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Title: Department of defense air pollution control: progress and delays

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6471982

Pollution from stationary sources (all sources except vehicles) at some Department of Defense installations will continue to pollute the Nation's air for several years. While some steps have been taken to control harmful air emissions, Defense needs to do much more to comply with emission control requirements. The Clean Air Amendments of 1970 require Federal facilities to comply with Federal, state, and local air pollution standards. On April 30, 1971, the Environmental Protection Agency published air quality standards for sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and photochemical oxidants. Federal agencies had until July 1, 1975, in most areas of the country to comply with Federal standards. The Congress is considering extending the deadline. California has filed suit to stop the Navy from violating air pollution standards. The dispute is whether the Clean Air Act, as amended, makes jet engines tested in test cells subject to stationary-source air pollution requirements. The Congress should amend the law to clarify the situation. Consent agreements between Federal agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency make the agencies comply with air pollution control standards by an established date. States are encouraged to take part in the compliance process. The Congress is considering amending the Clean Air Act to clarify: whether and when Federal agencies are bound by Federal, State, interstate, and local procedural requirements; and who is authorized to enforce compliance with air quality standards.

Research Organization:
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
6471982
Report Number(s):
LCD-77-305
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Report to the Congress by the Comptroller General of the United States
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English