Clean Air Act

CLEAN AIR ACT

I. Formation of the Clean Air Act

A. Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 provided federal funding for air pollution research.

B. Clean Air Act of 1963 acknowledged the dangers posed to public health and instituted state responsibility in regulating clean air and authorized the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to take a more active role.

C. Air Quality Act of 1965 established air quality standards for new motor vehicles and addressed air pollution prevention and air quality criteria.

D. Air Quality Act of 1967 directed federal enforcement of control efforts for clean air quality.

E. Clean Air Act Amendment of 1970 provided major revisions to the Clean Air Act. It set up the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the New Source Performance Standards, and addressed again emissions for motor vehicles.

F. Clean Air Act Amendment of 1977 provided stipulations for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of air quality and initiated major permit review requirements for the NAAQS.

G. Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 made broad changes to the Clean Air Act

1. Acid Deposition Control a real necessity

2. Establishment of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants to control 189 toxic pollutants.

3. Proactive Plan to address the depletion of the ozone.

II. The Duties and Responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency.

A. The development and implementation of environmental laws.

B. Responsibilities for educating the public and industrial organizations.

C. Collaborating with state and other groups in researching environmental concerns.

III. The Different Programs for Clean Air Standards

A. The standards set for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Programs designed to protect public health and the environment.

1. The delineation between primary and...