Basics of the Clean Air Act ELI (Summer School, 2018)
Basics of the Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act has a major impact on the environment,human health, and the economy. The Act and its implementing regulations are at the center of many of the most pressing controversies in environmental law. As the Trump administration’s infrastructure plan has begun to take shape, a focus has been put on decreasing the time it takes to receive a permit. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency has put forth plans to remove certain regulations that allow specific industrial polluters to turn off their pollution controls. A move like this would allow major plants to discharge more contaminants as a proposed cost-effective decision. Environmental groups have filed lawsuits on behalf of surrounding communities affected by this move. Additionally, the EPA has proposed a plan to abolish the Obama administration’s fuel efficiency standards. Yet despite this move, California, with the support of countless environmental groups, continues to fight back and retain the stricter fuel standards. The Clean Air course provided real world examples of air quality planning to make this complex area accessible. Our expert panelists delved into: permitting programs, standards for mobile sources, and special programs developed to improve air quality such as the acid rain program.
Basics of the Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act has a major impact on the environment,human health, and the economy. The Act and its implementing regulations are at the center of many of the most pressing controversies in environmental law. As the Trump administration’s infrastructure plan has begun to take shape, a focus has been put on decreasing the time it takes to receive a permit. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency has put forth plans to remove certain regulations that allow specific industrial polluters to turn off their pollution controls. A move like this would allow major plants to discharge more contaminants as a proposed cost-effective decision. Environmental groups have filed lawsuits on behalf of surrounding communities affected by this move. Additionally, the EPA has proposed a plan to abolish the Obama administration’s fuel efficiency standards. Yet despite this move, California, with the support of countless environmental groups, continues to fight back and retain the stricter fuel standards. The Clean Air course provided real world examples of air quality planning to make this complex area accessible. Our expert panelists delved into: permitting programs, standards for mobile sources, and special programs developed to improve air quality such as the acid rain program.