To implement the strict new clean air act of 1970, during his first term as epa administrator william ruckelshaus. The last major change in the law, the clean air act amendments of 1990, enacted in 1990 by congress. Section 112 of the caa addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. 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.
Another try at reducing the air pollution in the usa. The clean air act works center for biological diversity. Chay michaelgreenstone workingpaper0408 august2003 roome52251 50memorialdrive cambridge,ma02142. The national ambient air quality standards naaqs was established in order to enforce these laws. 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 clean air act resulted in significant reductions in. This attitudinal change in american society is itself a significant achievement for which the 1970 clean air act amendments deserve a share of the credit. Congress passed the core provisions of the clean air act in 1970. 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. 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.
History and structure of the clean air act theodore l. Basic elements of the act include national ambient air quality standards for major air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants standards, state attainment plans. The clean air act amendments of 1970 also referred to as the clean air act dramatically. Prior to 1990, caa established a riskbased program under which only a few standards were developed. The 1970 clean air act amendments also provided for national emission standards for. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. An expanding federal presence in air quality controls. Epa home history topics clean air act of 19701977 the clean air act. The clean air act of 1970 and adult mortality springerlink. The amendments in 1970 were an entirely rewritten version of the original clean air act. Introduction the clean air act amendments of 1990 were signed into law as p. Archived from the original pdf on december 9, 2010.
The clean air act amendments of 1970 also referred to as the clean air act dramatically reframed national, state, and industry relationships. The clean air act amendments of 1990 were signed into law as p. Prior to 1990, caa the established a riskbased program under which only a few standards were developed. Legislative history of the clean air act amendments of. The 1970 amendments established the procedures under which epa sets national standards for ambient air quality, required a 90% reduction in.
The clean air act of 1970 has reduced air pollution by 62 percent, and americans are living healthier, longer lives. The actwhich underwent major revisions in 1990 and 2003deals with ambient air. The clean air act is the law that defines epas responsibilities for protecting and improving the nations air quality and the stratospheric ozone. This was the most recent of three significant development in environmental legislation in years, along with the clean air act of 1970 and the 1977 clean. The major provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were summarized and their implementations discussed. Airquality,infantmortality,andthecleanairactof1970 kennethy.
This legislation authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary industrial sources and mobile sources. To strengthen this automakers argument, we need to find the answer choice that shows that meeting the standards will be more burdensome now than it was in 1970. 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. Legislative history of the clean air act amendments of 1977. It required that emissions from new automobiles be reduced by 90% during the period from 1971. Clean air act full text of the regulations and amendments download them here.
Implementation of the clean air act amendments of 1970 title i. A summary of the act and its major requirements congressional research service 3 the 1990 amendments also authorized appropriations for clean air programs through fy1998. Act, giving the federal government authority to clean up air. 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. The law was amended in 1977 and again in 1990 to extend deadlines but also to specify new strategies for cleaning up the air. The clean air act has a proven track record of comprehensive and. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970 kenneth y. This legislation imposed strict regulations on industrial polluters in nonattainment counties with tsps concentrations exceeding the federal ceiling.
The 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to first require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources and certain area sources. 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. 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 donora smog disaster and the clean air act of 1970. Air pollution 1970 vol 5 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. This study utilizes the longrun reduction in total suspended particulates tsps pollution induced by the clean air act of 1970, which mandated aggressive regulation of local polluters in heavily polluted counties. The clean air act is the law that defines epas responsibilities for protecting and improving the nations air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. The successes of the clean air act have shown that protection of health and economic growth can and do work hand in hand.
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. Click download or read online button to get air pollution 1970 vol 5 book now. Chayandmichaelgreenstone august2003 wethankdavidcard,dougalmond,joshangrist,garybecker,davidcutler,johndinardo,carlos. The clean air act is a federal law written to cover the regulation of air pollution in the united states both fixed sources such as coal power plants and moving sources like automobiles. Many credit the literary works of henry david thoreau or teddy roosevelts patronage of national parks as the roots of the green movement in the us. Americans are breathing easier and living healthier lives since the clean air act was enacted in 1970. Nrdc legislative facts the clean air act is a genuine american success story and one of the most effective tools in u. 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 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources and certain area sources. The clean air act of 1970 was designed to control air pollution on a national level and.
Norbeck, in an interactive history of the clean air act, 2012. Economics of education program, health care program, health economics program, public economics program, environment and energy program we examine the effects of total suspended particulates tsps air pollution on infant health. The great watershed in federalstate relations in air pollution con trol was the clean air act of 1970. Evolution of the clean air act overview of the clean air. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. 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. Clean air act united states house of representatives. In the united states, the passage of the clean air act caa of 1970 caused a dramatic decrease in particulate emissions. Pdf enforcing the clean air act of 1970 researchgate. The 1990 amendments contain 7 separate titles covering different regulatory. Chay and michael greenstone august 2003 we thank david card, doug almond, josh. This legislation authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary industrial sources and. The 1970 clean air act and termination of rainfall.
The federal clean air act california air resources board. Since 1970, transportation, power generation, and manufacturing have dramatically transformed as air pollutant emissions have fallen significantly. Its a big job, and although a great deal of progress has been made, it will take time to make the air healthy throughout the country. The evidence supports the conclusion that air pollution has a causal effect on infant health and that the 1970 clean air act provided significant health benefits. The clean air act is the name of any of several pieces of legislation aimed at reducing smog and other types of air pollution.
Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970. But a positive change in attitude and assumptions about environmental protection does not in itself clean up dirty air. What was the significance of the clean air act of 1970. Why was the clean air act of 1970 passed i really need to know why the clean air act of 1970 was passed by the congress. A study in the failure of government regulation and. The clean ai ct was enacted in nonpartisan fashion, with. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. This was the most recent of three significant development in environmental legislation in years, along with the clean air act of 1970 and the 1977 clean air act amendments. Clean air act regulations have also spurred technological innovation, generating jobs and economic growth. 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.
In principle, it was a law that would show excellent results. The obvious counterpoint would be that they were able to use new technology to respond to the restrictions then, so why not now. Overall, the estimates imply that at least 1,300 fewer infants died from 197172 than would have in the absence of the clean air act regulations. This law is an amendment to the clean air act caa originally passed in 1963. The practice of federalism under the clean air act core. Clean air act amendments an overview sciencedirect topics. The basic framework of the law and its public health objective have remained intact. Section 112 of the clean air act addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The clean air act physicians for social responsibility.
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