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. Progress with air quality management in the 60 years since the uk. Clean water act became the act s common name with amendments in 1977. Because many states fail to meet mandated targets, the first set of clean air act amendments is adopted. Guidance on use of section 303 of the clean air act caa. In a 2005 rulemaking, after conducting a thorough analysis of the language and legislative history of the two versions, epa described one way to reconcile them in a manner that comported with the overall thrust of the clean air act amendments of 1990. Dec 09, 2012 the 1956 clean air act with its smokeless zones brought about great improvements in londons air but not before smogs in 1956, 1957 and 1962 claimed around 1,500 more lives. The clean air act is the name of any of several pieces of legislation aimed at reducing smog and other types of air pollution. An act to make provision for abating the pollution of the air. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by amendments in 1972 that gave the act its current shape.
Contains public sector information licensed under the open government licence v3. Environmental protection agency epa to establish national ambient air quality standards naaqs to protect public health and public. The clean air act 1956 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom passed in response to londons great smog of 1952. Friends of the earth is campaigning for laws that will clean up air pollution across the uk. 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.
Parliament needs to tackle the modern sources of air pollution and improve on existing legislation to ensure that we enshrine the right to breathe clean air in law. Controls were introduced to restrict the production of smoke, dust and grit from commercial industrial and domestic activities fires. Nov, 2019 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. On a local authority scale, approximately 5% of all deaths in england and wales are linked to air pollution, although, based purely on pm, this is recognised as an underestimate 4. Clean air act, 1956 industrial provisions internet archive. We have learned much about the relationship between air pollution and health through thousands of. But in 2007, the supreme court reversed the agency in massachusetts v. Clean air act of 1956 was established in which smokeless zones were introduced and a transition to smokeless fuels was encouraged 8. The 1990 amendments to the clean air act removed most of the incentive for the agency to list other criteria pollutants, because congress created a separate regulatory program for hazardous air pollutants haps, many of which would otherwise. 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. List of documents, books, photographs and other items available at. The 1948 donora smog from october 2730, 1948, a deadly air pollution event occurred in donora, pennsylvania.
With the 1990 clean air act amendments, congress revised the epas hazardous air pollutant program to a technologybased regulatory system. The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the clean air act was first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990. The clean air acts economic benefits past, present and future. Act,1936andsection24ofthe clean air act, 1956 bythemayor,aldermenandburgesses ofthecountyboroughofburnleyactingbythe councilforthepreventionofsmoke. The first clean air act of 1956 followed the report of the beaver committee into air pollution. Supplement to petition for reconsideration of endangerment and cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202a of the clean air act pursuant to section 307d of the clean air act, 42 u. Litigation challenges to epa clean air act rules promulgated under the obama administration 3 coalition for responsible regulation, inc. Full text of clean air act, 1956 industrial provisions. Air pollution is the greatest environmental health risk facing mankind 5 but in the sixty years since the seminal clean air act 1956 have we really done enough to address this challenge. The clean air act 1956 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom enacted principally in response to londons great smog of 1952. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. It was sponsored by the ministry of housing and local government in england and the department of health for scotland, and was in effect until 1993. On november 15, 1990, president bush signed into law the clean air act amendments of 1990, the first comprehensive changes to the act in years.
This act aimed to control domestic sources of smoke pollution by introducing smokeless zones. The act established smokefree areas throughout the city and restricted the burning of coal in domestic fires as well as in industrial furnaces. Research offcampus without worrying about access issues. Watershed academy web introduction to the clean water act. Epa456k07001 environmental protection research triangle park, nc april 2007. Regulating carbon dioxide under section 111d of the clean. Section 812 of the clean air act amendments of 1990 requires the environmental protection agency epa to periodically assess the effect of the clean air act on the public health, economy, and environment of the united states, and to report the findings and results of its assessments to the congress. In great smog of london british government ultimately passed the clean air act four years later, in 1956, as a direct response to the lethal fog. Clean air act the other five criteria pollutants were identified by congress in the original statute. Major sources are defined as a stationary source or group of stationary sources that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of a hazardous air. Controls were introduced to restrict the production of smoke, dust and grit from.
Following this tragedy the government passed the clean air act of 1956. The clean air act was revised in 1968 when industries burning coal, gas or other fuels were ordered to use tall chimneys. Six commonly asserted misconceptions about the clean air act have fed the confusion. Sep 20, 2012 the 1990 clean air act amendments revised section 112 to require issuance of technologybased standards for major sources and certain area sources. The plain english guide to the clean air act pdf epa. Full text of clean air act, 1956 industrial provisions see other formats. The london smog and 1956 clean air act friends of the earth. The 1956 clean air act with its smokeless zones brought about great improvements in londons air but not before smogs in 1956. Department of health, education and services to create and enforce auto emission standards. Options, limits, and impacts nicholas institute 6 power plants.
Clean air acts united kingdom 1956, 1968 britannica. Structuring power plant emissions standards under section 111d of the clean air act m. Application of smoke control legislation to boats on uk waterways 5. In actions brought under this subsection, the district courts. The clean air act requires that an nsps apply to a category of sources, and the epa defined the cat. It seeks to identify the factors contributing to successful management of air quality and the factors that have acted, or continue to do so, as barriers to progress. This paper looks at the scope for amending the clean air act caa, much of which dates back 55 years to the first act of 1956. In 1974 the first control of air pollution act introduced regulations on the composition of motor fuels. Pdf progress with air quality management in the 60 years since. The principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. The last major change in the law, the clean air act amendments of 1990, enacted in 1990 by congress. In this act, unless the context otherwise requires 14 of 1971 s. It is an important part of uk history, which attempted to reduce air pollution around much of the country.
