What standards for air pollution are set by the EPA for the country?

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate air pollution across the United States. These standards establish maximum allowable concentrations of specific pollutants in the ambient air to protect public health and the environment. The NAAQS cover six criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.

The significance of NAAQS lies in their role in guiding states and local governments in their efforts to maintain and improve air quality. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to periodically review and revise these standards based on the latest scientific evidence regarding the health effects of air pollutants. This ensures that the standards remain current and effective in safeguarding public health and the environment from air pollution-related risks.

In contrast, the other options pertain to specific regulatory approaches or technologies related to controlling emissions rather than establishing ambient air quality levels. RACT (Reasonably Available Control Technology) and BACT (Best Available Control Technology) refer to standards applied to specific sources of emissions, while SIPs (State Implementation Plans) are detailed plans formulated by individual states to demonstrate how they will comply with NAAQS.