Question

The primary aim of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts is to ____.

a. encourage resource conservation
b. set standards for pollution levels
c. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency
d. set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems
e. require screening of new products for safety and setting standards

Answer 1

The Clean Air and Clean Water Acts aim to set standards for pollution levels, controlled by command-and-control regulations and overseen by the EPA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary aim of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts is b. to set standards for pollution levels. These acts were passed by Congress in the early 1970s to address and reduce pollution in the United States. The Clean Water Act, for example, made it illegal to dump pollution into surface water without permission, leading to significant improvements in water quality.

The Clean Air Act, enacted in 1970, and the Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, are command-and-control regulations designed to reduce air and water pollution in the United States. These acts have been crucial for increasing environmental protection by making it illegal to discharge certain pollutants into the air and water without formal permission. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to oversee these environmental laws, ensuring that air quality meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and that water is swimmable and fishable.