L11 Econ 451 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Clean Air Act (United States), National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Threshold Model
Document Summary
: very little additional deterioration in air quality allowed: class ii: somewhat more pollution permitted, class iii: air quality is permitted to deteriorate up to. The federal government enforcement authority sets the air quality goals that all parts of the country are to meet and also limits degradation in the already clean areas. Against the backdrop of these new source standards, individual states impose appropriate limits on existing sources to ensure that the national ambient air quality standards are met. Finally, the states are required to monitor and enforce the entire system of emissions limitations. Caa: prior to 1990, efforts to find info about the costs and benefits were hampered by the cost and complexity of doing so. But: pollution control equipment was already in place at many facilities due to existing regulations and removing/reinstalling them would incur expense, pollution could become more heavily concentrated at one location, many cost-minimizing schemes include provisions to prevent.
