In 2020 not only did the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency turn 50 years old, it also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Clean Air Act Amendments, a landmark piece of legislation that has led to significant environmental and public health benefits across the United States. Learn more about EPA at 50.
The United States has made great progress since 1970 in cleaning the air, but the job is far from complete. November 15, 1990 marks a milestone in Clean Air Act history, the signing of the 1990 Amendments. These amendments set the stage for protecting the ozone layer, reducing acid rain and toxic pollutants, and improving air quality and visibility.
The Act calls for states and EPA to solve multiple air pollution problems through programs based on the latest science and technology information.
Congress designed the Clean Air Act to combat a variety of air pollution problems, and to tackle emerging pollution threats.
Under the Clean Air Act, health-based air quality standards are based on the latest science. Emissions standards for sources are based on information about available technologies.
The Clean Air Act calls for state, local, tribal and federal governments to work in partnership to clean the air.
Stakeholders and the public play critical roles in developing standards and implementation of the Clean Air Act.
Under the Act, EPA seeks to provide industry with flexibility on ways to control emissions while maintaining accountability for achieving reductions.
Over forty years of experience with the Clean Air Act shows that clean air and a healthy economy can go hand in hand.
Actions to implement the Clean Air Act have achieved dramatic reductions in air pollution, preventing hundreds of thousands of cases of serious health effects each year.
Since 1990 there has been approximately a 50% dec line emissions of key air pollutants .
Despite the dramatic progress to date, air pollution continues to threaten Americans’ health and welfare.
