How was the Clean Air Act of 1970 different from previous air-quality legislation? A. It gave regulatory power to the federal government. B. It gave regulatory power to state and local governments. C. It was the first law struck down by the EPA. D. It was the first environmental protection law passed.
History · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020
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The Clean Air Act of 1970 marked a significant shift in air-quality legislation in the United States. The key difference it brought compared to previous legislation was:
A. It gave regulatory power to the federal government.
Before the Clean Air Act of 1970, air-quality legislation was primarily managed at the state and local levels. This act empowered the federal government, particularly the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to set and enforce national air quality standards. This federal oversight aimed to address air pollution on a broader scale and set uniform standards across the country, marking a departure from the prior localized approach to regulation.