Clean Air Act (CAA) (CAA)

The Superfund law incorporates those substances listed as hazardous air pollutants under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as CERCLA hazardous substances, which is why the CAA is important to Superfund. In addition, Superfund cleanup responses must comply with CAA requirements. The CAA restricts the kinds and amounts of pollutants that may be released into the air and requires permits.

National law establishing ambient air quality emission standards to be implemented by participating states. Originally enacted in 1963, the CAA has been amended several times, most recently in 1990. The CAA includes vehicle emission standards regulating the emission of criteria pollutants (lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter). The 1990 amendments added reformulated gasoline (RFG) requirements and oxygenated gasoline provisions.

The comprehensive federal law which regulates air emissions. The goal of the law was to develop a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) that protects public health and the environment. The original CAA was passed in 1963, but the national air pollution control program is actually based on the 1970 version of the law. The 1990 CAA Amendments, in large part, were intended to deal with previously unaddressed or under-addressed problems such as acid rain, ground level ozone, ozone depletion, and air toxics.