The basic framework of the law and its public health objective have remained intact. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. Oct 04, 2016 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. Sep 20, 2012 section 112 of the caa addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. Under section 812 of the 1990 clean air act, the epa is required to design and implement each study with the cooperation of the departments of labor and commerce, in addition to a panel of outside experts, and to issue periodic reports such as benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. The clean air act gave the federal environmental protection agency epa the power it needed to take effective action to fight environmental pollution. Section 112 of the clean air act addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The report shows that the public health protection and environmental benefits of the clean air act exceeded the costs of its programs by a large margin. 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.
The clean air act, signed into law in1970 and strengthened in 1990, gave the federal government the authority to enforce regulations that limit air pollution. 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. The 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to first require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources and certain area sources. 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. Clean air act united states clean air amendments of 1970 united states air pollution law and legislation united states. 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. Despite these advances, the clean air act is under threat from both the legislative and executive branches of the government.
Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970. Benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. Valuing the clean air act institute for policy integrity. Act, giving the federal government authority to clean up air. Airquality,infantmortality,andthecleanairactof1970 kennethy. Permissible lead levels in unleaded and leaded gasoline reduced from 1. 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 1970 amendments established the procedures under which epa. A, because local controls were erratic and sensitive to industry costs rather than health costs. Basics of the clean air act eli summer school, 2018 duration. Legislative history of the clean air act amendments of 1977. What are some pros and cons for the clean air act of 1970.
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. Clean air act 1970 with 62 percent less pollution, americans are living healthier, longer lives. From 1963 to 1970, the senate passed a series of measures that incrementally enhanced pollution control, each adding to the edifice predecessor acts had begun to build. Dec 18, 2014 basics of the clean air act eli summer school, 2018 duration. The 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources and certain area sources. Covered employees the clean air act caa prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for engaging in protected activities pertaining to alleged violations of air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources that affect public health and the environment. 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. 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. The 1970 clean air act and the 1972 clean water act were the culmination of muskies legislative efforts that began the prior decade. Jun 29, 2010 this feature is not available right now. The primary goal of the clean air act is ensuring public health, but the act has a secondary effect of improving the environment by regulating the production of some greenhouse gases. In 1990, congress dramatically revised and expanded the clean air act, providing epa even broader authority to implement and enforce regulations reducing air placed an increased emphasis on more costeffective. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. 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.
Clean water act became the acts common name with amendments in 1977. Whenever a person has failed to comply with an order issued under subsection b2, the secretary may file a civil action in the united states district court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to enforce such order. The impact of the clean air act pubmed central pmc. Nov 28, 2012 if youre referring to the clean air act passed in the u. Prior to 1990, caa the established a riskbased program under which only a few standards were developed. The clean air act amendments of 1970 addressed the perceived flaws, establishing a model for later environmental legislation. Administrator shall certify and file in such court the record upon. State and local governments have passed supplemental legislation to fill in gaps left by the federal mandates. 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. Pdf enforcing the clean air act of 1970 researchgate. Evolution of the clean air act overview of the clean air. Chayandmichaelgreenstone august2003 wethankdavidcard,dougalmond,joshangrist,garybecker,davidcutler,johndinardo,carlos. It was amended first by the clean air act amendment in 1966, then by the clean air act extension of 1970 84 stat.
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. Clean air act state of california department of justice. Prior to 1990, caa established a riskbased program under which only a few standards were developed. 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. The clean air act caa is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. This legislation imposed strict regulations on industrial polluters in nonattainment counties with tsps concentrations exceeding the federal ceiling.
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. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Chay michaelgreenstone workingpaper0408 august2003 roome52251 50memorialdrive cambridge,ma02142. Clean air act caa whistleblower protection program. 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. Reductions in particulate air pollution alone, thanks in large part to the clean air act, have added 1. 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. 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. It was such a huge change in the law, larry pryor says, nominating the act as a law that shaped l.
And just before this comment went to press, leon billings and thomas jorling, the leading staffers who assisted in drafting the clean air act amendments of 1970, released an open letter to revesz and lienke criticizing their book. Apr 02, 2011 congress passed the core provisions of the clean air act in 1970. A citizen may file a lawsuit to obtain compliance with an emission standard issued by the. Pdf the major provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were summarized and their implementations discussed. The 1970 to 1990 clean air act programs prevented 209,000 hospital visits in 1990. 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. Since the clean air act was passed in 1970, why is the air. To implement the strict new clean air act of 1970, during his first term as epa. 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. From 1963 to 1970, the senate passed a series of measures that incrementally enhanced pollution control, each adding to the edifice predecessor acts had begun to. The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990.
Nov, 2019 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. Portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe systems for document exchange. The act was passed in 1963, but important and major amendments were added to the original act in 1970 and 1990. We have learned much about the relationship between air pollution and health through thousands of epidemiologic and controlled studies. This is to say, however, that the clean air act did become law, did serve to catalyze other change and that results and skies are clear or at least clearer. 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. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. The 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to first require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources. Archived from the original pdf on december 9, 2010. Supreme court ruled that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the clean air act. This act implements a comprehensive program for reducing air pollution focusing on the reduction of ambient that which is present in the. 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. In 1970, general motors announced it would make the switch to cleaner gas by 1974 to meet the requirements of the clean air act. 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. This law is an amendment to the clean air act caa originally passed in 1963. Clean air act extension of 1970 mnn mother nature network. In these provisions, the phrases prior to enactment of this act and as amended by this act refer to enactment of the clean air act amendments of 1. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. If youre referring to the clean air act passed in the u. We examine the effects of total suspended particulates tsps air pollution on infant health using the air quality improvements induced by the 1970 clean air act amendments caaa.
The civil penalties prescribed under sections 205a and 211d1 of the clean air act 42 u. 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 epa claims that nationwide during 2010 alone, the clean air act prevented 160,000 premature deaths. Today, most antipollution laws have provisions for citizen suits and they. I believe that congress enactment of the 1970 amendments to.
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