Filing whistleblower complaints under the clean air act employees are protected from retaliation for reporting alleged violations regarding air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. The federal clean air act fcaa is the federal law passed in 1970, and last. The basic framework of the law and its public health objective have remained intact. Clean air deskbook by environmental law institute call number. The clean water act the clean water act of 1972 set minimum standards for water purity in a manner similar to the clean air act described previously. The 1970 act established the basic architecture of the u. The government credits the clean air act with significant reductions in air pollutants. Further, the environmental protection agency says the act has led to measurable health benefits. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. The epa is formed and given the authority to regulate compounds that endanger human health.
The clean air act physicians for social responsibility. Pdf the major provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were summarized and their implementations discussed. Violations that occur prior to such date shall be subject to the civil penalty provisions prescribed in sections 205a and 211d of the clean air act in effect. The direct benefits of the clean air act from 1970 to 1990 include reduced incidence of a number of adverse human health effects, improvements in visibility, and avoided damage to agricultural crops. Early implementation of the clean air act of 1970 in. It required that emissions from new automobiles be reduced by 90% during the period from 1971. Americans are breathing easier and living healthier lives since the clean air act was enacted in 1970. The clean air act the clean air act of 1970 was created with recognition of the fact that pollution sometimes crosses the boundary lines of local jurisdictions and extends into two or more states. The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. Congress passed the core provisions of the clean air act in 1970. How it works the act contains key provisions to control common pollutants which, at the time of the 1970 amendments, formed dense, visible smog in many of the nations cities and industrial centers. Due to inconsistencies among state air programs, uncertainties in the scientific bases for the various criteria, and the jurisdictional obstacles to resolving regional and transboundary air quality concerns, congress strengthened the federal role in air pollution control in the clean air act of 1970. It does not even begin to suggest the activities that produced them, the extensive study and hearings to understand the problems. Supreme court ruled that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the clean air act.
In the united states, the clean air acts include the air pollution control act of 1955, clean air act of 1963, air quality act of 1967, the clean air act extension of 1970, and clean air act amendments in 1977 and 1990. The law was amended in 1977 and again in 1990 to extend deadlines but also to specify new strategies for cleaning up the air. D if, after the date of the enactment of the clean air act amendments of 1990, the administrator modifies the method of determining compliance with the national primary ambient air quality standard, a design value or other indicator comparable to 0. The first legislation involving air pollution was enacted in 1955, and authorized funds for air pollution research. Section 812 of the clean air act amendments of 1990 requires the environmental protection agency epa to periodically assess the effect of the clean air act on the public health, economy, and environment of the united states, and to report the findings and results of its assessments to the congress. Legislative history of the clean air act amendments of 1977. The 1970 clean air act amendments were a watershed that paved the way for the widespread consensus in our country today that air pollution control must be a top priority of the federal government. Clean air act united states house of representatives. Today, most antipollution laws have provisions for citizen suits and they. A summary of the act and its major requirements pdf. The major provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were summarized and their implementations discussed. Policy evaluation even though the deadlines originally imposed in the 1970 amendments ultimately were not met, the amendments unquestionably succeeded in fostering a profound attitude shift.
This legislation authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary industrial sources and mobile sources. Perhaps the key single factor is the 1970 federal clean air act. The clean air act caa is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. C the cost to purchase vehicles and vehicle engines, or portions thereof, for. A, because local controls were erratic and sensitive to industry costs rather than health costs. It was such a huge change in the law, larry pryor says, nominating the act as a law that shaped l. Although the 1990 clean air act is a federal law covering the entire country, the states do much of the work to carry out the act. Clean air act united states clean air amendments of 1970 united states air pollution law and legislation united states.
Tribal nations role in its 1990 revision of the clean air act, congress recognized that indian tribes have the authority to implement air pollution control. Rogers epa journal januaryfebruary 1990 historians of the environmental movement are likely to peg earth day 1970 as a key turning point in the american publics consciousness about environmental problems. The clean air act at 40 a clear track record of success. Total benefits of the clean air act between 1970 and 2010 exceeded total costs by as much as 40 to 1. The clean air act of 1970 has reduced air pollution by 62 percent, and americans are living healthier, longer lives. The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the clean air act was first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990. The cwa made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit authorized under the cwa was obtained.