Whenever a person has failed to comply with an order issued under subsection b2, the secretary may file a civil action in the united states district court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to enforce such order. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970. Progress with air quality management in the 60 years since. Winds blow the summer sun causes chemical level ozonea principal component of smog.
The clean air act caa is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Under the clean air act of 1970 and 1977, the epa set emissions limits for seven hazardous pollutantsberyllium, mercury, vinyl chloride, asbestos, benzene, radionuclides, and arsenic. History and structure of the clean air act theodore l. Two new clean air act regulations will protect the health of millions of americans. Nicholson, william sheffield smoke inspector, smoke abatement.
Clean air acts of 1956 and 1968 in the united kingdom. It was initially introduced as a private members bill by sir gerald. The 1990 amendments to the clean air act were signed into law by president bush on november 15, 1990. British government ultimately passed the clean air act four years later, in 1956, as a direct response to the lethal fog. The clean air act has helped change the way many of us work or do business. List of mentions of the clean air act 1956 in parliament in the period 1803 to 2005. Clean air act, passed in 1970 with strong bipartisan support, was the first environmental law to give the federal government a serious regulatory role, established the architecture of the u. Clean air act text overview of the clean air act and air. State and local governments have passed supplemental legislation to fill in gaps left by the federal mandates. The clean air act of 1956 was seen in both the uk and abroad as an important example of environmental legislation, many believe that it was the start of the modern day environmental movement. Industry challenges to clean air rules promulgated during. The legislation included powers to establish smokeless zones. The 1956 clean air act the government could not ignore the great london smog and so the first clean air act was eventually introduced in 1956, following the beaver committee report.
The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. Epas prospective study of the clean air act focuses on the effects of the 1990 clean air act amendments from 1990 through 2010 by estimating the incremental benefits of the 1990 amendments. The national smoke abatement society and the clean air act 1956. Covered employees the clean air act caa prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for engaging in protected activities pertaining to. In 1956 prices ranged from 174s 6d per ton of good quality coal to 214s 7d for a smokeless fuel.
The caa of 1968 included very similar sections to the 1956 act, however one of the main changes was the addition of regulating chimney height. Changing air quality clean air acts great london smog. Clean air act caa whistleblower protection program. This act and subsequent legislation aims to control and limit the major particulate pollutants from the atmosphere, particularly in urban areas. In 1956, the parliament of the united kingdom issued the introduction of the clean air act. A summary of the law introduction the principal law governing pollution of the nations surface waters is the federal water pollution control act, or clean water act. Historically, pollution found in cities was from domestic and industrial burning of fossil fuels. Chapter 11 full text not available general description. Chay and michael greenstone august 2003 we thank david card, doug almond, josh angrist, gary becker, david cutler, john dinardo, carlos. The direct benefits of the clean air act from 1970 to 1990 include reduced incidence of a number of adverse human health effects, improvements in visibility, and avoided damage to agricultural crops.
In this act unless the context otherwise requires affected premises means any premises on which there are industrial works, the operation of which is in the opinion of an inspector likely to result in the discharge of smoke or fumes or gases or dust into the air. First schedule confirmation and coming into operation of orders of local authorities under section eleven. The impact of the clean air act pubmed central pmc. Ford select list, 19551964 1 a full bibliographic record is available from the university of southampton library catalogue. The clean air act, 1963 was a legislation that offered federal research aid, urged the development of state control agencies, and involved the federal government in interstate pollution issues. The government could not ignore the great london smog and so the first clean air act was eventually introduced in 1956, following the beaver committee report.
The clean air act is the law that defines epas responsibilities for protecting and improving the nations air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The act was amended in 1956 to strengthen enforcement provisions and again in 1965 to. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970 kenneth y. Pdf is used for representing twodimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.
The bush epa actually resisted regulating greenhouse gases under the clean air act for many years. This paper explores the challenges, opportunities and progress made with managing air quality since the united kingdom parliament passed the clean air act, 1956. Filing whistleblower complaints under the clean air act employees are protected from retaliation for reporting alleged violations regarding air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. The clean air act, signed into law in1970 and strengthened in 1990, gave the federal government the authority to enforce regulations that limit air pollution. Historians widely considered the clean air act a milestone in environmental protection. Epahqoar200901 fifth supplement to petition for reconsideration of endangerment and cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202a of the clean air act filed by concerned household electricity consumers council, consisting of. Explains the statutory requirements and resource needs that must be met in order to take action under section 303 of the clean air act in the event of a pollution emergency. The air pollution killed 21 people and sickened nearly half the town. Structuring power plant emissions standards under section. It was in effect until 1964, and sponsored by the ministry of housing and local government in england and the department of health for scotland. Here is the lowdown on this crucial public health act history. Pdf this paper explores the challenges, opportunities and. Application of smoke control legislation to boats on uk. It had become recognized that sulphur dioxide removal from emissions was impractical at the time longhurst, et al.
Requirement that new furnaces shall be so far as practicable smokeless. Ben williams air quality management resource centre, university of the west of england, bristol, england in the year that the uks clean air act turns sixty, the head of public health at the world health organisation who declared. In 1956 the clean air act established smokeless zones in which only smokeless. Nrdc legislative facts the clean air act is a genuine american success story and one of the most effective tools in u. The plain english guide to the clean air act united states of. Regulating carbon dioxide under section 111d of the clean air act.
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