Air Pollution: States Assigned a Major Role in EPA's Air Toxics Strategy
RCED-87-76
Published: Mar 31, 1987. Publicly Released: May 07, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) strategy to rely more on states to regulate toxic air pollutants, specifically: (1) the status of the strategy; (2) certain legal issues related to state regulation of pollutants; and (3) variances among state air toxics programs.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| During the reauthorization of the Clean Air Act, Congress may wish to consider the consistency issue and the options available to address it. One option is to retain the status quo, that is, to continue to allow the states discretion in standard setting, compliance monitoring, and enforcement, but continue to provide financial and technical assistance to state air toxics programs. A second option would be for EPA to exercise more control over state air toxics programs. | Several bills are being considered by Congress to amend the Clean Air Act. The toxic air pollution issue is subordinate to other air pollution issues and it is not clear the extent it will be addressed if the Clean Air Act is amended. |
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Air pollution controlEnvironmental legislationstate relationsHazardous substancesPollution monitoringSafety regulationSafety standardsState programsPollutantsPollution