A Summary of Federal Clean Air Standards 1955-1976

As I am restarting historical work on the automobile and the 1970s, I found it helpful to refer to this timeline to de-confuse a very complex topic and period. 

“Federal Clean Air Standards 1955-1976”

Air pollution Act of 1955 – Provided federal research grants and technical assistance to state and local governments for air pollution control.

Clean Air Act of 1963– Called for a comprehensive national program to control air pollution. A vehicle emissions committee, composed of auto and fuel industry representatives, was formed to investigate emissions control devices and fuels that would prevent pollutants.

1965 Amendments to the Clean Air act of 1963 -- (Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Act) – Required the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to set emissions standards for new motor vehicles in light of technological feasibility and economic costs. As a result, HEW issued its first standards in March 1966, effective in ’68 model year. They were based on the California standards of 275 ppm HC and 1.5% CO.

Air Quality Act of 1967– Increased the role of the fedral government in reducing air pollution by requiring the states to development and implement air quality standards based on federally developed criteria. The federal government was given sole responsibility for setting new car emission standards. Subsequently, standards of 2.2 gpm HC and 23 gpm CO were set for the 1970 model year.

Clean Air Amendments of 1970– Granted the newly created EPA the authority to set uniform, national air quality standards for six pollutants by April 30, 1971 and to control state implementation plans. Reduction in both stationary and mobile pollutants was called for. A 90% reduction in HC/CO/NOx was required for 1975/76 compared to 1970-71, respectively.

Proposed Clean Air Amendments of 1976– 

In 1976 a Senate-House Conference Committee proposed a one-year extension to existing law by setting standards of 1.5 HC/15 CO/2.0 NOx for model year ’78. In 1979-80 standards of .41/3.4/2.0

 Would be set with permanent levels of .41/3.4.1.0 beginning in 1981. This bill was filibustered in the Senate at the close of its session.