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The Clean Air Act is the legislation 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). Legislation passed since then has made several minor changes.

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, EPA has been responsible for a variety of Clean Air Act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide.

However, states, tribes and local governments do a lot of the work to meet the Act's requirements.

Contents of the CAA

The Clean Air Act was incorporated into the United States Code as Title 42, Chapter 85. The current version, including amendments through February 24, 2004 is available in 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

• Cleaning Up Commonly Found Air Pollutants
• Cars, Trucks, Buses, and Nonroad Equipment
• Interstate and International Air Pollution
• Clearing the Air in Our National Parks
• Reducing Acid Rain
• Reducing Toxic Air Pollutants
• Protecting the Stratospheric Ozone Layer
• Permits and Enforcement
• Public Participation

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