Addressing Challenges in Implementing the Clean Air Act

• The Clean Air Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., seeks to protect human health and the environment from emissions that pollute ambient, or outdoor, air.
• The act requires EPA to establish minimum national standards for air quality, and assigns primary responsibility to the states to ensure compliance with the standards.
• Areas not meeting air quality standards—referred to as "nonattainment areas" (usually metropolitan areas)—are required to implement specified air pollution control measures as a condition to receiving transportation funds.
• GAO has identified areas for improved coordination between EPA’s air quality planning process and the Department of Transportation’s transportation planning process.
• EPA has yet to implement needed changes to its process for analyzing health effects of particulate matter air pollution.
• GAO has also reported that EPA is far behind in assessing and updating the standards for sources of 187 hazardous air pollutants under its air toxics program.
• In general, EPA’s clean air programs have suffered setbacks from the courts, ruling that its approaches for Mercury and the Clean Air Interstate Rule are not consistent with the Clean Air Act.

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

• In light of recent court actions overturning several of EPA’s proposed clean air rules, EPA should re-evaluate and strengthen many of its clean air programs, including its Air Toxics, New Source Review, Mercury Control Technologies, and Particulate Matter programs.

  Highlights of GAO-06-669 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-05-613 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-06-780 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-04-274 (PDF)

• EPA needs to improve the management of its Air Toxics program and enhance its ability to reduce risks of cancer and other adverse health effects, and develop an Air Toxics program improvement plan.

  Highlights of GAO-06-669 (PDF)

• EPA should also better coordinate states’ national ambient air quality standards implementation plans with DOT’s transportation planning processes to strengthen the benefits of these two interrelated programs.

  Highlights of GAO-03-581 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Particulate Matter

Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act

Air Pollution

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