Pdf enforcing the clean air act of 1970 researchgate. Click download or read online button to get air pollution 1970 vol 5 book now. The act was passed in 1963, but important and major amendments were added to the original act in 1970 and 1990. This law is an amendment to the clean air act caa originally passed in 1963.
The clean air act amendments of 1970 addressed the perceived flaws, establishing a model for later environmental legislation. Implementation of the clean air act amendments of 1970 title i. The clean air act of 1970 was designed to control air pollution on a national level and. The civil penalties prescribed under sections 205a and 211d1 of the clean air act 42 u. Early implementation of the clean air act of 1970 in california. The 1970 extension is sometimes called the muskie act because of the central role maine senator edmund muskie played in drafting the content of the bill. Air act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide. Economics of education, health care, health economics, public economics, environment and energy economics we examine the effects of total suspended particulates tsps air pollution on infant health using the air quality. A history of the clean air act and environmental protection agency 2, 3key federal legislation related to clean air is summarized below table i. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970. The actwhich underwent major revisions in 1990 and 2003deals with ambient air. The clean air act includes a variety of approaches for dealing with pollution released by large industrial sources. Background on the 1970 clean air act amendments before 1970 the federal government did not play a significant role in the regulation of air pollution, a responsibility left primarily to state governments.
Clean air act as of february 2004 clean air act pdf. I believe that congress enactment of the 1970 amendments to. United states of america in congress asseinbled that this act may be cited as the clean air amendments of 1970. While the provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were valid, the problem keeping it from reaching its full potential is the lack of government enforcement. Clean air act 10 impacts red, green, and blue says. How can the clean air act of 1970 help prevent global. In 1990, congress dramatically revised and expanded. Epa mandates a phasedin reduction of lead content in all grades of. Legislative history of the clean air act amendments of. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970 kenneth y.
The overwhelming response to earth day put the subject of pollution and its effects on the environment on the political agenda and president richard nixon signed and extension to the clean air act in 1970. Doing a research paper about the clean air act of 1970, and i need some information on how it and other legislation can help prevent global warming and acid rain. The clean air act resulted in significant reductions in. The federal clean air act california air resources board ca. The 1990 amendments to the clean air act were signed into law by president bush on november 15, 1990.
The impact of the clean air act pubmed central pmc. B part of the cost of programs to develop low emission alternatives to the pres ent internal combustion engine. Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1977. Portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe systems for document exchange.
Covered employees the clean air act caa prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for engaging in protected activities pertaining to. The first 20 years of the clean air act programs from 1970 to 1990 resulted in. In 2004, epa took the position that it had no power under the federal clean air act to regulate greenhouse gas ghg pollution, forcing massachusetts, california and other states to file suit. This act implements a comprehensive program for reducing air pollution focusing on the reduction of ambient that which is present in the. Evolution of the clean air act overview of the clean air. By the late 1960s, the federal effort still was not felt to be enough to reduce air pollution to healthy levels, and the public wanted the federal government to take more action. In 1970, general motors announced it would make the switch to cleaner gas by 1974 to meet the requirements of the clean air act. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. What are some pros and cons for the clean air act of 1970. A recent epa analysis of the clean air act amendments of 1990 caaa found that the benefits from caaa regulation far outweigh the costs by a factor of 30 to 1 with highbenefit estimates exceeding costs 90 to 1 the benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1990 to 2020. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. Permissible lead levels in unleaded and leaded gasoline reduced from 1.
Those of us who had a hand in drafting the 1970 amendments therefore can take satisfaction because that legislation has had a positive impact on our. The 1970 clean air act required states to develop state implementation plans for how they would meet new national ambient air quality standards by 1977. To implement the strict new clean air act of 1970, during his first term as epa administrator william ruckelshaus spent 60% of his time on the. It was amended first by the clean air act amendment in 1966, then by the clean air act extension of 1970 84 stat. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The enactment of the clean air act of 1970 1970 caa resulted in a major shift in the federal governments role in air pollution control. But it was the first environmental law to give the federal government a serious regulatory role. Air pollution 1970 vol 5 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The clean air act was major legislation passed to control air pollution in the united states. In 1970, when amending the clean air act, the united states congress was inspired by similar legislation in the civil rights arena to begin including specific provisions for citizens to bring suit against violators or government agencies to enforce environmental laws.
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