What is the Clean Air Act?

With the passage of the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, the United States Congress made its first attempt to address the country's air pollution problem. This landmark act allowed the federal government to become involved in air pollution efforts. Congress then proceeded to pass a number of other laws, collectively known as the Clean Air Acts (CAA), including the Clean Air Acts of 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, and 1990.

The 1970 Amendments set up much of the actual framework for the CAA, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the requirement to create New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that would limit emissions from motor vehicles and specific industrial establishments.

Carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (10 microns), particulate matter (2.5 microns), ozone, and sulfur dioxide are the seven elements that make up the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

The Clean Air Act is a comprehensive federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level in the United States. It was first enacted in 1963 and has been amended several times since then. The main goals of the Clean Air Act are to improve and protect air quality, regulate emissions of harmful pollutants from various sources such as vehicles, factories, and power plants, and establish national air quality standards. The law empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and enforce regulations to achieve these objectives, including implementing emission limits, requiring pollution control technologies, and monitoring air quality across the country. Additionally, the Clean Air Act encourages state and local governments to develop and implement their own air quality improvement programs in collaboration with the federal government.