The process of establishing and revising National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1983.10465541· OSTI ID:5688799

Padgett, J; Richmond, H

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for periodically reviewing and revising (as necessary) all National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These standards represent one of the principal environmental objectives of the Clean Air Act. NAAQS were set on April 30, 1971 for photochemical oxidants, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. A NAAQS was established for lead on Oct. 5, 1978. The standard-setting process has evolved into a more complex and lengthy procedure in response to the need for both better information on which to base a decision and the desire for more involvement by the general public and the scientific community in the decision making process. This article presents an overview of the current standard-setting process, discusses some of the key scientific issues related to setting standards, and briefly describes some possible future refinements to the standard-setting process.

• Research Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 5688799
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 33:1; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
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500600* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR QUALITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEAN AIR ACT
DECISION MAKING
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HYDROCARBONS
LAWS
LEAD
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
STANDARDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES