The General Background and Main Phases of the History of Clean Air Act of the USA
The General Background
The Clean Air Act was ratified to protect the environment and human health from
pollution. In particular, the Act addresses issues pertinent to emissions that pollute the air and
outdoors. According to the Clean Air Act, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to
establish minimum air quality standards, ensuring that all companies comply. Therefore, areas
that fail to meet the standards, also known as “nonattainment areas,” have to make sure they
implement measures that help control air pollution. The Act, therefore, established federal
standards that dictate operations related to air pollution from hazardous sources. Similar to other
programs by EPA, Clean Air Act has also undergone several phases of adjustment with the
intention of improvement (Davidson & Norbeck, 2012). In particular, the Clean Air Act was first
passed in 1955, and since then, it has been subjected to the process of information collection,
research, as well as technical assistance for guaranteed strengthening of federal standards and
enforcement strategies.
Main Phases of the Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act has undergone several phases of changes, and each one of them is
focused on addressing several environmental issues. The adjustment phases have continuously
addressed issues that constantly seem to broaden with time. For instance, since the ratification of
this Act in 1955, human life has also changed significantly due to development and population
growth, and the Clean Air Act ought to match this development (McCarthy, 2011). In exploring
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the Clean Air Act phases, it is clear that its history and background are defined by the
endorsement of several acts, the most notable ones being between 1955 and 1990.
The Air Pollution Control Act (1955)
The Air Pollution Control Act was the first phase of the Clean Air Act, and it was passed
in 1955. The ratification of this Act followed the U.S. federal legislation regulations, which were
concerned about continued air pollution due to the industrialization process. Apparently, the
1955 act was primarily focused on sensitizing the public on environmental pollution issues,
specifically creating knowledge in relation to this area and increasing research into the matter.
Clean Air Act (1963)
The 1963 act was a hybrid of 1955, and it focused on more specific issues, which entailed
an increased focus on the issue of controlled air pollution. The endorsement of this federal
program was crucial in that it called different sectors, such as the U.S. Public Health Services, to
focus on ways to help society address the issue of air pollution (United States. Department of
Health; Education; and Welfare, 1965). For instance, the relevant regulatory authorities needed
to set standards that would control and monitor air pollution. Though the Act was considerably
more comprehensive compared to that of 1955, its shortcomings were apparent in that it failed to
consider mobile sources of air pollution.
Air Quality Act (1967)
The Air Quality Act of 1967 was a better version of the 1963 act since it amended
regulations that addressed ambient air. For a comprehensive address of the issues, the 1967 act
was divided into several segments that focused on setting national air pollution control standards.
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The standard control was significant since it advocated for the assimilation of technology control
process that aligned to the state implantation plans (SIPs)
Clean Air Act (1970)
Image 1: A representation of the main amendment phases of the Clean Air Act. Retrieved from
The endorsement of the Clean Air Act of 1970 was noteworthy since it saw the
legalization of this law by being placed in the country’s regulations. Besides, the 1970 act
resulted in increased decentralization of processes as the U.S. air control anticipated increasing
air pollution control (United States. Government Accountability Office, 2005). Different state
and federal agencies embraced this Act by ensuring that it was in the frontline to help preserve
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air quality following the standard stipulated by EPA. This meant that the 1970 act was more
about addressing demand standards that included pollution from mobile sources.
Clean Air Act (1977)
The growing issues of air pollution led to the certification of the Clean Air Act of 1977.
The 1977 act was more detailed since it focused on addressing the increasingly earnest and
complex air pollution issue (Wilson, 1993). The approach therein entailed passing more realistic
goals. As a result, the Act was focused on increased air pollution prevention, more so to mitigate
possible destruction to the ozone layer.
Clean Air Act (1990)
The Clean Air Act of 1990 was such a significant amendment as it was primarily
designed to make sure that it facilitated the progress and strengthening of environmental
regulations (Goklany, 1999). As an amendment to the 1970 Clean Air Act, this Act was more
detailed, and it gave the federal government the powers to set national standards of reduced air
pollution, which were focused on improving human health and welfare. Overall, 1990 was
historical since it amended the previous Clean Air Act such that it amplified the chances to
improve public health protection through the medication of the standards governing ambient air
quality.
