42 U.S.C. § 7401 - Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

• Cite as: 42 U.S.C. § 7401

(a) Findings

The Congress finds-

(1) that the predominant part of the Nation's population is located in its rapidly expanding metropolitan and other urban areas, which generally cross the boundary lines of local jurisdictions and often extend into two or more States;

(2) that the growth in the amount and complexity of air pollution brought about by urbanization, industrial development, and the increasing use of motor vehicles, has resulted in mounting dangers to the public health and welfare, including injury to agricultural crops and livestock, damage to and the deterioration of property, and hazards to air and ground transportation;

(3) that air pollution prevention (that is, the reduction or elimination, through any measures, of the amount of pollutants produced or created at the source) and air pollution control at its source is the primary responsibility of States and local governments; and

(4) that Federal financial assistance and leadership is essential for the development of cooperative Federal, State, regional, and local programs to prevent and control air pollution.

(b) Declaration

The purposes of this subchapter are-

(1) to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation's air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population;

(2) to initiate and accelerate a national research and development program to achieve the prevention and control of air pollution;

(3) to provide technical and financial assistance to State and local governments in connection with the development and execution of their air pollution prevention and control programs; and

(4) to encourage and assist the development and operation of regional air pollution prevention and control programs.

(c) Pollution prevention

A primary goal of this chapter is to encourage or otherwise promote reasonable Federal, State, and local governmental actions, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, for pollution prevention.

Cite as 42 U.S.C. § 7401

Source: July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, §101, formerly §1, as added Pub. L. 88-206, §1, Dec. 17, 1963, 77 Stat. 392; renumbered §101 and amended Pub. L. 89-272, title I, §101(2), (3), Oct. 20, 1965, 79 Stat. 992; Pub. L. 90-148, §2, Nov. 21, 1967, 81 Stat. 485; Pub. L. 101-549, title I, §108(k), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2468.

current through 1/4/2022

EDITORIAL NOTES

CODIFICATION

Section was formerly classified to section 1857 of this title.

PRIOR PROVISIONS

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in a prior section 1857 of this title, act of July 14, 1955, ch. 360, §1, 69 Stat. 322, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 88-206.

AMENDMENTS

1990-Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101-549, §108(k)(1), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: "that the prevention and control of air pollution at its source is the primary responsibility of States and local governments; and".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 101-549, §108(k)(2), inserted "prevention and" after "pollution".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101-549, §108(k)(3), added subsec. (c).

1967-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 90-148 inserted "and enhance the quality of" after "to protect".

1965-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89-272 substituted "this title" for "this Act", which for purposes of codification has been changed to "this subchapter".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 101-549, title VII, §711(b), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2684, provided that:

"(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the amendments made by this Act [see Tables for classification] shall be effective on the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 15, 1990].

"(2) The Administrator's authority to assess civil penalties under section 205(c) of the Clean Air Act [ 42 U.S.C. 7524(c) ], as amended by this Act, shall apply to violations that occur or continue on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Civil penalties for violations that occur prior to such date and do not continue after such date shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Clean Air Act [ 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of this Act.

"(3) The civil penalties prescribed under sections 205(a) and 211(d)(1) of the Clean Air Act [ 42 U.S.C. 7524(a), 7545(d)(1) ], as amended by this Act, shall apply to violations that occur on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Violations that occur prior to such date shall be subject to the civil penalty provisions prescribed in sections 205(a) and 211(d) of the Clean Air Act in effect immediately prior to the enactment of this Act. The injunctive authority prescribed under section 211(d)(2) of the Clean Air Act, as amended by this Act, shall apply to violations that occur or continue on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

"(4) For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), where the date of a violation cannot be determined it will be assumed to be the date on which the violation is discovered."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1977 AMENDMENT; PENDING ACTIONS; CONTINUATION OF RULES, CONTRACTS, AUTHORIZATIONS, ETC.; IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

Pub. L. 95-95, title IV, §406, Aug. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 795, as amended by Pub. L. 95-190, §14(b)(6), Nov. 16, 1977, 91 Stat. 1405, provided that:

"(a) No suit, action, or other proceeding lawfully commenced by or against the Administrator or any other officer or employee of the United States in his official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his official duties under the Clean Air Act [this chapter], as in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 7, 1977] shall abate by reason of the taking effect of the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1977 Amendment note below]. The court may, on its own motion or that of any party made at any time within twelve months after such taking effect, allow the same to be maintained by or against the Administrator or such officer or employee.