What does the Clean Air Act authorize the EPA to do?

The Clean Air Act is a pivotal piece of environmental legislation in the United States that primarily focuses on regulating air quality and emissions from various sources. Under this act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowered to establish air-quality standards aimed specifically at protecting public health and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution.

This authority includes setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The standards created must be based on scientific evidence and are designed to ensure that air quality meets certain health-based criteria. By establishing these standards for stationary sources, such as factories and power plants, the EPA plays a crucial role in controlling the pollutants they emit, promoting cleaner air for all.

In contrast, the other options provided relate to different areas of environmental regulation. Waste management regulations fall under a different framework of environmental laws, drinking water quality is managed by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and noise pollution is typically addressed through state and local ordinances rather than federal legislation like the Clean Air Act. Each of these areas has its respective statutes and regulatory frameworks, which serve different purposes from that of the Clean Air Act.