Branch of Environmental Assessment
(BEA)
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act (CAA)
(42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is a comprehensive Federal law that
regulates all sources of air emissions. The 1970 CAA authorized the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the
environment. The States were directed to develop State implementation
plans (SIPs), which consist of emission reduction strategies, with the
goal of achieving the NAAQS by the legislated date.
The 1977 CAA amendments set more rigorous requirements
for reducing emissions in areas that do not meet the NAAQS and
established the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
regulations for areas that already meet the NAAQS. The PSD regulations
are designed to prevent any significant deterioration in air quality
above an established baseline level.
The 1990 amendments to the CAA in large part were
intended to meet unaddressed or insufficiently addressed problems such
as acid rain, ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion,
visibility, and air toxics.
Common air pollutants
regulated by the EPA include nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur
dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5),
carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), ozone (O3),
and lead (Pb).
Regulation of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Air Emission Sources
The MMS has jurisdiction over Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) air emissions in the Gulf of Mexico west of 87.5 degrees West
longitude (off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama). The MMS air regulations are presented in
30 CFR 250.302 through 304.
In all other OCS areas, the EPA has jurisdiction, as
mandated by
Section 328 of the CAA.
More Information about the Clean Air Act
The following links provide more information on the
CAA and the various parts of the EPA regulatory program.
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