Goals and Objectives
First, the Clean Air Act phases are all about improvements to the original Act, which is to
have better regulations. This understanding means that changes in society are sure to cause more
devastating adverse effects on the environment. Therefore, there is the need to make sure that
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amendments are made to existing air pollution standards and regulations for guaranteed
protection of the environment and people’s health. On this note, a review of the Clean Air Act’s
legislation is undeniably significant since it gives a comprehensive understanding of the
evolution of the air-pollution laws. Additionally, this will help understand the history of the
legislation and the application to current laws and regulations. With this in mind, the one fact
about knowing the legislation of the Clean Air Act is that it will give me the chance to explore
general frameworks applicable to international air quality. For instance, this will inform me of
what it means to have laws protecting humans from air pollution from stationary and mobile
sources. Personally, this knowledge of the Clean Air Act’s legislation will help me explore the
international context particular to state laws governing air protection, especially the prevention
of air pollution. This knowledge will also be crucial in analyzing the Clean Air Act's
applicability to other nations such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly what can be
done to increase prevention strategies for reduced air pollution.
Analysis
Reasons and Objectives
The ratification of the Clean Air Act in the United States was vital since it helped the
nation address the prevalent environmental problems, specifically increased air pollution. The
U.S.'s decision to endorse the Clean Air Act was influenced by the idea that continued air
pollution resulted in devastating environmental problems, such as ozone layer depletion,
increased levels of greenhouse gases, and acid rain. Therefore, it was vital for the government to
pass the Clean Air Act to ensure that the pollution levels were reduced accordingly. Moreover,
the different phases since the establishment of the Air Pollution Control Act in 1955 were all
HISTORY OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT 7
focused on improved focus on the issue and guaranteed mitigation (United States & United
States. Congress. House. Committee on Commerce. Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations, 1996). First, the endorsement of the 1955 act marked the start of the journey of
reduced air pollution. This phase's milestone was that it was the first federal air pollution
legislation, and it focused on funding the research for sources and scope of air pollution.
The second phase was the Clean Air Act of 1963. The reason and objective for its
endorsement were that it authorized establishing a national program that focused on air pollution
and other related environmental problems. Besides, the objective of this was to strengthen,
improve, and accelerate applicable programs related to prevention and reduction of air pollution,
specifically setting standards that governed emission rates in factories and power plants. Thus,
the amendments particular to the 1963 act were influenced by the authorization of research
techniques that would help mitigate air pollution. With the Air Quality Act of 1967, the primary
objective was to enforce procedures that would help with the air pollution problems, which
included interstate transportation as a pollutant (United States. Congress. House. Committee on
Armed Services. Environmental Restoration Panel, 1990). Therefore, this Act was enacted to
expand authorized research into the pollution problem by including mobile sources of pollution.
Further adjustments in the Clean Air Act led to amendments in 1970. The Clean Air Act
of 1970 was significant since it authorized the foundation of the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) (United States & United States. Congress. House. Committee on
Commerce. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, 1995). Unlike past air pollution act,
the Clean Air Act of 1970 was extensive since it was also associated with the authorization of
New Source Performance Standards for stationery sources, both new and modified. The bigger
picture of this endorsement was that it resulted in increased enforcement authority. For example,
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through the 1977 act, there was a growing concern on authorized requirements that focused on
controlling motor vehicle emissions (Martinea & Novello, 2004). The 1977 act was an
amendment to the Clean Air Act of 1970. Therefore, the specific regulations endorsed therein
focused on improved functions of the previous Act. In particular, the 1977 act is notable for
authorized provisions which applied to the Prevent of Significant Deterioration. An almost
similar approach was replicated in the authorization of provisions that relate to areas categorized
as nonattainment regions, which were in line with the National Ambient Air Quality standards.
The 1970 amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970 were not considerable since they
failed to meet realistic goals in maintaining the ambient air standards. As a result, there was the
need for further modification of the 1977 amendments, with the primary objective of maintaining
the standards of NAAQS, which resulted in the 1990 act (Carlson & Burtraw, 2019). The first
notable objective of the 1990 and the reason for this amendment was that it led to the
authorization of Acid Deposition Control programs. Therefore, this meant that there were
authorized programs that controlled the release of toxic pollutants in the environment. For
instance, the legislation focused on previously regulated emission by the National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant. This allowed the Clean Air Act to focus on the
establishment of permit program requirements. With such an approach, the 1990 act expanded
modification of provisions related to the attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards. Successful maintenance of these standards meant that there was a need for expansion
and modification of enforcement authority. Another significant amendment particular to the 1990
act was establishing a program that would phase out the use of chemicals that were notorious in
the depletion of the ozone layer.
