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See also: National Ambient Air Quality Standards

The Clean Air Act is a law enacted by the U.S. Congress that defines the responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The latest major amendments were enacted as the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Public Law 101–549).

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 were preceded by various other pieces of legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress dating back to the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955.

Implementation of the Act

In the same year that Congress created the Clean Air Act of 1970 (see History section below), Congress also created the U.S. EPA and gave it the primary role in carrying out the law. Since 1970, the U.S. EPA has been responsible for a variety of programs to reduce air pollution nationwide.

However, the environmental regulatory agencies of the states, Indian tribes and local governments do a lot of the work to meet the the Act's requirements. Those agencies work with industrial and commercial companies to reduce air pollution. They also review and approve permit applications for construction and operation of industrial plants and commercial faciltiies involving sources of air pollution. They are able to develop solutions for pollution problems that require special understanding of local industries, geography, housing, and travel patterns, as well as other factors. State, local, and tribal governments also monitor air quality, inspect facilities under their jurisdictions and enforce Clean Air Act regulations.

States must also develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline how each state will control air pollution under the Clean Air Act. A SIP is a collection of the regulations, programs and policies that a state will use to clean up polluted areas. In developing their SIPs, the states must involve the public and industries through hearings and opportunities to comment on the development of each state plan.

Contents of the Act

Legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress since 1990 has made several minor changes in the Act. The current version, including amendments through February 24, 2004, is available on the Internet. This is a listing of its major parts:

• Title I - Air Pollution Prevention and Control
  • Part A - Air Quality and Emission Limitations (CAA § 101-131; USC § 7401-7431 )
  • Part B - Ozone Protection (replaced by Title VI)
  • Part C - Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (CAA § 160-169b; USC § 7470-7492)
  • Part D - Plan Requirements for Nonattainment Areas (CAA § 171-193; USC § 7501-7515)
• Title II - Emission Standards for Moving Sources
  • Part A - Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards (CAA § 201-219; USC § 7521-7554)
  • Part B - Aircraft Emission Standards (CAA § 231-234; USC § 7571-7574)
  • Part C - Clean Fuel Vehicles (CAA § 241-250; USC § 7581-7590)
• Title III - General (CAA § 301-328; USC § 7601-7627)
• Title IV - Acid Deposition Control (CAA § 401-416; USC § 7651-7651o)
• Title V - Permits (CAA § 501-507; USC § 7661-7661f )
• Title VI - Stratospheric Ozone Protection (CAA § 601-618; USC § 7671-7671q )

Key elements of the act

The U.S. EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. To achieve this mission, EPA implements a variety of programs under the Clean Air Act that focus on:

• Reducing outdoor ambient concentrations of air pollutants that cause smog, haze, acid rain, and other problems
• Reducing emissions of toxic air pollutants that are known to, or are suspected of, causing cancer or other serious health effects
• Phasing out production and use of chemicals that destroy stratospheric ozone.

The above programs have required the development of specific regulations by the U.S. EPA and the state, tribal and local governments to limit the emissions of air pollutants from mobile sources (like automotive vehicles and airplanes) and stationary sources (like petroleum refineries, petrochemical and chemical manufacturing plants, power plants, and gas or petrol stations).

More specifics concerning each of the above programs are available on the Internet.

History

In October 1948, a thick cloud of air pollution formed above the industrial town of Donora, Pennsylvania. The cloud which lingered for five days, killed 20 people and caused sickness in 6,000 of the town's 14,000 people. In 1952, over 3,000 people died in what became known as London's "Killer Fog." The smog was so thick that buses could not run without guides walking ahead of them carrying lanterns.

Events like these alerted us to the dangers that air pollution poses to public health. Several federal and state laws were passed, including the original Clean Air Act of 1963, which established funding for the study and the cleanup of air pollution. But there was no comprehensive federal response to address air pollution until Congress passed a much stronger Clean Air Act in 1970. That same year Congress created the EPA and gave it the primary role in carrying out the law. Since 1970, EPA has been responsible for a variety of Clean Air Act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide.

In 1990, Congress dramatically revised and expanded the Clean Air Act, providing EPA even broader authority to implement and enforce regulations reducing air pollutant emissions. The 1990 Amendments also placed an increased emphasis on more cost-effective approaches to reduce air pollution.

Some principal milestones in the evolution of the Clean Air Act are:

The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955

First federal air pollution legislation Funded research for scope and sources of air pollution

Clean Air Act of 1963

Authorized the development of a national program to address air pollution related environmental problems Authorized research into techniques to minimize air pollution

Air Quality Act of 1967

Authorized enforcement procedures for air pollution problems involving interstate transport of pollutants Authorized expanded research activities

Clean Air Act 1970

Authorized the establishment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards Established requirements for State Implementation Plans to achieve the National Ambient Air Quality Standards Authorized the establishment of New Source Performance Standards for new and modified stationary sources Authorized the establishment of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Increased enforcement authority Authorized requirements for control of motor vehicle emissions

1977 Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970

Authorized provisions related to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Authorized provisions relating to areas which are non-attainment with respect to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards

1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970

Authorized programs for Acid Deposition Control Authorized a program to control 189 toxic pollutants, including those previously regulated by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Established permit program requirements Expanded and modified provisions concerning the attainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards Expanded and modified enforcement authority