Which act sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

The Clean Air Act is the legislation that establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This act was designed to control air pollution on a national level by establishing health and environmental standards for various air pollutants, including lead, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The primary goal of the NAAQS is to protect public health and the environment from harmful levels of these pollutants, ensuring that air quality remains safe and conducive to health.

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with setting and revising these standards based on scientific evidence regarding the effects of air pollution on health and the environment. This process involves extensive research and public input to determine acceptable pollution levels.

The other acts mentioned, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, focus on the management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste, the Clean Water Act pertains to the regulation of pollutants in water bodies, and the Endangered Species Act aims to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Therefore, they do not relate to the establishment of air quality standards, making the Clean Air Act the relevant authority for NAAQS.