National primary and secondary ambient air quality standards
Promulgation
The Administrator—
within 30 days after
after a reasonable time for interested persons to submit written comments thereon (but no later than 90 days after the initial publication of such proposed standards) shall by regulation promulgate such proposed national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards with such modifications as he deems appropriate.
With respect to any air pollutant for which air quality criteria are issued after
Protection of public health and welfare
National primary ambient air quality standards, prescribed under subsection (a) shall be ambient air quality standards the attainment and maintenance of which in the judgment of the Administrator, based on such criteria and allowing an adequate margin of safety, are requisite to protect the public health. Such primary standards may be revised in the same manner as promulgated.
Any national secondary ambient air quality standard prescribed under subsection (a) shall specify a level of air quality the attainment and maintenance of which in the judgment of the Administrator, based on such criteria, is requisite to protect the public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects associated with the presence of such air pollutant in the ambient air. Such secondary standards may be revised in the same manner as promulgated.
National primary ambient air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide
Review and revision of criteria and standards; independent scientific review committee; appointment; advisory functions
Not later than
The Administrator shall appoint an independent scientific review committee composed of seven members including at least one member of the National Academy of Sciences, one physician, and one person representing State air pollution control agencies.
Not later than
Such committee shall also (i) advise the Administrator of areas in which additional knowledge is required to appraise the adequacy and basis of existing, new, or revised national ambient air quality standards, (ii) describe the research efforts necessary to provide the required information, (iii) advise the Administrator on the relative contribution to air pollution concentrations of natural as well as anthropogenic activity, and (iv) advise the Administrator of any adverse public health, welfare, social, economic, or energy effects which may result from various strategies for attainment and maintenance of such national ambient air quality standards.
Source
(July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, § 109, as added Pub. L. 91–604, § 4(a),Notes
Codification
Prior Provisions
Amendments
Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
Modification or Rescission of Rules, Regulations, Orders, Determinations, Contracts, Certifications, Authorizations, Delegations, and Other Actions
Termination of Advisory Committees
Role of Secondary Standards
Report.—
The Administrator shall request the National Academy of Sciences to prepare a report to the Congress on the role of national secondary ambient air quality standards in protecting welfare and the environment. The report shall:
include information on the effects on welfare and the environment which are caused by ambient concentrations of pollutants listed pursuant to section 108 [42 U.S.C. 7408] and other pollutants which may be listed;
estimate welfare and environmental costs incurred as a result of such effects;
examine the role of secondary standards and the State implementation planning process in preventing such effects;
determine ambient concentrations of each such pollutant which would be adequate to protect welfare and the environment from such effects;
estimate the costs and other impacts of meeting secondary standards; and
consider other means consistent with the goals and objectives of the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] which may be more effective than secondary standards in preventing or mitigating such effects.
Submission to Congress; Comments; Authorization.—
The report shall be transmitted to the Congress not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 [
At least 90 days before issuing a report the Administrator shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed report. The Administrator shall include in the final report a summary of the comments received on the proposed report.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.”