Question 22 What level of government regulates intrastate air pollution? local federal state county
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: State
Explanation:
The regulation of intrastate air pollution is a prime example of cooperative federalism, a system where different levels of government work together to achieve a common goal. While the federal government establishes the foundation for air quality control, the state government holds the primary authority for regulating pollution sources within its own borders.
The legal framework for this system is the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). Under the CAA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for major pollutants that harm public health and the environment. These standards establish a minimum, uniform level of air quality that must be achieved across the entire country.
However, the EPA does not typically engage in the direct regulation of individual factories, power plants, or other pollution sources. Instead, the CAA delegates this responsibility to the states. Each state is required to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP), which is a detailed collection of regulations and programs that the state will use to meet and maintain the federal NAAQS. The state’s environmental agency is responsible for creating, submitting, and enforcing its SIP.
This plan gives the state government the direct power to regulate intrastate air pollution. State duties include issuing permits that limit the amount of pollutants a facility can release, conducting inspections to ensure compliance, monitoring air quality through a network of sensors, and taking enforcement action against violators. While some states may delegate certain enforcement or monitoring tasks to local or county agencies, especially in large metropolitan areas, the ultimate legal authority and responsibility for intrastate air quality remains at the state level.
