Clean Air Act: Promises and Priorities

Many of the nation's heavily polluted areas are substantially cleaner due the cooperative efforts of private industry, government and environmental group in fulfilling the goals of the Clean Air Act. However, too many communities missed the 1982 Clean Air Act deadline, neither reducing pollution to healthy levels nor developing plans to do so. Now as the final 1987 deadline approaches, it is anticipated that 30 major cities will still fall short of air pollution standards. Public opinion on the issue has been very clear with the American people remaining solidly behind clean air standards and initiatives. In fact, support for the Clean Air Act has increased since its enactment.