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. Perhaps the key single factor is the 1970 federal clean air act. 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. Air amendments of 1970, shall publish proposed regulations. Reductions in particulate air pollution alone, thanks in large part to the clean air act, have added 1. Congress passed the core provisions of the clean air act in 1970. The clean air act of 1970 helped rid smog from the sky, leaving behind pollution that was still causing respiratory problems and damage. The act was passed in 1963, but important and major amendments were added to the original act in 1970 and 1990. The impact of the clean air act pubmed central pmc. 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.
In principle, it was a law that would show excellent results. B part of the cost of programs to develop low emission alternatives to the pres ent internal combustion engine. Further, the environmental protection agency says the act has led to measurable. Clean air act overview ben lieberman enacted in 1970, the clean air act caa is the most complex, comprehensive, and costly environmental statute in existence. 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. This act implements a comprehensive program for reducing air pollution focusing on the reduction of ambient that which is present in the. 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. The clean air act resulted in significant reductions in. The 1970 clean air act amendments also provided for national emission. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970.
Clean air act house office of the legislative counsel. Air pollution has been a problem ever since the industrial revolution of the late 1800s. 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. In the united states, between 1900 and 1970, emissions of the six. The clean air act concern about automobile pollutants dates back to the mid1950s, when the u. The law was amended in 1977 and again in 1990 to extend deadlines but also to specify new strategies for cleaning up the air. Benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. The clean air act is the name of any of several pieces of legislation aimed at reducing smog and other types of air pollution. The clean air act of 1970 and adult mortality springerlink. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. The clean air act of 1970 didnt just pop out of the sky.
The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. Those of us who had a hand in drafting the 1970 amendments therefore can take satisfaction because that legislation has had a positive impact on our. Prior to 1990, caa the established a riskbased program under which only a few standards were developed. What was the significance of the clean air act of 1970. Air pollution is caused by activities such as driving automobiles, burning coal, oil, and other fossil fuels and manufacturing chemicals. The text of the bill below is as of dec 31, 1970 passed congress. It required that emissions from new automobiles be reduced by 90% during the period from 1971 to 1976. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. Clean air act united states house of representatives. Early implementation of the clean air act of 1970 in. Then in the 1960s, congress enacted a federal program authorizing the secretary of health, education and welfare to establish motor vehicle standards to reduce tailpipe emissions. The 1970 clean air act and the 1972 clean water act were the culmination of muskies legislative efforts that began the prior decade. 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.
Congress first funded research on automobile air pollution control. Permissible lead levels in unleaded and leaded gasoline reduced. The amendments in 1970 were an entirely rewritten version of the original clean air act. The 1970 clean air act launched an ambitious set of federal programs to establish air quality goals and to impose pollution control technology requirements on. Pollutants are known to harm health and the environment. Pdf enforcing the clean air act of 1970 researchgate.
Wikipedia is not a dictionary, and these articles arent very long or detailed, so i dont think each amending act needs its own article. 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. The benefits and costs of the clean air act from 1990 to 2020. 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. Clean air act extension of 1970 mnn mother nature network. The major provisions of the clean air act of 1970 were summarized and their implementations discussed.
The government credits the clean air act with significant reductions in air pollutants. 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. Chay michaelgreenstone workingpaper0408 august2003 roome52251 50memorialdrive cambridge,ma02142. It was such a huge change in the law, larry pryor says, nominating the act as a law that shaped l. They are reflected in the provisions of what is now sect e115eanf the clean air act. The major sources of lead emissions are from the fuels used in cars and trucks. It was amended first by the clean air act amendment in 1966, then by the clean air act extension of 1970 84 stat. Section 112 of the caa addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The first 20 years of the clean air act programs from 1970 to 1990 resulted in the prevention of more than 205,000 premature deaths in the year 1990 alone. Amended in 1977 and again in 1990, the caa has spawned thousands of pages of regulations covering numerous sources of air emissions. The direct costs of implementing the clean air act from 1970 to 1990, including annual compliance expen. Also, the results correspond with the findings in chay and greenstone 1999.
Economics of education, health care, health economics, public economics, environment and energy economics we examine the effects of total suspended particulates tsps air pollution on infant health. The council shall be constituted by, and on and from the date of. 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. Despite these advances, the clean air act is under threat from both the legislative and executive branches of the government. 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. Section ii introduction to the federal clean air act and related programs. 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. The clean air act has helped change the way many of us work or do business. The civil penalties prescribed under sections 205a and 211d1 of the clean air act 42 u. 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. I propose merging clean air act 1970 and clean air act 1990 into this page.
What are some pros and cons for the clean air act of 1970. 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 enactment of the clean air act of 1970 1970 caa resulted in a major shift in the federal governments role in air pollution control. Airquality,infantmortality,andthecleanairactof1970 kennethy. 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 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 was major legislation passed to control air pollution in the united states. And by the 1890s, some cities actually had air pollution control smoke ordinances, like pittsburgh and cincinnati, and st. 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. For the purposes of this act there shall be constituted a body which shall be called the air pollution council of queensland in this act referred to as the council. Clean air act amendments an overview sciencedirect topics. However, since the clean air act caa2 and the clean air. I believe that congress enactment of the 1970 amendments to. C the cost to purchase vehicles and vehicle engines, or portions.
This legislation authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary industrial sources and mobile sources. 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. The clean air act gave the federal environmental protection agency epa the power it needed to take effective action to fight environmental pollution. 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. 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. In 1970, general motors announced it would make the switch to cleaner gas by 1974 to meet the requirements of the clean air act. The effect of the clean air act on environmental quality core. A, because local controls were erratic and sensitive to industry costs rather than health costs. Long term, the better approach may be to combine nox setasides or. Evolution of the clean air act overview of the clean air. I would prefer one comprehensive clean air act article with a subsection for each amendment. The clean air act amendments of 1970 addressed the perceived flaws, establishing a model for later environmental legislation. In 1990, congress dramatically revised and expanded. We find that regulatory status is associated with large reductions in tsps pollution but has little association with reductions in.
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