Background

Similar to Canada, the historic expansion of heavy industry and the automobile led to serious local and regional air pollution issues in many parts of the United States, particularly the Eastern States. In response, many states and local governments passed air pollution legislation before the US federal government passed the 1955 Air Pollution Act air pollution as a national problem. The act also stated that additional health research and actions to improve air quality were required.

Power plant emissions

(Source: Unknown)

Serious air pollution incidents in the United States underscored the need for government action. These included:

• St. Louis - 1939, lanterns needed during daytime for one week;
• Los Angeles - 1943, visibility reduced to three blocks;
• Donora, Pennsylvania - 1948, 20 dead and 5,190 ill;
• Los Angeles - 1954, heavy smog conditions shut down industry & schools for most of October; and,
• New York - 1953, about 200 dead; 1963, 405 dead; 1965, 65 dead; 1966, 168 dead.

  

Donora, PA at noon on Oct. 29, 1948 as deadly smog envelops the town.

(Source: Unknown)

Significant government efforts included amendments to national air pollution legislation in the US that culminated in the 1970 Clean Air Act. This Act established new standards for ambient air quality, set new limits on stationary and mobile source emissions to be enforced by state and federal governments, and increased funding for air pollution research.

Further progressive efforts by the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later led to the 1990 Clean Air Act. This Act included measures to address known and emerging air pollution issues, such as:

• increased automobile emissions standards with a definite timetable for reductions;
• encouraged use of low-sulfur and alternative fuels to reduce sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, a main component of acid precipitation;
• mandated installment of Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to reduce emissions of air toxics; and,
• reduction in the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to reduce ozone depletion.

The 1990 Clean Air Act also allows the Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on how much of a given pollutant can be in the air anywhere within the United States. This ensures that all Americans have the same basic health and environmental protection. It also allows individual states to have stronger pollution controls, but they must adhere to the common national standards. Through the Clean Air Act and other US initiatives, emissions were 27% lower in 1996 than in 1980, and are predicted to be 40% lower by 2010 (than 1980).

Another important part of the U.S. Clean Air Act is the requirement that individual states have to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that explain how each state meet its obligations under the Act. An SIP is a collection of regulations that a state will use to clean up polluted areas, and that also allow for public involvement through hearings and opportunities to comment. Finally, the Environmental Protection Agency must approve each plan, and if it is not acceptable, the EPA can assume enforcement of the Clean Air Act in that state.

Traffic at USA-Canada Border

(Source: Environment Canada)

In Washington State, government revised and updated its early 1970s air protection legislation through the 1991 Clean Air Act. This Act empowers the State Department of Ecology to regulate burning to meet shared forest protection and air quality objectives, and emphasized pollution prevention, accountability, and state government leadership. In addition to other important functions, the Washington State Clean Air Act established regional agencies, such as the Northwest Clean Air Agency and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, to meet and maintain air quality standards, protect human health, prevent injury to plant and animal life and protect visibility.

In 1999, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a major effort to improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The Regional Haze Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas. The rule requires states to work with the EPA, other federal departments, and other interested parties, to develop and implement air quality protection plans that reduce air pollution-related visibility impairment.

Further American air quality efforts include regulations that will reduce emissions from non-road motor vehicles such as construction equipment and recreational vehicles by requiring cleaner engines and cleaner fuels

Other available backgrounds include:

Select link to obtain a list of the participating agencies in the Georgia Basin / Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy.