42 U.S.C. § 7401 : US Code - Section 7401: Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

Search 42 U.S.C. § 7401 : US Code - Section 7401: Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

(a) Findings
The Congress finds -
(1) that the predominant part of the Nation's population is
located in its rapidly expanding metropolitan and other urban
areas, which generally cross the boundary lines of local
jurisdictions and often extend into two or more States;
(2) that the growth in the amount and complexity of air
pollution brought about by urbanization, industrial development,
and the increasing use of motor vehicles, has resulted in
mounting dangers to the public health and welfare, including
injury to agricultural crops and livestock, damage to and the
deterioration of property, and hazards to air and ground
transportation;
(3) that air pollution prevention (that is, the reduction or
elimination, through any measures, of the amount of pollutants
produced or created at the source) and air pollution control at
its source is the primary responsibility of States and local
governments; and
(4) that Federal financial assistance and leadership is
essential for the development of cooperative Federal, State,
regional, and local programs to prevent and control air
pollution.
(b) Declaration
The purposes of this subchapter are -
(1) to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation's air
resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the
productive capacity of its population;
(2) to initiate and accelerate a national research and
development program to achieve the prevention and control of air
pollution;
(3) to provide technical and financial assistance to State and
local governments in connection with the development and
execution of their air pollution prevention and control programs;
and
(4) to encourage and assist the development and operation of
regional air pollution prevention and control programs.
(c) Pollution prevention
A primary goal of this chapter is to encourage or otherwise
promote reasonable Federal, State, and local governmental actions,
consistent with the provisions of this chapter, for pollution
prevention.