February
February, 1922
NASA finds record-high concentrations of chlorine monoxide in stratosphere. Ozone over northern parts of U.S., Canada, Europe and Russia could be depleted in late winter/early spring by as much as 40%.
February, 1967
Treaty of Tlatelolco signed prohibiting nuclear weapons in the Caribbean or Latin America
February 22, 1972
EPA announces all gasoline stations required to carry "nonleaded" gasoline. But EPA delays setting standards until 1973, then is sued by Ethyl Corp.
February 26, 1972
Buffalo Creek disaster in West Virginia. Negligent strip mining led to buildup of floodwaters that broke through "tipple" dams, killing 125 people and leaving 4,000 homeless. Often used as a classic case of need for ethics in engineering.
February, 1973
Arab oil embargo panics U.S. and European consumers; prices quadruple. The energy shock leads to national soul-searching about energy priorities. Conservatives favor nuclear and coal sources; liberals explore alternatives. President Nixon insists that US can be energy independent by 1980.