The Clean Air Act
Summary
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is federal law passed in 1970 with the objective of minimizing air pollution on a nation-wide scale. Just like other United States environmental laws, the law is administered by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with both the federal, state, and local governments. Some of the provisions of the law enables EPA to create National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) with the aim of safeguarding public health and preventing discharges of harmful air pollutants. The law passed through major amendments in 1977 and 1990 to expand its mandate. For instance, the amendments necessitated comprehensive centralized federal and state control for both stationary as well as mobile pollution sources. It also addressed ozone depletion, acid rain, and poisonous air pollution and created a nationwide authorizations program for stationary sources. Setting and attaining NAAQS in each state was one of the goals of the act. Thus, the states were required to create state implementation plans (SIPs), directed at specific industrial sources within the states with a view of achieving the set standards.
Economic Impact
Since its introduction, Clean Air Act has improved the economy for the better. To begin with, the act has continued to reduce pollution and improve the health conditions of families as well as workers across the United States. For over four decades, the Act has propagated reduction in air pollution, enabling majority of the Americans to live healthier lives. An EPA study in 2010 discovered that reductions in air pollution and ozone pollution attained by 1990 CAA amendments prevented over 160,000 untimely deaths, 86,000 admissions to the hospital and over 130,000 heart attacks (EPA, 2016). Moreover, over 13 million workdays were saved from getting lost, and worker productivity enhanced that contributed to a stronger economy. Other benefits achieved by the Clean Air Act include minimized damage to crops and other natural vegetation.
The study further stated that the act will prevent close to 230,000 premature deaths and create major economic benefits amounting to approximately $2 trillion by 2020 (EPA, 2016). The economic benefits of the act is expected to outweigh the compliance costs of the act. Apart from the direct benefits exceeding the direct costs, the study further states that the economic welfare of several US households has improved with the Clean Air Act than without. Economic welfare is enhanced since with cleaner air, the illnesses related to air pollution are reduced, which further indicates that minimal resources is spent on medical treatments and lower absenteeism rates among US workers.
Environmental Impact
Since its introduction, the Clean Air Act has immensely reduced air pollution, averting myriad cases of adverse health effects annually. According to EPA, there was a drop of approximately 69% in aggregate emissions of the most common pollutants between 1970 and 2014 (EPA, 2016). The Act reduced the extent of six major pollutants namely ozone, particles, carbon monoxide, lead, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The reduction is emissions has enriched the quality of air being breathed across the United States. Improvements in air quality have aided several regions of the country to attain the set national air quality standards aimed at protecting public health and the environment.
Conclusion
A lot of research have been conducted on global warming and its effects on the environment. I believe that sound science has proven that global warming is a credible threat. To ensure a safe and productive environment for her citizens, the US should adopt additional environmental policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The policies should regulate environmental pollution and encourage green production methods.
References
EPA. (2016).The Clean Air Act and the Economy. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from < https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-and- economy >
EPA. (2016). Progress Cleaning the Air and Improving People's Health. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from < https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act- overview/progress-cleaning-air-and-improving-peoples-health >
