Clean Air Act of 1970

In the 1970s, there was a pollution problem caused by industrial activities and vehicle emissions. Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, raised awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment. This led to a public outcry and the formation of the Clean Air Act of 1970. The act established standards for air quality and required states to develop plans for compliance. It also mandated emission standards for vehicles and industries, and introduced measures to prevent degradation of air quality. The act had bipartisan support and showed that people can make a positive impact on the environment when they come together. Hello, my name is Michaela plot and for my 9th assignment this week, I'm making a short podcast video at the clean air act of 1970. The cleaner act in 1970 was the bill passed largely because of the efforts of senators, authors, company owners, and regular everyday individuals. During this time, there was a great pollution problem caused by industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels. This caused smog to form, which can have detrimental effects on human health. All started when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, which was meant to educate the public about human health and environmental issues. The book focuses on the effects of the use of pesticides on the environment and human health. Carson documented how the use of these chemicals was causing ecological imbalance and harming various forms of life, including birds, fish and other wildlife. This led to a public outcry and debate on whether or not these pesticides were good or bad for the environment. Because of Rachel Carson, more people started questioning the safety of not just pesticides, but of the environment around them. The biggest event was Earth Day 1970. 20 million people came together to protest for cleaner air and a better environment. This was the foundation for the Clean Air Act of 1970. Senator Eddie Muskie was the forefront of the air and water pollution subcommittee during this time. There was reluctance from President Nixon, as well as many industries. They wanted nothing to do with solving this problem either. Senator Howard Baker knew that the only way to bring about change and improvement in the environment was to take it to a federal level. The standards for the act were all based on science and not politics, which was a big deal since Howard Baker was Republican and Eddie Muskie was a Democrat. You would think that this topic would be more heavily debated in regards to politics. That's just how dire the situation was that they were able to lay down economics and politics for science alone. Edward Cole also played a big part in helping the pollution issue during this time. His company had made progress with a catalytic converter, which is an anti-pollution device that could be installed in every new car made. This, however, would take a couple of years because they were only being installed in new cars and not old ones. Finally, the bill passed unanimously when it was placed before the Senate. Here are some key aspects of the Clean Air Act of 1970. National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS. It directed the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, to establish national ambient air quality standards for specific pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, ozone, and particulate matter. This basically means that there was a set maximum level allowed for these pollutants to be in the air to protect public health and the environment. State Implementation Plans, SIPS. It requires each state to develop and implement a state implementation plan that outlines the strategies and measures the state will take to achieve and maintain compliance with the NAAQS. These plans typically include regulation, emission controls, monitoring programs, and enforcement mechanisms. Mobile Source Emission Standards. It mandated the establishment of emission standards for motor vehicles and non-road engines, such as those used in construction, agriculture, and industry. These standards set limits on pollutants emitted by these sources, and because of this, there have been significant reductions in vehicle emissions over the years. New Source Performance Standards, or NSPS. The Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to establish performance standards for new or modified stationary sources of air pollution. These standards require industries to adopt emission control technologies and practices to limit the release of pollutants during their operations. Prevention of Significant Deterioration, or PSD. It aimed to prevent the degradation of air quality in areas with relatively clean air. The program requires new or modified major sources of air pollution in these areas to undergo rigorous permitting processes and implement the best available control technologies. Acid Rain Program. It made amendments in 1990 and added provisions to address acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. The law introduced a cabin trade system to reduce these emissions from power plants, resulting in significant improvements in air and water quality. And lastly, Enforcement and Penalties. It provides EPA with enforcement authority to ensure compliance with its provisions. Violators may face civil or criminal penalties, and the law allows citizens to file lawsuits against polluters for violations. The most important thing about this act was not just that it helped the environment, but it was also groundbreaking in terms of legislative act and to see how people could come together to achieve something that seemed impossible to fix. I think a big part of this act that we need to recognize is that today, a lot of environmental issues seem permanent because we are individual humans who feel like we can't make an impact. So, when we all get together for a common cause, we can really have a positive impact on the environment. It was also very crucial because people during this time were able to see 2 different political parties come together to achieve something, and maybe that wasn't the biggest deal back then, but today it would be huge. The sources I used for the Clean Air Act of 1970 YouTube video online by the YouTube channel Howard Baker Center for Public Policy and the Wikipedia page for the Clean Air Act of 1970. Thank you.