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Successful amendments of the Clean Air Act have played significant roles in society,
particular reduced levels of emission. Statistical evidence shows that the years 1990 and 2018
were significant since the Clean Air Act managed to protect the public health by imposing
stringent measures that helps reduce the level of emission by companies. For example, when the
Clean Air Act was embraced, the primary objective was to reduce the levels of pollution.
Therefore, as shown in the image below, the assimilation of stringent measures on air pollution,
the levels of carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide emissions have reduced
to almost zero (Currie & Walker, 2019). The decline in emission levels could be attributed to the
fact that the policies of the Clean Air Act gave the local government powers to effectively
implement the standards of environmental protection agency and in ways that they collaborate
with all involved parties. Improvements in air quality have followed the authorization pattern,
which requires the U.S. community to make sure that the levels of emissions are reduced
significantly, precisely by ensuring that they use alternative energy sources.
Image 2: A representation of the decline in levels of emission. Retrieved from
https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview
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Recommendations and Conclusions
Conclusion
Apparently, the Clean Air Act's endorsement in 1955 was such a significant move in the
United States as it marked the journey to reduced air pollution. According to the Clean Air Act
Legislation, the U.S. government was responsible for ensuring that it protected its citizens from
air pollution, thus improving their well-being and conserving the environment. The history of the
Clean Air Act, such as its ratification and amendment, all show that improved environmental
conservation strategies are progressive. In fact, legislation laws need to be progressive, thus
ensuring that the protection laws focus on ensuring all possible causes of emission are mitigated
accordingly. Overall, the Clean Air Act is notable for the various amendments, which have
helped make sure that the issue of air pollution is addressed accordingly. In fact, the Clean Air
Act was primarily focused on reducing the levels of pollution by enacting stringent measures that
would deter organizations and society from continued pollution. Apparently, the Clean Air Act
has been successful in its journey as it has managed to reduce the levels of emission
significantly. Particularly, through the assimilation of strict measures on air pollution, the levels
of carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide emissions have reduced to almost
zero.
Lesson Learned
The lessons from an analysis of the Clean Air Act's legislations are that the different
phases of this Act are attributable to the fact that the world continues to progress and the same
magnitude needs to be replicated in environmental conservation efforts. For instance, the 1955
act was focused on initiating research into the area of environmental conservation. With this,
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other acts and amendments were focused on improving the initiative of reduced air pollution
(Belden, 2001). The conveyed message is that all responsible authorities need to make sure that
they focus all their efforts on reduced air pollution. This should be apparent in their decision-
making process and ratification of pertinent laws and regulations. This entails having strict laws
on reduced air pollution if firms and industries are to abide by them.
Recommendations
An overall analysis of the Clean Air Act shows that the laws have been significant in the
United States’ efforts to fight air pollution. Like the U.S. context, the Clean Air Act's laws and
regulations can be replicated in other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A
country like the UAE can benefit from the U.S.’s Clean Air Act by ensuring that they observe
specific details contained therein to help them address loopholes in requirements and make
stricter laws that penalize organizations for violating the environmental laws. On this note, the
UAE can develop environmental laws related to the United States Clean Air Act by using
technology-forced elements to improve air quality, have stricter laws on air pollution, pass laws
and legislation that require industries to comply with environmental protection, and have
relevant authorities work hand-in-hand with stakeholders in the assimilation of programs that
reduces air. First, UAE can address air pollution issues by embracing technology-forced
elements to improve air quality. This approach will help UAE to ensure that air quality
improvement strategies that align to the modern-day levels of emission. The second step by the
UAE is to make sure that it embraces stricter laws on air pollution. Stringent laws are sure to
help this nation to force all involved parties to ensure their operations meet the stipulated
standards. Apparently, strict laws are part of the process that guarantees that industrial operations
comply with environmental protection measures. Finally, the UAE government can address air
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pollution issues by ensuing that relevant authorities work hand-in-hand with stakeholders in the
assimilation of programs that reduces air.
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