Clean+Air+Act

Author: Miri RoyBrown National Clean Air Act Draft Year: 1963 Amendment Years: 1965, 1970, 1977, 1990 The original 1963 act established a program within the US Public Health Service to research techniques for monitoring and controlling air pollution. An amendment in 1965 established standards for automobile emissions and promoted research into the effects of the US's polluted air on Canada and Mexico. The 1970 act authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary (industrial) sources and mobile sources. The 1977 amendments primarily concerned provisions for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of air quality in areas attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established in the 1970 amendment. It also contained requirements pertaining to sources in areas that don't meet the federal air quality standards. In 1990 new programs were made for the control of acid rain and for the issuance of stationary source operating permits. The program for controlling toxic air pollutants was expanded, as were the provisions for maintenance of the NAAQS. Research programs were expanded, more authority was given to enforcement, and the government set out to protect the ozone layer. Currently the EPA is responsible for enforcement of the Clean Air Act. Sources: United States Environmental Protection Agency website, [] ametsoc.org, []