The last major change in the law, the clean air act amendments of 1990, was enacted by congress in 1990. The clean air act was created in 1963 and amended in 1970 and 1990 to ensure that. On november 15, 1990, president bush signed into law the clean air act amendments of 1990, the first comprehensive changes to the act in years. November 15, 1990 marks a milestone in clean air act history, the signing of the 1990 amendments.
The clean air act caa is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. It was followed eight years later by legislation to control air pollution. Pennsylvania air pollution control act pdf legislation enacted to protect the air resources of the commonwealth. These amendments set the stage for protecting the ozone layer, reducing acid rain and toxic pollutants, and improving air quality and visibility. History and structure of the clean air act theodore l. The first legislation involving air pollution was enacted in 1955, and authorized funds for air pollution research. Overview of the clean air act and air pollution us epa. Environmental protection agency epa derive primarily from a dozen major environmental statutes. The clean air act is the law that defines epas responsibilities for protecting and improving the nations air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. Eight years later, congress passed the nations clean air act of 1963. There was a clean air act proposed and passed in 1963 and it referred to the control of air pollution, but another version was created in 1970 which was more expansive and amendments were made in. This pdf brochure gives a laymans analysis of the clean air act.
Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. 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. Among other things, this law authorizes epa to establish national ambient air quality standards naaqs to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. 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. The clean air act physicians for social responsibility. Vitaliy yurchak clean air act in the rush of expanding technology and resources most people of the early 1900s paid little. Clean air act 1993 1993 chapter 11 an act to consolidate the clean air acts 1956 and 1968 and certain related enactments, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the law commission and the scottish law commission. This act dealt with reducing air pollution by setting emissions standards for stationary sources such as power plants and steel mills. Regulations about local authority functions under sections 34, 35 and 36. This act may be cited as the clean air act of 1963. The air quality act of 1967 further expanded federal monitoring and regulatory authority over air quality.
I would prefer one comprehensive clean air act article with a subsection for each amendment. Department of health, education and services to create and enforce auto emission standards. This report provides a concise summary of one of those statutes, the clean air act. The clean air act gave the federal environmental protection agency epa the power it needed to take effective action to fight environmental pollution. Clean air act full text of the regulations and amendments. This act provided funds for federal research in air pollution. Policy evolution under the clean air act harvard kennedy school. Sep 20, 2012 the clean air act, on december 17, 1963. 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. A summary of the act and its major requirements congressional research service summary this report summarizes the clean air act and its major regulatory requirements.
Provision by local authorities of information for secretary of state. The clean air act of 1963, as amended, authorizes the environmental protection agencyepa to delegate opera tional responsibilities for national air pollution prevention. Itd probably be a good idea to merge the 1955 air pollution control act with this, since it had no teeth at all. The clean air act of 1963 was the first of several u.
The clean air act caa has helped with air pollution and you can find information on the progress made, how the law works and challenges to overcome. View essay clean air act of 1963 from hst 203 at oregon state university. Clean air act united states house of representatives. Perhaps embarrassed by memories of the more clumsy and inept act of 1963, the u. A summary of the act and its major requirements congressional research service 1 introduction the authorities and responsibilities of the u. Water quality act of 1965 clean air act, 1963 pesticide control bill, 1964 water quality act, 1965 water resource planning act, 1965 water and sanitation systems in rural areas bill, 1965 solid waste disposal bill 1965 sale water conservation act, 1965 air quality acts 1966 and 1967 national water commission texas white house, lbj ranch. The main objectives of the clean air act is to regulate air emissions from both mobile and stationary sources such as factories and automobiles. Congress designed the clean air act to combat a variety of air pollution problems, and to tackle emerging pollution threats. A history of the clean air act and environmental protection agency 2, 3 key federal legislation related to clean air is summarized below table i.
Legislation passed since then has made several minor changes. Act of 1963, which established funding for the study in 1970. Dec 18, 20 happy 50th anniversary to the clean air act. Down this course lies a natural america restored to her people. The clean air act of 1963 established an air pollution control program within the u. The last major change in the law, the clean air act amendments of 1990, enacted in 1990 by congress. Clean air act ministry of justice government of jamaica. A history of the clean air act and environmental protection agency 2, 3key federal legislation related to clean air is summarized below table i. The governors shall be required to submit designations referred to in section 107d1 of the clean air act 42 u. It did not take into account mobile sources of air pollution which had become the largest source of many dangerous pollutants.
The clean air act was initially established in 1963. Environmental protection agency epa to establish national ambient air quality standards naaqs to protect public. The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the clean air act was first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990. In this act unless the context otherwise requires affected premises means any premises on which there are industrial works, the operation of which is in the opinion of an inspector likely to result in the discharge of. The federal clean air act california air resources board. Clean air act of 1963 wikipedia republished wiki 2. The main guidelines of the clean air act were passed by congress in 1970. Evolution of the clean air act overview of the clean air. The clean air act amendments of 1990 were signed into law as p. Of the united states epas delegation of responsibilities to prevent significant deterioration of air quality. But it was the first environmental law to give the federal government a serious regulatory role. Find a summary, definition and facts about the clean air act for kids. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the clean air act 1993.
The united states has made great progress since 1970 in cleaning the air, but the job is far from complete. Water quality act of 1965 clean air act, 1963 pesticide control bill, 1964 water. Environmental protection agency itself gave the 50th anniversary the cold shoulder instead celebrating the of the. The federal clean air act fcaa is the federal law passed in 1970, and last amended in 1990, which forms the basis for the national air pollution control effort. Nrdc legislative facts the clean air act is a genuine american success story and one of the most effective tools in u. Please be advised this collection contains qut staffstudent images and names. It is one of the united states first and most influential modern environmental laws, and one of the most comprehensive air quality laws in the world. Clean air act text overview of the clean air act and air. An act to improve, strengthen, and accelerate programs for the prevention and abatement of air pollution. State and local governments have passed supplemental legislation to fill in gaps left by the federal mandates. The use of clean energy, including wind turbines and solar panels, helps to keep our air clean. The impact of the clean air act pubmed central pmc. Clean air act caa the original caa was passed in 1963 there was no comprehensive federal response to address air pollution until congress passed a much stronger caa in 1970. Winds blow the summer sun causes chemical level ozonea principal component of smog.
The 1970 act established the basic architecture of the u. The clean air act, 1963 was a legislation that offered federal research aid, urged the development of state control agencies, and involved the federal government in interstate pollution issues. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. The clean air act of 1963 was the first federal legislation regarding air pollution control. The clean air act was initially established in 1963, renewed in1970 and amended in 1977 and 1990. The act calls for states and epa to solve multiple air pollution problems through programs based on the latest science and technology information. In addition to pointing out why air pollution is a problem, it explains the creation of the first federal clean air act in 1963, and the revisions in 1970 which created the environmental protection agency to provide meaningful. The 1963 act provided for research and project grants and included a provision to abate interstate pollution through an enforcement conference mechanism. In this act unless the context otherwise requires affected premises means any premises on which there are industrial works, the operation of which is in the opinion of an inspector likely to result in the discharge of smoke or fumes or gases or dust into the air. Clean air act of 1963 vitaliy yurchak clean air act in. An act to make provision for abating the pollution of the air.
The clean air act of 1963 gave napca enforcement authority to attack interstate. Clean air act state of california department of justice. The governor in council may, by proclamation published in the gazette, fix the date on. It was amended first by the clean air act amendment in 1966, then by the clean air act extension of 1970 84 stat. Basic elements of the act include national ambient air quality standards for major air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants standards, state attainment plans. Clean air act of 1963 vitaliy yurchak clean air act in the.
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