Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, United States
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 was the first federal air pollution law in the United States. Before its enactment, there were several state and local legislations addressing air pollution, but the U.S. government eventually concluded that air pollution should be managed on a national level. The main purpose of the Act was to provide research and technical assistance to enable the control of air pollution at its source. The Public Health Service was granted US$5 million annually for a five-year period. The act did little to prevent air pollution, but it made the government aware that this problem existed on the national level. It recognized the dangers facing public health and welfare, agriculture, livestock, and deterioration of property, and reserved for Congress the right to control this growing problem.
Further Reading
- American Meteorological Society. Air Pollution Control Act of 1955: Summary.
- Foundation for Clean Air Progress. History of the Clean Air Act.
