Hillstrom specializes in references in various areas of history and politics, and here compiles documents illustrating government policy regarding what is now called the environment, and the politics that led to or resulted from that policy. In each chronological section, he summarizes the times and issues, thus setting a context for the documents that follow. His periods are seizing land and riches in the New World 1600-1800, an emerging empire 1800-1850, conservative gains in an era of frontier conquest 1850-1900, Theodore Roosevelt and the age of conservation 1900-1920, environmental health in the industrial city 1800-1929, environmental policy-making during the New Deal 1920-40, environmental politics in the age of suburbanization 1940-1960, the Golden Age of environmental legislation 1960-1980, public health and environmental regulation and conservation and land use from 1980 to the present, and energy policy and global climate change. A thematic table of contents is also provided for readers researching a specific area such as air pollution and climate change, hazardous materials and waste disposal, or urban development and public health. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)