Chay and michael greenstone august 2003 we thank david card, doug almond, josh angrist, gary becker, david cutler, john dinardo, carlos. The 1970 clean air act required states to develop state implementation plans for how they would meet new national ambient air quality standards by 1977. Reductions in particulate air pollution alone, thanks in large part to the clean air act, have added 1. 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. At least some would also agree that over the forty years of its existence, the cwa has. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 definition and summary of the clean air act summary and definition. An econometric analysis of the clean air act amendments on air quality eileen norcross, m. The primary goal of the clean air act is ensuring public health, but the act has a secondary effect of improving the environment by regulating the production of some greenhouse gases. Diy brick rocket stove cooking without power duration.
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. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970 kenneth y. The direct costs of implementing the clean air act from 1970 to 1990, including annual compliance expen. The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the clean air act was first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990.
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. How to be productive at home from a remote work veteran. Nrdc legislative facts the clean air act is a genuine american success story and one of the most effective tools in u. The donora smog disaster and the clean air act of 1970.
May 5, 2003 kenneth chay, ucberkeley and nber, carlos dobkin, ucberkeley ph. Economics of education, health care, health economics, public economics, environment and energy economics. The clean air act has helped change the way many of us work or do. A summary of the act and its major requirements congressional research service 3 the 1990 amendments also authorized appropriations for clean air programs through fy1998. Many credit the literary works of henry david thoreau or teddy roosevelts patronage of national parks as the roots of the green movement in the us. In principle, it was a law that would show excellent results. Howard baker center for public policy 28,956 views. Richard nixon signed the landmark clean air act of 1970 but not because he had any great concern about the environment. The 1963 clean air act was amended in 1970 and 1990 and the law therefore consists of three sets of federal programs to establish air quality goals and to impose pollution control. The federal courts and air pollution introduction on december 31, 1970, congress enacted the clean air amendments,1 which virtually amended out of existence the air quality act of 1967,2 the anti air pollution law then in force. Edmund muskie and signed into law by president nixon on dec. The epa has allowed the individual states to elect. Although the 1990 clean air act is a federal law covering the entire country, the states do much of the work to carry out the act. 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.
To strengthen this automakers argument, we need to find the answer choice that shows that meeting the standards will be more burdensome now than it was in 1970. 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. To implement the strict new clean air act of 1970, during his first term as epa. The clean air act of 1970 and adult mortality kenneth chay, carlos dobkin and michael greenstone this version. Air quality, infant mortality, and the clean air act of 1970. Clean air act of 1963, 1970 and 1990 american historama. Jun 01, 2015 authorized the establishment of national ambient air quality standards established requirements for state implementation plans to achieve the national ambient air quality standards authorized the. 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. 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.
The clean air act was major legislation passed to control air pollution in the united states. The first 20 years of the clean air act, from 1970 to 1990, resulted in the prevention of more than 205,000 premature. The clean air act caa is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and. The national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended. Costle on passage of clean air act amendments of 1977 epa press release august 5. History and structure of the clean air act theodore l. Clean air act, passed in 1970 with strong bipartisan support, was. It would take another 15 years to acknowledge that air pollution was a rapidly escalating national health problem that required federal solutions. The clean air act of 1970 is a us federal law intended to reduce air pollution and protect air quality the act which underwent major revisions in 1990 and 2003deals with ambient air. The obvious counterpoint would be that they were able to use new technology to respond to the restrictions then, so why not now. 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. The report shows that the public health protection and environmental benefits of the clean air act exceeded the costs of its programs by a large margin. May 24, 2012 the donora smog disaster and the clean air act of 1970.
The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to 1990. Today, particulate air pollution is not a major problem in most parts of the united states. Its success or failure has obvious consequences for the quality of the air we breathe. 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 approaches to reduce air pollution. Air act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide. The evidence supports the conclusion that air pollution has a causal effect on infant health and that the 1970 clean air act provided significant health benefits. The benefits and costs of the clean air act, 1970 to.
A similar fate befell the 1970 amendments and has continued to plague implementation of the clean air act ever since although the enforcement activity has increased somewhat in recent years. Policy evolution under the clean air act harvard kennedy school. Clean air act extension of 1970 mnn mother nature network. An act to amend the clean air act to provide for a more effective program to improve the quality of the nations air. The amendments in 1970 were an entirely rewritten version of the original clean air act. An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Research fellow government accountability project, mercatus center, george mason university october 2004 since the middle of the last century, air quality has steadily improved in the united states. Clean air act 10 impacts red, green, and blue says. This report will be updated at the end of each congress, or sooner if congress enacts a law that substantively changes the statute.
The act which underwent major revisions in 1990 and 2003deals with ambient air. 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. With the 1990 clean air act amendments, congress revised the epas hazardous air pollutant program to a technologybased regulatory system. Since 1970, epa has been responsible for a variety of clean air act programs to reduce air pollution nationwide in 1990, congress dramatically revised and expanded the caa, providing epa even broader authority to implement and enforce regulations reducing air pollutant emissions. In 1990, congress dramatically revised and expanded. Since the clean air act was passed in 1970, why is the air. Sustainability trends reducing emissions at airports pdf. One of the reasons the 1967 air quality act failed and thus spurred congress to enact a tough national air quality program in 1970 was the almost complete lack of enforcement of the earlier statute. The act was passed in 1963, but important and major amendments were added to the original act in 1970 and 1990. 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.
Oct 04, 20 icy act of 1969 nepa,1 the clean air act of 1970,2 and the 1972 clean water act cwa3many environmental law scholars would likely agree that the cwa was the best designed and most artfully drafted. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. A citizen may file a lawsuit to obtain compliance with an emission standard. The clean air acts economic benefits past, present and future. Oct 04, 2016 i believe that congress enactment of the 1970 amendments to the clean air act a few months later was an equally significant landmark.
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