Dissecting the clean air act

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7294719

This year's Air Pollution Control Association's fifth Government Affairs Seminar focused on legislative and regulatory problems that have occurred since the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments. In particular the conference addressed two questions: ''Is the old act right for today'' and ''Is the old act right for tomorrow''. In short, the answer to both was a qualified ''no.'' Richard G. Rhoads from EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards noted that the old act's framework was good. It set out two key strategies--air quality management and national emissions standards--and three goals--protect the public health and welfare, prevent significant deterioration, and assure that new sources (mobile and stationary) are built properly. Rhoads admitted, however, that the old act needs some updating, some modification. This is not to deny that the old act has served the nation well. By setting standards and deadlines, the old act provided targets that states and industries could strive to achieve; these targets also provided the public with a benchmark against which to measure progress in air cleanup. It is just as important for Congress to set targets with the 1977 amendments as it was for them to do so in 1970.

• OSTI ID: 7294719
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 11:6; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
500600* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR CLEANING
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR QUALITY
AUTOMOBILES
CLEAN AIR ACT
CLEANING
EMISSION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MEETINGS
MODIFICATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
PUBLIC HEALTH
REGULATIONS
STANDARDS
STATIONARY POLLUTANT SOURCES
TARGETS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VEHICLES