What is the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in air quality?

The role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in air quality is fundamentally about enforcing regulations and setting standards designed to protect the air that we breathe. The EPA establishes and enforces the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act, which aims to ensure that air quality is maintained at levels that will not harm public health or the environment. This involves regulating pollutants that can damage air quality, such as particulate matter, ozone, and carbon monoxide.

In addition to setting standards, the EPA also works with state governments to develop air quality plans and monitors compliance with these standards. Its mission is to safeguard human health and the environment, which includes maintaining clean air as a critical component. The emphasis is not on promoting industrial growth or reducing public transportation use, as those could conflict with the agency's primary objective of protecting air quality. Furthermore, while the EPA is involved in addressing various forms of pollution, the agency monitors air quality as its primary concern, rather than exclusively focusing on water pollution.