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Civil Enforcement |  |
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Clean Air Act Enforcement
The Clean Air Act (CAA), passed in 1970, created a national program
to control the damaging effects of air pollution. The Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1990 went further to ensure that the air Americans
breathe is safe. The CAA protects and enhances the quality of
the nation's air by regulating stationary and mobile sources of
air emissions. The CAA mandates controls on air pollution from mobile sources by regulating both the composition of fuels and emission-control components on motor vehicles and nonroad engines. Vehicle fuel standards for gasoline and diesel are met by refiners/ importers, and by other parties in the fuel distribtuion system.
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The
CAA requires major stationary sources to install pollution control
equipment and to meet specific emissions limitations. In addition,
for the first time under the 1990 CAA amendments, major stationary
sources must obtain operating permits. Examples of stationary
sources include manufacturers, processors, refiners, and utilities.
Regulation
of vehicles includes vehicle emission limits for Hydrocarbons
(HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and particulates
in the case of diesel vehicles. These limits, which must be met
by the vehicle manufacturers, apply to on-road vehicles, off-road
vehicles, and non-road sources (e.g., marine engines, locomotives,
and lawn & garden equipment). Under the 1990 CAA amendments,
vehicle standards are being made more stringent, in stages, through
2005 or later.