What has been a major regulatory focus of the Clean Air Act?

The major regulatory focus of the Clean Air Act has been on establishing air quality standards. This legislation, enacted in 1963 and significantly updated in subsequent years, aims to control air pollution on a national level by setting limits on specific pollutants considered dangerous to public health and the environment. Through the establishment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the Clean Air Act seeks to protect both human health and the environment from the adverse effects of air pollutants.

By requiring states to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline how they will achieve and maintain these standards, the Act provides a framework for maintaining clean air across different regions. This regulatory approach emphasizes the importance of monitoring air quality and taking action to prevent exceedances of the standards, thereby addressing pollution sources such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and other contributors to air degradation. The focus on air quality standards is fundamental to the law's mission of protecting public health and welfare.

In comparison, while greenhouse gas emissions have become an increasingly significant concern, particularly with global climate change in mind, they were not a primary focus of the original Clean Air Act. Noise pollution and soil contamination are managed under other environmental regulations, thus further highlighting why establishing air quality standards remains the core responsibility of the