors Act does.

Thus, the Rivers and Harbors Act stands out as a pivotal law that initiated the requirement for permits, shaping future environmental legislation effectively.